Basic Structure
The basic structure of an academic journal articleAn academic journal article typically consists of a title, keywords, an abstract, an introduction, a body, and conclusions.
These parts may vary to some extent depending on the type of article or the specific requirements of a journal. A bibliography is also an essential element of a journal article. Acknowledgments are often added, along with other items that may be required by individual journals.
Title
The title is the first thing that grabs the reader's attention. It must be concise and precise while effectively highlighting the theme and purpose of the paper. A good title will include keywords fr|om the thesis, while abbreviations and symbols are to be avoided. A subtitle is customarily added in social science journals. Some journals require a running title to be submitted.
Keywords
Keywords are a core element of a research article. They are crucial for classifying the article. Typically, journals require the author(s) to include three to seven keywords. These keywords help readers find the articles they are looking for.
Abstract
The abstract is a summary of the major points of the research. Abstracts should be carefully written because most readers read them first to get a sense of what the research is about and what new findings it contains. An abstract should describe the purpose, methodology and findings of the research.
Introduction
The introduction presents the research questions, their relevance, and sets the stage for the points and arguments that are developed in the body. It may include the purpose and significance of the research along with a brief account of key references.
Body
The body explores key arguments, presents supportive evidence, and explains the significance of the findings. It is structured as a series of paragraphs, with each paragraph addressing a single idea. The paragraphs must be well connected with one another. The body covers methodology, research findings, and discussions, presented in formats that may vary across academic disciplines and journals.
Conclusion
The conclusion recaps research findings and their interpretations. It summarizes key elements of the introduction and the body with added comments about the study's academic contributions.
Others
It summarizes key elements of the introduction and the body with added comments about the study's academic contributions. Additionally, depending on a journal's requirements, the section may include a competing interests statement, an ethics approval statement, a profile of the author(s) including their names, affiliations, and an account of each author's contribution.