Peer-reviewed publications play an important role in communicating the significance of research yet many still struggle with how to write a research paper. Conveying research alone is not enough to maximize the impact it can have on the society, especially within the non-academic communities. While digitalization has played a huge role in bridging the gap between academic and non-academic communities, there is still a long way to go. So when writing a research paper, it’s important to make it more engaging and readable to expand its reach.
Non-academicians are often quite interested in reading research papers but may find it hard to appreciate its depth, mainly due to the technical terminology and dry language that is typically used in publications. While there is not much you can do to remove the technicalities while writing a research paper, there are surely ways to make your research more interesting to read. This article will walk you through some simple steps for writing a research paper that is more engaging.
How to write a research paper that will engage your audience
- Keep the introduction interesting: Much like the cover of a book, an introduction presents readers with the very first impression of your paper. Therefore, a haphazardly written introduction definitely can leave a sore impression of how you’re writing a research paper. This is irrespective of whether the reader is an academic or a non-academic. In fact, even journal editors may not feel interested in finishing the paper if the introduction is not interesting enough. One of our tips for writing a research paper is presenting a ‘story’ in your manuscript. Make sure the introduction is an engaging prelude, which keeps the reader curious enough to complete the story all the way through your results and conclusion.
- Use simple language: Technical terminology cannot be completely waivered off in a peer-reviewed publication, since your paper also needs to speak to experts in the field. However, when writing a research paper you can make sure that the overall language you use is easy to comprehend. This will keep the readers engaged even though some parts of your paper have intricate and technical details of your research. So how to write a research paper that is easy to read? While you may not be able to simplify the results and methodology sections beyond a certain point, ensure that the abstract, introduction, discussion and conclusion are written in a simple, engaging language.
- Ensure that the paper is well-structured: One of the most promising tips to write a research paper that is engaging is investing time in structuring your paper well. This is understandably one the most difficult tasks of the entire publication process since you typically do not complete writing a research paper in one day with new insights every time you approach the editing part of your paper. This often gives rise to a ‘disjointed story’ that readers might find hard to keep up with. So how to write a research paper without such discrepancies in the context and language? When writing a research paper, it is helpful to revisit the paper after a small break, so that you can get an objective overview of the entire paper. If needed, ask your peers who have not worked on the paper to give you a critical review of the paper. Making sure that each section of your paper flows seamlessly into the next section, and there are no logical or contextual gaps in the text, is one of the most important steps for writing a research paper.
- Use images and infographics wherever possible: The phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words” coined by Henry Ibsen can be quite relevant when writing a research paper that is engaging. Any concept can be better understood with the help of artwork than in the form of a dry text. This is again more useful while compiling sections other than results and methodology. One of the tips for writing a research paper is to remember that many journals now welcome the idea of using infographics while explaining concepts in the abstract, introduction and discussion of the paper.
Ultimately, writing a research paper that communicates your work in an engaging manner is all about trying to form a connection with your reader as well as the important stakeholders and beneficiaries of your research. Therefore, how to write a research paper is a skill that all academics should try to imbibe and polish as your research can have a tangible impact on the society. The best part is that this is a transferable skill that will be useful beyond a career in academia. We hope that the above steps for writing a research paper and making it more engaging were useful for you.
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