Q: What should the structure of a manuscript look like?

Answer:

You have raised a slightly broad question. Assuming that you are referring to the structure of a manuscript that you are preparing for journal submission, research papers typically follow the IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion + Conclusion) structure. Each of these sections plays an important role in conveying your overall meaning and communicating your findings.

Here are some great resources that will show you how you can structure your paper:

• The complete guide to writing a brilliant research paper
• Manuscript structure: How to convey your most important ideas through your paper (IMRAD)
• VIDEO: How to create an outline for your research paper
• INFOGRAPHIC: Choosing between tables, figures, and text for your research data
• COURSE: Understanding citations and references
• COURSE: An In-depth Academic Publishing Course for Young Researchers
• 6 Article types that journals publish: A guide for early career researchers