Choose a research topic and narrow it to a specific question or aim
Conduct background research to understand the field and key debates
Identify and review relevant scholarly sources
Define research objectives, hypotheses (if applicable), and variables (if applicable)
Determine the research design and methodology
Select participants/data sources/materials and define inclusion/exclusion criteria (if applicable)
Specify data collection procedures and instruments (if applicable)
Define sampling strategy and sample size rationale (if applicable)
Plan data analysis methods (qualitative approach, statistical tests, coding scheme, etc.)
Ensure research ethics compliance (IRB/consent/confidentiality) where required
Create an outline aligned to your required paper format (e.g., IMRaD or discipline-specific)
Write the introduction: background, problem statement, gap, research question/aim, and significance
Write the literature review: organized themes, synthesis of findings, and how your study addresses gaps
Write the methods section: study design, participants/data, procedures, measures, and analysis plan
Write the results section: report findings clearly using tables/figures where appropriate
Write the discussion section: interpret results, compare with prior work, explain implications and limitations
Write the conclusion: summarize key findings and relevance to the research question (only if your format requires it)
Add references in the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE, etc.)
Format tables and figures with captions, labels, and references in the text
Follow discipline-specific conventions for structure, terminology, and reporting standards
Ensure academic writing quality: clear, concise, and consistent terminology
Verify all claims are supported by cited sources
Check data consistency: numbers in text match tables/figures
Review grammar, clarity, and formatting requirements (margins, font, headings, spacing)
Run plagiarism checks and confirm proper quotation/paraphrase practices
Confirm ethical reporting (consent, approvals, conflicts of interest, funding statements if required)
Proofread and finalize the manuscript
Submit according to the required journal/conference guidelines (file format, word limits, templates)