A university paper consists of three main parts forming a unity. The three main parts are introduction, main and conclusion.

Recommended structure might vary between departments. We recommend that you contact your department to ask for further instructions.

The introduction is the presentation of your paper. It should introduce the reader to your topic, but it should also narrow it. This narrowing down of the topic you do by phrasing a research topic. It may very well be phrased as a question.

The introduction must include:

• a summary of the paper
• a presentation of your research topic

The introduction should also include:

• reasons why you chose this research topic
• a short introduction to the topic you have chosen
• definitions/clarification of concepts

Your paper should have a front page. The front page should include the title, subject code and name (or student identification number). You should check with your department whether there are guidelines for designing front pages.

The body of the paper is the largest and most comprehensive part of a paper. Your type of research topic decides which elements need to be part of the main. Therefore, the outline below must be seen as purely guidelines in the writing of the body of the paper.

Depending on your research topic, the body must include:

• an overview of the existing theory on your topic
• an overview of previous research
• an empirical part with presentation of your research method
• a statement of how you collected your data
• an analysis of your gathered data
• a statement of strength and weaknesses of previous research, your own research method, data, etc.

The conclusion must include:

• a discussion of the results in general
• a discussion of the results in relation to your research topic
• a conclusion