Writing Core Sections and Using Evidence

Different disciplines use different formats, but most academic writing still needs the same basic functions: introduce the problem, present evidence, interpret it, and close with a clear conclusion.

Introduction

An effective introduction usually answers four questions:

• What is the topic?
• Why does it matter?
• What is the paper's question or objective?
• What is the main claim or roadmap?

Common move order:

1. Context
2. Problem or tension
3. Research question
4. Thesis or purpose
5. Structure preview

Body Sections

Each body section should have a clear purpose.

• Explain a concept
• Review evidence
• Develop an argument
• Compare interpretations
• Report findings

Do not mix too many purposes in one section. When sections become overloaded, the paper starts to feel repetitive or unfocused.

Results and Discussion

When writing empirical work, separate these functions clearly:

• Results: what the data show
• Discussion: what the findings mean

Results should describe patterns accurately. Discussion should interpret those patterns, relate them to prior literature, and acknowledge limitations.

Using Evidence Well

Evidence should not be dropped into a paragraph without explanation. The reader needs to know:

• why this evidence was selected
• what exactly it shows
• how it supports the claim
• what its limits are

Integrating Evidence

Use a three-step pattern:

1. Introduce the evidence
2. Present the evidence
3. Interpret the evidence

Example:

• Introduce: "Survey evidence from first-year students shows a similar pattern."
• Present: "Students receiving weekly feedback reported higher study consistency than those in self-paced sections."
• Interpret: "This suggests that the effect of online delivery depends less on platform choice than on course structure."

Tables and Figures

Only include a table or figure if it advances the argument.

Check:

• Is it referenced in the text?
• Is the title informative?
• Are labels and units clear?
• Does the discussion interpret the main pattern?

Conclusions

A conclusion is not just a summary paragraph. It should:

• answer the research question directly
• synthesize the main points
• state the implications
• note realistic limits

Avoid introducing major new evidence in the conclusion.

Common Drafting Problems

• overlong introductions
• body sections that repeat source summaries
• data description without interpretation
• conclusions that merely restate the first paragraph

Takeaway

Every section should do a distinct job, and every piece of evidence should be connected explicitly to the paper's claim.