To make your research paper as
reader-friendly as possible, you should be clear about how much
ground you intend to cover and how you will organize your ideas
logically. Sentences 161-216 will help you do that.
This paper provides an overview of…
161. findings from recent ____
162. recent developments in ____
163. issues relating to ____
164. the current debates about ____
165. the main types of ____
166. the effect [31] of ____ on ____
167. the critical factors influencing ____
168. the basic concepts of ____
169. the available official data on ____
170. current [32] research on ____
171. ____ theory and its [33] ramifications.
Use study, paper, article, essay, report or literature review as appropriate.
This paper…
172. is divided into [N] sections.
173. is divided into [N] broad parts.
174. is organized into [N] distinct sections.
175. consists of [N] parts.
176. is comprised of [N] sections.
177. comprises [34] [N] parts.
[N] = Insert number.
Section [N] provides…
178. an overview of ____
179. a reasonably comprehensive overview of ____
180. a brief introduction to ____
181. a theoretical introduction to ____
182. a basic theoretical framework [35] for ____
183. broad [36] guidance on ____
184. general guidelines on ____
185. background information on ____
186. the foundation for ____
187. a concise analysis of ____
188. important contextual information regarding [37] ____
Use section, part or chapter as appropriate.
Part [N]…
189. deals with ____
190. is dedicated to ____
191. details the findings of ____
192. addresses the issue of ____
193. considers the nature of ____
194. outlines some of the key [38] principles behind ____
In section [N], I/we…
195. review the existing literature on ____
196. provide arguments supporting ____
197. present some fundamental ideas underlying ____
198. identify the key factors behind ____
199. present a theoretical framework for ____
200. discuss [39] the main reasons for ____
In chapter [N],…
201. the concept of ____ is further explored.
202. ____ is/are quantitatively assessed.
203. a qualitative analysis of ____ is carried out.
204. the data are analyzed quantitatively/qualitatively.
Sentences 201-204 are in the passive voice. Remember to follow your department’s guidelines on the use of active vs. passive voice.
This paper is organized into [N] main…
205. parts, the first of which deals with ____
206. sections. Section [N] examines ____. Section [N] looks at ____
207. parts, both of which [40] focus on ___.
208. The remainder [41] of this paper is structured/organized as follows. Section [N] ___. The next section then ____
This paper is not intended to be a comprehensive…
209. analysis of ____
210. evaluation of ____
211. overview of ____
212. review of ____
213. survey of ____
214. An extended discussion of ____ is beyond the scope of this paper.
215. An in-depth [42] analysis of ____ is not within the scope of this article.
216. ____ lies outside the scope of the present study.