Writing a student paper scientifically is not easy the first time. There is a lot of literature on the topic of scientific writing. In the end, it's all about the structure and evidence that leads to the gain in knowledge. At this point, not only a few useful tips and supporting literature references, but also the reference to a framework that allows the author a goal-oriented writing.
What Does Academic Writing Mean?
Academic writing refers to the systematic, comprehensible, and verifiable presentation of a research process. The focus is on clear argumentation, the reasoned use of existing literature, and a transparent description of the methods used. The aim is to present one's own contribution to the academic discussion in such a way that other researchers can understand, classify, and further develop it [1].
At the latest when writing the master's thesis, it is called independent editing. There is not always an identical procedure, and it differs in the disciplines. There are a few basic rules to follow.
Structure
The following structure is based on a typical empirical thesis and can be easily adapted depending on the project:
- State of the Art: Presentation of key terms, theories, and previous findings.
- Research Questions: Derivation of research questions from the literature (see also Research Question and Research Gap in Information Systems).
- Formulation of Hypotheses (if appropriate): Derivation of testable assumptions.
- Methodological Approach: Description of the method (e.g., survey, Case Study, Design Science) and data collection.
- Analysis: Preparation and evaluation of the data.
- Results: Structured presentation of the most important findings.
- Discussion of the Results: Classification in the state of research, critical reflection, and derivation of implications.
It is important that there is a common thread running through all chapters: From the problem definition to the theoretical embedding and method to the results and conclusion, the work consistently aims to answer the research question.
Language Style and Form
In addition to the structure of the content, language style is a key element of academic quality. The following applies to work in business informatics:
- Factual, precise language is preferable; long, convoluted sentences should be avoided.
- The terms used should be defined as consistently as possible and used uniformly throughout the text.
- Statements must be substantiated by sources; quotations and paraphrases must be correctly identified.
- The formatting (headings, tables, figures, lists) should follow the guidelines of the department and be consistent throughout the document.
Careful language and formal consistency improve readability and help to make the content more visible. [1]
Reflection and Orientation Framework
The questions linked on this page and the framework presented are intended to help you plan and review your work in a structured manner. You can use the list of questions, for example, to:
- systematically review an exposé,
- sharpen the common thread between research question, theory, and method,
- and specifically check before submission whether the core requirements for an academic paper have been met.
In-Depth Analysis: Research Question and Research Gap
Well-founded research questions and a clearly formulated research gap are central components of any scientific paper. While the structure of the paper provides a framework, the research question determines what is actually to be investigated—and the research gap determines why this investigation is worthwhile.
Many students start with a topic (“Digitalization in ...,” “Use of AI tools in studies”) and then realize that it is still unclear what specific question they are working on and how it relates to the existing state of research. This is exactly where a clear separation of topic, research problem, research question, objective, and research gap helps.
I have described this process in detail on a separate page Research Methods and linked it to typical methodological settings in business informatics (survey, Case Study, Experiment, Design Science, mixed methods). There you will find:
- a classification of topic, research problem, research question, and objective,
- an introduction to different types of research gaps,
- a possible approach “from topic to research question,”
- formulation aids for the research gap and research question (German/English),
- examples of research questions in typical methodological approaches in Information Systems.
You can find more detailed information here: Research Question and Research Gap in Information Systems.
Structure and Evidence
The paper has a clear thread with a stringent argumentation, which is supported by evidence.
Especially general statements should be used carefully because they have to be valid. Words like many, mostly, frequently, little, often should be avoided and should serve as a summary. Example: Instead of "many", "8 out of 10" is a statement with higher value and validity. After making this statement, "many" can be used again in a conclusion - if no other way is possible. However, please always use it with caution. But what is an optimal structure and how do you get the necessary clarity in the text to also publish successfully?
Optimal Structure and Clarity for Successful Publications
We know that contributions are often lost due to a lack of structure and clarity. Often there is a lack of time to set the right framework, to understand the community or economically the market or to know a feasible structure. In this context, my colleagues and I have written an article (Publish or Perish: A Scientific Blueprint for a Journal Article) as a framework recommendation for structuring scientific papers to provide them as authors a scientific blueprint for most submissions especially in the International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP).
Our many years of expertise and experience in the field have enabled us to gain valuable insights into the preparation of papers. We highlight typical mistakes and present insights to avoid them. Furthermore, we take a look at the specific parts of an article to clarify the expectations of the editors. Additionally, we present a lightweight approach that authors can use to quickly dive into writing.
Our proposed framework helps them authors organize their thoughts, make the structure of the paper publishable, and reduce time to market. This proven blueprint can be used by them as authors to streamline their writing processes to make their contributions more successful. We are convinced that this approach will help you as authors to optimally prepare your contribution and pave the way to publication.
Literature References
I personally found two books very helpful:
- Esselborn-Krumbiegel, H. (2022): Richtig wissenschaftlich schreiben: Wissenschaftssprache in Regeln und Übungen, 7th ed., UTB GmbH, Paderborn
and
- Müller, E. (2013): Schreiben in Naturwissenschaften und Medizin, UTB GmbH, Paderborn.
Further books for scientific writing
Core Literature
- Gottlieb, M; Utesch, M (2022): Publish or Perish: A Scientific Blueprint for a Journal Article, International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 12(3), pp. 171–177, doi: https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v12i3.28253.
Further Literature
- [1] Heenes, W., Elsner, I., Reuter A. (2010): Wissenschaftliches Schreiben in der Informatik, TU Darmstadt, https://www.owl.tu-darmstadt.de/media/owl/responsive_design/owl_anleitungen_pdf/0036_WissSchreiben_in_der_Informatik_2020-06.pdf, acessed at 03/02/2026
- Esselborn-Krumbiegel, H. (2022): Richtig wissenschaftlich schreiben: Wissenschaftssprache in Regeln und Übungen, 7th ed., UTB GmbH, Paderborn
- Müller, E. (2013): Schreiben in Naturwissenschaften und Medizin, UTB GmbH, Paderborn.