Resource
Structuring a research paper that reviewers can follow
A practical walkthrough of IMRaD and where most manuscripts lose their reader.
Start with the question. Every section should visibly serve it: the introduction establishes why it matters, the methods show how it was answered, the results report what was found, and the discussion interprets it without overreaching.
A useful test before submission: read only your section headings and first sentences. If that outline alone tells a coherent story, the structure is working.