🧠1. How to Write a Research Paper (Step-by-Step) Step 1: Choose a clear, focused topic Pick something narrow enough that you can answer it well. Example: ❌ “River geomorphology in the US” (too big) ✔ “Effect of dam proximity on meander migration in Alabama rivers” Step 2: Do a structured literature review Look for: What is already known What is unknown (the gap) How your study fits Organize notes by themes, not by papers. Step 3: Define your research question + objectives Example: RQ: How does distance from dams influence river migration rates between 2015–2024? Objectives: Extract centerlines for dry/wet seasons Compute curvature + migration metrics Compare regulated vs unregulated rivers Step 4: Write your paper in IMRaD format I – Introduction Background Problem Knowledge gap Your objective & hypothesis M – Methods Data sources Tools (e.g., Sentinel-1A, DeepLabV3, GEE) Study area Workflow Metrics used R – Results Figures Tables Key numbers Keep it neutral, no interpretation y...