One’s tense will vary depending on what one is trying to convey within their paper or section of their paper. For example, the tense may change between the methods section and the discussion section.

I heard that we're visiting your uni today. I can't wait to show you around! So, if there's lots to see we won't have time to film during the day, so we can film a recap once we're done. Looks like ...

Writers, over the last decade, have been waxing lyrical about the rise of the present tense in English fiction. But this morning I read something entirely new – for me, at least. I read a manuscript ...