Academic Writing Tips

Remember that your reader is likely not as passionate about your topic as you are. Examiners and supervisors read hundreds of papers. So what makes yours so special? One way to approach this is to think of your research paper as a marketing campaign. You want your reader to buy into your idea; you want to convince them to be as passionate about it as you are.

Keep the purpose and aim of your research clear throughout your paper and try to avoid redundancies and straying off topic. You can do this by writing your primary research questions on a notepad or piece of paper and keep it next to you while you’re writing. Look at it now and then throughout the writing process to see if you are still focused and staying on topic.

If you feel like you may be losing focus and struggling to concentrate, take a break. Academic writing and research is taxing. Did you know that you actually burn calories just by thinking? More so when you’re concentrating hard on your studies; and because you spend so much time sitting down your blood circulation is poor, which leads to a lack of energy, excessive tiredness and decreases your ability to concentrate. That’s why it’s important to take a break from time to time. Get up and get moving, it doesn’t matter if you do a set of jumping jacks, stretch for a bit, or go for a short walk, the important thing is to get your blood flowing. It will also help you reorganise your thoughts. By getting away from your screen and notes for a short while can help you look at it with fresh eyes.

Keep your sources organised. The first thing most examiners or supervisors look at is the reference list. It’s important to make sure that you include all in-text citations and references in your reference list. Study your particular department’s style guide and be sure to format your references accordingly. The best way to make sure that you include all your in-text references and citations in your reference list is to generate one while you’re writing. To save time, keep a separate document open on your computer and add each reference to that document every time you use it in the text. Make sure that they are in the correct format according to the style guide but don’t worry about organising alphabetically at this time, that can be done when you generate the reference list in your paper. The important thing is that they are all there.

If you’re struggling to find sources for your research, remember that your university’s library assistant is there to help you. Trying to find sources applicable to your research in the library can be overwhelming and unnecessarily time-consuming. Make an appointment with your library assistant and go prepared. You should be able to tell them exactly what your research is about and what you’re looking for. These wonderful people are like wizards who know exactly where to find what you’re looking for and may even suggest additional sources or information that never even crossed your mind. As previously mentioned, they are there to assist you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with them.

Last but by no means least. Remember that you will need to have your paper edited and proofread by a professional editor. Two important things to keep in mind in this regard are time and money. Editors are busy people, so be sure to find one well before your submission date. The process of editing can be time consuming and it is very likely that you will need to make changes after the first edit and then get your document back to the editor after these changes have been made for a final check before submission. Because editors are such busy people, you will most likely be required to pay a deposit to book a spot on their calendar. The amount of the deposit would usually depend on the final quote provided by your editor. This quote is generated according to the word count of your document, so remember to include your word count when requesting a quotation from your editor.

To recap:

· Present your reader with a strong and convincing argument.

· Don’t stray off topic, stay focused on your purpose.

· Take a break when necessary, you’re only human.

· Keep your sources organised.

· Your library assistant is your best friend.

· Make sure you have enough time and enough money in your budget to have your paper edited.

If you need an academic editor and would like to get in touch, send an email to cslanguagesolutions@gmail.com or WhatsApp to 076 381 8999. Best of luck on your academic journey!