5 Academic Writing Tips to Help You Earn The Highest Grades In Class
By Alexa Jorgenson
November 28, 2019 • Fact checked by Dumb Little Man
If the task of completing a research paper in time seems too daunting to you or you just can’t get that A grade for your thesis, this article will be of help to you. Below are 5 great academic writing tips to help you get that top score in class.
Understand the deliverables
The first step involves reviewing and understanding the requirements. Make sure you understand the questions asked and all the requirements of your research. If you do not understand the task given to you correctly or if you misinterpret it, all your hard work will go down the drain.
Once you understand the question, make a list of all the topics and sub-topics, which you need to explain in the paper. You should make a list to make sure that you have enough topics and relevant terms, which you can summarize later and combine with other related topics for your readers.
Research your topic
Once you are done with your list, it is time to do to some brainstorming. Go and do your research on your shortlisted topics.
You must keep in mind all the subtopics and points which need to be answered in your report so that you can explain them better. Include both qualitative and quantitative types of research to support your paper.
Give reference to sources of any surveys and statistical data that you have used in your research.
You should look at previously published papers and research materials for inspiration and build upon that.
You should never copy someone else’s research. If your teachers find out that your work is plagiarized, it can have serious repercussions on your grades.
If you use certain parts of previously published research materials in your paper, use citations whenever necessary.
Plan your work
Now that you have figured out what you are supposed to write in your academic article, it’s time to decide how you’re going to write it.
Always keep in mind the date by which you have to submit your assignment. This will help you properly manage time for each section.
Figure out the sections which are going to take the most amount of time and the sections which would take the least amount of time. Plan accordingly.
Start writing
Writing translates your research and findings into readable content.
Before you actually start writing, you must first read previous papers to get an idea about the proper format. Make sure to use terminologies related to your research topic.
Most academic articles have an introduction, discussion, and a conclusion.
With that in mind, decide how much time you can dedicate in writing each of them. Most people follow a pattern of 10-80-10. 10 per cent to the introduction, 80 per cent to the body, and the remaining 10 per cent of your document to the conclusion.
You may follow the same or decide according to the needs and format of your chosen topic.
The introduction should be concise but intriguing enough to keep the reader interested in reading further. It should state all the questions and the argument which you are going to put up.
The body section of your article is one of the most important sections of your academic paper. It should mention all the relevant questions and your answers. It should represent your point of view in an argumentative manner. You can use references with proper citations to give your point some strength or to put emphasis on certain points.
The conclusion is the summary of all the topics and points you have in your article. It should give a brief explanation of the answers you have provided and the areas where further research can be done.
Finalize your work
You have almost completed your work and now there is only one thing left to do and that is the final proofreading. You must always proofread your work for typographical errors and to check the final format of your research paper before submitting it to your teachers.
It is best to set your final draft aside and take a break to clear your head before you start proofreading your work. If you don’t have enough time to take a break, you can ask a friend to do it for you.
Proofreading is critical to your work and the score you’ll get. Once you submit your work to the teachers or the review panel, you can’t make any changes in the document after that point.
See Also: Effective Tips for Writing Assignments You Probably Didn’t Know About
Alexa Jorgenson
Alexa Jorgenson is an experienced blogger who has written hundreds of blogs and published numerous marketing related articles for various well established companies. Currently, she does Academic Writing for Total Assignment Help. In her leisure time, she likes to play violin, cook and read novels.