Study Skills
How do I approach academic writing?
Study Skills
How do I approach academic writing?
Study Skills
How do I approach academic writing?
Summary
Academic writing is a structured and formal style of presenting ideas, arguments, and research clearly and coherently. It requires you to be precise about your language and to format and reference your work appropriately.
Though it can seem daunting at first, mastering academic writing is crucial for demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills, setting you on the path to academic success. This guide will help you develop strong academic writing skills that, with practice, will become second nature.
Planning
Drafting
Reviewing
Summary
Academic writing is a structured and formal style of presenting ideas, arguments, and research clearly and coherently. It requires you to be precise about your language and to format and reference your work appropriately.
Though it can seem daunting at first, mastering academic writing is crucial for demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills, setting you on the path to academic success. This guide will help you develop strong academic writing skills that, with practice, will become second nature.
Planning
Drafting
Reviewing
Read this article
3.5m
Planning
Planning is not the step before writing, it is a key part of the process! As soon as you receive your assignment, consider your approach. Know your deadlines and mark the submission date on your calendar. Break your assignment into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines to stay on track. Allow plenty of time for reading, researching, and noting key ideas.
Understanding the Assignment
Carefully read the question, highlighting key terms. Make sure you understand the knowledge and skills you need to demonstrate. Read the instructions for guidance on format, length, and submission. If anything is unclear, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
Research
Begin with a broad search using academic databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and your library to find relevant resources. Use reliable scholarly sources, such as primary sources and peer-reviewed articles, avoiding unverified websites or editable online wikis. Take organised notes and familiarise yourself with the required referencing style so you can include all the details you need to cite your sources correctly later on.
Outline
With your main ideas in mind, map out the key points of your essay. Define your argument and list the main points supporting your argument or thesis, organising them logically. This structure will guide your writing and keep it focused. Your outline might evolve, but a clear initial structure is helpful. Review suggested structures for your subject area, discuss your outline with peers, and show it to your tutor for feedback to strengthen your plan and refine your argument.
Drafting
With your outline, key points, and research notes, you can begin to write out your draft.
Staying on Topic
Regularly refer back to the assignment and the key points in your outline, ensuring each section supports your argument. Use key terms from the question and linking sentences to explain the relevance. Check the mark scheme that will be used to assess your work to ensure you meet the key criteria.
Be Critical
Develop your critical voice as you write, demonstrating analytical skills. Don’t just include material from secondary sources, use it to support your argument. Never allow quotations to ‘speak for themselves’ however well written it is, only you can explain why it is relevant to your argument and your analysis.
Reverse Outlining
Once you have a full draft, use reverse outlining to check the structure and coherence of your work. Summarise the key ideas from each paragraph in one sentence, then use this outline of what you have written to assess the logical progression of your points and your overall structure. Identify any repetitions and gaps compared to your original plan. Adjust your draft by rearranging sections, removing repetitions, and adding new points as needed.
Reviewing
Once your draft is complete, begin the review process ready for your final submission.
Revising and Editing
Read your draft to ensure every paragraph contributes to your overall argument. Cut any extraneous material and simplify complex sentences. Ensure your points are clear and that you have used specialist language appropriately and without jargon.
Seek Feedback
Swap work with classmates for peer review to gain fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Discuss your draft with a tutor to clarify your ideas and receive expert feedback. Look at any written feedback you have received from previous assignments to ensure you have addressed any suggestions.
Formatting
Check that you have followed the required citation style and referenced all of your sources to avoid plagiarism. Adhere to your style guide for specifics on margins, font size, and spacing, and ensure your writing is within the word limit.
Proofreading
At the final editing stage, proofreading can help you to eliminate errors and avoid mistakes. Read your work multiple times, checking for issues with spelling, grammar, referencing, and tone. Academic writing should be formal yet authentic. Tools like Grammarly can analyse your writing for formality and tone, helping you to feel confident that your writing is appropriately academic.
Academic writing requires organisation, clear communication, and openness to feedback. The first draft won’t be perfect, but breaking the work into manageable tasks and allowing time for planning, drafting, and reviewing will lead to a final piece of work you can be proud of.
Read this article
3.5m
Planning
Planning is not the step before writing, it is a key part of the process! As soon as you receive your assignment, consider your approach. Know your deadlines and mark the submission date on your calendar. Break your assignment into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines to stay on track. Allow plenty of time for reading, researching, and noting key ideas.
Understanding the Assignment
Carefully read the question, highlighting key terms. Make sure you understand the knowledge and skills you need to demonstrate. Read the instructions for guidance on format, length, and submission. If anything is unclear, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
Research
Begin with a broad search using academic databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and your library to find relevant resources. Use reliable scholarly sources, such as primary sources and peer-reviewed articles, avoiding unverified websites or editable online wikis. Take organised notes and familiarise yourself with the required referencing style so you can include all the details you need to cite your sources correctly later on.
Outline
With your main ideas in mind, map out the key points of your essay. Define your argument and list the main points supporting your argument or thesis, organising them logically. This structure will guide your writing and keep it focused. Your outline might evolve, but a clear initial structure is helpful. Review suggested structures for your subject area, discuss your outline with peers, and show it to your tutor for feedback to strengthen your plan and refine your argument.
Drafting
With your outline, key points, and research notes, you can begin to write out your draft.
Staying on Topic
Regularly refer back to the assignment and the key points in your outline, ensuring each section supports your argument. Use key terms from the question and linking sentences to explain the relevance. Check the mark scheme that will be used to assess your work to ensure you meet the key criteria.
Be Critical
Develop your critical voice as you write, demonstrating analytical skills. Don’t just include material from secondary sources, use it to support your argument. Never allow quotations to ‘speak for themselves’ however well written it is, only you can explain why it is relevant to your argument and your analysis.
Reverse Outlining
Once you have a full draft, use reverse outlining to check the structure and coherence of your work. Summarise the key ideas from each paragraph in one sentence, then use this outline of what you have written to assess the logical progression of your points and your overall structure. Identify any repetitions and gaps compared to your original plan. Adjust your draft by rearranging sections, removing repetitions, and adding new points as needed.
Reviewing
Once your draft is complete, begin the review process ready for your final submission.
Revising and Editing
Read your draft to ensure every paragraph contributes to your overall argument. Cut any extraneous material and simplify complex sentences. Ensure your points are clear and that you have used specialist language appropriately and without jargon.
Seek Feedback
Swap work with classmates for peer review to gain fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Discuss your draft with a tutor to clarify your ideas and receive expert feedback. Look at any written feedback you have received from previous assignments to ensure you have addressed any suggestions.
Formatting
Check that you have followed the required citation style and referenced all of your sources to avoid plagiarism. Adhere to your style guide for specifics on margins, font size, and spacing, and ensure your writing is within the word limit.
Proofreading
At the final editing stage, proofreading can help you to eliminate errors and avoid mistakes. Read your work multiple times, checking for issues with spelling, grammar, referencing, and tone. Academic writing should be formal yet authentic. Tools like Grammarly can analyse your writing for formality and tone, helping you to feel confident that your writing is appropriately academic.
Academic writing requires organisation, clear communication, and openness to feedback. The first draft won’t be perfect, but breaking the work into manageable tasks and allowing time for planning, drafting, and reviewing will lead to a final piece of work you can be proud of.
Written by Dr Siobhán Jolley
Written by Dr Siobhán Jolley
0:00/1:34
Summary
Academic writing is a structured and formal style of presenting ideas, arguments, and research clearly and coherently. It requires you to be precise about your language and to format and reference your work appropriately.
Though it can seem daunting at first, mastering academic writing is crucial for demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills, setting you on the path to academic success. This guide will help you develop strong academic writing skills that, with practice, will become second nature.
Planning
Drafting
Reviewing
Read this article
Academic writing is a structured and formal style of presenting ideas, arguments, and research clearly and coherently. It requires you to be precise about your language and to format and reference your work appropriately.
Though it can seem daunting at first, mastering academic writing is crucial for demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills, setting you on the path to academic success. This guide will help you develop strong academic writing skills that, with practice, will become second nature.
Planning
Drafting
Reviewing
Planning
Planning is not the step before writing, it is a key part of the process! As soon as you receive your assignment, consider your approach. Know your deadlines and mark the submission date on your calendar. Break your assignment into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines to stay on track. Allow plenty of time for reading, researching, and noting key ideas.
Understanding the Assignment
Carefully read the question, highlighting key terms. Make sure you understand the knowledge and skills you need to demonstrate. Read the instructions for guidance on format, length, and submission. If anything is unclear, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
Research
Begin with a broad search using academic databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and your library to find relevant resources. Use reliable scholarly sources, such as primary sources and peer-reviewed articles, avoiding unverified websites or editable online wikis. Take organised notes and familiarise yourself with the required referencing style so you can include all the details you need to cite your sources correctly later on.
Outline
With your main ideas in mind, map out the key points of your essay. Define your argument and list the main points supporting your argument or thesis, organising them logically. This structure will guide your writing and keep it focused. Your outline might evolve, but a clear initial structure is helpful. Review suggested structures for your subject area, discuss your outline with peers, and show it to your tutor for feedback to strengthen your plan and refine your argument.
Drafting
With your outline, key points, and research notes, you can begin to write out your draft.
Staying on Topic
Regularly refer back to the assignment and the key points in your outline, ensuring each section supports your argument. Use key terms from the question and linking sentences to explain the relevance. Check the mark scheme that will be used to assess your work to ensure you meet the key criteria.
Be Critical
Develop your critical voice as you write, demonstrating analytical skills. Don’t just include material from secondary sources, use it to support your argument. Never allow quotations to ‘speak for themselves’ however well written it is, only you can explain why it is relevant to your argument and your analysis.
Reverse Outlining
Once you have a full draft, use reverse outlining to check the structure and coherence of your work. Summarise the key ideas from each paragraph in one sentence, then use this outline of what you have written to assess the logical progression of your points and your overall structure. Identify any repetitions and gaps compared to your original plan. Adjust your draft by rearranging sections, removing repetitions, and adding new points as needed.
Reviewing
Once your draft is complete, begin the review process ready for your final submission.
Revising and Editing
Read your draft to ensure every paragraph contributes to your overall argument. Cut any extraneous material and simplify complex sentences. Ensure your points are clear and that you have used specialist language appropriately and without jargon.
Seek Feedback
Swap work with classmates for peer review to gain fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Discuss your draft with a tutor to clarify your ideas and receive expert feedback. Look at any written feedback you have received from previous assignments to ensure you have addressed any suggestions.
Formatting
Check that you have followed the required citation style and referenced all of your sources to avoid plagiarism. Adhere to your style guide for specifics on margins, font size, and spacing, and ensure your writing is within the word limit.
Proofreading
At the final editing stage, proofreading can help you to eliminate errors and avoid mistakes. Read your work multiple times, checking for issues with spelling, grammar, referencing, and tone. Academic writing should be formal yet authentic. Tools like Grammarly can analyse your writing for formality and tone, helping you to feel confident that your writing is appropriately academic.
Academic writing requires organisation, clear communication, and openness to feedback. The first draft won’t be perfect, but breaking the work into manageable tasks and allowing time for planning, drafting, and reviewing will lead to a final piece of work you can be proud of.
Written by Dr Siobhán Jolley
Dr Siobhán Jolley is the Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Research Fellow in Art and Religion at the National Gallery, a Visiting Lecturer in TRS at King's, and an Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Biblical Studies at the University of Manchester
Written by Dr Siobhán Jolley
Dr Siobhán Jolley is the Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Research Fellow in Art and Religion at the National Gallery, a Visiting Lecturer in TRS at King's, and an Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Biblical Studies at the University of Manchester