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Academic writing

How to Write a Research Proposal Paper

This Resource Page will help you learn what a research proposal paper is, understand the steps in the planning stages of a research proposal paper and identify the components of a research proposal paper. 

Revising, Editing & Proofreading

After drafting your paper, you need to review it carefully. The review process is divided into three steps: revise, edit and proofread. This Resource Page will help you understand the differences between revising, editing, and proofreading and apply these different techniques to your writing process.

How to Draft an Academic Paper

Once you have done your research and have developed ideas for you paper, it's time to start writing! This Resource Page shows you how to draft research papers and literature reviews following a three-step process.

Critical Thinking in Academic Contexts

Critical thinking is an essential skill for academic success and professional growth, particularly in graduate school where advanced analytical abilities are required. This Resource Page explains what critical thinking is and shows how to apply it to reading, writing, discussion and collaborative work.

How to Write Conclusions

Often overlooked in the research paper writing process, the Conclusion is important in that it reminds the reader of the key points in the body of the text, communicates important takeaways, and zooms out to discuss the larger implications of the paper’s findings or arguments. This Resource Page will cover three key steps or moves that comprise an effective Conclusion.

How to Write Introductions

The Introduction of your research paper is important as it should grab the reader’s attention, provide needed background information and context for the paper’s focus, and outline your main arguments and/or research questions. This Resource Page will cover five key steps or moves that comprise an effective Introduction.

How to Write Reflectively

Reflective writing requires you to achieve thoughtful inquiry that demonstrates your understanding by unpacking your assumptions and knowledge to deepen your analysis of the course material or your practical experiences. This Resource Page will help you identify and understand how to use various tools and strategies to engage in multiple forms of reflective writing.

How to Write Cohesively

In academic writing, ideas must stick together logically (cohesion) and make sense as a whole (coherence). This Resource Page will help you write logical and smooth connections between ideas. 

How to Talk to your Readers: Signposting

Academic writing is a type of formal conversation where you need to engage your readers by telling them what you will do in your paper and its sections, how you will organize the content, and what you have done in previous sections. This is called Signposting, and with this Resource Page you will learn how to use it in your papers.

How to Read Academic Articles

This Resource Page shows you strategies for critical academic reading depending on your reading purposes — whether for class discussions, selecting literature for an assignment, or including ideas from selected readings into your paper — to maximize your understanding and insight.