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Top 10 Tips for Effective Academic Writing

Choosing a Topic, Learning Your Audience, Journal Editing and More

Top 10 Tips for Effective Academic Writing

Academic writing is the primary method for a scholar to disseminate research and ideas. While it is gratifying to communicate your concepts and objectives, academic writing can also be stressful and highly competitive. In order to write and publish effectively, here are some basic and helpful guidelines. 

1. Choose your subject well.

Focus your attention on a specific topic in your field that captivates you. When you are passionate about a particular issue, your personal analysis and thought process will delineate the best ways to explain this issue to others. Also, verify that others will find meaning in the issue that you are addressing. Stay on course; don't go off on tangents and be sure to check that every section of your article clearly relates to the greater objectives of your research.

2. Journal editing - Decide where you want your work to be published before you start writing.

Skim through and analyze the abstracts in a few relevant journals. This will help you to shape the content and edit it specifically for publication in the journal you desire. Every publication has its own unique style as well as particular requirements about format and length. Check the required word count in advance. Note that if you plan to translate your article, verify the ratio of words from one language to another so that your translated text complies with the required word count.

Each publication has a recommended style guide that you must follow, such as APA, MLA, Bluebook, Chicago or Harvard. These are all available for purchase as electronic editions and there are online programs such as EndNote which simplify the process.

3. Academic translation or editing – finding a trusted language expert.

Professional academic translation and editing services offer immense value to the success of your work. An academic translator will ensure that the authentic meaning of your words is conveyed clearly in the translated text. A good translation will be sensitive to details beyond the literal meaning of the source text, such as cultural nuances and implied messages, while still maintaining your unique voice. To learn more about finding a top translator or editor in your field, or other publication support services, check out our new E-book.

4. Develop a detailed yet flexible outline.

This is the framework of your article, constructed from your individual points. Make firm and explicit propositions, and integrate supporting references neatly into the narrative. Your main points, not the sources that you cite, should determine the structure and order of your paper. Simply listing critical sources isn't enough; they must be analyzed in your article in a critical manner.

5. Write a compelling introduction and conclusion.   

Many readers will skim only these two sections, so make sure they are concise, to the point and free of any grammatical errors. Abstract editing is critical, seeing mistakes at the beginning of your article will put off the reviewer from the outset. Make sure to review the abstract many times as it will act as an indication of the quality of your writing in the entire article. It's also crucial to write a succinct and direct abstract. Keep your abstract within the word limit, as lengthy abstracts generally bore readers and discourage them from continuing until the end of the paper.

Your introduction should state the relevant contextual background, the focus of your paper, methodology and notable results. The conclusion serves as a summary of the purpose and your findings, with a clear observation about the ramifications and consequences of the results. Suggestions regarding further research can also be mentioned here.

6. Discuss and analyze opposing viewpoints.

Be sure to do a comprehensive survey of relevant research and don't highlight supporting opinions alone. Contemporary research in your field should be mentioned, whether you reject it or recognize its legitimacy. Your own ideas gain credibility when you share them alongside other thoughts, as it shows that you reached your conclusions after genuine deliberation and consultation with peers and colleagues.

7. Share your draft with trusted colleagues.

The solid, objective judgment of your professional peers offers valuable feedback. After you attend to the comments and advice offered by others, set your work aside for a few days. When you read it anew, you may detect areas that could benefit from further academic editing or review. Multiple revisions may be necessary before you submit your paper for publication. Yet when it's ready, let go and don't let your insecurities prevent you from sending it off.

8. Don't panic if you get writers' block.

Writers' block afflicts everyone, from poets to scientists. The first line of response to writers' block is to restate your goals and clarify that they are realistic. Split your study into smaller units, and concentrate on each piece individually. Don't get bogged down early on waiting for inspiration. Keep progressing, as there will be plenty of time later on to polish your paper.

Taking a break and immersing your brain into a wholly different intellectual environment is also helpful. By nature, our subconscious needs downtime to develop and process ideas in order to produce creative and compelling results. A change of scenery or routine can be a helpful factor in stimulating innovative thought. Learn more about how to overcome writers' block.

9. Learn Your Audience.

The readership of each journal also varies, and it's crucial to familiarize yourself with your readers in advance. Be sure to relate to the most up to date concepts and terminology in the field, providing the appropriate amount of background information to understand your argument.

Readers must be able to grasp your writing with minimal effort. Your paper must be intelligible, with correct grammar and coherent thoughts, or nobody will attempt to read it. Thoughts should be fluid, with sections that flow smoothly and logical transitions, to carry the reader easily from one paragraph to the next.

10. Embrace critique and even rejection of your research.

Every scholar in the world is rejected by a journal at one point or another in their career. A harsh critique of your work may be unsettling, yet learn to view it as a chance to refine your research and relate to it as a unique opportunity for academic growth. Don't become discouraged; read the critiques with an open mind and be pleased that your writing was taken seriously.

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