Research & Paragraph Writing Tips

Begin with university library resources; supplement with local libraries.
Use Google Scholar & web searches only after verifying source authority.
Wikipedia = starting point, not endpoint; check “Talk” tab & reference list, then move to original sources.

Favour: academic books (university presses), refereed journal articles, chapters in edited volumes.
Start broad, then narrow: add keywords & restrict publication date to last $5$ – $10$ years.
Library database tips:
- Apply “Refine my results” filters (date, subject, peer-reviewed).
- Example: "Hofstede dimensions criticism" lowers results & surfaces targeted papers.
Mine bibliographies of recent works; follow authors’ other publications.
Library access usually bypasses paywalls that appear in Google Scholar.
Keep a record of search steps to demonstrate research development.

Universities discourage AI-generated content that replaces original thinking.
Acceptable use: grammar polishing; avoid for style & substantive text—accuracy, depth, and non-English coverage are weak.
Over-reliance risks plagiarism allegations and dull, repetitive prose.

Paper uses APA; other courses may differ—stay consistent.
Accurate, complete references signal rigorous research; sloppy lists undermine credibility.
Consult library’s referencing guides for formatting rules.

Use clear, direct sentences; correct homophones (its/it’s, your/you’re, their/they’re).
Prefer active voice; minimize passives.
Delete vague fillers: "this", "these", "those", "it seems", "in fact", etc.
Maximize strong verbs; limit strings of adjectives.
Edit ruthlessly: compress verbose drafts into concise statements, freeing space for more ideas.
Replace weak phrases with precise verbs (e.g., "revolutionized" vs. "created change").
Good editing is a writer’s task; AI struggles with nuance and concision.