Summary of Academic Writing and Research Strategies

ESL Writing and Academic Writing

  • Steps of learning to write in English: letters & words, phrases & sentences, paragraphs, essays.

  • Characteristics: teacher-directed, structured, error-free, process-focused, organized knowledge.

Types of Academic Writing

  • Essay: 1,500-3,000 words.

  • Research paper: library research, 3,000-6,000 words.

  • Technical/report: details on scientific/social projects.

  • Thesis/Dissertation: extensive reports over months/years.

Types of Research Papers

  • Scholarly and discipline-specific.

  • Report: collect and paraphrase information without personal comment.

  • Argumentative: present others' ideas, make judgments, add personal commentary.

Basic Steps in Writing a Research Report

  1. Choosing a subject.

  2. Narrowing the focus.

  3. Finding relevant books and articles.

  4. Drafting/revising a thesis statement.

  5. Drafting/revising an outline.

  6. Conducting research and completing the report.

Choosing a Subject

  • Golden guidelines: practicality and personal interest.

Narrowing the Focus

  • Importance of clarifying the subject for researchability.

  • Tools: library search and notes from articles.

Tips for a Good Research Paper Title

  • Use noun-phrase, keep it concise (<13 words), and ensure uniqueness.

Drafting/Revision of Thesis Statement

  • Should convey the main idea in one sentence.

  • Argumentative thesis makes a claim; report thesis describes the main idea without proof.

Academic Integrity & Avoiding Plagiarism

  • Academic integrity involves honesty and ethical behavior as a student.

  • Plagiarism: presenting another's work as your own, intentional or unintentional.

  • Key rules: use own words, paraphrase properly, acknowledge all sources.

General Structure of Academic Research

I. Introduction
II. Literature Review
III. Methodology
IV. Findings/Results
V. Discussion
VI. Conclusion
VII. References

Tips for Drafting an Outline

  • Ensure a clear topic and well-written thesis statement.

  • Use 3-5 levels of headings to organize ideas.