This document outlines 10 steps to becoming a successful academic writer. The steps include: preparing to research by organizing notes; understanding the assignment requirements; creating an action plan; conducting targeted research; stopping to review findings; outlining the paper; drafting; revising; proofreading; and reviewing feedback to improve future work. The goal is to provide a structured process for students to effectively research, write, and refine their academic assignments.
2. Step One
Prepare to research
Open a research
folder – old envelope,
file, smart new
briefcase…
Be prepared to put
notes from lectures,
seminars & reading in
folder
3. What is being asked?
Know the format: Write out the whole
question
Essay
Underline all the key
Report words.
Presentation
Look at the asking
words – describe,
Seminar? analyse, evaluate,
discuss
If in doubt – ask your Any other key words?
tutor Like “using examples”
or “illustrate with…”
4. Then:
Analyse the question – all of it
Have the overview – and fit the task to
the learning outcomes
these will be in the module booklet or available
from module line via the university web site
Be creative – use creative brainstorming
and notemaking strategies
Don’t know how? Go to a Learning Development
Unit workshop and find out - also
http:learning.unl.ac.uk/bssmquickstart
5. Action Plan
Tip: research one
word from the
Why? question at a time
Where?
When?
What?
6. Step Two
Follow the action plan –undertake
targeted research and active reading
Make pattern notes
Write on one side of the paper only
Build paragraph patterns
Put notes in folder – write
bibliography on the outside
7. Tip: index cards
Index cards are useful –
and will save time
writing up a
bibliography at the
end
Author
Date
Title
Publisher
Place of publication
A few key points
8. Step Three – stop!
Stop reading
Review your
findings
Re–read the
question
What gaps are
there is your
research?
9. Step Four
Plan the outline of essay, report,
presentation, whatever…….
Use a study skills book to give you some
ideas or collect a hand out from the
Learning Development Unit
Or self register on webCT for the online
Writing and Communication workshop
See the IT helpdesk if you need assistance to
create a webCT account
10. Step Five
Prepare the first draft….
A rough draft has gaps and mistakes
Leave gaps – do not search for the
right word – do not check spelling,
tenses,
(not this time)
11. Step Six
Leave a time lag:
the brain will work
to close the gaps…
How about a night
out? Your action plan
should leave you some
time to enjoy
yourself…..
12. Step Seven
Review
Revise
Edit
Struggle to write!
Settle on a final
draft
13. Step Eight
Get a friend,
Proof read colleague,
Look for one type of to read over
mistake at a time your work,
or read it
Think SPAG from back to front,
Spelling bottom to top
Punctuation to spot errors
And
Grammar
14. Step Nine
Finished!
Take a copy AND keep
a copy
Hand work in or before
the deadline
Check you have
correctly completed
the coursework
documentation (module
code, tutors name)
Leave time to queue at
the assessment unit
and get a receipt
15. Step TEN and most
important!
Review your progress
Tutor feedback –
read it, review it,
plan what you will
do with it!
SWOT – then see a
learning
development tutor!
Ask if you can swap
and read other
peoples work