Oct 25, 2023 |
7 Mins Read
Utilise these online tools to improve your academic writing skill
In the current digital age, academic writing has undoubtedly been transformed from what it once was. The internet has brought a new era of convenience and efficiency for students and scholars alike. Academic writing is a writing style that demands a clear tone and formal language, finding the balance between the two can be challenging. As a result, online academic writing tools have emerged, offering resources and assistance to streamline the writing and citation processes. In this blog, we explore online tools that can help you conquer academic writing challenges, boost your productivity, and elevate the quality of your scholarly work. Writing Tools The chosen writing platform can impact the quality of an academic essay, however, this is dependent on personal preferences. A well-known universally adopted writing platform is Microsoft Word, which is very versatile and caters to a variety of writing projects. Platforms specifically geared towards academic writing usually host citation managers and other formatting specialities. Listed below are a few writing platforms that Zendy recommends. PlatformBenefitsMicrosoft WordA versatile tool that is user-friendly, provides formatting options, collaboration and sharing tools, citation features, templates, spell and grammar check, and auto-save.LaTeXMost used by academics as the platform is designed to smoothly manage heavy files including data in the form of text, visuals and equations. Provides writers with professional typesetting tools to easily meet institutional or journal requirements easily.LibreOfficeLibreOffice Writer provides an array of writing tools ranging from advanced formatting options to spell-checking, in terms of academic writing, this can be a good platform to conduct final touches on an academic paper.ScrivenerFor academic writers, Scrivener is best used as a note-making tool as it efficiently stores and organizes all the notes, sources and citations.Google DocsGoogle Docs works best for researchers who are collaborating on an academic paper, it conveniently tracks everybody’s contributions ensuring equal participation and smooth workflow.Dropbox PaperDropbox paper can be considered a slightly advanced version of Google Docs as the platform is designed to assign tasks, organize documents and create to-do lists to ensure researchers collaborate efficiently. Citation Management Tools In academic writing, referencing and citations are arguably the most time-consuming tasks. Online citation tools are designed to generate accurate citations and curate specifically formatted referencing lists to ensure productivity in research. Citation managers generate both in-text citations and list versions to ensure the source is being used correctly to avoid plagiarism, furthermore, some citation tools also evaluate sources and rule out or alert the writer about the non-academic ones. Listed below are a few citation management tools that Zendy recommends. PlatformBenefitsZoteroZotero is an efficient citation management tool that generates citations by dragging the link of the source to a dropbox. A unique feature is that Zotero also allows academic writers to annotate PDFs on the app to highlight key concepts within a research paper.Mendeleygenerates citations and bibliographies of multiple mediums and allows users to collaborate with other researchers online.EndNoteEndNote is a great way to organise citations by research paper. It hosts interesting features such as PDF annotation and allows users to generate citations from over 7000 referencing styles. This platform also allows researchers to share reference lists with other authorised collaborators.PaperpilePaperpile allows users to access their libraries across multiple devices and also functions as a plug-in to collaborate on Google Docs. It also secures bibliographies as it is a cloud-based reference manager.RefWorksRefWorks allows users to simply share citations and documents with other collaborators and efficiently manages multiple formats, including webpages. Grammar and Spell-Check Tools In academic writing, it is important to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors and that all sentences are structured in a formal and objective manner. The core of academic writing is to clearly and accurately convey information and findings, any grammatical or spelling errors have the potential to misinform readers. Listed below are a few grammar and spell-check tools that Zendy recommends. PlatformBenefitsGrammarlyGrammarly is a universal plug-in that enhances clarity and readability while also highlighting errors. This platform can be optimized to cater to any writing platform and tone. Allowing researchers to work on different projects error-freeProWritingAidThis tool assesses an array of writing mistakes like sentences that interrupt the flow, word choices, consistency of tense usage, and readability.MS Word Spelling and Grammar CheckerEfficient for writers who primarily utilise MS Word, as it is an efficient tool that saves time in the proofreading stage. Plagiarism Detecting Tools To be a credible academic, your record must be free of plagiarism as it can quickly taint your career and reputation. Plagiarism detectors ensure that all the content in a research paper is original and cited correctly, some detectors also evaluate how credible a source is and if it can be utilised in an academic paper and then highlight the problem areas. Regularly using plagiarism detectors helps researchers adhere to ethical guidelines to disseminate credible academic research. Listed below are two plagiarism detectors that Zendy recommends. PlatformBenefitsTurnitinThis platform educates students on identifying and crediting other authors’ works, using appropriate referencing techniques, and detecting plagiarised parts for students to efficiently paraphrase.CopyscapeCopyscape helps identify plagiarism and the exact source from where content has been plagiarised, this helps students understand the context of the information while correcting the plagiarism. In the fast-paced world of academia, where the pursuit of excellence is paramount, these online tools have proven to be indispensable for students and scholars alike. From harnessing the power of plagiarism detection to ensuring impeccable grammar and streamlining the tedious task of citation management, these digital aids have transformed our approach to academic writing. As we conclude our exploration of these tools, it's worth noting that while they provide invaluable assistance, they are no substitute for the core skills of critical thinking, research, and writing. Instead, they serve as enablers, freeing up time and mental bandwidth, and allowing us to focus on the true essence of scholarship: the pursuit of knowledge and the articulation of innovative ideas. Use Zendy to conduct your research through quality scholarly papers and easily consume the content with our AI-based summarisation and keyphrase highlighting features. table, th, td { border: 1px solid; } td { padding: 8px; } td a { color: rgb(234 170 0); } table { margin: 20px 0 }
The Literature Review Formula: Key Steps for Academic Excellence
The literature review within an academic research paper stands to provide an understanding of existing literature and discourse within an area of study, this knowledge and information is presented as a comprehensive report. The relevant research is collected and summarised, this gives the author the opportunity to identify prior research, avoid plagiarism, identify the gaps in research and conflicts of previous studies, and justify the author’s research question and statement. This critical evaluation of existing research and debate dictates the researcher’s reviewing stance on their own research question. In this blog, we dissect how to write a compelling and comprehensive literature review for your next academic paper. How to identify relevant resources for the literature review? The first step to locating relevant academic resources for your literature review is to identify the key terminologies and concepts within your research question or statement. One of the most simple methods of finding relevant resources is to use boolean operators which are simple words like AND, OR, NOT etc. These produce more focused search results. It is also important to limit your searches to credible academic databases like: Zendy Google Scholar OAPEN There are criteria to decide whether a source is relevant and credible enough to be included in a literature review, the P.R.O.V.E.N. method serves as a guide for researchers on what to assess when locating sources. P - Purpose: Why was the source created? Does the information exist to inform, entertain, persuade or sell? Are the authors stating the purpose or attempting to disguise it? Why is the information published in this medium? (Book, journal article etc.) Who is the target audience? R - Relevance: The value of the source Is the source appropriate to utilise within your assignment? How beneficial is this source? Does it add new information or support your argument? O - Objectivity: How reasonable is the information? What kind of language are the authors utilising? Is it offensive, emotional or strong? Are the authors influenced by their opinions or perspectives? Do they state this clearly or attempt to disguise this? Does the piece offer multiple perspectives? Are the authors critiquing these perspectives constructively? V - Verifiability: Accuracy of the information Is the information supported with facts? Does it cite other sources and are they credible? What do experts state about this topic? Is this information found in other sources as well? Does the material misinterpret other sources or present false evidence? E - Expertise: Authority of authors and source Are the authors credible? Do they have educational credentials related to the topic, and are they affiliated with institutions? Is their expertise recognised by other authors? Is the source peer-reviewed? N - Newness: Age of information Is your topic within an area that requires current research? Or are older sources still relevant and valid? When was the source first published? Are there newer sources that add new information? How to analyse and critique sources for a literature review? To utilise a specific source in a literature review, it has to be thoroughly analysed and critiqued. The academic paper would need to be checked for accuracy, reliability, and credibility; to effectively do so, there are 4 simple steps that compare certain sections of an academic paper with specific questions. Look at the abstract, then the discussion sections What is the significance of the conclusions and are they accurate? Have the authors stated the limitations of the study? Is the design appropriate for the research question? Go through the methods section Do the methods address potential bias? Are there appropriate “controls” within the study? Were the methods cited and described in detail? Do the authors state the limitations of the selected methods? Go through the results section Were the results expected or anticipated by the authors and researchers? Does the data support the outcome? Has the author accurately presented the data? Evaluate the discussion and conclusion sections Is there a clear explanation of the hypothesis being supported or refuted? Are the limitations of the study accurately addressed? Other points to consider: Are there any ethical concerns? Have the authors cited themselves? Are there any financial or ethical conflicts of interest associated with the industry? How to organise a literature review? The organisation of a literature review is dependent on the area of study and scope that the academic paper will be covering. There are 3 approaches to organise a literature review which are thematic, chronological, and methodological as depicted in the infographic below. Common mistakes to avoid in a literature review Literature reviews often come with their fair share of pitfalls and common mistakes. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or beginning to navigate the world of academic writing, it's important to understand the strategies to steer clear of these pitfalls and create literature reviews that stand out for their clarity, depth, and impact. Relying on low-quality sources Avoid using non-academic sources like blog posts, opinion pieces, and publications by advocacy groups. These sources should only be included if they are of significance as they are not objective or research-based. Lack of seminal literature Seminal literature is essentially the research paper that previously highlighted and elevated the area of study and serves as the theoretical foundation of a strong literature review. Most students and authors focus on including timely research rather than crediting the origin, furthermore, seminal literature can be easily found on Google Scholar. Lack of current literature A strong literature review is a balanced comparison of seminal and current scholarly research, this comparison thoroughly evaluates the timeline, discoveries and discrepancies between the time periods. Focus on descriptions A good literature review evaluates and synthesises research papers instead of providing brief descriptions. Writing the conclusion of a literature review The conclusion of a literature review section should summarise key findings, concepts and debates in the area of study. Since the conclusion of the literature review does not conclude the entire research paper, it is beneficial to include opportunities for future studies to further explore and dissect existing literature or gaps. You can also use this section to highlight your own research question to smoothly lead to the next section of your academic paper. FAQs What is the purpose of a literature review? The purpose of a literature review is to collect, evaluate and synthesise existing research and information within a specific area of study to support, argue or evaluate a thesis statement while also identifying the gaps in existing research. What citation style to use for a literature review? Literature reviews should contain in-text citations which should be referenced in the paper’s bibliography section. As for the citation style, this is dependent on the discipline and institution as it varies. What is the significance of critiquing literature? Critiquing literature is important because not all published research can be considered reliable. Arguments and the interpretation of data can be biased or justified inefficiently. ul li, ol li { margin: 0 0 0 40px; } ul li a{ --tw-text-opacity: 1; color: rgb(234 170 0); } ol { list-style: auto; } ul { list-style: disc; }
See the Top Reads of September 2023
In a world of boundless knowledge, we remain steadfast in our commitment to be your guide through scholarly research. This past month we witnessed a vast collection of exceptional works spanning the disciplines of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Healthcare, Education, and Sustainability. Whether you are a dedicated scholar, an inquisitive student, or an inquiring mind with a thirst for knowledge, our list of premier reads for the month promises to illuminate your mind. Join us as we showcase the contributions from the academic realm for the month of September. Future Regulation of AI As the current workforce landscape invests significantly in AI, it brings about the concern of how this advanced technology can be regulated. This journal article proposes the role of AI regulators that would ensure contextual responses are generated, risks are mitigated while innovation is supported. The article touches on the UKs AI regulations that are guided on the following principles: safety, security and robustness, transparency, fairness, accountability, and contestability. Furthermore, the paper identifies the legal risks in AI usage like breaches of the Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 as potential bias in algorithmic decision-making can be rooted in autonomy and adaptivity of AI. Read more: Future Regulation of AI and Employment Law Regulations Towards Sustainable Fashion Consumption This journal article explores consumer behavior in a developing country. Set in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the study aims to determine whether consumer behavior is a significant factor in promoting sustainable fashion. The results were derived using qualitative thematic analysis of 16 semi-structured interviews and found that there are critical barriers to adopting sustainable fashion practices in the region due to factors like over-shopping and the general analysis of quality, price and design. Read more: Towards Sustainable Fashion Consumption: Exploratory Study of Consumer Behavior in a Developing Country Recent Advances in Breast Cancer Research Breast cancer affects 1 in 3 women. This special issue highlights 12 research articles that cover cell biology, animal and human studies in the field of breast cancer. Several of these papers focused on potential biomarkers that can predict disease progression or therapeutic response, a few others highlighted tumor microenvironment and infiltration of immune cells and other human studies covered the usage of modern biotechnology to combat breast cancer. Read more: Recent Advances in Breast Cancer Research The Fine Art of School Engagement This journal article highlights the importance of art in education. The author states that art instills a foundation of human expression, provides ways of learning and exposes an individual to different perspectives; they also describe an education without arts is insufficient. The article studies the positioning of arts throughout school years and finds that schools in America have a steady decline in music and art resources, the authors suggest that the very expansion of arts affects learning, behavior and social-emotionla growth while also improving empathy, engagement and discipline. Read more: The Fine Art of School Engagement Introducing Accessible Design to Computer Science Students People with disabilities rely on accessible technology to interact with the world. This study introduces accessible design courses to computer science students to help them design and evelop inclusive applications that align with the needs of people with disabilities. The aim of the study is to increase student knowledge on accessibility in the digital world and analysed student feedback on the course.Read more: Introducing Accessible Design to Students in Computer Science Discover millions of e-books, journal articles, proceedings and more on Zendy now.
Learn how you can improve your writing process to write academic essays
In academia, where ideas and knowledge converge, the written word is a powerful tool for conveying research and arguments. However, the journey from a blank page to a polished essay involves more than inspiration; it demands a systematic and strategic approach. The steps involved in the writing process are considered the building blocks of an essay, the academic writing style itself provides a deep knowledge of the subject matter and helps writers construct evidence-based arguments within their respective fields. This blog post explores the essential steps, techniques, and insights to improve your writing process and gear the approach towards academic essays. Essay Writing Basics The purpose of academic essays is to advance ideas and exchange discourse amongst scholars while also teaching the writer to think critically and analyse various areas of research. When structuring and writing an academic essay, it is essential to plan the flow of information to complement one another strategically; the research points contained in each paragraph have to be simple to absorb and not overbearing. An academic essay has 3 key components: introduction, body paragraph and conclusion. Pre-Writing Phase Before writing the essay, having several brainstorming sessions will help writers understand the topic, scope, and arguments within the academic essay. Brainstorming allows writers to build enthusiasm and commitment towards the essay, as the topic becomes clearer with research, discussion and planning. Listed below are a few effective brainstorming techniques: Mind Mapping A mind map is essential for brainstorming as it tracks related concepts. The first step is to write down the larger subject and then write down anything that is relevant to that, this helps writers and researchers visualise all the information related to the topic. It can be used to either break down a larger subject or focus on a certain component of a subject, this is beneficial for academic writers as it helps generate new ideas, foster collaboration and organise information. Clustering The cluster analysis is a great method to club or “cluster” information and data together over certain similarities. This learning technique can be adapted to a brainstorming method to allow academic writers to structure their essays strategically which would allow information and ideas to flow smoothly. Free Writing Free writing is a brainstorming method geared towards writers, it allows writers to write about a topic with no rules, guidelines or structure. The aim is to write as the thoughts come so that the writer can establish how much information they have on a topic. There are 3 simple rules to get this method right: don’t pause to read anything you have written, don’t cross out or erase anything as that is editing and not writing, and finally, don’t worry about spelling or grammar. This method allows writers to generate their ideas and polish them later, rather than having a thought and letting it go. After having productive brainstorming sessions, the next step is to start the research. Certain institutions have guidelines as to what they consider reputable resources, for example, Wikipedia is not considered an academic source of information as the pages can be edited and written by anyone. Access reputable academic databases and libraries to conduct your research, We have listed a few below: Zendy DOAJ Google Scholar ResearchGate OAPEN Once the research phase is done, you will have gathered a good amount of resources and information on your essay topic. The next crucial step is to develop a thesis statement, an essay has to have a thesis statement to serve as a guide for the reader and develop the author’s argument. Furthermore, formulating the thesis statement allows authors to see how their ideas are perceived in a sentence or two. A strong thesis statement specifies one main idea and asserts the author’s conclusions on the essay question or topic. For example, if your essay is about the implementation of sustainable practices in the transport sector, your thesis statement can be: In recent years, there has been a rise in sustainable initiatives, this essay highlights and argues that sustainability in transportation is beneficial for human advancement and slowing climate change. Writing The Essay Once the initial stages of brainstorming, research, and the formulation of a thesis statement are done, the writing process is equipped with a clear roadmap. Each paragraph in an academic essay serves as a building block, cementing the foundation of the thesis while allowing room to explore other perspectives. Introduction The introductory paragraph of an academic essay sets the tone and outlines the map of the essay. It should give the reader a clear idea of the points, arguments and methods the essay will highlight and discuss. There are 4 main components of a good essay introduction paragraph; the hook, context, thesis statement and a clear structure of the essay. Example: The rise of sustainable practices in the transport sector is imperative to its advancement (Hook). In recent years, the world has witnessed electric cars, alternative routes, carpooling applications, and improvements in public transport; these enhancements have encouraged the general population to utilise alternative methods of transport rather than driving their personal vehicles daily (Context). This essay states that sustainable practices in the transport sector are beneficial for human advancement and slowing climate change (Thesis). The essay discusses the development and implementation of sustainable aviation fuel in recent flights while acknowledging key drawbacks. Furthermore, the essay assesses how carpooling alternatives are valuable for the safety of the environment; and finally, the accessibility and affordability of public transport (Structure). Developing Arguments To effectively develop the arguments that support the thesis statement, the writer should deconstruct the topic and map all possible aspects of the topic. Based on available research, literature and evidence; create a stance that has appropriate citations. Each body paragraph should break down the argument and end with an explanation as to why the essay’s stance is convincing. Structuring Body Paragraphs In an academic essay, each body paragraph is dedicated to a specific point or argument; this paragraph would consist of a topic sentence, evidence, opposing research, context and explanation. Each developed argument should flow and serve the research paper’s positioning in the subject area. The best practice for structuring effective body paragraphs is to follow the P.E.E method which stands for point, evidence and explanation. Example: The usage of sustainable aviation fuel is key to maintaining the same amount of weekly flights while reducing its effects on climate change (Point). In recent studies, Smith (2021) found that the components required to produce sustainable aviation fuel not only source environmentally friendly ingredients but also practice eco-friendly processes during the production and manufacturing phases (Evidence). The approach to creating sustainability in transport starts by examining the processes by which the vehicles are manufactured as the environmental output of those factories is significant, utilising sustainable aviation fuel eliminates harmful production practices and decreases pollution caused by aeroplanes (Explanation). Writing the Conclusion The conclusion of an academic essay should be an impactful recap of the essay, which should include supporting evidence for the arguments presented; by this paragraph in the essay, the reader should be drawn to supporting the thesis statement. Editing and Polishing During the editing stage, it is common for authors to look for grammatical errors; while this is important, it’s also beneficial to keep an eye out for clarity issues. In academic writing, structuring clear and concise sentences is imperative so that all readers can efficiently comprehend the material. Here is a check-list of what you should look out for while editing an academic essay: Correct running sentences with too many subordinate clauses Sentences should be written in active voice Assess whether a sentence is written in an academic and formal tone Assess whether the essay is structured for the intended audience and purpose Finalising the Essay Once the essay has reached the finalising phase, it’s important to refer to your institutional formatting guidelines and ensure that all the requirements have been met. Once that is done, the bibliography has to be double-checked to ensure the references are in the correct style without grammar and formatting mistakes. The bibliography is an essential part of an academic essay as it helps readers, professors, and researchers understand where the evidence was retrieved from and how the arguments were constructed; having an accurate bibliography also gives the essay credibility. The final step is to give the essay one last proofread to ensure that it is free of errors. FAQs How long should an essay be? Ideally, an essay should be about 5-7 pages which should contain about 1500-2000 words. However, a detailed essay can range from anywhere between 8-10 pages containing about 2500-3000 words. What are the key elements of a perfect essay? Great essays have a clear and concise introduction, thesis and conclusion. The body paragraphs within a good essay flow and connect back to the thesis statement, creating cohesive arguments as the academic paper progresses. How can I improve my essay-writing skills? Improving your essay writing skills lies in the planning and proofreading phases rather than the writing itself. Before beginning your essay, plan out the paragraphs, and arguments, and follow the structures to create uniformed paragraphs. In the proofreading stage, keep an eye out for grammatical errors as well as clarity-related errors. Are there any online resources to assist with essay writing? The most useful essay-writing tool is Grammarly, it offers multiple suggestions and corrections as you write so that the corrections can be made simultaneously, further simplifying the proofreading stage. How important is the thesis statement in an essay? The thesis statement gives the essay direction and provides a clear roadmap to the writer. Every other component of the essay should support or explain the thesis statement. How do I avoid plagiarism in my essay? The most effective way to avoid plagiarism is to keep a record of all the sources you will utilise in your essay and then paraphrase the points, you will then have to cite the original author using in-text citations. ul li{ list-style: disc; margin: 0 0 0 40px; } ul li a{ --tw-text-opacity: 1; color: rgb(234 170 0); }
Dissecting the Key Ethical Considerations in Academic Research
Within the ever-evolving sphere of academic and scientific research, ethical considerations play an imperative role. Research ethics are a set of principles that guide research, study, or experiment design and process; they serve as a code of conduct for scientists and researchers to abide by when collecting data from people. Transparently communicating how a study followed ethical guidelines is beneficial for both the researcher and participant; the guidelines ensure the participant’s right to privacy is protected, while also enhancing research validity and maintaining scientific integrity. Why are ethics important in research? Research ethics are established to ensure that the rights and welfare of research participants are appropriately protected, and all research designs involving living beings are reviewed by an ethics committee prior to the execution; this is done to ensure all ethical standards are met. Following ethics shows objectivity in research studies and experiments, the absence of harm combined with efficient result transparency gives the study credibility as well. Moreover, ethical research models and experiment designs attract more funding because research integrity and transparency are essential in gaining support to execute research. Finally, the standard ethics in research are also put in place to increase collaborative work across disciplines and institutions. Voluntary Participation When scouting and briefing volunteers for a research study, it is imperative to clarify that there are no negative consequences of withdrawing from the study. Voluntary participation is an ethical principle protected by international law and many scientific codes of conduct. Informed Consent All potential participants should receive and comprehend all the information about the study or experiment. The participant debriefing should include the following: What is the study about? Risks and benefits of participating Timeline of study or experiment Contact information and institutional approval number of the research supervisor Right to withdraw at any given point in the study The information withdrawal procedure All of this information should be clearly mentioned and explained in a debriefing document which the participants should sign. It is important for all this information to be thoroughly comprehended by participants hence the material should be translated for those with limited English. Anonymity In a research study, anonymity can only be guaranteed by not collecting any personally identifiable information. An alternative to anonymising data is to generate data pseudonyms and replace personal information with these pseudonym identifiers instead. Confidentiality Participant confidentiality has to be maintained properly before, during and after the study. The information has to be stored safely during collection, analysis and utilisation. For example, all digitised files must be password protected and only approved researchers can access these databases. For cases in which confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, this must be thoroughly communicated in the debriefing phase. Potential Harm Any kind of harm during a study should be minimised. However, the researcher would need to consider all aspects of liability to debrief participants appropriately. Psychological harm: sensitive questions or tasks that can trigger negative emotions such as anxiety or shame Social harm: participation can involve social risks, public humiliation or stigma Physical harm: any pain or injury that can result from study procedures Legal harm: reporting sensitive data could lead to legal risks and potential breaches of privacy Result Communication Researchers should remember that good scientific research is honest and credible, as this keeps results as transparent as possible. There are 2 issues that can come from inaccurate result analysis and communication: Plagiarism: the researcher should be vigilant to not commit plagiarism or self-plagiarism as this can benefit the researcher from presenting these findings and concepts as “new” Research misconduct: falsifying or fabricating data which is considered academic fraud In conclusion, ethical considerations in academia contribute to responsible research. Embracing principles such as honesty, integrity, transparency, fairness, and respect not only ensures the credibility of academic work but also fosters a culture of trust and collaboration within the scholarly community. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of academia, it is imperative to remain vigilant in upholding these ethical standards. By doing so, we not only contribute to the advancement of knowledge but also serve as ethical role models for the next generation of scholars, shaping a brighter and more ethically grounded future for academia.