Academic Writing: Writing process

 Keep your work intact - avoid plagiarism! 

Plagiarism is using someone else's work and passing it off as one's own. The term comes from the Latin word plagiarius, which means 'kidnapper' (Menager-Beeley, R., & Paulos, L. (2006). Understanding plagiarism: A student guide to writing your own work. Boston: Houghton Mifflin).

Maintain the integrity of your unique voice and original ideas by clearly marking your external sources, whether you're directly quoting or paraphrasing lines to support your work. Avoid the consequences of plagiarism with these simple solutions:

• Document and credit your sources with a reference page
• Use footnotes and endnotes and in-text citations

​     What if you had less than 60 seconds to tell someone what your paper is about?
     Consider your thesis statement to be the one-line or one-sentence idea that both
     summarizes all your arguments and discussions and also, most importantly,
     serves as the 'core' idea that is driving your paper. These links help you think
     about, formulate, and polish your thesis statement:

• Thesis Statement - Dartmouth Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement - Purdue OWL
• How to Write a Thesis Statement - Indiana University Writing Center
• Formulating a Thesis - Loyola Marymount University Academic Resource Center
• Thesis Statements - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center

     Reduce your assignment-related stress by following concrete, actionable steps to
     tackle your assignment from the moment you receive it, ensuring you're
     prepared before you even begin writing. These links offer practical advice on how
     to get started on any writing project, from understanding your professor's
     expectations to deciding how you'll respond:

• Understanding Writing Assignments - Purdue OWL
• Introduction to Pre-writing (or Invention) - Purdue OWL
• Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block - Purdue OWL
• Four Main Components for Effective Outlines - Purdue OWL
• Audience Analysis Overview - Purdue OWL

Study this overview of the writing process courtesy of Excelsior University's Online Writing Lab:

From brainstorming to finishing touches: Factsheets

Academic writing is a little different from your everyday speech or even messaging, and your professors want to see you make the most of your critical thinking and unique perspectives, as well as your ability to incorporate research and clearly, compellingly present what you have to say.  But don't panic - with every assignment you will be practicing your skills and getting used to the 'writing process.' Check out some of the below factsheets from BBC Skillswise, that help you keep in mind the key structural requirements and time-tested steps to ensure you present your best work yet!