Writing guides
Skills and advice for researching, collaborating on and writing academic articles, papers reports and essays, from preprints to peer-reviewed journals
When essay feedback does more harm than good
Tired of asking for more scope, depth and flow with no improvement in students’ writing? Maybe the problem is not the students but your feedback
Brainstorming benefits of an AI writing assistant app
User needs, smart prompts and functionality were central to creating an AI tool that supports student writing and thinking. Here, Joanne Chia and Angela Frattarola share…
Are you a jack of all GenAI?
Effective use of generative AI draws on a suite of skills that go beyond well-crafted prompts. Getting the best out of tech’s ubiquitous tool requires informed choices,…
Voice, agency and style: what goes missing when AI chats back
We need to teach that imperfect but authentic writing is more valuable than sentences that are polished on the surface, argue three US academics. Here, they share…
Streamline the literature review process with these tips
Ways to make the research, reading and referencing processes smooth
‘Academic writing equals chaos’
If you are stalled in your latest writing project, Glenn Fosbraey shares three tips for breaking through blocks, getting organised and finishing the final draft
Anatomy of an academic book proposal
Pitch your book to publishers with an irresistible proposal. Here are all the elements you’ll need
Enhancing the thesis experience: insights from master’s students
Early preparation is essential for students’ successful thesis journey – so postgraduate course coordinators and programme leaders should put supports in place from the…
The pros and cons of peer reviewing
Weighing up whether to take on the role of peer reviewer? Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experience to outline the upsides and downsides
A practical guide to writing a literature review
From organising key search terms to checking citations, this video offers simple, practical tips to crafting a literature review that will lay a sound foundation for your…
We’re living in a world of artificial intelligence – it’s academic publishing that needs to change
Scholars are using generative AI to assist them with writing articles, but should they be punished for it? The academic publishing community may need to change its mindset,…
‘What artists do is say the quiet bits out loud’
As teachers, we know our students will face the harsh demands of creativity and problem-solving in their daily professional lives – and we need to help them tap into…
Time to write is a necessity, not a nice-to-have
How a project for academics to carve out writing time has grown from ‘power hours’ to writing retreats, community, increased well-being and higher-quality papers
‘I’ve been a research supervisor for 35 years and I’m still learning’
How can we supervise our PhD students to give them the best chance of success? Here are seven tips to keep in mind when taking on the role
Peer feedback: a burden for students or route to better academic writing?
Asking students to give anonymous feedback on each other’s work can not only result in better writing skills but also offer them opportunities to try new…
Why is no one listening?
Academic ways of communicating are often the exact opposite of what you need to draw widespread attention to your research, writes Simon Hall. Here are…
Why I ban AI use for writing assignments
Students may see handwriting essays in class as a needlessly time-consuming approach to assignments, but I want them to learn how to engage with arguments, develop their …
Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a doctoral dissertation
Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on…
THE podcast: cross-cultural communication in the international classroom
Whether it’s teaching creative writing and media in a multilingual course or providing future doctors with clinical communication skills, two experts share tips for…
Strategies for writing a PhD dissertation: write before you’re ‘ready’
Reading isn’t writing, and knowing about your topic isn’t writing. So, what should graduate students do to get started and make steady progress? Monique Dufour…
Get a head start in the first year of your PhD
Even a marathon begins with first steps, and so it makes sense to master motivation, set healthy habits and get writing early to reap the reward of a polished…
Buddy system: creating community through writing
Is a writing group or partner an effective antidote to post-pandemic isolation during doctoral education? Lena Steveker and Laura Spadon explain how to put a forum …
How to structure your PhD thesis
Organising your PhD thesis in a logical order is one of the crucial stages of your writing process. Here is a list of the individual components to include
Get your PhD thesis beach ready
Prepping for the beach requires planning, effort and time management – and so does writing a PhD thesis. John Sinclair offers advice for summer days and doctoral…
Informal networking and how to meet people on campus
Belonging is not just a result of being in a place – nor it is the sole preserve of students. For university faculty, it comes from chance encounters, small gestures and stepping…
How to navigate the PhD thesis
The PhD thesis may be a mountain to climb, but you can take it one step at a time. Luis R Rojas-Solórzano offers his guidance
Four ways to engage students in blogging
Enrich the conversational scholarship of blogging by including student voices. Anna D’Alton offers her tips
How to write an abstract for a research paper
Read about three elements to include in your research paper abstract and some tips for making yours stand out
THE podcast: bringing an outsider’s eye to primary sources
What happens when a literary scholar turns her attention to local archives such as inventories and court records? English professor Alexandra Harris talks about writing…
‘Augmenting’ the doctoral thesis in preparation for a viva
The viva voce exam is the final hurdle for PhD students, but for most it is also a new and fear-inducing experience. Edward Mills offers one framework to help those…
‘Creative writing can be as impactful as an academic paper’
Grassroots initiatives can promote visibility of marginalised groups, self-expression and community, writes Emily Downes. Here are her key tips from running a…
One thesis, two supports, three months
Completing a thesis within 12 weeks may seem impossible, but by combining AI and your supervisor’s expertise, it can be done. Mariam Shadan shows how
How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide
A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece
Want to foster community and give your students a voice? Start blogging
From educators to students, blogging is a vital social infrastructure for the higher education community. Michael Taster and Rosemary Deller offer their tips
All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal
Advice on drafting successful research proposals to secure support and funding for interdisciplinary projects, from three academics with experience developing…
How to tackle the PhD dissertation
Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho provides some tips to make…
How mathematical practices can improve your writing
Writing is similar to three specific mathematical practices: modelling, problem-solving and proving, writes Caroline Yoon. Here, she gives some tips on how to use …
Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience
Writing academic papers can be a long and emotional journey. Burcu Totur Dikmen offers her tips for emotional well-being
Why your students need to learn the skills of a journalist
Interviewing real people to gain original stories and insights is a skill that will serve your students well in the age of AI. Julie Nightingale offers tips
How to show you’re the best person for the job
Many applicants struggle to articulate their successes in their applications for a job, promotion or award. Harriet Dunbar-Morris is here to help you make your case
Five ways to beat the procrastination monster
Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey offers strategies to stop putting off putting …
Embrace AI tools to improve student writing
Rather than trying to keep it out of the classroom, here are ways faculty can facilitate more effective use of ChatGPT for writing assignments
How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagement
Presenting sustainability research in a story – with a protagonist, goal and resolution – can bridge the gap between complex theory and real-world results for wider…
Using primary sources to tell queer histories
Public records and private lives? In uncovering LGBTQ+ stories in personal archives and impersonal documents, historians should ask questions about how each source…
What is your academic writing temperament?
Many early career researchers struggle to write enough. The key is to move away from an abstract notion of productivity and towards a productive writing process, explains…
Can we detect AI-written content?
A look at common features of large language model-created writing and its implications for how we might assess students’ knowledge and skills in the future
Give your academic paper its best chance of being accepted
Peer review is a key step in the journey to publication in that prestigious journal, but not every paper gets to this stage. Here are key reasons for desk rejection and how to avoid…
Breaking academic barriers: large language models and the future of search
The true potential of generative AI and large language models remains underexplored in academia. These technologies may offer more than just answers.…
Enhancing manuscript clarity and ethical credibility with ChatGPT
Ikenna Uwanuakwa shares experience and tips for using ChatGPT to improve academic writing without falling foul of ethical considerations
Authenticity sells because it matters
Written communication – whether that’s a press release or IT guidelines – should be clear, sincere and accessible. Here, Mike Brown offers ways to help colleagues build the…
