Welcome to the guide that introduces academic writing essentials.

Having
studied it, you will be able to start writing basic papers

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Select your sources: the easiest way is to search books.google.com for free
books. You may also browse any available online libraries. Sometimes, it is
useful to simply google articles/webpages, though such are less reliable than
books.

Remember to use recent sources (published: 2015 - ).

Study your sources: you don’t have to read the entire source since most of
the times you just need a chapter or two. At first, you can skim several
paragraphs to understand whether the source is useful and informative. If yes,
you will read it more thoroughly later.

Come up with the main idea and argumentation:

 define the topic;

 determine the main idea;
 think of supporting arguments;
 choose the sources to back up your arguments.
Write your draft: write down the central idea and main arguments in a
column (1 row for each). Then start expanding rows into full-scale paragraphs
using sources. Your paper should look like this:

 1st paragraph introduces the thesis;

 several next paragraphs are dedicated to argumentation (1 point per each
paragraph);
 the last paragraph wraps up the argumentation.
To nail paragraph structure, follow these simple steps:
1. define the idea of this paragraph;

2. support it with sources;

3. analyze whether sources are right;
4. add a link to the next paragraph (a sentence that connects logically two
paragraphs is never a bad idea).
Proofread and submit: take some time off, and return to your draft with a
fresh mind. Then edit, proofread, and submit the work.

Please, while proofreading your papers, pay special attention to and root out
these:

TOP - 5 TERRIBLE MISTAKES

№5 Misplaced citations:
I think we should combat global warming (George 5).

In this case, there is no need to put a reference after personal assumption.

№4 Subject-verb disagreement:

This guide are good.

As you may have already thought, the correct version is “This guide is good.”

№3 Run-on sentences:

He wondered what the decision meant he thought about it all night.

This sentence structure is confusing and unclear. To fix that, try splitting it in
two.

№2 Weak thesis statement:

This paper states that smoking is bad.

The thesis statement has to be debatable, specific, and definite. Though this
very thesis is quite definite (i.e. smoking is bad), it is hardly debatable, and
there is little argumentation to back up your stance. Consider something like:
“Adverse effects on one’s health, significant financial costs (of both
purchasing cigarettes and health care), and restrictions on smoking in public
places point towards the conclusion that smoking is a relic of the past that has
no place in the 21st century.”

№1 Paragraphs with 2+ main ideas:

Global warming is already causing a lot of harm to developing nations. Both

the World Bank (2019) and the IMF (2019) note that it affects their agricultural
output and contributes to migration. Global warming was first disregarded as a
concept and was believed to be a lie. It is reasonable to note that Germany is
taking a different approach to global warming.

This paragraph actually contains 3 main ideas (harm to developing nations,

initial disregard of the idea, Germany’s approach to the issue) which need to
be separated. Sometimes, piling up ideas leads to paragraphs spanning 8-10
lines of text which is certainly difficult to read.