The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Academic Research Writing in the UK

Academic Research writing goes beyond simply stringing technical words and concepts together. Rather, it follows a defined structure and process that are expected to aid a reader’s understanding of the topic. As a formal writing style used for essays, dissertations, and many other scholarly publications, it is being used by students, academics, and researchers across the UK.

 

This comprehensive guide, therefore, explores what academic research writing is, its common features, types, and strategies, making any beginner well-equipped for scholarly projects or assignments.

 

What is Academic Research Writing?

As the name implies, academic research writing is basically formal writing backed by fact-based research that informs or persuades an audience about a particular idea. According to the University of Leeds, it is clear, focused, and structured writing that is supported by relevant evidence and references.

 

In other words, it is a style of discourse that is clear, formal, factual, and logically structured. Also referred to as scholarly writing, it flows from one key point to the next and objectively discusses a well-researched topic for a clear and detailed understanding of the topic.

 

What Academic Research Writing Should Look Like

Like every other style of composition, academic research writing has a few basic features that differentiate it from the rest. Therefore, as a scholarly form of writing, it is expected to be:

 

Formal and objective: One key thing to avoid in this style of writing is the use of slang, contractions, and overly casual language. You are also expected to make use of third person pronouns and not first or second person pronouns such as “I”, “you”, “my”, “our”, and so on. In addition to this, your writing must be unbiased, neutral, and based solely on the facts researched.

 

Clear and concise: To avoid misunderstanding or confusion, your writing must be specific, unambiguous, and straight to the point. Thus, it is important that you express your points clearly without deviating from what really matters. In other words, try as much as possible not to be vague and only include points that are relevant to the topic.

 

Well-structured: There is no freestyle in scholarly writing. Instead, it requires following a defined and logical structure to properly organise your points and enable your ideas to flow comprehensively.

 

Factual: This writing style is evidence-based. Unlike creative and informal writing, it does not include unsupported claims or personal opinions. Therefore, every claim or argument must be supported with credible and verifiable sources, study findings, or data, which must also be properly cited and referenced.

 

Grammatically correct and consistent: Another key thing to avoid is bad grammar and inconsistency in your writing. You must therefore ensure that you are consistent in how you cite sources, write numbers, capitalize terms and headings, introduce abbreviations, punctuate and spell, and so on.

 

Common Types of Academic Research Writing in the UK and Examples

Scholarly writing exists in a variety of forms, each following specific conventions, structures, and objectives. Depending on the purpose, the audience, and the field of study, it can be in the form of essays, journal articles, technical reports, etc., all of which Athena Academic Writing Services are experts at delivering. Usually, the most common types you’ll come across as a student or academic in the UK include:

 

Essays

An essay is a shorter, more focused piece of composition about a particular subject. It can be narrative, descriptive, expository, or argumentative. More often than not, if you’ve noticed, you find that at the university level, most essays are argumentative. Nevertheless, when writing any of these types of essays, there is a common process that you need to follow, which we will discuss in length later in this article.

 

However, one important thing you need to know is the kind of words to use in your essays. After all, have you ever enjoyed reading an essay that felt disjointed or unclear? Therefore, always have it in mind that the kind of words you use in your essay can make or break it. Typically, you will find that transition words, e.g., Therefore, Moreover, etc., are one of the most important words to use in your essays because they help guide your reader from one point to the next.

 

Other good words to use include strong verbs like delegate, improve, etc., as well as adjectives and adverbs, which are used in relation to the type and nature of the essay. For more examples, feel free to check out this article on words to use in your essays and how to use them.

 

Research Proposals

These are organized, formal documents describing what you want to research or explore, why you think it’s worth exploring, and how you plan on carrying out your exploration.

 

Before you can start writing a research proposal, you need to first decide on a topic. Afterwards, you conduct a preliminary investigation into your chosen topic to uncover facts and details pertinent to the topic.

 

Usually, the main reason for writing a research proposal is to convince your reader that your proposed research is important and worth considering. As a result, writing one usually requires a structured presentation of your research objectives and their importance. In other words, when writing a research proposal, you will need to include these basic elements:

 

• A title page
• An introduction
• Literature review
• Aims and objectives
• Research design and methodology
• Timeline
• Reference list

 

Other elements may, however, be necessary, but that depends on the field of study you’re writing the research proposal under. These other elements usually include: abstract, background and research question, justification or rationale for study, research schedule or timetable, budget, implications and contributions, ethics, bibliography, and so on. Have you checked your department’s specific guidelines yet? Doing so can really save you from unnecessary revisions.

 

Dissertation/Thesis

A dissertation is a long-form research project, usually submitted to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree program in the UK. A thesis, on the other hand, is similar to a dissertation, but it is submitted to complete a PhD degree program.

 

Due to their length and requirements, writing these scholarly pieces can take months to complete. Although there is no defined number of words or pages required for either project, a bachelor’s degree dissertation can be 35–50 pages long, while a master’s dissertation can be 65–80 pages long, and a PhD thesis can be 200–300 pages long. They are typically structured accordingly:

 

• Title page
• Acknowledgement
• Abstract
• Table of contents
• List of figures and tables
• List of abbreviations
• Glossary
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
• Appendices

 

Usually, the first step to writing these projects is to choose the perfect topic and then carry out preparatory research. After doing these, you submit a dissertation proposal or PhD proposal, before conducting a full study and starting your dissertation or thesis.

 

Therefore, knowing how to write a convincing dissertation proposal or PhD proposal is very important for getting your desired research topic approved.

 

• To know more about how to write a PhD proposal, you can check out this article by the University of Sheffield on how to write a PhD proposal.
• You can also get a clearer picture of how to go about it using this PhD proposal sample.
• For a dissertation proposal, here’s a clear sample guideline that illustrates how best to write and structure it.

 

Literature Review

This is a detailed analysis or assessment of existing material or inquiry about a particular topic. You’ve likely encountered one before, but did you know it’s not just a summary of sources?

 

Usually written as a whole academic piece or summarised in dissertations, research proposals, etc., it is done to evaluate and appraise scholarly sources so as to offer an overview of existing knowledge, theories, gaps, methodologies, and arguments on a matter.

 

To carry out a literature review, you start by studying relevant materials, assessing them to identify arguments, themes, and omissions, before outlining the structure of your review and writing it.

 

Some of the elements common in a standard literature review piece include: abstract, keywords, introduction, research analysis, recommendations, conclusion, acknowledgement, and references. If you’re wondering what a well-written literature review looks like, this example should help you visualize it.

 

Journal Article

A journal article can be described as a piece of scholarly or scientific research about a specific topic, written by experts or researchers in a field and published regularly in a year for other experts or researchers to review. Have you ever wondered why academics publish articles so frequently?” Well, it’s because journal articles help disseminate research, spark conversations, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

 

There are different types of journal articles. Examples include: original research articles, review articles, methodologies, case reports, etc., all of which you can learn about here.

 

A typical journal article contains the following elements: a title, author details, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.

 

For a better idea of how a journal article looks, a good example is this article on journal reporting standards for qualitative research in psychology, published in the American Psychological Association (APA) journal.

 

Technical Report

A technical report is simply a structured document that presents detailed information about scientific or technical research on a topic. The main goals of the technical report text are to communicate findings, recommend possible solutions, and provide a formal analysis of a process.

 

Therefore, writing a technical report is important when you want to share technical or scientific information in a comprehensive and accessible manner. A few types of technical reports include lab reports, research reports, project descriptions, and feasibility reports. They are usually structured in line with these elements:

 

• Title
• Report summary
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Research analysis
• Conclusion
• References
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Appendices

 

The process of technical report preparation essentially involves deciding on a topic, researching and gathering information, drafting an outline, then writing the report and editing it. Feel free to learn more about technical report preparation in this detailed article.

 

Standard Steps to Achieving a Quality Academic Paper

Planning

Every quality academic literature begins with adequate planning. The planning process generally involves:

 

1. Understanding The Topic

When you’ve been given a topic to discuss in your essay, dissertation, literature review, or other scholarly piece, it is important to understand the basis of the topic and everything that has to do with it. A good way to do this is by conducting brief research just to get yourself acquainted with the topic. The same thing goes for situations where you have to decide on a topic instead, like with research proposals, for example.

 

2. Choosing a Comprehensive Title

Once you have a detailed understanding of what your topic is all about, you then have to figure out a befitting title. This is very important because a good title is what captures your reader’s attention and sets the tone for your entire text. To come up with the perfect title, consider something brief and concise that includes key terms relating to the topic. Here’s a detailed list of title templates you may find helpful.

 

3. Developing a Research Question

Research questions are most commonly developed for dissertations, project proposals, literature reviews, and technical reports. They are clear, open-ended questions meant to center your investigation and define the scope and direction of your text.

 

Develop a research question by drafting an interesting question about your given topic. This way, you are able to point out what relevant facts and information to collect during your research. To learn more about research questions, consider reading this explicit handout.

 

4. Researching

By now, you should know that one of the most important parts of scholarly writing is the research. For this reason, once you’ve developed your research question, what’s next is to use it to narrow down your research. Research is done in three main steps:

 

Choosing a research methodology:

A research methodology refers to the ways in which you collect data. It can be qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.

 

A qualitative research methodology is one that focuses on using non-quantitative data to gain deep insights into a phenomenon. An example of this research methodology involves surveying people or conducting interviews.

 

The quantitative methodology, on the other hand, deals with collecting numerical data from experiments, tests, measurements, etc., so as to objectively identify patterns, trends, and relationships.

 

Finally, the mixed method approach integrates both methodologies to provide a more robust understanding of a phenomenon. An example under this research methodology would be carrying out tests on 50 people (quantitative) and then conducting a few interviews (qualitative) in addition. Typically, the research methodology you choose depends on the goals and scope of your text. It also usually determines the type of data you choose to collect.

 

Data collection:

Research data can be obtained from two main sources: primary and secondary sources. While primary sources contain data obtained through firsthand conducted experiments, tests, observations, surveys, etc., secondary sources are written sources about these obtained data.

 

In other words, primary sources are raw, first-hand information such as statistical data, historical records, and so on. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are those that discuss, evaluate, and interpret primary data and can include published research and studies, reviews, written critiques, etc.

 

Although primary sources are usually more credible, both are necessary for good research. Thus, the best thing to do is to prudently verify any primary data referred to in your secondary sources before adopting it.

 

Data analysis:

After data collection, data analysis is the next step in your research. Data analysis is very vital in researchbecause it not only helps to expose new trends and patterns, but it also provides useful information for making informed decisions. It involves using appropriate techniques to evaluate, interpret, and transform the data obtained for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion in your research.

 

Finally, while researching, it is advisable to take note of all the data and information you’ve sourced, their titles, authors, date of publication, relevant quotes, and locations, so you can easily refer back to them when necessary. You can learn more about scholarly research, its types, and other steps and processes here.

 

5. Crafting a Proper Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is basically a summary of what your text plans to discuss or investigate. Usually present in your introductory paragraph, it provides a brief and focused overview of your points and arguments and tells your reader what to expect as they read further. Consider it as a sort of an answer to what your research question seeks to uncover.

 

For instance, using the literature review example given earlier, say the research question, as observed from its title and abstract, is “How does climate change affect global biodiversity in relation to amphibian extinctions, shifts in the distribution of organisms, and dynamic changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystems?”

 

Don’t you think it, therefore, makes sense that the thesis statement, which you will find in the introductory paragraph of the review, states as follows: “This review focuses on the impact of such climate change on global biodiversity, and it draws from the wide body of scientific evidence that has accumulated over the past few years…”

 

6. Drafting an Outline

This stage involves creating a skeletal framework of how you want your points arranged. A typical outline consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, for some academic publications like journal articles and dissertations, you will also need to include an abstract, literature review, methodology, results, and discussions. Under each of these sections, however, it is advisable to use bullet points or numbers to detail and organise your points. Check this sample on how to structure a paper.

 

Writing

After planning comes the writing stage, where you structure your points into an organised format consisting of:

 

a. An Abstract: Usually positioned before the introduction, the abstract is basically a one-paragraph, sequential summary of the main parts of your entire paper.

 

b. Introduction: This is where you provide the necessary context to establish the purpose of your piece. For this reason, it is essential to start it with a captivating or intriguing introductory sentence. Afterwards, you give a brief overview of what you plan to explore in your paper before concluding with your thesis statement.

 

b. Body: Depending on the type of academic writing and the complexity of your topic, the body can consist of several paragraphs. For instance, the body of an essay is usually three or more paragraphs long, while more complex publications include headings and subheadings that can be three or more paragraphs long.

 

The body is where you lay down all your points and thoroughly explore your arguments. As you organize it into paragraphs or sections and subsections, it is important that you begin each with a topic sentence introducing your main point in that section.

 

Also, ensure to incorporate facts, analysis, and illustrations to back up your claims. You should also include counter-arguments, differing views, or limitations to provide further insights into the topic and strengthen your argument. Finally, try to make proper use of transition words and phrases to enable your points to flow cohesively.

 

c. Conclusion: At this point, you finish up by restating your thesis in consideration of your presented facts and arguments. Then you summarize and highlight how your main points back up your thesis, before finally offering recommendations, thoughts, or final insights.

 

d. References: This is usually added as a footnote and is basically an organised list of all the cited sources in your work. It is usually formatted in adherence with the required citation style guide—MLA, APA, AMA, etc.

 

Editing and Proofreading

Once writing is achieved, it is now time to proofread and edit your draft to correct mistakes, ensure consistency, and perfect what you’ve written so far. Remember, when it comes to academic proofreading, a lot of attention to detail and focus is required. You want to ensure that your text is readable and uniform in format and referencing.

 

In thesis and dissertation proofreading, for example, you don’t only take note of grammatical errors, but also any inserted tables and figures. You also need to ensure that what you’ve written is in accordance with the required style guide and that you explicitly referenced your tables and figures.

 

In case you don’t know, it can be very easy to miss errors and unclear sentences during this important last step, especially when you’re the writer. As a result, it’s usually more advisable and safer to turn to professional proofreading and editing services. This is because they provide a fresh set of eyes with a better idea of key details and errors to look out for and correct.

 

Style Guides

Another vital aspect of academic research writing is style guides. They are as unavoidable as they are essential. What they do is proffer a set of rules to follow while writing your academic paper. From the American Psychological Association (APA) style to the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook style, there are a great deal of them used globally, some of which you can learn about here.

 

Get Expert Help with Academic Research Writing

Clearly, academic research writing is not your typical everyday writing. It requires a lot of accuracy and attention to detail, which is sometimes draining, especially when you’re in a rush for time. In addition to this, the process is tedious and sometimes overwhelming, particularly for beginners.

 

But you don’t have to push through the stress alone. Simply take a deep breath, worry less, and let Athena’s Academic Writing Services create the perfect academic piece for you.

 

Whether it’s for an assignment, project, or scholarly publication, rest assured that we deliver quality scholarly writing that will definitely impress your professor or intended audience.