Improve Your Writing

In Research Papers

10 Tips

Tip#1: Do not state that you are writing

Avoid:

“In this essay, I am going to write about how there are no winners in the debate about whether it is ok to punch babies.”

Try Instead:

“There are no winners in the debate whether it is ok to punch babies.”

WHY: Obvious space fillers that weakens your Introduction

Tip#2: Avoid Using First Person

Avoid:

“I believe there may be value in punching a baby.”

Try Instead:

“Evidence supports that there may be value in punching a baby”

WHY: You did not do the research

Tip#3: Stop Writing the Way you Talk

Avoid:

“Well, many people think punching a baby just aint right.”

Try Instead:

“Many people think punching a baby is inappropriate”

WHY: Nobody can hear the tone of your voice

Tip#4: Avoid “There is” & “There are”

Avoid:

“There are many issues that students face in college”

Try Instead:

“Students face many issues in college”

WHY: Makes writing more clear and concise

Tip#5: Avoid “Really”, “Very”,

“A lot”, “So”

Fix This:

“Many students think college is very hard”

“The proposed bill is really controversial”

“A lot of people agree that…”

WHY: Usage weakens the writing

Tip#6: Try to use Active Voice

Passive Voice (Subject is acted on)

“Healthcare reforms were implemented by Obama”

Active Voice (Subject acts)

“Obama implemented healthcare reform”

WHY: Emphasize the subject and not the object

Tip#7: Don’t Use ContractionsWHY: It sounds more professional when you don’t do not.

Tip#8: Minimize Disposable Sentences

WHY: Obvious space fillers & simple sentences

Fix This:

“The story took place in 2014. The town it happened in was Tucson. There were many people who wanted to punch babies.”

Tip#9: Write at a College LevelWHY: Take Invest time to find better words

NO

YES

Tip#10: Proof Read!

• Read it the next day• Ask a student• Ask a spouse• Ask a child in school• Use the LRC

WHY: It is easy to miss something in your own work

Tip#11: Do Not Plagiarize!!!WHY: You missing the point of education

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What Would Wolf Say?