: In early drafts, focus on whether your points are clear and supported by evidence rather than fixing typos. Structure with Purpose :

: Aim for writing that is clear, concise, correct, complete, courteous, concrete, and considerate .

: For research papers, create your figures and narrative around your data before drafting the full text. Use Tools Wisely :

: Reiterate your main ideas and explain their broader implications or why they matter. This should also be about 10% of the paper. Practical Steps for Success

: Start each with a topic sentence that relates back to your thesis. Provide evidence (quotes or statistics) and then analyze that evidence.

: After writing a draft, write out the main point of each paragraph in one sentence. This helps you see if the flow is logical and if every paragraph supports your main claim. Writing as an Advisor or Student

: Use a citation manager to keep track of sources from the start.

: Most papers are drafted by the student and then edited by the advisor. Frequent communication—such as section-by-section exchanges—can lead to a more polished final product. Writing an Academic Paper as an Undergraduate Researcher