How to write academic essay in simple words

Research is often misconstrued as the practice of transcribing information. In fact, it is a process of asking questions and gathering information that helps you arrive at conclusions in regards to a particular issue (Barnet, 2014) 

This essay was written at the time I am learning how to write an essay so you might find it not well formatted but I am pretty much sure it is the best condensed essay every in this topic.

Searching for a source 

This process in short to find academics papers, research, essay ..etc. more than a source as per the case and very relatively to the essay topic.

proquest.com

https://scholar.google.com/

Incorporating source to your writing 

Essay is something you are writing to express opinion, you need evidences to proof your point.

you need to proof that it is not merely rely on personal believe, its supported by SOURCE

After finding a source which could be paper or research and you are attempting to quote from it you will need to follow the following process 

paraphrasing: simply you use your own words to express the author's intent meanings.

Read the original document, note down the points you want to highlight which of course related to your essay, write in your own way in more condensed manner. 

Different techniques of paraphrasing 

 

- Using synonyms or similar words to substitute the original text

Original: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases continues to grow.  
Paraphrase: An increase in the spread of diseases that are not transmissible directly from one person to another is currently being observed. 

- Combining sentences

 Original: We do not yet understand all the ways in which brain chemicals are related to emotions and thoughts.  However, the salient point is that our state of mind has an immediate and direct effect on our state of body (Siegel, 1986).
Paraphrase: While the relationship between brain chemicals and feelings is not entirely understood, it is clear that a person’s mental state  affect their physical state (Siegel, 1986). 

 - Moving phrases or words 

Original: Culture shock involves the shock of a new environment, meeting many new people and learning the ways of a different country (Li, 2016).  

Paraphrase: The shock of an unknown environment, coming across lots of new people and learning the customs of a different culture all contribute to culture shock (Li, 2016).

 

- Changing grammar 

Original: The introduction of an argumentative essay should always contain a thesis statement which is written clearly and concisely. 

Paraphrase: A clear and concise thesis statement should be included in the introduction of an argumentative essay. 

 - Any reference you will quote from will need to add the details of it at the end of the essay.

 

Original and Paraphrase full example 

Original Source:  “Despite there being various definitions of plagiarism, there are some practices which all Higher Education Institutions regard as wrong. Copying another student’s work, pretending that another writer’s thoughts are your own and not acknowledging the original source in written work are all viewed as plagiarism.” (Chu, 2014) 

Paraphrase: Plagiarism is not a straightforward concept to define as different authors define it in different ways  (Chu, 2014). Nevertheless, certain practices are collectively viewed as unacceptable by universities, such as copying work from another source or failing to credit the original source of information (Chu, 2014)..

 Chu, L. (2014) Dealing with the Challenges of Academic Writing. London: Palgrave McMillan. 

Summarising 

Just come after the paraphrasing, its condensed and brief of the overall idea.

Read the original text and make sure you fully understand its main idea. Keep in mind the author’s purpose in writing the text as well as your own purpose in writing the summary.

Find the key ideas of the original text.  Ensure that you can distinguish between main and subsidiary information and try to ignore any unimportant details such as examples, anecdotes, or in-depth statistical data.

Make notes of the key points in your own words.  Try to write key ideas in a more condensed manner and remember to simplify words and sentences.  

Write the summary by combining your notes into a piece of continuous writing. Remember to use linking phrases such as 'therefore', 'however', 'due to', to show the links between ideas.

 

 Summerise sample 

original 

Research is often misconstrued as the practice of transcribing information. In fact, it is a process of asking questions and gathering information that helps you arrive at conclusions in regards to a particular issue. By using the information you find as evidence, you can develop an effective argument. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that you should not spend too much time searching and then wait until the last minute to start writing. As you begin your search, it is necessary to write down observations and questions. When you find a useful source, you should take notes on what you think it means in your own words. This way, you will not find yourself with an excessive amount of printouts and books and no idea what to say about them. What you wish to say will flow naturally out of the prewriting you have already done and that prewriting will help guide your search.

Authors: Barnet, S. and Bedau, H.
Year of Publication: 2014
Title of Work: Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument (8th ed.)
Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Location: Boston, NY

Summarised 

According to Barnet and Bedau (2014), Research isn't simply data transcription, but a process of querying and data collection to reach issue-specific conclusions. Using this data as proof allows the creation of compelling arguments. It's essential to balance the time spent on data searching and actual writing, documenting insights and questions from the start. Upon finding beneficial sources, note down their interpretations. This prevents an overload of uninterpreted materials and allows the natural flow of thoughts from your prewriting, which guides the exploration.
 

 

- Using direct quote

 Direct quote is a very specific way to integrate the resource, you copy the author text as is between quotation marks, and you should not over use it.

single or double quotation marks both are ok.

Example 

> It has been argued that landfill sites are “not cost efficient” (Higgins, 2005, p. 68).

> Higgins (2005, p. 68) argues that landfill sites are “not cost efficient”.

 

 Some helpful reporting verbs 

 Example 

While Salt and Gander (2015) claim that migration costs the economy a lot of money, OECD (2014) demonstrate how migrants essentially pay for themselves through contributions in taxes.

 

 

 

 Zotero

Download and install Zotero software and chrome extension, Zotero a software which will help you in bookmarking the researches, articles, books ..etc. from the internet.

By installing Zotero add-on to Microsoft Word will be added too so you easily grab the citation and reference to your essay

 

Critical thinking and writing 

 Critical thinking is like being a detective. It's all about asking questions, digging deep, and not taking things at face value. It's about wanting to understand how things work and if they're really as they seem. When you think critically, you're like a chef, picking apart a recipe to see what each ingredient does and how they all come together. So, critical thinking is your mind's way of making sure you understand something fully, whether it's a math problem, a news article, or a decision you have to make. It helps you make better choices because you have thought about things carefully.

you should not be bias to one edge, you have to be open thinking about alternatives, then think about what are the implications on that consequences.

Meta questions also very supportive, where you ask random questions about the topic to drag further discussion, for example why the paint should be yellow why not red then if red do you have any other reason makes red the best options, just random questions!

Essay writing process

Read the Essay question, understand it very well, highlight the key points of the questions, then read the whole question again.

By this practice you will digest the essay question.

Planning

First, pre-research planning, 

Three parts you need to complete, Introduction, Body, Conclusion 

Introduction is one paragraph usually

Body one or more 

Conclusion one paragraph usually

Introduction

Essay door, where the reader will decide to quit or to continue, you need to start by Hook, something chocking to attract the reader and give him initial impression what this essay about.

Example, Two divorce cases per minute! yes it is

What is the essay about and why the reader should follow and why the topic is important 

 

 

Body

usually one or two paragraphs and one of the most successful way to write a body is PEEL 

Point - Evidence - Explain - Link 

Point 

Point is where you start with a Topic Sentence, it should be concise, related to the thesis statement and rest of the paragraph.
It actually state something, it describe a finds which you will need to proof at the next paragraph

Evidence 

You stated your point? now defend! use evidence, use fact, study, research, paper, youtube video, blog post ...etc. with a reference, this evidence will support you convincing the reader.

Explain

Explain by linking the Point to the Evidence.

> Explain and Evidence could change positions both are E remember 

Link

Is to close the paragraph nicely and prepare smoothly for the next paragraph 

Conclusion

Summarise what you have mentioned 

Come to conclusive argument 

Refer to larger issue 

Reader wehn read the conclusion should has a clear cut of your main argument.