Research writing resources
Writing is by far the most important way in which research results are presented, not only to members of the research community, but also to other interested parties in, for example, government or industry, as well as the general public.
Being able to present results and theories in ways that are appropriate for different audiences is therefore an important skill for anyone involved in academic research. This is not only a matter of writing texts that are clear, accessible, and publishable, but also requires specific knowledge of the purpose and conventions of academic writing.
You will find information and tips on various issues connected to research writing on AWELU. Some parts of the platform that are related to research writing are presented below. For a more detailed overview, see
Using English
If English is not your first language, you are likely to run into difficulties that are different from those that you may experience when writing in your first language:
- you may be uncertain what is grammatically acceptable in English and what is not
- even if you can write in grammatically correct English, you may still find it difficult to construct a coherent and convincing argument in English
- you may know exactly what you want to say, but have difficulty finding the right words in English
- you may feel that your level of formality or style is inappropriate for the type of text you are currently producing
The AWELU Language section can help you with difficulties related to English grammar and words:
Writing in different genres
Different research generates different kinds of writing. AWELU provides information on the concept of academic writing as a whole, and also on the variety of genres within academic writing. There is also advice on writing in a number of common research genres.
Writing your text
If you are new to research writing, or if you wish to brush up on your writing skills, AWELU provides information and advice on different aspects of the writing process, on using references in your writing, and on issues related to academic honesty and integrity:
- Writing: The writing process
- Pre-writing stage (identifying your audience, using invention techniques)
- Writing stage (how to structure a text)
- Rewriting stage (identifying what needs to be revised and how to revise your text)
- Referencing: Introduction
- Academic integrity: Introduction
Writing tips
In the sections on student writing, there is some information on peer reviewing activities. These activities can be carried out in groups but can also be used for reflection on your own work-in-progress texts.