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Blogs Posts 1
What Is Academic Writing?
A Simple Guide for Undergraduate Students Academic writing is one of the most important skills you will develop during your university studies. Yet, for many undergraduate students, it feels confusing, strict, and difficult to master. Words like formal style, referencing, argument, and plagiarism can sound intimidating—especially in your first year. In this guide, I will explain what academic writing really is, how it is different from everyday writing, and what your lecturers actually expect from you. This is a clear, student-friendly introduction to help you feel more confident from the start.
Academic writing is the type of writing you use for: essays, reports, research papers, literature reviews, case studies, dissertations
The Basic Structure of Academic Writing
Most academic texts follow a clear structure. For essays, this usually includes:
1. Introduction
Introduces the topic
Gives background information
Presents your main argument (thesis statement)
2. Body Paragraphs
Each paragraph should:
focus on one main idea
start with a topic sentence
explain how the evidence supports your argument
3. Conclusion
Summarizes the main points
Restates the main argument
Shows the significance of your discussion
Your university may use:
APA
Harvard
MLA or Chicago
Why Academic Writing Feels Difficult at First
Academic writing is not a natural skill—we are not born knowing it. Most students feel overwhelmed in their first year because they:
study in a second language
were not trained in academic writing at school
lack step-by-step guidance
do not fully understand what lecturers want
With proper instruction, however, academic writing becomes manageable and even enjoyable.
Find the perfect course for you
Want Step-by-Step Training with Examples? If you would like practical guidance, real examples, exercises, and clear explanations designed specifically for undergraduate students, you can access my full Academic Writing Course on Udemy here:
Blogs Posts 2
Common Essay Mistakes That Cost Undergraduate Students Marks
Many undergraduate students feel frustrated when they receive lower marks than expected on their essays—especially when they believe they worked hard. In most cases, the problem is not a lack of effort. Instead, students often lose marks because of common academic writing mistakes that are easy to avoid once you know what to look for.
In this article, I will explain five of the most frequent essay mistakes I see among undergraduate students and how you can avoid them to improve your grades.
1. Writing in an Informal or Personal Style. One of the most common mistakes is using a too casual or emotional tone, similar to how we speak or write online.
Why this loses marks:
Academic writing should be objective, not personal.
Words like I think, really, a lot weaken your argument.
Lecturers expect a formal tone supported by evidence.
Tip: Avoid conversational language. Let evidence, not personal opinion, support your claims
2. Descriptive Writing Instead of Critical Analysis
Many undergraduate students describe information instead of analyzing it.
Common structural problems include: no clear introduction, body paragraphs without focus, missing or weak conclusion
Lecturers look for:
Critical writing:
compares sources
evaluates arguments
explains why something matters
shows strengths and weaknesses
Lecturers are looking for critical thinking, not just summaries.
Tip: Ask yourself:
Why is this important?
Do I agree with this argument?
How does this source support my point?
3. Poor Use of Sources and Referencing
Incorrect or missing referencing is one of the fastest ways to lose marks—and sometimes even fail an assignment.
Common problems include: missing in-text citations, incorrect reference list formatting, copying sentences without paraphrasing properly, mixing different reference styles (APA + Harvard)
Why this is serious:
It can lead to plagiarism
It suggests weak research skills
It shows a lack of academic integrity
Tip: Learn one referencing style well and apply it consistently. Always reference ideas that are not your own
Find the perfect course for you
If you would like clear explanations, practical examples, and structured exercises to help you avoid these mistakes and improve your writing with confidence, you can access my full Academic Writing Course on Udemy here
Blogs Posts 3
How to Structure an Academic Essay Step by Step (A Guide for Undergraduates)
One of the biggest reasons undergraduate students lose marks is poor essay structure. Even when your ideas are good, if your essay is not clearly organized, your argument becomes hard to follow—and lecturers will mark it down.
The good news is that academic essay structure is predictable. Once you understand the basic framework, writing becomes much easier and more confident. In this guide, I will take you step by step through the standard structure of an academic essay and explain what each part should include
. The Basic Structure of an Academic Essay
Most university essays follow this simple structure:
Introduction.
Body Paragraphs.
Conclusion.
This structure helps you:
present your ideas logically.
support your argument clearly.
guide your reader through your thinking.
Step 1: Writing a Strong Introduction
Your introduction is the first impression your lecturer gets of your work. It should be clear, focused, and relevant.
A good academic introduction usually includes:
Background information on the topic
Context to help the reader understand the issue
A clear thesis statement (your main argument or position)
Example (short):
This essay explores the impact of social media on undergraduate students’ academic performance. It will examine both the positive and negative effects of online platforms and argue that, while social media can support learning, excessive use has a negative influence on concentration and academic achievement.
Tip: Do not include detailed arguments in the introduction. Save these for the body of the essay
Step 2: Developing Clear Body Paragraphs
The body of your essay is where you develop and support your argument. Each paragraph should focus on one main idea only.
A well-structured body paragraph follows this pattern:
Topic sentence
💠Introduces the main idea of the paragraph
Explanation
💠Expands on the idea
Evidence
💠Includes a citation from an academic source
Analysis
💠Explains how the evidence supports your argument
Linking sentence
💠Connects to the next paragraph.
Example (simplified):
One significant effect of social media on students is reduced concentration. Research by Brown (2021) found that students who frequently use social media during study time demonstrate lower levels of focus and memory retention. This suggests that constant online engagement may interfere with effective learning.
Tip: If a paragraph becomes too long, it may contain more than one idea. Split it into two
Find the perfect course for you
If you would like step-by-step training, model essays, practical exercises, and guided feedback to help you master essay structure and academic writing with confidence, you can access my full Academic Writing Course on Udemy here