Academic Writing

A guide to the academic writing process

Writing Help 

For help with editing, revising, or citations, try, 

Writing Tips

Citing Sources


ARC 

For more personal assistance with writing, editing, and reviewing your work, reach out to the writing lab. Set up an appointment below or visit the ARC. 

Writing Lab

For Students, Staff, and Faculty: 

Need help finding sources?

Schedule a Research Consultation to discuss your topic and the best way to find sources.

To schedule a research consultation in person or via Zoomclick here

For Faculty: 

To schedule a class session, contact the Masland Library at library@cairn.edu.

Review

Once the project has been drafted, it's time to confirm the paper is complete. Keep in mind the scope of the project, the particular assignment, and any requirements that may be required (number of pages, types of sources, citation format, etc.). As weaknesses are identified, note them to be addressed in a revision. 


 

Listen to your paper.

Read your paper out loud to yourself. If you don't like reading out loud, try using the text-to-speech feature on your computer (or searching for one online; there are many options).  Listening to your work can help identify any unclear portions of your work or highlight areas where variance is needed. As you listen, mark down areas that need addressing. 

"Peer" Review

Have someone you know review your paper. Getting another person's perspective can help identify unclear areas or places needing refinement.  
Below are some potential questions to have them answer:

  • Is the organization of the paper clear?
  • What is the thesis/research question?
  • Can you identify who said what in the paper? 
    • (citation clarity)
  • Are any significant pieces missing from the research, or are there any questions that still need to be answered?