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Essays are pretty much an unavoidable part of the academic world. Not only do they improve student learning and performance, but they also contribute to research. But face it, academic essays can be a torturous experience, especially for students. There are deadlines to meet, hours of research to conduct, and probably some supervisors to impress. Regardless of your academic level, there are a few things you can do to nail any academic essay or research paper. Here are some of them. 

Make sure you understand the task

Before you begin your essay, it is important that you clearly understand what’s expected of you. You can conduct excellent research and write a brilliant paper, but if your essay misses the intended goal, you’ve pretty much wasted your time and effort. Sadly, this is a common mistake many students make. So, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification about the topic, writing style, structure, or anything else you’re unsure about regarding your essay before you start. 

Know where and how to research your topic

Believe it or not, research plays a significant role in any academic writing project. If you’re going to produce an impressive paper, you should be ready to spend time doing the needed research. Although research takes time, that in no way means that you should waste too much time on it. A good way to avoid wasting time with research is to know how to research and where to look. Try limiting yourself to websites, books, or research documents focusing on your area of study. To be certain of the information you find, it’s also best to limit your search to authoritative sources. For example, if your essay is science-related, limit yourself to authoritative sources like academic journals, research, and papers from trusted platforms like Nova Science Publishers Inc.

Proofread and edit

Reading over your work at various stages is important before completing it. This way, you can identify mistakes that could affect the entire paper on time. After completing your writing, take the time to read over again and edit your mistakes. Next, proofread to be certain about the facts and statistics used. Reading over your work several times can be draining, and you may be tempted to skip some parts, but don’t. You can also ask a trusted friend, colleague, or teacher to read over and edit your essay for you, as they may identify mistakes you may have overlooked. 

Properly quote academic sources

Don’t forget to use quotations from academic sources and research work to back up any claim or point you make. This approach will help you make stronger arguments, as you’ll have evidence to support them. It also tells your reader that you’re not writing purely from your opinion. However, it’s important to add your judgment and explain things in your own words. So, be measured in how many quotations you use. You don’t want your essay to be a list of quotations from others.