Essential Academic Writing and Research Skills Toolkit
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Identifying Common Logical Fallacies
| Fallacy | Trigger Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Slippery Slope | “If we allow X, chaos will follow” | One small step inevitably leads to extreme, negative consequences. |
| Middle Ground (Argument to Moderation) | “Both are wrong/right a little” | Assumes the truth is always found exactly in between two opposing positions. |
| False Cause (Post Hoc) | “A caused B just because it came first” | Assumes a causal relationship without sufficient evidence, based only on sequence. |
| Anecdotal | “It happened to me!” | Uses a personal story or isolated example instead of robust evidence or statistics. |
| Burden of Proof | “Prove me wrong” | Asserts a claim is true until the opponent proves it false. |
| Apples & Oranges (False Equivalence) | “Why change X? We don’t change Y” | Makes a flawed comparison between two fundamentally unrelated things. |
| Black & White (False Dilemma) | “Only two options exist” | Ignores other viable possibilities, presenting only two extremes. |
| No True Scotsman | “A real X wouldn’t do that” | Changes the definition of a group or concept to exclude counterexamples and maintain a claim. |
Structuring Research Questions: Argumentative vs. Investigative
| Type | Clues (Keywords) |
|---|---|
| Argumentative (A) | Should, better, more important = opinion-based, debatable, subjective. |
| Investigative (I) | What, how, impact, factors, effect = explore, cause, fact-finding, objective. |
Tip: If the question can be answered with “Yes/No,” it is typically Argumentative (A). If it requires detailed research and analysis, it is Investigative (I).
Key Elements for Academic Citation and Analysis
- Writer’s Position: The core opinion or central claim being argued.
- Reasoning: The underlying logic or justification supporting the position.
- Data: Quantitative evidence (percentages, statistics, sources, studies).
- Key Term: A crucial concept requiring a precise definition.
- Theory: A formal model or framework, usually cited with the author and date (e.g., Schein, 2010).
EED Essay Structure: Establish, Explain, Discuss
- Establish (Para 1): Define the core topic and describe the current trend or context.
- Explain (Para 2): Analyze the causes, underlying reasons, and mechanisms of how the topic works.
- Discuss (Para 3): Evaluate the effects, criticisms, future implications, and provide relevant examples.
Paragraph Starters for EED Structure
- Establish: "___ refers to..." / "In recent years..."
- Explain: "One primary reason is..." / "This phenomenon occurred due to..."
- Discuss: "This analysis has led to..." / "As a result of these factors..." / "However, critics argue that..."
Effective Writing Connectors and Transition Words
- Addition: also, in addition, furthermore, moreover
- Contrast: however, although, whereas, while, conversely
- Cause: because, due to, since, owing to
- Result: so, therefore, as a result, consequently, thus
- Example: for instance, such as, for example, specifically
Enhancing Sentence Complexity
Aim to include at least one complex sentence per paragraph using conjunctions like although, while, because, or phrases like such as to demonstrate range and depth of thought.
Harvard Referencing Styles (In-Text Citations)
There are three primary ways to integrate Harvard in-text citations:
- Author Prominent: Manley (2024) argues that...
- Information Prominent (Parenthetical): AI improves writing (Manley, 2024).
- Direct Quote (Page Number Required): “These tools enhance learning” (Manley, 2024, p. 22).
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research Methods
- Quantitative (Quant): Focuses on numbers and statistics. Methods include surveys and polls.
- Qualitative (Qual): Focuses on opinions, meanings, and depth. Methods include interviews and focus groups.
Advantages of Common Data Collection Methods
- Surveys: Quick to administer, maintain anonymity, suitable for large groups.
- Interviews: Provide deep insights and personal perspectives.
- Case Studies: Offer detailed, contextual analysis of real-world situations.
- Focus Groups: Facilitate the collection of group opinions and comparisons.
Writing Implications: A Three-Step Formula
- The study found... (State the key finding).
- This suggests that... (Interpret the finding).
- A possible recommendation is... (Propose action based on the interpretation).
Academic Vocabulary: Words to Avoid and Alternatives
Avoid informal or vague language:
I think, a lot, stuff, things, very, good, bad
Use stronger, more precise alternatives:
- Instead of "a lot," use: many, several, numerous.
- Instead of "good/bad," use: important, significant, effective, useful, detrimental, poor.
Introducing Data and Statistics (Reporting Verbs)
Use formal phrases when introducing evidence:
- “According to [Source],”
- “The study shows that,”
- “The data suggests that,”
- “Researchers found that,”
- “This survey indicated that,”
- “X% of respondents stated that…”
Quick Time Management Plan (25 Minute Writing Task)
- 2–3 minutes: Planning. Outline core ideas (e.g., 3 bullet points per paragraph).
- 15–18 minutes: Drafting. Write each paragraph clearly and concisely.
- 2–3 minutes: Review. Reread and fix spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and missing words.