Five ways professors can help students write better academic papers

Writing academic papers can be a challenging task for students, but with the right guidance and tools, they can improve their skills and produce high-quality work. As faculty, you play an important role in helping students navigate this process. Here are five tips to help your students write better research articles.

1. Analyze examples

Share well-written academic papers with your students and analyze them to highlight effective writing techniques. This will help students understand what to aim for in their own work.

To go further, you can make your students compare good and bad writing. Ask them to read both a well-written paper and a poorly written one, and to write a one-page justification explaining why they believe each paper is good or bad. By spending time struggling to understand poorly written material, students will learn what to avoid in their own writing and how they prefer information to be presented.

2. Emphasize thesis development and outlining

A strong thesis statement is the backbone of any academic paper. Teach students how to craft a clear, concise and arguable thesis. Provide examples and practice exercises to help them refine their thesis statements.
Before diving into writing, students should create an outline to organize their thoughts and structure their paper. An outline helps them stay focused and ensures that their arguments flow logically. Offer workshops or resources on effective outlining techniques.

3. Encourage early and consistent use of a reference management software

One of the most effective ways to improve the quality of research articles is to encourage students to use a reference manager from the beginning of their research process. Reference managers like EndNote automate the process of creating citations and bibliographies and ensures that all sources are properly cited, which is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and maintaining academic integrity. Reference managers also save time by automatically formatting citations and bibliographies in various styles, such as APA, MLA or Chicago.

EndNote provides access to over 7,500 up-to-date referencing styles, enabling students to easily format their manuscript, and helps students find references faster with customizable, color-coded tags. The Cite While You Write plugin integrates with today’s top writing tools such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Apple Pages. It allows students to insert citations directly into their documents as they write, ensuring accuracy and saving time. With the newest version, EndNote 2025, students can quickly insert a highlighted quote from a PDF and its corresponding citation into their document with the click of a button.

4. Promote collaboration among students

Encourage students to collaborate on projects and co-author papers. It will allow them to pool their different perspectives, skills and knowledge, leading to more comprehensive and well-rounded research outcomes. Working together also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and develops communication and teamwork skills, preparing students for real-world research environments where teamwork and interdisciplinary cooperation are key.

Many reference managers offer features that facilitate collaboration, allowing multiple users to share and work on the same set of references. For instance, EndNote allows students to share their reference libraries with up to 1,000 people, set permissions for access and editing, and view an activity log by user to ensure everyone stays on the same page. The Cite While You Write plugin is now available for Google Docs, enabling students to collaborate on documents in real-time, seamlessly inserting citations and references.

5. Stress the importance of revisions and provide constructive feedback

Remind students that writing is a process that involves multiple drafts and revisions. Revisions are crucial in crafting a high-quality research paper because they allow for the refinement and enhancement of initial ideas and arguments. Through the revision process, writers can identify and correct errors, clarify complex points and ensure that their paper is logically structured and coherent.

Revisions also provide an opportunity to incorporate feedback from peers or advisors. Here are some ways you can give constructive feedback that enables student growth and learning:

• Be specific: Provide detailed comments on what was done well and what could be better.
• Be clear and concise: Use straightforward language and avoid jargon or overly complex explanations.
• Be actionable: Offer specific suggestions on how to improve. For example, if a student needs to strengthen their argument, suggest ways to gather more evidence or refine their thesis.
• Be interactive: Engage in a dialogue with the student about their work. Ask questions and invite them to discuss their thought process and any challenges they faced.

Remember that the goal is to empower students to become confident and competent writers. By implementing these tips, professors can help their students develop strong academic writing skills and produce high-quality papers.

Discover how EndNote can help your students with high-quality research outcomes and achieve their goals faster. Learn more about EndNote.