Services
Editing
Unless requested otherwise, we usually provide a full review, which includes checking the degree to which both the academic English and academic content in your writing is:
Academic Content
- logically argued
- well structured and organized
- cohesive and flowing
- critically analyzing the issues, arguments, concepts, theories, methodologies, and research on the topic
- substantiated with evidence (eg, citations, examples or quotations) for every claim
- logical and well organized in its layout
- consistent with the marking criteria and other requirements of the assignment or thesis
- accurate in the use of the required referencing and editing style in the text (eg APA 6th edition or Harvard)
Academic English
- sound in sentence and paragraph structure
- grammatically correct
- consistent with academic writing conventions and rules (formal, cautious, precise and concise, objective and impartial and substantiated)
- using academic vocabulary
- accurate with punctuation
Tutoring and coaching
We offer tutoring or coaching to help you sort through any queries, problems, issues or concerns with your academic writing and to help find solutions. Some of the most common issues are in mastering critical analysis, formulating a thesis statement, and writing topic sentences.
We have found these services are particularly useful for writers of an assignment, thesis or dissertation as an adjunct to assistance they may receive from their course tutor or supervisor(s). A few meetings when needed or a regular meeting schedule (by phone, Skype or in-person) can help improve skills, generate effective and practical ideas and solutions, and help solve problems before they become worse.
Literature search advice or training
Experience shows that many academic writing problems stem from difficulties in achieving a targeted, efficient, up-to-date and thorough literature search.
Writing a highly successful academic essay, literature review, thesis, or journal article requires three essential skills. You need to:
- thoroughly understand the topic, that is, its issues, concepts, theories, arguments, methodologies, and research results in order to present logical arguments
- critically analyse the research
- provide sufficient evidence to substantiate your arguments, claims, or interpretations in your writing
To achieve these skills, you need to read a wide range of references that are relevant for your topic. These are likely to include journal articles, book chapters or sections, creditable websites and unpublished documents, such as unpublished theses or dissertations, as well as perhaps newspapers and magazines.
Reading widely, therefore, requires you to search the literature thoroughly.
We can give you the tips and tricks to help you improve how, what and where you search, including tips on how and where to search for review and meta-analytic studies which are considered the highest form of evidence.
Critical analysis advice or training
Almost all academic writing, whether that be an essay, literature review, thesis or journal article requires not just a description but a critical analysis of the topic, and this can be one of the most challenging skills to master.
We offer expert advice or training in how to improve your critical analysis of the issues, concepts, theories, arguments, and research in your topic.