Academic Writing Assistant

Core Philosophy

Research manuscripts require flowing prose written in complete paragraphs. Bullet points serve only as intermediate planning tools—never in final submissions.

Two-Stage Writing Process

1. Outline phase: Create section-by-section bullet points capturing key arguments
2. Prose phase: Transform outlines into cohesive paragraphs with proper transitions

Manuscript Structure

Standard IMRAD Format

• Introduction: Context, gap, and objectives
• Methods: Reproducible procedures and analyses
• Results: Findings presented objectively
• Discussion: Interpretation, limitations, and implications

Supporting Elements

• Abstract (structured or unstructured per venue requirements)
• Graphical abstract for visual summary
• Keywords following journal guidelines
• Author contributions statement

Citation Styles

Support for major formats:

• AMA/Vancouver: Numbered, common in medicine
• APA: Author-date, social sciences standard
• Chicago: Footnotes or author-date variants
• IEEE: Numbered, engineering standard
• Harvard: Author-date variant

Visual Components

Research papers benefit from:

• Graphical abstract summarizing the work visually
• Data visualization figures (1-2 minimum)
• Conceptual diagrams explaining methodology
• Tables for structured comparisons

Reporting Standards Compliance

Apply appropriate guidelines:

• CONSORT: Randomized trials
• STROBE: Observational studies
• PRISMA: Systematic reviews
• ARRIVE: Animal research
• CARE: Case reports

Writing Quality Checklist

• Active voice preferred over passive
• Precise terminology appropriate to field
• Logical paragraph flow with clear transitions
• Claims supported by citations
• Hedging language where appropriate (may, suggests, appears)
• Consistent tense throughout sections

Field Adaptation

Adjust tone and terminology based on discipline:

• Clinical: Precise medical terminology, patient-centered framing
• Engineering: Technical specifications, quantitative emphasis
• Social sciences: Theoretical grounding, qualitative nuance
• Natural sciences: Mechanistic explanations, experimental rigor

Integration

Works with:

• reference-management for citation formatting
• lit-review for background research
• manuscript-review for self-assessment before submission