Good research writing starts well before a first draft. This guide brings Arianna Danielle’s practical reading, organising, writing and presentation resources into one place, so you can move from a broad idea to a clear research question, a defensible argument and a manageable writing process.
New to research? Start with reading and organising sources, then move through the stages below. You can return to this page whenever the next stage of a project feels unclear. Most resources include examples, checklists or reusable structures.
Read, take notes and manage sources
Build a simple workflow before your reading list becomes unmanageable.
- Read journal articles effectively — a practical approach to extracting the argument, evidence and limitations
- Take notes on research papers — a worked example you can adapt
- Organise your research papers — keep documents and notes retrievable
- Use Zotero for a literature review — connect reference management with active reading
Develop a research question and literature review
The goal is not to collect every paper. It is to understand what is known, what remains uncertain and what your project can realistically address.
- Literature review matrix template — compare studies in a reusable table
- How to write a literature review — organise sources into a reasoned discussion
- How to find a research gap — identify a worthwhile question without overstating novelty
- How to narrow a research question — turn a broad topic into a feasible project
Plan and manage the writing process
Break larger writing projects into smaller decisions, drafts and feedback cycles.
- Dissertation schedule — a twelve-week plan and template to adapt
- PhD progress report — a template and annotated example
- Turn supervisor feedback into an action plan — identify changes, priorities and next steps
- PhD supervisor meeting agenda — prepare decisions and follow-up notes
Communicate and present your research
A good finding is easier to evaluate when its purpose, methods and limitations are easy to follow.
- Write a conference abstract — examples and a submission checklist
- Design an academic poster — layouts, templates and a worked example
- Prepare an academic conference presentation — practical advice for presenting clearly
Find the right next step
For guidance on choosing and completing a doctorate, explore PhD & Academic Life. For semester planning, learning habits and general university support, visit Study & University Life. The free templates and printables collection also includes resources you can download or copy.
These are independent educational resources, not personalised supervision or university-specific academic requirements. Follow your institution’s guidance for assessment, ethics and referencing.