Academic Writing Skill

Master academic prose: PEEL paragraphs, thesis structure, formal register.

🎯 Skill Purpose

Transform ideas into polished academic prose that meets graduate-level standards.

PEEL Paragraph Structure

Example PEEL Paragraph

Point: AI governance in the energy sector requires balancing operational efficiency with ethical considerations.

Evidence: Floridi's (2019) ethical AI framework identifies five key tensions: transparency, accountability, fairness, sustainability, and human oversight.

Explanation: Equinor's case illustrates these tensions directly—while their Omnia platform generated $330 million in operational savings, the company simultaneously reduced maintenance positions by 1,200, raising questions about the fairness of efficiency gains distribution.

Link: This tension between efficiency and workforce protection forms the analytical core of the following case study.

Section-Specific Guidelines

Introduction (10-15% of total)

Structure:

1. •Hook: Engaging opening that contextualizes the topic
2. •Background: Brief overview of the field/issue
3. •Problem: The gap or tension your research addresses
4. •Research Question: Clear, specific, answerable
5. •Thesis Statement: Your argument in one sentence
6. •Roadmap: Preview of paper structure

Do:

• •Start with a specific example or striking statistic
• •Make the research question explicit
• •End with clear thesis

Don't:

• •Use dictionary definitions
• •Make sweeping historical claims
• •Promise more than you deliver

Literature Review / Theoretical Framework (15-20%)

Structure:

1. •Overview: Map the theoretical landscape
2. •Key Concepts: Define core terms
3. •Debates: Present competing perspectives
4. •Gaps: Identify what's missing
5. •Contribution: How you address the gap

Do:

• •Synthesize sources (don't just summarize)
• •Group by theme, not chronologically
• •Connect theories to your research question

Don't:

• •List sources without analysis
• •Include irrelevant background
• •Skip operational definitions

Methodology / Case Study (15-20%)

Structure:

1. •Approach: Why this method/case
2. •Data: Sources and collection
3. •Analysis: How you processed information
4. •Limitations: Honest assessment

Do:

• •Justify your choices
• •Provide enough detail to replicate
• •Acknowledge limitations upfront

Don't:

• •Assume methods are self-evident
• •Hide weaknesses
• •Over-claim generalizability

Analysis / Discussion (25-30%)

Structure:

1. •Findings: What you discovered
2. •Interpretation: What it means
3. •Comparison: How it relates to literature
4. •Implications: Why it matters

Do:

• •Connect back to theoretical framework
• •Use specific evidence
• •Acknowledge counter-arguments

Don't:

• •Introduce new data
• •Repeat literature review
• •Make unsupported claims

Conclusion (8-10%)

Structure:

1. •Synthesis: Main findings restated (not repeated)
2. •Contribution: What you've added
3. •Implications: Practical/theoretical significance
4. •Future Research: Where to go next

Do:

• •Answer the research question
• •Be concise
• •End with impact

Don't:

• •Start with "In conclusion"
• •Introduce new arguments
• •Undermine your findings

Academic Register

Formal Word Choices

Hedging Expressions

Phrases to Avoid

Sentence Variety

By Function

Sentence Length Targets

Quality Checklist

• • Every paragraph has a clear topic sentence
• • Every claim has supporting evidence
• • Every section connects to research question
• • Transitions link paragraphs logically
• • Hedging appropriate to certainty level
• • No informal language
• • Sentence variety maintained