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Guidelines for Academic Writing

Writing Research Title

An academic research title is the name of a research paper, thesis, or dissertation. It provides a clear, specific, and concise summary of the study's focus, helping readers understand its main topic and scope.

• The average length of an academic research title is between 10 to 15 words.
• Use Title Case – Capitalize the first letter of major words (e.g., nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs). Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions (unless at the beginning or end) are in lowercase.
• It may also include a subtitle (secondary title) – A colon (:) is to be used to add details or specify the study’s focus as a sub/secondary title.
• Avoid abbreviations, jargon, or unknown technical terms.
• Avoid casual or colloquial language.

Writing the Abstract 

An abstract in an academic research article should be a concise summary of the research, providing key information about its objective, methodology, key findings, and conclusion.

• Word Count: A paragraph of 150–250 words.
• Font: Times New Roman, Size 12, Single Spacing.
• Size 10 for Kurdish and Arabic translation of the abstract at the end of the research paper (for more details refer to the sample template).
• Use the past tense when describing methods and findings. 
• Use the present tense for conclusions and general statements. 
• No Citations: The abstract should not include references to other works. 

Steps to Write an Abstract 

1. Objective/Purpose (Background & Aim)

• Briefly introduce the research topic and why it is important. 
• State the research question or objective clearly. 

2. Methodology

• Summarize how the research was conducted (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, experimental, survey). 
• Mention the sample size, data collection methods, and analysis approach (if relevant). 

3. Key Findings

• Highlight the most important results or discoveries. 
• Use factual, objective language without interpretation. 

4. Conclusion & Implications

• Summarize the main conclusions. 
• Mention the significance or practical implications of the findings. 

5. Keywords

• Provide a list of relevant keywords (3–5 keywords) to help with indexing. 
• Examples: social media, academic performance, university students, digital literacy, study habits 

General Writing Guidelines  

Avoid Using Colors in Titles, Headings, and Sub-Headings 

All text, including headings and sub-headings, be in black color for a professional and academic presentation. Colored text is distracting and may not be readable in printed versions. 

Formatting Requirements 

• Use Font 12, Times New Roman for the entire document. 
• Use single spacing to maintain readability and consistency. 
• Headings and sub-headings should be written in bold – black color.

Spacing Between Paragraphs 

• Leave only one blank line between paragraphs to improve clarity and readability.
• No indentation is required at the beginning of paragraphs.

Spacing After Headings 

There should be no extra space between a heading and the following text. The text should directly follow the heading on the next line to maintain a structured appearance. 

Numbering of Sections 

Sections must follow a hierarchical numbering system.  This numbering format ensures clarity and easy navigation throughout the essay. 

• Main sections: 1., 2., 3., etc. 
• Subsections: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc. 
• Further divisions: 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc. 

Aligning Kurdish or Arabic Text in English Articles 

When including Kurdish or Arabic text within an English article: 

• Ensure proper right-to-left (RTL) alignment to maintain readability. 
• Use the correct font and script formatting to avoid distortion. 
• Do not mix English and Kurdish/Arabic in the same sentence without clear distinction. 

Writing Effective Sentences

• Academic writing requires clear, precise, and well-structured sentences.
• A well-structured academic sentence typically stays within 15–30 words to ensure clarity and coherence.
• If a sentence exceeds 40 words (2.5 lines), it is generally advisable to break it into two sentences.
• Use precise vocabulary, linking and conjunction words, and punctuation to express and connect ideas.
• Avoid unnecessary words and redundancy.
• Use formal language and avoid contractions (e.g., "do not" instead of "don’t").
• Maintain an objective tone by avoiding personal opinions unless required.
• Ensure each sentence logically follows the previous one.

Writing Effective Paragraphs

• An academic paragraph is a structured unit of writing that develops a single main idea.
• An average academic paragraph consists of five sentences and typically ranges between 100-200 words:
• A topic sentence – Introduces the main idea.
• Supporting evidence – Provides examples, data, explanations, or citations.
• Analysis – Explain the details and significance of the evidence.
• A concluding sentence – Links back to the thesis or transitions to the next paragraph.
• Notes
• In some cases, when the next paragraph naturally follows and continues the discussion, making a formal concluding sentence is unnecessary.
• Avoid writing paragraphs that are too short (lacking depth) or too long (overwhelming to the reader).

Proper Punctuation 

1. Period (.) - To end a complete sentence; Avoid sentence fragments (incomplete thoughts).
2. Comma (,) - Separates elements in a list; Used after introductory phrases; Sets off nonessential information (opening and closing comma).
3. Semicolon (;) - Links closely related independent clauses without using conjunctions; Separates items in a complex list.
4. Colon (:) - Introduces a list, explanation, or example.
5. Apostrophe (’) - Shows possession - possessive forms (singular and plural possession) are allowed in academic writing but should be used judiciously.
6. Quotation Marks (" ") - Encloses direct quotes; Used for article titles within a larger work.
7. Parentheses ( ) - Enclose additional information or citations.
8. Hyphen (-) and Dash (—) - hyphen (-) joins compound words; dash (—) indicates a break in thought.

  Example 1. The well-known scientist presented the findings.

  Example 2. The research was conclusive—climate policies must change. 

9. Ellipsis (…) - Indicates omitted words in a quote.

  Example: "Climate change is a global issue…requiring immediate action" (Smith, 2023).

10. Question Marks (?) – Allowed but used sparingly. Acceptable when posing direct research questions or rhetorical inquiries.

• Exclamation Marks (!) – Generally Not allowed - Considered too emotional, subjective, or informal for academic writing. Instead of an exclamation mark, use strong wording to convey emphasis.
• Example (Incorrect): The results were groundbreaking!
• Example (Correct): The results were highly significant and introduced a new perspective.

Harvard Referencing System 

In-Text Citations

• Paraphrasing: (Author, Year) - Example: (Smith, 2020)
• Direct Quote: (Author, Year, p. Page Number) - Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 45)
• Referencing at the beginning of a paragraph – Example: According to Smith (2020), climate change significantly impacts agricultural productivity
• Referencing at the end of a paragraph – Example: If no sustainable interventions are implemented, the global food supply will continue to decline (Smith, 2020).

Reference List

• All the references should be listed, one after another, in alphabetical order.
• Do not separate them into different categories like books, journal articles, reports, etc.
• Use the same font and size (Times New Roman, size 12, single spacing).

Books:

• Author(s) Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of the Book. Edition (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher.
• Example: Smith, J. (2020) Understanding Social Change. 2nd edition. London: Sage.
• The title of the book should be in italics.
• Journal Articles
• Author(s) Surname, Initial(s). (Year) ‘Title of article’, Title of Journal, Volume (Issue), page numbers. DOI/URL (if available).
• Example: Brown, R. and Green, T. (2019) ‘Climate change impacts on biodiversity’, Environmental Studies Journal, 25(3), pp. 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1234/esj.2019.0025.
• The title of the journal should be in italics.

Websites

• Author(s) Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
• Example: World Health Organization (2023) Global health trends. Available at: https://www.who.int/global-health (Accessed: 20 January 2025).

Reports

• Author(s)/Organization. (Year) Title of report. Place of publication: Publisher. Report number (if applicable).
• Example: United Nations. (2021) Humanitarian Aid Trends 2021. New York: United Nations Publications.

Conference Papers

• Author(s) Surname, Initial(s). (Year) ‘Title of paper’, in Editor(s) Initial(s). Surname (ed(s).), Proceedings of the Conference Name. Place and date of conference. Place of publication: Publisher, page numbers.
• Example: Jones, L. (2022) ‘AI and education: Opportunities and challenges’, in White, S. (ed.), Proceedings of the AI in Education Conference. London, 12–15 March. London: Springer, pp. 90–105.

Final Notes

⚠ By adhering to these standards, researchers can enhance the quality, readability, and academic credibility of their articles.

⚠ Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the article being returned to the author for review.