This page collects the handouts, checklists, reading and online tools that go with the writing course. The materials are ordered by writing stage, so you can go straight to what you need right now: getting started, writing a specific section of your paper, polishing your language or submitting.
Each item has a short description and a label telling you whether it is a PDF handout, an article or an external website. Most handouts are discussed in class; you can also use them on your own while you write.
Start here
New to the course? These four documents give you the best foundation.
How to Write Your First Research Paper Article (PDF)
A clear, practical guide (Kallestinova, 2011) to planning and drafting a research paper section by section, and the order in which to write them.
Prepare-your-writing-Tiny-Steps-AIHandout (PDF)
Break your writing task into small, manageable steps so you can start, and keep going.
Question Tool: Introduction Handout (PDF)
A set of guiding questions that helps you build the argument of your introduction.
Academic Phrasebank (University of Manchester) Website
Hundreds of standard phrases for every part of a paper, from introducing a topic to stating limitations.
1. Getting started and keeping going
For planning your writing, getting past a blank page and staying motivated.
Prepare Your Writing: Tiny Steps Handout (PDF)
Break your writing task into small, manageable steps so you can start, and keep going.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block Handout (PDF)
Practical strategies for when the writing stalls.
The Joy of Writing Handout (PDF)
On finding pleasure and routine in academic writing.
2. Writing the paper: the big picture
Classic guides to structure, argument and the writing process as a whole.
How to Write Your First Research Paper Article (PDF)
A step-by-step guide to drafting a research paper, section by section (Kallestinova, 2011).
How to Write a Paper (George M. Hall, BMJ) Book chapter (PDF)
Advice on structuring and writing a medical research paper, from the well-known BMJ guide.
Notes on Writing a Paper (Lertzman) Article (PDF)
Short, practical notes on writing papers and theses, focusing on clarity and structure.
Ten Principles Handout (PDF)
Ten principles for clear scientific writing.
3. Introduction and literature
For building your introduction and writing or reading reviews.
Question Tool: Introduction Handout (PDF)
Guiding questions that help you build the argument of your introduction.
How to Write a Literature Review Handout (PDF)
How to search, organise and write up the literature, from the UNC Writing Center.
How to Write a Systematic Review Handout (PDF)
The steps and reporting conventions of a systematic review.
How to Read a Review Paper Handout (PDF)
How to read a review efficiently and critically.
4. Methods and results
For reporting your study completely and presenting your data clearly.
EQUATOR Network: Reporting Guidelines Website
The central database of reporting guidelines for health research, such as CONSORT (trials), PRISMA (systematic reviews), STROBE (observational studies) and COREQ (qualitative research). Check here which checklist your journal expects.
STROBE Checklists for Observational Studies Website
Checklists for reporting cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies.
COREQ: Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist (PDF)
The 32-item checklist for reporting interviews and focus groups.
Writing a Qualitative Research Paper Article (PDF)
How to structure and write up qualitative research.
Making Tables and Figures Handout (PDF)
How to choose between a table and a figure, and how to make both readable.
5. Discussion
For interpreting your results and ending your paper with a clear message.
Question Tool for the Discussion Handout (PDF)
Guiding questions that help you structure your discussion, from main finding to implications.
How to Start and End the Discussion Handout (PDF)
How to write a strong opening and closing paragraph for your discussion.
6. Abstract, cover letter and submission
For the parts editors and readers see first.
How to Write a Good Abstract Article (website)
What to include in an abstract and how to make every sentence count.
A Checklist for Improving Abstracts (Patrick Dunleavy) Checklist (PDF)
A checklist to test and strengthen your abstract.
Writing Cover Letters for Scientific Manuscripts Handout (PDF)
What to put in the letter to the editor that accompanies your submission.
7. Language and style
For clear, concise and readable English.
Phrases and sentence starters
Academic Phrasebank (University of Manchester) Website
Standard phrases for every part of a paper, ordered by function.
Useful Phrases (from Wallwork) Handout (PDF)
A selection of useful phrases for scientific papers, from Adrian Wallwork’s writing guides.
Transitional Words and Sentence Starters Handout (PDF)
Words that link your sentences and paragraphs, ordered by function.
Online tools to check your text
The Writer’s Diet Website
Paste a passage and see whether your writing is “lean” or “flabby”: nouns, prepositions, passive verbs and more.
Hemingway Editor Website
Highlights long sentences, passive voice and complicated words.
Readability Formulas Website
Calculates readability scores for your text.
Voyant Tools Website
Shows word frequencies and patterns in your text, useful for spotting overused words.
Word Count Tools Website
Counts words per sentence, to check whether your sentences are too long.
8. Grant proposals and AI
Boost Your Grant Proposal with AI Handout (PDF)
How to use AI tools responsibly when writing a grant proposal.
9. Example and practice texts
These texts are used in class as examples of good (and less good) scientific writing, and as material for exercises.
On clear writing
The Curse of Knowledge (Steven Pinker) Essay (PDF)
Why experts find it so hard to write clearly for others.
Sparse MRI (Lustig et al., 2007) Article (PDF)
A technical paper often cited as an example of good scientific style.
On spin and wording
Use of Positive and Negative Words in Scientific Abstracts (Vinkers et al., 2015) Article (PDF)
How words like “novel” and “unprecedented” spread through PubMed abstracts between 1974 and 2014.
Impact of Spin (Boutron et al.) Article (PDF)
How positive framing of results affects the way readers interpret a study.
Spin in Published Biomedical Literature (Chiu et al.) Article (PDF)
A review of how often, and in what forms, spin appears in biomedical papers.
Emoji in Medical Literature (BMJ) Article (PDF)
A light-hearted BMJ piece on emoji in scientific publications.
Practice texts
The Darwin Awards: full text Practice text (PDF)
Used in class to practise the structure of a research paper.
The Darwin Awards: Introduction, Methods and Results Practice text (PDF)
The same paper without its discussion, for the exercise on writing a discussion.
No Time to Die Practice text (PDF)
Example paper used in class.
Plenty of Moustaches Practice text (PDF)
Example article used in class.
Happiness in Your Network Practice text (PDF)
Example article used in class.
Last updated: October 2026. Found a broken link? Please let us know via the contact page.