What are Academic Articles and How to Work with Them: Comprehensive Guide for Students and Scholars

If you are a student, researcher, or scholar, you may have encountered the term “academic article” in your academic journey. But what exactly is an academic article and why is it important for your research and learning? Here, we will provide some tips on how to find, read, and write academic articles.

What is an Academic Article?

An academic article is a full-length document on original research or a critical evaluation of existing research that is written by professionals in a given field and passes an academic quality assessment by peers before being published in an academic journal. An academic article usually consists of an abstract, a background, a study design and methodology, a result, and a conclusion. There are different types of academic articles, such as original articles, review articles and theoretical articles.

An original article reports new findings or discoveries that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a specific discipline. It follows a standard structure of introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.

A review article summarizes and synthesizes the current state of knowledge on a particular topic or issue. It provides an overview of the main theories, concepts, methods, debates, and gaps in the literature. It does not present new data or analysis, but rather evaluates and critiques existing research.

A theoretical article develops or proposes a new theory or framework to explain or understand a phenomenon or problem. It does not rely on empirical data or evidence, but rather on logical reasoning and argumentation. It may also compare or contrast different theoretical perspectives or models.

Why are Academic Articles Important?

Academic articles are important for several reasons:

• They are the primary source of scientific information and knowledge in various fields and disciplines. They communicate the latest findings and discoveries to the academic community and the public. They also provide the basis for further research and innovation.
  
• They are essential for academic learning and development. They help students and scholars to acquire new knowledge and skills, to develop critical thinking and analytical abilities, to engage with different perspectives and arguments, and to improve their writing and communication skills.
  
• They are valuable for academic recognition and reputation. They demonstrate the expertise and credibility of the authors and their institutions. They also increase the visibility and impact of their research through citations and references by other researchers.

How to Find Academic Articles?

There are many ways to find academic articles for your research or learning purposes. Some of the most typical methods include:

• Use online databases: Online databases are collections of academic articles that can be accessed through the Internet. They usually have search engines that allow you to find articles by keywords, titles, authors, journals, subjects, dates, etc. Some examples of online databases are Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, JSTOR, etc.
  
• Use library catalogs: Library catalogs are directories of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and other materials that are available in a library or a network of libraries. They usually have search engines that allow you to find materials by keywords, titles, authors, subjects, etc. You can also browse the library shelves by call numbers or subject headings.
  
• Use reference lists: Reference lists are lists of sources that are cited or referenced by an article or a book. They usually appear at the end of the document or in footnotes or endnotes. They can help you find related or relevant articles that may support or challenge your research topic or question.
  
• Use citation indexes: Citation indexes are tools that track how often an article is cited by other articles. They can help you measure the impact or influence of an article on a field or discipline. They can also help you find newer or older articles that cite or are cited by an article of interest. Some examples of citation indexes are Web of Science Citation Indexes (SCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI), etc.

How to Read Academic Articles?

Reading academic articles can be challenging and time-consuming due to their length, complexity, and technicality. However, there are some strategies that can help you read them more effectively and efficiently:

• Skim: Skimming is a technique of quickly scanning an article to get a general idea of its main points and structure. You can skim an article by reading its title, abstract, introduction, conclusion, headings, subheadings, tables, figures, graphs, etc.
  
• Scan: Scanning is a technique of selectively reading an article to find specific information or details that are relevant to your research topic or question. You can scan an article by using keywords,phrases, questions, etc.
  
• Evaluate: Evaluating is a technique of critically assessing an article to determine its quality, reliability, validity, relevance, etc.You can evaluate an article by checking its author, journal, date, sources, methods, results, discussion, etc.
  
• Annotate: Annotating is a technique of making notes or comments on an article to highlight its main points, arguments, evidence, strengths, weaknesses, etc. You can annotate an article by using symbols, colors, abbreviations, etc.

How to Write Academic Articles?

Writing academic articles can be daunting and demanding due to their high standards and expectations. However, there are some steps that can help you write them more effectively and efficiently:

• Plan: Planning is the process of preparing and organizing your ideas and information for your article. You can plan your article by choosing a topic, conducting a literature review, formulating a research question or hypothesis, designing a study or analysis, etc.
  
• Draft: Drafting is the process of writing your ideas and information in a coherent and logical manner. You can draft your article by following a standard structure of abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. You can also use headings, subheadings, paragraphs, sentences, transitions, etc.
  
• Revise: Revising is the process of improving and refining your draft by checking its content, organization, style, tone, etc. You can revise your article by reading it aloud, asking for feedback, using editing tools, etc.
  
• Edit: Editing is the process of correcting and polishing your draft by checking its grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, etc. You can edit your article by using proofreading tools, following the guidelines of the journal or publisher, etc.

How to Choose a Journal for Your Academic Article?

Choosing a journal for your academic article is an important decision that can affect the impact and visibility of your research. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a journal:

• Relevance: Choose a journal that matches the scope, topic, and audience of your article. You can check the journal’s aims, scope, editorial board, published articles, etc. to see if they are relevant to your work.
  
• Quality: Choose a journal that has high quality and a reputation in your field. You can check the journal’s impact factor, ranking, indexing, citation metrics, peer-review process, etc. to see if they reflect its quality.
  
• Accessibility: Choose a journal that has high accessibility and reaches your field. You can check the journal’s availability, distribution, language, open access policy, fees, etc. to see if they affect its accessibility.
  
• Suitability: Choose a journal that suits your needs and preferences as an author. You can check the journal’s submission guidelines, publication speed, acceptance rate, feedback policy, copyright policy, etc. to see if they suit your expectations.

What are the Features of Academic Writing?

Academic writing has some distinctive features that distinguish it from other types of writing, such as creative writing, journalistic writing, or personal writing. Some of the features are:

• Formality: Academic writing uses a formal and objective tone, avoiding slang, colloquialisms, contractions, emotive language, personal pronouns, etc. It also follows the rules and conventions of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and citation.
  
• Clarity: Academic writing uses clear and precise language, avoiding ambiguity, vagueness, jargon, or unnecessary words. It also uses logical and coherent structure, transitions, and signposting to guide the reader through the argument or discussion.
  
• Evidence: Academic writing uses evidence from reliable and credible sources to support the claims, arguments, or opinions. It also acknowledges and evaluates different perspectives and counterarguments. It also cites and references the sources properly to avoid plagiarism and demonstrate academic integrity.
  
• Analysis: Academic writing uses analysis to interpret, evaluate, synthesize, and critique the evidence and the literature. It also uses critical thinking to question assumptions, identify gaps, and propose solutions or implications. It also uses creativity to generate original and innovative ideas or insights.

How do I find Academic Articles?

One of the best ways to find academic articles is to use a search engine that specializes in scholarly literature, such as Google Scholar. You can also use databases that index articles from specific disciplines or fields, such as PubMed for biomedical sciences, ERIC for education, or Web of Science for multidisciplinary research. You can also browse the websites of journals that publish articles on your topic of interest, or follow the references and citations of articles that you have already read.

What are the Benefits of Publishing Academic Articles?

Publishing academic articles can have many benefits for the authors and their careers. Some of the benefits are:

• Enhancing your reputation and credibility as a scholar and an expert in your field.
• Contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the public good in your discipline and society.
• Receiving feedback and recognition from your peers and mentors.
• Building your network and collaboration opportunities with other researchers and institutions.
• Increasing your chances of getting funding, grants, awards, promotions, or tenure.

What are the Challenges of Publishing Academic Articles?

Publishing academic articles can also have many challenges for the authors and their careers. Some of the challenges are:

• Facing high competition and rejection rates from journals and publishers.
• Dealing with ethical issues such as plagiarism, fraud, misconduct, or conflicts of interest.
• Adapting to different journal styles, formats, and requirements.
• Balancing your time and resources between research, teaching, service, and other obligations.
• Coping with stress, pressure, and expectations from yourself and others.

Academic articles are the core of academic knowledge and discourse, and they are indispensable for students and scholars who want to pursue their research and learning in any discipline. Academic articles are the main way of sharing and discussing scholarly findings and arguments, and they provide valuable information and perspectives for various academic and social problems. To work well with academic articles, one needs to know how to locate, read, understand, assess, and write them. This guide has given some basic guidelines and references to help with these activities, but there is always more to learn and refine. By engaging with academic articles, one can improve their academic interest, reasoning, and writing.

Published By: ISCOPE Publications