How to Use Technology to Write Better Papers

There are several reasons why technology has dramatically changed writing papers. The first has to do with the ease of creating papers through word processing software like Microsoft Word and Open Office (a free software). And the second is because of the internet. This resource has allowed for a vast amount of information to be accessed easily, just like you can easilybuy paper online. 

Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to use technology to their advantage. Technology essentially takes tedious aspects out of the equation, allowing you to be more productive with your time. This is especially true if you are a student trying to write better papers. As a student, having this tool in your back pocket will help you do better in school.

Get More Done With A Calendar App

Even as the internet has changed the way we research and write papers, many of us still jot down our ideas before typing them up. If that sounds familiar to you, consider using a digital calendar app to organize your thoughts.

The first step is making the most of your calendar’s reminders feature. If you have an idea for your next great paper but aren’t ready to write about it yet, set a reminder for a few days later — or even weeks later if you’re not in a rush. Your research will stay fresh in your mind, and you won’t forget what you wanted to say in the first place.

You can also use this strategy to break down large projects into smaller tasks. You can do this by breaking them into smaller goals — like a title page, rough draft, and final draft — then set reminders for when each of those tasks needs to be done. This will help keep up with the process, so you don’t get stuck scrambling at the last minute.

Tools for Research

Today, students can access tons of information online, but the problem is determining what’s credible, especially when any Joe Schmo can start a blog and post whatever they want. Google scholar search is ideal for research papers because it focuses on scholarly sources. Cite SeerX is similar, with the added benefit of showing other sources that cite your source. Google Books lets you search for books by keyword. And don’t forget about YouTube or Vimeo for video sources.

Make Sure Your Sources Are Credible

The internet has revolutionized how people write papers, but it hasn’t made things much easier.

Students are still required to take notes and do research, but now they have to sort through a massive amount of information and determine which is relevant and credible.

The internet has made it easier than ever to find information on any subject imaginable — but unfortunately, not all of this information is accurate. It’s up to you to make sure the sources you’re using are credible and reliable so you can avoid misinforming or misleading your readers. You can verify that an article has been published in a peer-reviewed journal by looking up its publisher or checking with an editor at the publication.

Cite Correctly

It’s important to cite all your sources properly; plagiarism is taken very seriously by colleges and universities. However, doing citations by hand can be a chore, especially when multiple sources for one paper. Luckily, plenty of online tools does it for you, such as EasyBib and Citation Machine Plus. Just plug in the information about your source, and it will generate an accurate citation for you in the format you choose (MLA or APA).

You may be tempted to use Wikipedia as a source, but most professors will want you to cite something more reliable even if the information is accurate. If you choose Wikipedia as a source, your paper must include other reputable sources, so your work appears balanced and well-researched. You use CiteFast to generate citations.

Write In The Cloud

Cloud-based programs like Google Docs and Microsoft Office let you share documents with collaborators and work on them together in real-time, no matter where you are. 

One of the most important aspects of these programs is that they let you edit your documents anywhere. This can make it easier to deal with edits and revisions since you don’t have to email documents back and forth between people or try to edit them at the same time, which can help you be more productive.

It doesn’t matter if you are home on your laptop or at school on a lab computer; you can access your documents from any location with an Internet connection. This is incredibly useful for college students who are constantly on the go.

Grammar Apps

When it comes to your writing, you can’t be too careful. To ensure that your work is perfect and error-free, it pays to use the best tools at your disposal — and technology is here to help.

Try Grammarly or Hemingway Editor. Both of these apps scan your writing for errors and offer suggestions for improvement — especially in grammar and wording. They are especially useful when cutting down on wordiness or passive voice. 

Grammarly browser extension checks all of your writing for typos and grammar mistakes and suggests corrections in real-time. The premium version allows users to check for plagiarism, build a personal word bank, make citations, and more.

Hemingway’s application makes sure that your writing is clear and easy to read. You can cut down on wordiness by taking prompts from color-coded alerts about your work’s readability. 

Plagiarism Checkers

Plagiarism checkers are a great way to evaluate your writing and ensure you aren’t accidentally copying work from other sources.

You can easily avoid plagiarism by using tools such as Copyscape or Plagiarisma to check your paper for plagiarized content. They are highly effective and easy to use. Many students prefer using these tools because they provide quick results. 

However, these tools won’t make changes if the paper contains plagiarized content, so make sure you check it before sending it to your teacher.

Final Thought

Ultimately, you should use whatever technology helps you best. If that’s a stack of index cards in your backpack, go for it. But if it means bringing a laptop to class and double-checking your work, that might be the right move too. There’s no one solution to writing better papers, but there are many different tools at your disposal. So pick a method that makes sense based on how you learn and what works best with your schedule and habits. You might be surprised at how technology can help you ace that next paper.