Capstone: Complete Research Paper Draft

The Complete Paper Workflow

In the previous lesson, we covered revision, peer review, and publishing. Now let’s build on that foundation by walking through a complete paper draft using every skill from this course.

You’ve learned each skill individually. This capstone shows how they connect into one coherent workflow.

Your Academic Writing Toolkit

Lesson	Skill	Role in the Paper
1	AI ethics mindset	Guides every interaction with AI
2	Research questions	Defines the paper’s direction
3	Literature synthesis	Builds the knowledge foundation
4	Citation integrity	Ensures credibility and compliance
5	Thesis and argument	Creates the paper’s backbone
6	Academic style	Polishes the prose
7	Revision and publishing	Brings the paper to submission quality

Capstone Walkthrough

Let’s walk through producing a paper section using the full workflow.

Step 1: Define the Research Question (Lesson 2)

Start with the PICO framework:

Population: What are you studying?
Intervention: What variable are you examining?
Comparison: Compared to what?
Outcome: What are you measuring?

Example refined question: “How does AI-assisted writing instruction (I) compare to traditional writing instruction (C) in improving academic writing quality (O) among undergraduate students (P)?”

Step 2: Search and Collect (Lesson 2)

Build your Boolean search strings and search systematically. Collect sources in your reference manager. Evaluate relevance using AI assistance.

Step 3: Synthesize the Literature (Lesson 3)

Organize sources thematically, not by author. Map agreements, disagreements, extensions, and gaps. Write synthesis paragraphs that show relationships.

Key transition: The gap you identify in the literature is where your thesis lives.

Step 4: Construct the Argument (Lesson 5)

Write your thesis statement. Outline the argument structure. Choose your reasoning type (deductive, inductive, comparative). Plan where counterarguments fit.

Step 5: Draft with AI Assistance (Lesson 6)

Write section by section, using AI for:

Generating draft paragraphs you’ll rewrite
Checking logical flow between sections
Suggesting transitions
Improving clarity and style

Critical step: Every AI-generated sentence must be verified, rewritten in your voice, and defensible as your own work.

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

Step 6: Verify Every Citation (Lesson 4)

Before revising for style, verify every citation:

Does this paper actually exist?
Did the authors actually say what you’re attributing?
Is the citation formatted correctly?
Have you read the actual paper (not just the abstract)?

Step 7: Revise in Four Passes (Lesson 7)

Structure: Does the argument flow?
Arguments: Is every claim supported?
Style: Is the writing clear and appropriate?
Technical: Are citations, formatting, and details correct?

The Introduction Template

Use this structure for your introduction:

Paragraph 1: Hook — Why does this topic matter?
Paragraph 2: Context — What's the current state of knowledge?
Paragraph 3: Gap — What's missing from existing research?
Paragraph 4: Thesis — What do you argue?
Paragraph 5: Overview — How is this paper structured?

AI: Help me draft an introduction for my paper.

Topic: [your topic]
Key context: [main findings from literature review]
Gap: [what's missing in existing research]
Thesis: [your argument]

Draft an introduction that:
- Opens with a compelling reason this topic matters
- Summarizes the state of knowledge in 2-3 sentences
- Clearly articulates the gap
- States my thesis
- Previews the paper structure

Academic discipline: [field]
Target length: 400-500 words

Common Capstone Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Happens	Prevention
Introduction doesn’t match paper	You wrote the intro first and the paper evolved	Rewrite the intro last
Literature review disconnected from thesis	Review covers the field but doesn’t build to your argument	Every section should connect to your gap
Thesis buried on page 8	Too much background before the main point	State thesis clearly by end of introduction
Discussion just repeats results	Unsure how to interpret findings	Discussion should interpret, contextualize, and recommend
Conclusion introduces new ideas	Running out of space for thoughts	Conclusion only synthesizes what’s already presented

Exercise: Draft Your Paper

Complete one full section (introduction or discussion) using the workflow:

Review your research question, thesis, and key sources
Outline the section structure
Draft with AI assistance, section by section
Verify every citation against the original source
Revise through all four passes
Check against your institution’s AI disclosure policy

What’s Next?

Congratulations on completing Academic Writing with AI. Here’s your path forward:

Apply this week: Draft or revise one section of a real paper using this workflow.

Build your citation library: Every paper you read and properly file saves future time.

Practice synthesis: The more literature reviews you write, the easier they become.

Write regularly: Academic writing improves with consistent practice, not sporadic marathons.

Key Takeaways

The complete workflow connects research questions through synthesis, argumentation, and drafting to submission
AI assists at every stage, but you provide the intellectual contribution
Citation verification is the highest-priority quality check in AI-assisted academic writing
Every section should connect to your thesis—disconnected sections weaken the paper
Revise in four passes (structure, arguments, style, technical) for thorough improvement
The skills compound: faster research enables better synthesis, which enables stronger arguments