Writing essays can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re juggling deadlines, research, and citations. I didn’t discover these tools and strategies until grad school, but they were absolute game-changers. Whether you’re a first-year university student or someone managing ADHD, these tips will save you time, reduce stress, and help you write better essays.

Let’s dive into the ultimate essay-writing workflow!

Why Zotero is a Must-Have Tool

Zotero is the MVP of academic research tools. It’s a desktop app with a companion Chrome extension that makes collecting, organizing, and citing sources effortless. With Zotero, you can:

• Automatically save citation details from websites or library databases.
• Generate bibliographies with a single click.
• Easily add citations directly into Google Docs or Word.

Pro Tip: Make sure the Zotero desktop app is open and paired with the companion Chrome extension for seamless operation. It’s a game-changer, especially for ADHD brains that thrive on automating repetitive tasks.

Wikipedia and ChatGPT: The Secret Research Starting Points

You’ve probably heard, “Don’t cite Wikipedia!” a thousand times, and it’s true. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. Wikipedia and tools like ChatGPT can help you:

• Discover key terms and specialized language for your topic.
• Find links to legitimate academic sources from Wikipedia’s references section.
• Generate keywords to help you search databases more effectively.

For instance, if you’re researching ADHD and deadlines, these tools might lead you to concepts like temporal processing or temporal discounting—unlocking new avenues for deeper research.

Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries: A Legit Source

Imagine having a tool as comprehensive as Wikipedia but 100% credible. That’s where specialized encyclopedias and academic dictionaries come in. Search for your broad topic and add keywords like:

• encyclopedia
• dictionary
• handbook
• companion
• introduction (to)

In particular, I enjoy these two series:

• Oxford Handbooks
• Cambridge Companions

These resources provide clear (yet scholarly) starting points and the digital editions are often hyperlinked, making it easy to jump between concepts without getting lost. Many schools provide digital access to these tools through their library systems, so check your institution’s website.

Pro Tip: Articles in these books will often end with recommendations for further reading, which can save you quite a bit of time by pointing you to some of the best resources.

Library Subject Guides: Your Unknown Ally

Most university libraries have subject guides tailored to specific fields, like psychology or neuroscience. Here’s an example of a subject guide from Dalhousie University. You can bookmark one of these guides and use it as the launchpad for all your papers. These guides:

• Point you to the best databases, journals, and resources in your niche.
• Help you find the right “subject librarian” who can give expert guidance on your topic.

Librarians are an incredible resource. Don’t hesitate to reach out—they’re there to make your research journey easier!

How to Use Google Books for Research

If your library is closed or a book isn’t fully available, Google Books can be a lifesaver. Here’s how:

• Use the search function to quickly find mentions of your topic in a book.
• Preview sections or chapters to get key insights.
• Save books directly to Zotero for later citation.

For example, I recently needed to check if a book mentioned ADHD. Instead of flipping through pages or hunting through an index, Google Books’ search function gave me instant results (and even told me the page number!).

Google Scholar: Familiar and Powerful

If databases like JSTOR or PsychInfo feel intimidating, Google Scholar can make research feel more approachable.

• Search for scholarly articles right from Google.
• Use the “Cited By” feature to find influential and related works.
• Link Google Scholar to your library for one-click access to articles.

To set it up:

1. Go to the Library Links section in Google Scholar settings.
2. Search for your university and add it.
3. Save your changes.

Now you’re ready to access academic papers directly through your institution’s resources!

Zotero Drag-and-Drop Workflow: The Finishing Touch

Zotero isn’t just for citations—it’s a research powerhouse. Here’s how I use it to streamline writing:

1. Save full PDFs of academic papers to Zotero.
2. Highlight key sections and add notes directly within Zotero.
3. Use Zotero’s sidebar to quickly review highlights and notes when outlining your paper.
4. Drag and drop highlights into your Google Doc to build out sections of your essay.

This workflow makes writing feel less daunting, breaking the process into manageable steps while keeping everything organized.

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ADHD-Friendly Essay Writing Tips

If you’re managing ADHD, this system can work wonders for you. Automating citations and organizing research reduces mental clutter, so you can focus on the creative part of writing.

Got a friend or classmate who struggles with essays? Share this guide with them! These tools are perfect for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and save time.

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Ready to take the stress out of essay writing?
Try out these tools and let me know how they work for you. If low motivation is your struggle, check out my other blog post on focus-boosting Chrome extensions.