Writer’s Reasoning Notes are a short set of comments from the Writer to the Customer that explain key decisions and reasoning used in writing the paper. Unlike the Student Explanation Note, which is addressed to the instructor and written in the student’s voice, the Writer’s Notes are intended for the client and are written in the third person or in a neutral tone.
Their purpose is to give the client insight into why the writer chose specific examples, how the structure was developed, and what logic underlies transitions between sections. Essentially, it’s a “work breakdown” that helps the client better understand the material and see the writer’s expertise.
It is important to write your Reasoning Notes well because
They build trust — by explaining the reasoning behind your decisions, you show your professionalism and persuade the customer that your work is original.
The notes reveal the “hidden logic” of the work, helping the client anticipate and confidently explain the reasoning behind it in case of need.
The format is a separate document containing the writer’s comments on key sections of the work: introduction, literature review, arguments, conclusions, thesis statement, examples, sources used, structure, etc.
Each comment explains the writer’s logic and intent — why a specific example was chosen, why a paragraph was added, and why particular sources or arguments were used.
This document serves as a “guidebook” to the paper, helping the client follow the writer’s thought process while creating the main paper.
Steps to Write the Author’s Reasoning Notes
1. Plan the Comments:
After completing the paper, the writer identifies 3–7 key points worth explaining — typically: debatable statements, nontrivial transitions, methodological choices, the use of specific sources, conclusions, or interpretation of data.
2. Write the Comments:
Each comment should be short (1–3 sentences), written in a friendly yet professional tone. Avoid overly academic phrasing, but don’t oversimplify — the client might be advanced.
The note can be written neutrally or in the first person if appropriate:
Examples:
“The author uses the Tesla example here because it’s a recent and illustrative case of innovation (compared to outdated examples in prior studies).”
or
“This paragraph acts as a bridge between the theory and results, connecting concepts X and Y and preparing the ground for the conclusions.”
If the author feels it fits, they may write in first person:
“I structured the paper this way because…”
— but a neutral tone is usually preferred, since the note addresses the client.
3. Deliver:
Upload two separate files:
The main file — the finished paper, clean and ready for submission to the instructor.
The Author’s Reasoning Notes — a separate document containing the writer’s comments on key aspects (arguments, structure, sources, conclusions, etc.).
This file is for the client’s understanding only and should not be submitted to the instructor.
4. Follow-up / Feedback:
Usually, these notes clarify everything. If the client still has specific questions (e.g., “why was this conclusion drawn?”) that weren’t covered, the writer should provide a short clarification in chat. However, having Writer’s Notes significantly reduces the number of such inquiries.
Guidelines to Share with the Teammates
Quality Criteria
Insightfulness: Comments should explain reasoning, not restate the text. The client should think, “Aha, now I understand why that choice was made.”
Brevity: Maximum 1–2 lines per section, argument, formula, or conclusion.
Relevance: Each comment must relate directly to a specific part of the text. Avoid general reflections.
Tone: Professional yet accessible. The language may be slightly simpler than in the main paper (since the reader is a student), but not overly casual.
E.g.:
Good: “(Note: The author intentionally compares 2020 and 2021 data to show the pandemic effect.)”
Bad: “(Note: I decided to compare 2020 and 2021 just to make the COVID part clearer.)” — too informal.
Formatting consistency: All comments should follow the same style and format.
Examples of the Reasoning Notes
