Center for Writing Excellence
Writing Resources
- Why should I care about writing?
- Can you help me understand research and readings?
- How do I avoid Plagiarism?
- What are the best ways to collaborate in a group writing project?
- How do I get started?
- How do I revise?
- How do I edit?
- How do I write my thesis?
- How do I organize my paper?
- How do I make my paper long enough?
- How do I write a good introduction or conclusion?
- What web resources would you recommend?
- How about a nontraditional approach to writing composition?
Note about PowerPoint Slideshows
CWE clients will often find notes or comments added beneath each slide in some PowerPoint presentations. These were added by the author for use during presentation, and will nearly always provide additional knowledge about an issue. Be sure to read the notes beneath each slide, rather than view the show.
| DOC | Microsoft Word Document |
| Adobe Portable Document Format file | |
| PPT | Microsoft PowerPoint presentation |
| WMV | Windows Media Video |
| WWW | Worldwide Web page link |
Why should I care about writing?
Why Writing Matters to Medicine and Life Sciences [PDF]
Communicating with Your Professor (Texting and e-mail) [PPT / PDF]
Can you help me understand research and readings?
Research Overview Handout [PDF / DOC]
Defining a Research Question [PDF / DOC]
Developing a Research Question [PPT / PDF]
Strategies for Narrowing a Research Question [PDF / DOC]
Developing a Research Outline [PPT / PDF]
Collier Library Databases [WWW]
Comparing the Annotated Bibliography to the Literature Review [PDF / DOC]
Developing an Annotated Bibliography [PDF]
How do I avoid Plagiarism?
Avoiding Plagiarism [PDF / DOC]
More on Avoiding Plagiarism [PDF]
Source Credibility: How to Select the Best Sources [PDF / DOC]
Source Integration [PDF]
Integrating Secondary Sources (Table) [PDF / DOC]
MLA Style
MLA Presentation [PPT / PDF]
Introduction to MLA Style [PDF]
Modern Language Association [WWW]
APA Style
APA Presentation [PPT / PDF]
Introduction to APA Style [PDF / DOC]
How to Cite a Website in APA Style [PDF]
APA Reference Examples [PDF]
APA Section Headings [WWW]
Chicago (CMS) / Turabian Style
Chicago Presentation [16th Ed. PPT / PDF] [15th Ed. PPT / PDF]
Introduction to Chicago-Turabian Style [PDF]
Chicago [WWW]
Turabian [WWW]
APSA Style
Official APSA Style Manual (2006) [WWW]
University of Washington's Guide to APSA Style [WWW]
University of Wisconsin-Madison's Guide to APSA Style [WWW]
Dr. Bruce Drury's Guide to APSA Style (Lamar University) [WWW]
Harvard Style
University of Western Australia's Introduction to Harvard Style [WWW]
University of Western Australia's Harvard Citation Style Examples [PDF]
University of Western Australia's Harvard Reference Formats [WWW]
What are the best ways to collaborate in a group writing project?
Collaborative Writing Help [PDF]
Collaborative Writing Strategies [PDF]
How do I get started?
Scheduling an Appointment [PDF / DOC]
Consultation Menu (for professors) [PDF / DOC]
Planning Consultations (for students) [PDF / DOC]
Invention Activity: Listing [PDF]
Invention Activity: Freewriting [PDF]
Invention Activity: Clustering (New Media Video) [WMV]
Constructing Scientific Writing [PDF / DOC]
Writing in the Social Sciences [PDF]
Evidence-Based Practice [PDF]
Literary Peer Review [PDF]
Literature Reviews [PDF]
Medical Writing (Prezi Presentation) [WWW]
How do I revise?
Revision Activity: Paragraph Organization Shuffle [PDF]
Peer Review Strategies (Good for Creative Fiction and Non-Fiction) [PDF]
Developing Academic Paragraphs [PPT / PDF]
Avoiding Plagiarism: Source Integration [PDF]
How do I edit?
Rules Regarding the Use of Numerals in APA and MLA styles [PDF]
Comma Usage [PDF]
How do I write my thesis?
Thesis Development [PDF]
Overview of Higher Order Concerns (Thesis) [PDF]
How do I organize my paper?
Overview of Higher Order Concerns (Organization) [PDF]
Writing History [PPT / PDF]
Social Science Research Format [PDF]
Evidence Based Practice (College of Nursing) [PDF / DOC]
Organizing a 5-Paragraph Theme (Good for Essay Exams) [PDF]
Outlining a 5-Paragraph Theme (Good for Essay Exams) [PDF]
How do I make my paper long enough?
Developing Academic Paragraphs [PPT / PDF]
How do I write a good introduction or conclusion?
Overview of Higher Order Concerns (Intro & Conclusion) [PDF]
Writing Introductions & Conclusions [PDF]
What web resources would you recommend?
UNA LibGuides [WWW]
Collier Library [WWW]
Merriam-Webster Dictionary [WWW]
Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) [WWW]
The Tongue Untied [WWW]
Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing [WWW]
How about a nontraditional approach to writing composition?
Writing composition can prove to be a daunting task, especially if a student has little or no interest in his given topic. However, there are numerous different approaches to connect writing composition to activities a student may enjoy. For instance, the Internet webseries Extra Credits attempts to analyze the trends of the video game industry, including the role of writing. Hence, Extra Credits has some notable episodes that consider the impact of good and bad writing in video games. Although the subject matter may seem specialized, the principles discussed may be extended to other writing activities, such as Freshman Composition or New Media writing. You may find a (growing) list of writing-specific episodes below:
- "Bad Writing" (6:37)
- "Symbolism 101" (7:10)
- "More than Exposition" (5:45)
- "Word Choice" (7:03)
We would like to extend our thanks to James Portnow, Daniel Floyd, Allison Theus, and the rest of the Extra Credits team for allowing us to share this wonderful resource.
One Harrison Plaza