Looking for some quick ways to improve and enhance your writing?

Review the resources and guides below, covering multiple stages of the writing process, formats, and best practices.

Annotating Texts - Recording thoughts in documents, or annotating, helps you remember the material and makes you think more deeply about the text. Simply highlighting or underlining might draw your eye to that section later, while annotations will help you develop critical thinking.

Articles Flowchart - Use this resource to know when and how to properly use an article (a, an, the) in your writing.

Commas and Other Punctuation - Commas, colons, semicolons, M-dashes, and quotation marks all carrying distinct meaning and purpose, and using them properly is crucial to writing professionally.

Creating a Strong Thesis Statement - A strong thesis gives your reader a clear idea of what your paper will do and gives your reader a preview of the structure of the paper (like a trailer for a movie).

Four Part Introduction - While not the only way to write an introduction, the four part method ensures that you clearly introduce the topic, state your thesis, present your evidence, and explain the significance.

Integrating Quotations - Quotes should be integrated within your writing carefully and should include analysis to ensure the quote adds to your own thoughts and the overall structure and theme of your writing.

Lab Reports - A lab report formally presents your research findings. The specific requirements for a lab report vary from instructor to instructor and from lab to lab. You should always follow the guidelines provided by your instructor or your lab, but there are some common features that appear in most lab reports.

Organization and Transitions - A well organized and structured piece of writing has a “good flow”, which is generally a matter of clear signposting and strong transitions.

Outlining a Paper - This worksheet provides best practices guidance for organizing your paper. It should be used in conjunction with the Four Part Introduction guide.

Paragraph Structure - While there are no hard and fast rules about what a paragraph has to look like, there are some general expectations about what a reader will find in a body paragraph of an academic paper.

Paraphrase and Attribution - When paraphrasing another's words, it is important not only to ensure you are getting the main points across without copying, but you must also properly attribute, or give credit to, the original author.

Passive and Active Voice - While not commonly used in writing, it is important to understand passive voice and when and how to properly use it.

Personal Statements - When writing personal statements, remember that the program (school, scholarship, etc.) to which you are applying necessarily has more applications than positions (funds, etc.) available. Use this Q&A worksheet to develop a compelling statement.

Pronoun Usage - It is crucial to use the proper form of pronouns at the right time for clarity and flow in your writing. The Pronouns (Advanced) and Strategies for Using Pronouns Effectively guides provide explanations and examples for pronoun success.

Proofreading Strategies and the Dirty Dozen - Follow these tips to save time and proofread and edit your writing quickly and accurately.

Punctuating and Formatting Quotations - It is important to not only use quotes at the right time, but to format and punctuate them properly based on location within your writing.

Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons - Writing with clarity in well-balanced and carefully structured sentences ensures that your thoughts are understood and your writing is professional.

Sentence Structure - The rules that govern the structure of English sentences are neither absolute nor arbitrary. This guide helps to break down these rules to ensure your sentences adhere to proper, widely used structure.

Thank-you and Business Letters - Composing professional letters requires certain formatting and style decisions.

Using Quotations Effectively - When used sparingly, well-selected quotations can enliven your paper, illustrate a point, and/or offer authoritative support for or a counterpoint to your argument. This guide offers tips for using your selected quotes effectively.