Resources for Writers

Working with a tutor in The Writing Center is the best way to develop your ability to make appropriate decisions as you write.  In addition to consulting the resources below, please consider making an appointment to meet one-to-one with a writing tutor.  The best resource for a writer is a good reader who provides informed, discerning feedback.

The following resources may be helpful as you write for various purposes.  Strong writers understand when to apply certain strategies to particular writing situations; that is, they understand that a good writer makes appropriate choices depending on the piece of writing's purpose and audience.  This means that a particular resource below may not apply to all writing situations.

General

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab – This is an excellent site with concise and abundant materials for students. 

Writing in Different Disciplines

• Our handout--developed in cooperation with UM's English Department--on Writing about Literature
• Our handout--developed in cooperation with UM's Sociology Department--on Writing in Sociology
• Our handout--developed in cooperation with UM's Economics Department--on Writing in Economics 
• Our handout--developed in cooperation with UM's Social Work Department--on Writing in Social Work
• Out handout--developed in cooperation with UM's Enviromental Studies Department--on Writing in Enviromental Studies

Research Abstracts

• Our handout on writing research abstracts
• Our examples of conference and journal article research abstracts

Thesis Statements

• Our handout on thesis statements in the humanities and the sciences     

Introductions

• Our handout on writing introductions in the humanities and the sciences 

Argument

• Our handout on three different ways to support an argument

Editing and Proofreading

• Our handout on comma, colon, and semicolon rules
• Our handout on 5 basic sentence patterns

Evaluating Your Own Writing

• Our handout on evaluating your own writing--A helpful checklist to use before you turn in an assignment

Using and Citing Sources

• Our handout on three ways to use sources: Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
• Mansfield Library’s APA guide
• Mansfield Library’s ASA guide
• Mansfield Library’s Chicago guide
• Mansfield Library’s MLA guide

Writing Resumes, Cover Letters, and Personal Statements

• UM's Career Services Handouts