Below are a set of graduate student’s writing resources to help plan, format, write, and edit papers.
Click on the titles to download your free PDF copy of these handouts used for a writing workshop entitled The Art of Writing & Editing Graduate School Papers presented to graduate students at the University of Washington in Seattle.
6 Sensational & Essential Microsoft Word Hacks for Dissertation Writers
Step-by step instructions for formatting your paper BEFORE you begin writing to use auto-generating features for table of contents, citations, bibliography, and more—all in the style your program or university demands. (28 page PDF)
Grammar Basics Review
A SHORT selection of grammar tips for writing sentences, avoiding run-on sentences, active vs. passive verbs, pronouns, et cetera.
Creating a Thesis
Summary of thesis elements; how to create a strong one versus a weak one
Planning a Paper Creating an Outline
Advice on how to plan a paper from idea to completion with suggestions for creating an outline
Process-Chart for writing a paper
A step-by-step chart for writing and editing a paper
Time Management for Writing Assignments
An example of building a timeline for an assignment to get it completed on time
Writing and editing tips
30 useful tips for writing, editing, formatting, and managing graduate school writing assignments
What Makes a Good Writer
Advice on the writing process as well as specific tips for writing an academic paper
Words We Confuse
English has many words that sound the same but have very different meanings. This handout lists a selection of them. If you’re uncertain of the exact meaning of a word, look it up in the dictionary before using it in a paper.
Web Resources
A selection of website with helpful tips on writing and formatting papers
“The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word, every adverb that carries the same meaning that’s already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what – these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence. And they usually occur in proportion to education and rank.” (emphasis mine)
William Zinsser in On Writing Well