Research Guides: Writing Resources: Information

Resources for Writers

General Academic Writing

They Say / I Say by Gerald Graff; Cathy Birkenstein; Russel Durst
They Say/I Say: The moves that matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff & Cathy Birkenstein offers a chapter specifically about writing in the sciences titled “The Data Suggest” (chapter 16). This chapter is filled with helpful sentence templates that provide a framework for new writers or those struggling to find the appropriate wording to describe their findings. In addition, these templates also help writers enter a scholarly conversation by providing phrases model interaction with other scientific literature.

Science Writing

How to Write a Good Scientific Paper by Chris A. Mack
This e-book is highly recommended by one of our faculty for students in the sciences. The article is most useful in delineating how to write a scholarly article for a peer-viewed scientific journal. Each section of a scientific paper is addressed, highlighting various challenges that a student might encounter with each section (Chapter 2). It is also a helpful book to address language and style (chapter 3), figures and tables (chapter 4), citations (chapter 5) and the abstract and title (chapter 6).
Making Sense in the Life Sciences by Margot Northey; Patrick von Aderkas
This resource is geared specifically to students in the sciences. Chapter 4 offers several examples of good and bad scientific writing with simple and clear editorial suggestions. Chapter 5 offers extensive materials on how to structure a lab report, including specific requirements and pitfalls to keep in mind for each section of the document.
The Scientist's Guide to Writing by Stephen B. Heard
Heard focuses on the “story” of the research and the narrative the writer creates, which should inform the way information, data, and analysis are organized (Chapter 7). This book also provides helpful recommendations and tools for self-revision (Chapter 21).
Writing in Biology by Leslie Ann Roldan; Mary-Lou Pardu
This book serves as helpful tool for aspiring biologists. It offers advice on how to compose research articles, literature reviews and other material in the field. It includes helpful checklists at the end of each section of the book that allow the reader to be reminded of the “do’s and don’ts” to keep in mind while writing. In addition, the authors provide helpful insight into the appropriate wording and phrasing needed to describe figures and graphs in scientific writing.
Writing in the Environmental Sciences by L. Michelle Baker
This comprehensive, yet easy-to-use, resource highlights seven areas of the writing process: laying the foundation, exploring, arranging, selecting a writing style, crafting, revising and polishing. Even though the title specifies that the book is for students and scholars in environmental sciences, it can be used as a resource for writing in the sciences more broadly.
Writing Science in Plain English by Anne E. Greene
Greene acknowledges that scientists often write material that is unclear and convoluted. This book has been written to address that very problem and how to improve it. This book provides principles to aid the process of writing, such as selecting an audience (chapter 2), choosing active voice (chapter 4), selecting appropriate words (chapter 5), and creating paragraphs (chapter 10). This resource can be integrated into the writing process at any stage and proves to be useful in any science-related writing.

Arts & Humanities Writing

The Elements of Academic Style: Writing for the Humanities by Eric Hayot
From granular concerns, such as sentence structure and grammar, to big-picture issues, such as adhering to genre patterns for successful research and publishing and developing productive and rewarding writing habits, Hayot helps ambitious students, newly minted Ph.D.'s, and established professors shape their work and develop their voices. Combining psychological support with practical suggestions for composing introductions and conclusions, developing a schedule for writing, using notes and citations, and structuring paragraphs and essays, this guide to the elements of academic style does its part to rejuvenate scholarship and writing in the humanities.
Music Research by Laurie J. Sampsel
Music Research: A Handbook is designed for use in both undergraduate and graduate music courses that require students to engage in library research or to write research papers. It is a selective guide to the most significant English-language research tools and resources; reference titles in major areas; and the principal sources in French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
A Short Guide to Writing about Music by Jonathan D. Bellman
ISBN: 9780321187918

Intended for all writers on music--college through budding professional--and far more than a course textbook, this brief and inexpensive text coaches writers how to approach, research, and write about music. A Short Guide to Writing about Music is written in a clear and conversational style, and employs a variety of writing samples (both student and professional) as a means to illustrate effective writing
A Short Guide to Writing about Art by Sylvan Barnet
Students are shown how to analyze pictures (drawings, paintings, photographs), sculptures and architecture, and are prepared with the tools they need to present their ideas through effective writing.

Social Science Writing

Making Sense in the Social Sciences by Margot Northey; Lorne Tepperman; Patrizia Albanese
Maintaining the signature straightforward style of the series, this book offers up-to-date, detailed information onproper documentation guidelines, essay and report writing, different methods of qualitative and quantitative research, ethical research, and more. Fully updated throughout, with a brand new chapter on presentations, this latest edition continues to be an invaluable resource for students throughouttheir academic careers and beyond.
The Political Science Student Writer's Manual and Reader's Guide by Gregory M. Scott; Stephen M. Garrison
The Political Science Student Writer's Manual and Reader's Guide is a practical guide to research, reading, and writing in political science.
Research Design by John W. Creswell
This bestselling text pioneered the comparison of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research design. All three approaches include a preliminary consideration of philosophical assumptions; key elements of the research process; a review of the literature; an assessment of the use of theory in research applications, and reflections about the importance of writing and ethics in scholarly inquiry.
Undergraduate Writing in Psychology by R. Eric Landrum
Now updated to reflect the changes made from the 5th to the 6th edition of the Publication Manual, this book takes the reader step-by-step through: crafting research questions or theses executing library database searches analysing, evaluating, and synthesising literature drafting specific parts of a paper and more Writing samples, including two full-length student papers in draft, marked-up, and final form, illustrate key concepts such as how to synthesise literature, how revision differs from editing, and how to recognise and avoid plagiarism.
Writing in Sociology by Cary Moskovitz; Lynn Smith-Lovin
Separate chapters for different kinds of writing assignments make it easy to know which to assign. It includes extensive and practical discussion on major phases of research writing -including choosing a meaningful and manageable research question, identifying the relevant literature, and presenting results. And because students often struggle to use sources appropriately, we cover this in detail; topics include how to choose the most useful and appropriate sources,understanding the various ways sources are used in sociology writing, and how to properly cite sources within text and in the reference list. Later chapters provide sophisticated guidance on stylistic and other matters that often frustrate teachers, including use of first-person, organization,writing concisely, and avoiding plagiarism.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Publication Date: 1995

Lamott recounts her personal experiences to reveal her writing techniques and how she overcomes obstacles that interfere with the writing flow. She offers concrete suggestions about character, plot, setting, and other topics of interest to writers. She also offers advice about how to navigate through the dark underbelly feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and jealousy that are inevitable parts of any writer's experience.
The Cambridge Companion to Creative Writing by David Morley (Editor); Philip Neilsen (Editor)
Call Number: Online

Publication Date: 2012

Creative writing has become a highly professionalised academic discipline, with popular courses and prestigious degree programmes worldwide. This book is a must for all students and teachers of creative writing, indeed for anyone who aspires to be a published writer. It engages with a complex art in an accessible manner, addressing concepts important to the rapidly growing field of creative writing, while maintaining a strong craft emphasis, analysing exemplary models of writing and providing related writing exercises. Written by professional writers and teachers of writing, the chapters deal with specific genres or forms - ranging from the novel to new media - or with significant topics that explore the cutting edge state of creative writing internationally (including creative writing and science, contemporary publishing and new workshop approaches).
The Soul Tells a Story by Vinita Hampton Wright
Call Number: BT709.5 .W77 200

"Wright is refreshingly honest, addressing creative people's tendency toward depression and warning about potential dangers...Writing exercises are scattered throughout the book, and Wright balances her lofty reflections on spirituality with answers to practical questions like Can writing pay the mortgage?" (Publisher's Weekly)
The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo
Call Number: 808.1 H874t

Publication Date: 1979

"The Triggering Town is Hugo's classic collection of lectures, essays, and reflections, all 'directed toward helping with that silly, absurd, maddening, futile, enormously rewarding activity: writing poems.'" (Amazon)
Words Matter by Mary Kay Blakely
Publication Date: 2016-04-26

This journalism anthology isn't just for writers; it's filled with stories of the human condition. Three broad categories are included: profiles, firstperson journalism, and personal memoirs. Each article is followed by a postscript in which the writer discusses what they've learned about writing, journalism, and the business of getting published.
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard; Ann Dillard
Publication Date: 1989

Dillard describes the working life of a writer. She probes and exposes, examines and analyzes, as she recounts what the actual process of writing feels like.

Undergraduate Literary Journals

30 N
30 N, formerly The North Central Review, is one of the few nationwide undergraduate literary journals in the country. We are dedicated to publishing annually the finest in undergraduate poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and artwork via our print journal. We also will publish interviews with authors and reviews of contemporary literature on our website.
Albion Review
"The Albion Review is a national literary journal based out of Albion College in Michigan. Published annually since 2004, The Review features works of short fiction, poetry, essays, and visual art. The Review strives to showcase the work of emerging undergraduate talents."
Allegheny Review
"The Allegheny Review, now entering its 32nd year of publication, is one of America’s few nationwide literary magazines dedicated exclusively to undergraduate works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and artwork. Published annually, the periodical showcases some of the best literature the nation’s undergraduates have to offer."
The Explicator
The Explicator publishes short articles of literary criticim from scholars and undergraduates alike.
Green Blotter Literary Magazine
"Green Blotter is published annually by the Green Blotter Literary Society of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA, and features poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art submitted by undergraduate student writers everywhere. Our mission is to provide a much-needed platform for undergraduate creative writers and artists and to foster outstanding undergraduate work in each of the genres we publish."
Kodon
Kodon is Wheaton College's (IL) campus literary journal, published once each semester. We feature students' fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and music!
Mosaic Art and Literary Journal
"Mosaic is the University of California, Riverside’s undergraduate literary journal...We are completely undergraduate-run, and publish one volume of prose, poetry, and art every year."
Susquehanna Review
"Susquehanna Review is an annual international undergraduate journal run by students at Susquehanna University. We feature work in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. Our mission is to share writing that is innovative and brave, full of fresh language that excites us as readers and as writers, honed in on the depth and variety of human experience. We want to showcase the talent and maturity of today's undergraduate student writers and artists."
Young Scholars in Writing
"Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric publishes research and theoretical articles from undergraduates on writing, writers, rhetoric, discourse, language, and related topics."

The Writing Center
In one-on-one, thirty-minute sessions, our trained writing consultants collaborate with students on their writing at any stage in the writing process, offering specific feedback and suggesting relevant techniques that equip writers to improve their writing.
Research Help
Visit the Research Help Desk at the Library, chat with a librarian, or make an appointment with your subject librarian.