Resources
Welcome! Make full use of any of these resources; they were designed with you in mind. Our staff is ready to discuss with you how you can incorporate writing effectively into your course design, how to plan a course around writing assignments, and how to create appropriate, thoughtful assignments that will engage students and promote critical thinking and learning.
Writing Resources by Topic
List of Style Manuals »
Scholarly Writing & Research »
Books on Academic Writing in the Disciplines:
- Bazerman, The Informed Writer: Using Sources in the Disciplines (5th ed.)
- Cullick and Zawacki, Writing in the Disciplines: Advice and Models
- Davis, Davis, and Dunagan, Scientific Papers and Presentations (3rd ed.)
- MacDonald, Professional Academic Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Swales and Feak, Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills (3rd ed.)
Writing about Race
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Northwestern University Libraryf
Princeton University Library
Writing in the Majors Initiative: American Studies
Videos:
Writing in the Disciplines: History & American Studies
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Iowa State University
UC San Diego Library
A Student's Guide to Reading and Writing in Social Anthropology (pdf)
Books:
Emerson, Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes
Geertz, Works and Lives: The Anthropologist as Author
Van Maanen, Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography (2nd ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Duke University Libraries(Cultural Anthropology)
Duke University Libraries(Evolutionary Anthropology)
Harvard College Library
How to Write a Functional Behavior Analysis
Research guides:
KU Libraries
National Louis University
How to Write a Research Paper on Architecture
Books:
Lange and Lange, Writing about Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings and Cities
Research guides:
KU Libraries
How to Do Things with Pictures: A Guide to Writing in Art History (pdf)
Writing about Art (pdf)
Writing Reviews in the Visual and Performing Arts (pdf)
Books:
Munsterberg, Writing about Art
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Montana
Johns Hopkins University
Writing in Physics and Astronomy (pdf)
Assignment examples from an Astronomy course
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Chicago Library
Books:
Schultz, Eloquent Science: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Better Writer, Speaker and Atmospheric Sciences
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Cornell University Library
A Student's Guide to Writing in the Life Sciences (pdf)
Writing Reviews in Biology
Books:
Knisely, A Student Handbook for Writing in Biology (3rd ed.)
Pechenik, A Short Guide to Writing about Biology (7th ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Toronto Libraries
Business and Economics Writing Style Guide (pdf)
Business Writing
Memos (pdf)
Professional and Technical Writing
Writing for a North American Business Audience
Writing in Accounting
Writing in Finance
Writing Informational and Analytical Reports (pdf)
Books:
Bailey, Academic Writing for International Students of Business
Hardesty, Technical and Business Writing for Working Professionals Ellet, The Case Study Handbook: How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases
Videos:
How to Write a Great Business Case Study
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Southern California(Business)
University of Southern California(Accounting)
Mississippi State University Libaries
Engineering Technical Reports
Writing in Engineering
Videos:
Lane, Writing in Engineering
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Cornell University Library
Writing across the Curriculum in College Chemistry: A Practical Bibliography (pdf)
Writing Guide for Chemistry
Books:
Davis, Tyson, and Pechenik, A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry
Kovac and Sherwood, Writing across the Chemistry Curriculum: An Instructor's Handbook
Videos:
Sivy
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Chicago Library
Writing Guide: Communicating as a Civil Engineer
Writing Guide: Environmental Policy Statement
Writing in Engineering
Improving the Quality of Writing in a Capstone Course (pdf)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Bern Dibner Library
Cornell University Library
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Guidelines for Writing an Essay in the Classics Department (pdf)
Study Skills/Writing in Classics/Research Papers
Writing in the Disciplines: Classics
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Princeton university Library
Communication Studies: Style Matters
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Writing in Communication Studies
Books:
Bourhis, Adams, and Titsworth, Style Manual for Communication Studies
Rubin, Rubin, and Haridakis, Communication Research: Strategies and Sources (7th ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Southern California
Writing a Paper in Computer Science (pdf)
Writing in information Technology and Engineering
Writing Technical Articles
Books:
Microsoft Manual of Style, 4th ed.
Narayani, The Art and Science of Test Case Writing
Zobel, Writing for Computer Science
Research guides:
University at Albany Libraries
University of Missouri Kansas City
Guidelines for Writing a Dance Critique
Writing in the Disciplines: Theatre and Dance
Books:
Oliver, Writing about Dance
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Illinois
How to Write an Effective Design Brief
Tips for Writing and Design
Writing a Design Brief (pdf)
Books:
Kliment, Writing for Design Professionals: A Guide to Writing Successful Proposals, Letters, Brochures, Portfolios, Reports, Presentations, and Job Applications
Lees-Maffei, Writing Design: Words and Objects
Videos:
Doyle, Writing for Design
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Carnegie Mellon University Libraries
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries(China Studies)
KU Libraries(Japan Studies)
KU Libraries(Korea Studies)
Washington University Libraries
Business and Economics Writing Style Guide (pdf)
A Guide to Writing in Economics (pdf)
Writing Economics (pdf)
Writing Economics Research Papers
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of South California Libraries
Miller, The Chicago Guide to Writing about Numbers
Herr and Anderson, The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty
Videos:
D'Arcy
Smith
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Arizona State University Libraries
Communicating as an Electrical Engineer
Electrical Engineering Lab Reports
Writing in Engineering
Research guides:
University of Missouri Kansas City
University of Canterbury
Engineering Communications without Tears
Guidelines for Good Engineering Writing(Part 1)
Guidelines for Good Engineering Writing(Part 2)
Guidelines for Good Engineering Writing(Part 3)
Layering Reports: The Executive Summary
Research guides:
University of Ottawa
Teesside University
Andrea Lunsford, How I Write
Creative Writing
Literature (Fiction)
Writing an Analytical Paper
Writing in Literature
Books:
Graff and Birkenstein, They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
Dunne, The Dramatic Writer's Companion: Tools to Develop Characters, Cause Scenes, and Build Stories
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Wayne State University
Society of Environmental Journalists' Reporting Tools
Guide to Academic Writing in Geography and Environmental Studies (pdf)
Ecology and Rhetoric: Heuristic for Your Writing Projects
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Missouri Kansas City
Books:
Corrigan, A Short Guide to Writing about Film (8th ed.)
Gocsik, Monahan, and Barsam, Writing about Movies (3rd ed.)
Silverman and Rader, The World is a Text: Writing, Reading, and Thinking about Visual and Popular Culture
Videos:
Writing for Film Studies
How to Write a Movie Review
Research guides:
KU Libraries
UCLA Library
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Duke University Libraries
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Michigan Library
Duke University Libraries
Guide to Academic Writing in Geography and Environmental Studies (pdf)
Journal Writing in Geography (pdf)
On Writing in Geography
Videos:
Improving your writing skills in Geography
Books:
Knight and Parsons, How to Do Your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines
Northey, Knight, and Draper, Making Sense in Geography and Environmental Sciences: A Student's Guide to Research and Writing
Gatrell, Bierly, and Jensen, Research Design and Proposal Writing in Spatial Science
Research guides:
KU Libraries(Geography)
KU Library(GIS)
University of Washington
How to Write a Geological Paper
Writing Geology: Key Communication Competencies for Geoscience (pdf)
Books:
Buchanan, Adkins-Heljeson, and Bates, Geowriting
Copeland, Communicating Rocks: Writing, Speaking, and Thinking about Geology
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Western illinois University Libraries
Mihesuah, So You Want to Write about American Indians?: A Guide for Writers, Students, and Scholars
Mihesuah, Natives and Academics: Researching and Writing about American Indians
Smith, Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples
Research guides:
KU Libraries(American Indian Studies)
KU Libraries(Indigenous Studies)
Cornell University Library
Berg and Latin, Essentials of Research Methods in Health, Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Recreation
Smith, Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples
Research guides:
KU Libraries
St. John's University Libraries
University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
Principles of Historical Writing: Thinking Like a Historian
Teaching Historical Writing Skills (pdf)
Books:
Cullen, Essaying the Past: How to Read, Write, and Think about History
Marius and Page, A Short Guide to Writing about History (8th ed.)
Videos:
Writing in the Disciplines: History
Research guides:
KU Libraries (non-US)
KU Libraries (US)
University of Kansas HWC Writing Guide (pdf)
Developing Students' Critical Writing and Analytic Skills in International Business (pdf)
Writing for Global Business Audiences: An Introduction
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Colorado State University Libraries
Writing in the Disciplines: International Studies
Books:
Roselle and Spray, Research and Writing in International Relations (2nd ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Duke University Libraries
Writing Public Scholarship in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (pdf)
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
A Short Guide to Writing Research Papers on Early Judaism (pdf)
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Arizona State University Libraries
Journalism and Journalistic Writing
Books:
Rolnicki, Tate, and Taylor, Scholastic Journalism
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Southern California Libraries
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Northwestern University Libraries
Tips on Writing a Linguistics Paper
Tips on Writing and Presenting
Guidelines for Giving an LSA Paper
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Chicago Library
AMS Author Handbook (pdf)
Writing in Math is Integral
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Chicago Library
Communicating as a Mechanical Engineer
Engineering Technical Reports
Writing in Engineering
Videos:
Mechanical Engineering Memo Writing Guidelines
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Bern Dibner Library
Medical Writing
Books:
Lang, How to Write, Publish, and Present in the Health Sciences; A Guide for Physicians and Laboratory Researchers
Rogers, Mastering Scientific and Medical Writing: A Self-Help Guide
Taylor, Medical Writing: A Guide for Clinicians, Educators, and Researchers (2nd ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Writing the Music Paper
Books:
Bellman, A Short Guide to Writing about Music (2nd ed.)
Herbert, Music in Words: A Guide to Researching and Writing about Music
Wingell, Writing about Music: An Introductory Guide (4th ed.)
Videos:
Simons, Writing in Music
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Princeton university Library
Writing Goals and Objectives for Music Therapy Sessions (pdf)
Books:
Aigen, A Guide to Writing and Presenting in Music Therapy
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Miami Libraries
A Guide to Scholarly Writing in Nursing (pdf)
Student Writing and Images of Nursing
Writing in Nursing
Writing in Nursing: Examples
Writing for Publication in Nursing (pdf)
Videos:
Wagner, Writing Matters in Nursing
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Ohio University Libraries
Gately and Bourcherding, Documentation Manual for Occupational Therapy: Writing SOAP Notes
Kettenbach, Writing Patient/Client Notes: Ensuring Accuracy in Documentation
Sullivan, Guide to Clinical Documentation
Videos:
Writing in Occupational Therapy
Research guides:
University of North Carolina
Tufts University
Pharmacy Communication: An Overview
Writing a Business Plan for a New Pharmacy Service (pdf)
Writing in Pharmacy (pdf)
Books:
Diaz-Gilbert, English for Pharmacy Writing and Oral Communication
Wood and Foote, Targeted Regulatory Writing Techniques: Clinical Documents for Drugs and Biologics
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Nebraska
How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper
Introduction to Writing in Philosophy
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Chicago
Defensible Documentation
Writing Measurable Goals (pdf)
Books:
Erickson and McKnight, Documentation Basics: A Guide for the Physical Therapy Assistant
Kettenbach, Writing Patient/Client Notes: Ensuring Accuracy in Documentation
Sullivan, Guide to Clinical Documentation
Videos:
SOAP Notes
Research guides:
New York University Libraries
Seton Hall University Libraries
Writing for Non-Scientists about Physics (pdf)
Writing in Physics and Astronomy (pdf)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
MIT Libraries
A Student Writer's Survival Guide: Department of Political Science (pdf)
Writing in the Disciplines: Political Science
Books:
Baglione, Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods (2nd ed.)
Schmidt, Writing in Political Science: A Practical Guide (4th ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Northwestern University Library
A Brief Guide to Writing the Psychology Paper (pdf)
Writing for Psychology (pdf)
Writing a Psychology Literature Review (pdf)
Writing in Psychology Overview
Books:
Dunn, A Short Guide to Writing about Psychology (3rd ed.)
Kaufmann, The Writer's Guide to Psychology: How to Write Accurately about Psychological Disorders, Clinical Treatment, and Human Behavior
Landrum, Undergraduate Writing in Psychology: Learning to Tell the Scientific Story (2nd ed.)
Mitchell, Jolley, and O'Shea, Writing for Psychology (3rd ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Southern California Libraries
Policy Analysis Exercise: The Writing Guide (pdf)
Policy Memo (pdf)
Suggestions for Writing Policy Analysis
Tips for Writing a Policy Analysis (pdf)
Books:
Allison and Williams, Writing for the Government
Smith, Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Communicating in the Policy-Making Process (3rd ed.)
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
The Writer's Challenge: Credibility, Argument, and Structure in Public Health Writing (pdf)
Writing in the Health Sciences: A Comprehensive Guide
Books:
Freeman, Walters, and Campbell, How to Display Data
Parvanta, Nelson, Parvanta, and Harner, Essentials of Public Health Communication
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
Johns Hopkins University Libraries
Religious Studies
Writing in Religious Studies
Books:
Baccordion_contentn, A Guide to Writing Academic Essays in Religious Studies
Northey, Anderson, and Lohr, Making Sense in Religious Studies: A Student's Guide to Research and Writing
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
Writing in Literature
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
Social Work Literature Review Guidelines
Strengthening Your Writing Skills: An Essential Task for Every Social Worker (pdf)
Books:
Healy and Mulholland, Writing Skills for Social Workers (2nd ed.)
Stogdon and Kiteley, Study Skills for Social Workers
Videos:
Herd, Writing in Social Work
Research guides:
KU Libraries
University of Southern California Libraries
Columbia University
Writing the Sociology Paper
Books:
Becker, Telling about Society
Golden-Biddle and Locke, Composing Qualitative Research (2nd ed.)
Becker and Richards, Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish your Thesis, Book, or Article (2nd ed.)
Golden-Biddle and Locke, Composing Qualitative Research (2nd ed.)
Videos:
Hinton, Writing in Sociology
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Duke University Libraries
Writing in Speech-Language Pathology (pdf)
Books:
Goldfarb and Serpanos, Professional Writing in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Hegde, A Coursebook on Scientific and Professional Writing for Speech-Language Pathology
Vekovius, Middleton, and Pannbacker, Report Writing for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University
A Guide for Writers in Theater
Writing in the Disciplines: Theatre and Dance
Books:
Ferguson, A Short Guide to Writing about Theatre
Hudson, Writing about Theater and Drama
Videos:
Rzeszutek
Research guides:
KU Libraries
New York University Libraries
Urban Studies and Planning, Argumentation and Communication
Books:
Macris, Planning in Plain English: Writing Tips for Urban and Environmental Planners
Research guides:
KU Libraries
Illinois University
Powerful Homework (pdf)
Seven Compelling Reasons for Using Writing in Your Courses
Collaborative Writing »
What is Writing to Learn? »
Assignment Types
Projects (pdf)
Research Papers (pdf)
Book Reviews »
Essays »
Memos »
Portfolios »
Reports »
Coaching Techniques for Working with Writers (pdf)
Conferencing with Students (pdf)
The Writing Process (pdf)
Academic Misconduct
Addressing Plagiarism
List of Style Manuals (pdf)
Be Specific with Citation Styles (pdf)
Surfing for Scholarship:Promoting More Effective Student Research (pdf)
Anti-Plagiarism Strategies for Research Papers »
Avoid Plagiarism »
Plagiarism: A Cultural Phenomenon, and Strategies for Avoiding (and Dealing With) It »
Social Welfare