Writing Tips and Resources

Writing is a multistage process involving prewriting, drafting, editing, revising and proofreading. These stages do not, however, occur in a sequential and linear fashion; they are interactive and recursive by nature. So when we write, we go back and forth between reading, writing and revising.

For a general overview of how to write an essay, you can consult our general guidelines for writing essays. To know more about each stage in the writing process and the different strategies of writing in more detail, read through the following tips and writing resources to find explanations, examples and links to other useful sites.

Preparing to Write		Writing the First Draft
Identifying a Purpose Brainstorming Argument Writing the First Draft		Developing a Thesis Introductions Body Paragraphs Conclusions Outlines Integrating Sources

Citations and Style Guides		Revising and Proofreading
Style Guides Formatting Your Paper MLA Style		Revising and Editing Proofreading Grammar and Mechanics

Useful Links		Handouts
Purdue University Online Writing Lab University of North Carolina Writing Center The University of Victoria's Writers Guide Cleveland State University Writing Center The Writing Guide 150 Resources to Help You Write Better, Faster and More Persuasively Effective Writing		General Writing Guidelines (pdf) General Writing Guidelines (doc)

Writing Tips and Resources

Preparing to Write

Writing the First Draft

Citations and Style Guides

Revising and Proofreading

Useful Links

Handouts