LRC

Writing Resources for Students

RESOURCES FOR WRITERS

It is always a good idea for writers, no matter their level, to take advantage of the resources available to them. Using the websites below will help you strengthen your writing, correct your formatting, and understand the English language more clearly.

 

GENERAL WRITING SUPPORT

  • The Writing Lab at Purdue

 https://owl.english.purdue.edu

 The most comprehensive online writing center. This site offers an unusually wide selection of handouts, exercises, and self-tutorials on topics including punctuation basics, resume writing, writing research papers, and documentation across academic disciplines.

 

  •  The University Writing Center at UNC, Chapel Hill

 http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/

 Excellent and extensive resource with handouts supporting all steps in the writing process, as well as information about writing for a wide variety of different disciplines.

 

  • University of Manitoba Academic Learning Centre

 http://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/handouts/handouts.html

 The University of Manitoba's website features a wide selection of handouts to assist with your writing. You can find many helpful handouts, on topics like how to title your essay, how to paraphrase from a source, etc.

 

REFERENCE SUPPORT: STYLE GUIDES AND RESOURCES

  • Researching and Documenting Sources (from Purdue University)

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/

Purdue's online guide offers useful information and advice as well as links to MLA and APA style guides.

 

  • CSUN's Oviatt Library Research Strategies Guide

https://libguides.csun.edu/

A helpful collection of sites and tips on citation, avoiding plagiarism, and more.

 

  • Writing in the Arts and Sciences at Marquette

http://www.marquette.edu/wac/departmental/DepartmentalReferenceGuide.shtml

A page of tips for students and a checklist for writing research papers in a large number of academic disciplines.

 

  • One Look Dictionary

http://www.onelook.com

This website allows you to use several different dictionaries at the same time.

 

  • APA Tables and Figures from the Purdue OWL

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/19/

You’ll find here guidelines and examples of how to present tables and figures in APA style.

 

  • Plagiarism Overview from the Purdue OWL

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/1/

This page and related links offer an overview of the challenges of avoiding what is commonly called plagiarism or misuse of sources.

HELP WITH ORGANIZING

  • Hamilton College Handouts

http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/writing-center-handouts

 Provides handouts on how to write different kinds of essays.

 

  • Paradigm Online Writing Assistant

http://www.powa.org

A page that assists in the developmental stages of writing. It offers descriptions of various methods in creating effective structures for essays.

 

  • University of Richmond Writing Center - Writer's Web

 http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb.html

This site has detailed information on mechanics and other structural issues. It also provides in-depth looks at editing, analysis and writing across disciplines. 

 

  • Developing a Thesis Statement 

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Thesis.html

The University of Wisconsin Madison’s website offers a step-by-step guide on how to identify your paper’s topic and build your thesis from your topic.

 

  • Developing a Thesis 

http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis

This is another guide to writing a thesis from the Harvard Writing Center. Features extensive written instructions on everything to be considered before writing a thesis.

 

  • Guide to Writing a Basic Essay

http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/

A site offering step-by-step site advice on creating a basic essay, from topic selection to finishing touches.

GRAMMAR SUPPORT

  • The Grammar Slammer

http://englishplus.com/grammar/contents.htm

This site provides a no-frills, yet extensive list of grammatical definitions and terms.

 

  • Grammar Bytes

http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm

This site offers a unique and refreshing look at grammatical concerns, with helpful illustrations and clear and concise explanations.

 

  • Grammar Girl

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

This website features a search function. For each grammatical topic (e.g. comma splice) there is a short write-up on suggested ways to fix an error, as well as an explanation on what makes the issue ungrammatical. 

 

  • English Grammar

https://www.englishgrammar.org/

This website offers information on rules of grammar, as well as an extensive collection of lessons, exercises, and tools. 

 

  • Towson University’s Online Writing Support

https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/index.asp

See Towson University’s Online Writing Support for a collection of resources.

 

  • Useful English

http://usefulenglish.ru/grammar/

This link provides in-depth explanations and quizzes for a variety of grammar topics.

 

  • Edufind

http://www.edufind.com

See Edufind for a collection of grammar/usage resources, including verbs, relative clauses, determiners (e.g., ‘the’) and punctuation.

RESOURCES FOR ESL WRITERS

  • BBC Learning English.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/

This site contains a wealth of multimedia materials tailored to a global audience of English learners. Lessons and resources cover learning from the academic to the every day.

 

  • Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/5/

This is a link to the Purdue OWL and its ESL resources, which are thorough, in-depth and user-friendly.

 

  • English Club

https://www.englishclub.com/

This website is full of resources for both English learners and educators. Includes lessons, activities, and audio files for help with pronunciation. 

 

  • University of Minnesota - Module on articles (‘a/an’ vs. ‘the’)

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/articles/index.html

This is a link to a series of short chapters that guide students on the difficult task of learning to use the articles ‘a/an, the, 0’ in English.

  • Useful English

http://usefulenglish.ru/grammar/

This link provides in-depth explanations and quizzes for a variety of grammar topics.

Writing Center Resources

Contact and Hours

University Library 3rd FloorEast Wing

18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8325

Telephone:
(818) 677-2033

Fax:
(818) 677-3632

E-mail: 
lrc@csun.edu 

(We do not make appointments via email.)

    

Main Office Hours

In-Person Hours
Monday - Friday:
8:00am - 5:00pm
 

In-Person
Monday - Thursday
9:00am-4:00pm
Friday
9:00am-2:00pm
 
Online
Monday - Thursday
9:00am-9:00pm
Friday
9:00am-3:00pm
 
Sunday
3:00pm-7:00pm
 
We are closed Saturdays

Writing Center
University Writing Center & Online Writing Lab

In-Person
Monday - Thursday
9:30am-4pm
Friday
10:00am-3:00pm

Online
Monday - Thursday
9:00am-Midnight
Friday & Sunday
10:00am-9:00pm

 
We are closed Saturdays