Debby Ellis Writing Center

Student Resources for Writing

Of course, the best resource you have for questions about your writing is your professor.  And we would always love to see you in the DEWC. Sometimes, however, you need an answer quickly.  We hope the following links will be helpful as you work on crafting your paper.  If you have an idea for a page that would be useful, we hope you’ll let us know !

Please click through through for links to information on:

You might also find some of our worksheets useful!  Please click below to download any of our tip sheets, “be your own consultant” checklists, or graphic guides. 

WRITING AT SOUTHWESTERN

Tips for Writing at Southwestern

Tips for College-Level Writing  

Tips for Socially Responsible Writing

Tips for English Language Learning

Tips for Disciplinary Writing

Tips for Interdisciplinary Writing  

Tips for Job Search and Grad School Writing

 

GETTING STARTED

Tips for Reading a Prompt

Tips for a Strong Thesis Statement

Tips for Planning Longer Papers

 

USING SOURCES

Tips for Beginning Research

Tips for Considering Source Types

Tips for Incorporating Quotations

Tips for Avoiding Accidental Plagiarism

 

ASSIGNMENT-SPECIFIC TIPS

Tips for Writing a Literature Review

Tips for Evaluating Sources for Annotated Bibliographies

Tips for Writing an Abstract

Tips for Capstone Writing

Tips for Writing in the Sciences 

 

BE YOUR OWN CONSULTANT

BYOC: Phrasing

BYOC: Grammar

BYOC: Punctuation

BYOC: Big Picture Checklist

 

REVISING

Tips for Analyzing your Argument

Tips for Writing The Conclusion

Tips for Reverse Outlining a Paper

Tips for Better Transitions 

Tips for Understanding Active vs. Passive Voice 

 

*NEW* CREATIVE WRITING RESOURCES

Basic Creative Writing Terms

10 Character-Building Basics 

Getting to Know Your Characters

Developing Your Characters

Creating a Villain

Factors to Consider When Designing a World

Punctuation for Dialogue

 

GRAMMAR GAMES

Comma Splices and Fused

Sentences

Fragments

Irregular Verbs

Commas

Parallel Structure

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Apostrophes

Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun Case

Pronoun Reference

Subject-Verb Agreement

Word Choice

GRAMMAR QUIZZES

Comma Usage

Comma Splices

Run-On Sentences

Colons

Semicolons

Subject-Verb Agreement

Identifying Verb Tenses

Combining Sentences

Writing Concise Sentences