Resources for Writers
See also information on other academic skills
AT UCSC
Writing 22A offers instruction on selected topics in grammar and conventions of written English as needed to strengthen the writing skills of students whose primary language is not standard English. The course provides students practice in applying these concepts to editing their own writing. Designed for entering first-year students, enrollment limited to 22. Instructors are D. Scripture (College Eight faculty), and N. Krusoe. You can check the Schedule of Classes, but since there's many people adding and dropping, it may not be reliable. You can go to any section; if there's not room, they can tell you if another section has any. These fill up quickly, so don't delay.
Tutoring Free tutoring (if funding permits) is offered by the Academic Resource Center just over the hill from College 8.
General Advice on the Writing Process
Writers Reference on " prewriting and drafts and on "re-vision, editing and coherence/"flow"
Handy Flowcharts that map out how to write, read and edit.
Anne Lamott's " "Shitty First Drafts" from Bird By Bird. (Longer version, pasword protected: "Perfectionism" and "Shitty First Drafts" from Bird by Bird (select view menu tab, then rotate).
How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut
Politics and the English Language by George Orwell
Doing research for a paper? Check out "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"
How to Cite Sources
What is plagiarism and how to avoid it. Video on the subject with Andrea Lunsford.
Online
Writing help, as well as other academic skills **** A great cite with info on all aspects of doing well at university, including writing (for example essay exams and Liberal Arts exams -- pdf or Word docs).
Online resources and tutorials from Diana Hacker.
Spelling Errors Send Red Flags To Employers (List of common errors).
Online resources to accompany Easywriter (but are free and can be used without; includes self-diagnostic tests and tutorials).
Short videos on many aspects of the the writing and research process.
Humor[?] Commas save lives. Typo costs man three years in prison. Loss of half million dollar spacecraft.
ESL help (for people lucky enough who speak multiple languages)
Another site with ESL excercises
ESL resources and exercises from Hacker
How to Improve your Vocabulary
Oxford English Dictionary (Prof. Rajan fav)
