Writing Tips

1. Begin the writing process as soon as you get your assignment. Writing takes time. The best writers take their writing through countless revisions.
2. Bring your assignment sheet to the writing center. The purpose of an academic paper will vary according to the instructor and discipline.
3. Consider your audience. Remember that topic, purpose, and audience intertwine when writing a paper.
4. Pre-writing strategies help you begin writing and often narrow your thesis.
5. Students who have trouble beginning an assignment are encouraged to organize their thoughts through brainstorming and mind-mapping techniques to help them begin the writing process. Come to the writing center to find out more!
6. Write consistently in one style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
7. Make time for revising, editing, and proofreading.

Writing Links

• APA Style Tips
• Bedford St. Martin’s Text Book
• Bedford St. Martin’s Fiction Elements
• Diane Hacker Pocket Manual
• English Zone
• Glossary of Literary Terms
• Grant Writing Tips
• Guide to Grammar and Writing
• Johns Hopkins University
• Literacy Education Online
• Online Writing Assistant
• Plagiarism (Created by NMSU Library)
• Purdue MLA Guide
• Purdue Sites
• Resume Writing