Writing Resources

If you have a suggestion for a link we should add to this website, please send us an email at gwc@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu. Thanks!

UCLA Research, Reference, and Online Guides
Statistical Computing Help
Fellowship and Grant-Writing Resources
Dissertation Proposal Writing
Dissertation Writing and Filing (UCLA)
How to Run an Effective Writing Group
General Writing Help
Dictionaries and Thesauri
Grammar and Usage References
English as a Second Language (ESL) Resources
Writing in Academic Disciplines
Writing Resources for Teaching Assistants/Instructors
Professional Development in Academia

UCLA Research and Reference

UCLA College Library Help Guides – Research Strategy, Using Information Effectively, Library Catalogues & Databases, Web Searching, Web Evaluation

UCLA College Library: Find General Reference Resources – Dictionaries, Concordances, Thesauri, Encyclopedias, Style Manuals, and many others

YRL Reference Collection Online – Quick links to article databases, library catalogues, general reference, and subject disciplines

YRL Search for Electronic Resources – Search article datebases, e-journals, and other e-resources by subject area or resource type

YRL Using Google Scholar and Other Internet Search Engines

Need Help? Ask a Librarian – Reference and Online help - all UCLA libraries

Online Tutorials and Web Guides
(these are undergraduate-oriented, but useful)

"Bruin Success with Less Stress" – Web Guide and Tutorial (Intellectual Property, File Sharing Issues, Citing and Documenting Sources, Avoiding Disaster, Don’t Get Busted –UCLA Policy and Academic Integrity)

"Road to Research" – Self-paced online tutorial designed to help you learn how to identify locate, evaluate and use information effectively and ethically.

Statistical Computing Help

UCLA Statistical Consulting Group of the UCLA Academic Technology Services
UCLA graduate students working on non class-related research projects can use the UCLA Statistical Consulting Group for help with statistical computing, methodology and data analysis issues.
Overview of Consulting Services and Consulting Schedule
Overview of Statistical Consulting Resources and Online Seminars and Classes
Research-Related Resources for Graduate Students

Fellowship and Grant-Writing Resources

UCLA Grant Proposal Preparation and Writing Tools

UCLA Graduate Division “GRAPES” Database for Extra-Mural Support

Grant Proposals (Or give me the money!) – An overview of the grant proposal writing process from UNC Chapel Hill.

A Guide for Social Science Proposals [pdf, see especially p. 9 to end] – from UNC Chapel Hill, Odum Institute

Online Proposal Writing Guides for Graduate Students – covers all fields, from UNC Chapel Hill

UC Berkeley Online Dissertation Proposal Workshop – gives an overview of writing dissertation proposals for grant applications in the social sciences. See also their examples of successful grant proposals.

The Art of Writing Proposals: Some Candid Suggestions for Applicants to Social Science Research Council Competitions - by Adam Przeworski and Frank Salomon

National Science Foundation: A Guide for Proposal Writing

The Art of Grantsmanship - by Jacob Kraicer, from the Human Frontier Science Program

Proposal Writing Short Course from Foundation Center

Dissertation Proposal Writing

Resources for Proposal Writers – from the UW Madison Writing Center

UC Berkeley Online Dissertation Proposal Workshop – gives an overview of writing dissertation proposals for grant applications in the social sciences.

Writing Thesis and Dissertation Proposals [word document] – detailed handout from the Penn State Graduate Writing Center

Dissertation Writing

Resources for Dissertators – This site from University of Wisconsin-Madison provides an annotated reading list of books related to dissertations and theses for various fields, covering research, writing, proposals and grant-writing.

Dissertations – A detailed guide on dissertation writing from UNC Chapel Hill

PhinisheD – A discussion and support group for people who cannot seem to finish their dissertation or thesis

Dissertation Filing (UCLA)

UCLA Graduate Division: Policies and Procedures for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Filing

UCLA Graduate Division: Thesis and Dissertation Meetings and Deadlines
(Try to attend informational meetings when you are planning to file)

How to Run an Effective Writing Group

Tips for Successful Writing Groups – An article by University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Chris Golde

Making a Thesis or Dissertation Support Group Work for You [pdf] – from the Horace H. Rockham School for Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Guides for Writing Groups (and Tips on How to Start One) – from UNC Chapel Hill

Google Groups – a useful tool for writing groups to manage discussions and share files

General Writing Help

General Composition Help – from OWL (Online Writing Lab), Purdue University

Resources for Writers – from the International Writing Centers Association

Reference: Dictionaries and Thesauri

Cambridge Dictionaries Online – Contains a dictionary for advanced language learners; dictionaries of idioms, phrasal verbs, and American English; and bilingual dictionaries for French-English and Spanish-English.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed., 2000) – Over 90,000 entries feature 10,000 new words and senses, 70,000 audio word pronunciations, 900 full-page color illustrations, language notes and word-root appendixes. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, 1961. – Comprising over 450,000 vocabulary definitions, each with etymological and phonological descriptions. (annotation from collections.chadwyck.com)

Merriam-Webster Online – The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is based on the print version of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. (annotation from www.merriam-webster.com)

Oxford English Dictionary Online – Based on the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary and the Additional Series volumes, this website offers access to dictionary entries that include extensive historical usage examples.

Oxford Reference Online Premium - English Dictionaries and Thesauruses – Contains dictionaries of American, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand English. Also contains the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, the Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd ed.), the Visual English Dictionary, and two thesauri.

Oxford Reference Online Premium - English Language Reference – Includes dictionaries of abbreviations, etymology, eponyms, foreign terms in English, and idioms. Also contains a dictionary of English grammar and of American usage and style, both of which are listed separately below.

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus (3rd ed., 1995) – Containing 35,000 synonyms and over 250,000 cross-references in an easy-to-use format, this thesaurus features succinct word definitions and an innovative hyperlinked category index. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

Reference: Usage and Grammar

Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage, 2004. – This Pocket edition is based primarily on Robert W. Burchfield's renowned The New Fowler's Modern English Usage. Robert Allen has taken all the key elements from the best-selling parent work, rewriting entries to present the arguments and recommendations in a more accessible and digestible form, and has added completely new topics such as American English, new words, and gender-neutrality. Clear guidance on grammar, usage, syntax, and style for English is provided. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style, 2002. – What is the singular of 'paparazzi'? Is 'graffiti' singular or plural? Should I say 'empathic' or 'empathetic'? What is the correct pronunciation of 'concierge'? In this book of crisp, precise and often witty pronouncements on modern American English, Bryan Garner decisively answers these and hundreds of other questions that bedevil those who care about the language. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

American Heritage® Book of English Usage. 1996. – With a detailed look at grammar, style, diction, word formation, gender, social groups and scientific forms, this valuable reference work is ideal for students, writers, academicians and anybody concerned about proper writing style. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. – This most extensive handbook of the language ever published features over 6,500 descriptive and prescriptive entires with 4,300 hyperlinked cross-references. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

Strunk, William, Jr. 1918. The Elements of Style. – Believing that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a must-have for any student or writer. (annotation from Bartleby.com)

The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, 2003 – This accessible and comprehensive dictionary comes to the aid of both the general reader and the student or teacher, offering straightforward and immediate access to 1,000 grammatical terms and their meanings. (annotation from www.oxfordreference.com)

Writing in Academic Disciplines

Writing Guidelines for Science and Engineering Students – from Virginia Tech

Writing in Public Policy-Related Fields – links page from University of Texas, Austin, LBJ School of Public Affairs