Academic Tools

Critical reading tips: In particular, look at “Reading: How to Read a Secondary Source” and “How to Ask Good Questions” as well as “What Makes a Question Good?”

http://www.bowdoin.edu/writing-guides/

Growing Vocabulary:

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/reading-and-researching/new-words

Avoid common stylistic and grammatical errors:

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/hit-parade-of-errors

Cite in Chicago Manual of Style 18th Edition:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_18th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_18th_edition.html

Learn when, why, and how to use the active voice and passive voice:

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/passive-voice

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/passive-voice/

Write excellent sentences (reduce wordiness, improve syntax):

http://www.macalester.edu/academics/writewell/

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/wordiness

Tips and tools for writing for specific writing assignments:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/writing-concisely/

Write excellent transition sentences:

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

Structure paragraphs tightly and logically:

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

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/paragraphs

Write effective thesis statements:

http://historyprofessor.org/argument

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/thesis-statements

Write winning introductions and conclusions:

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

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

Write excellent topic sentences:

http://historyprofessor.org/organization/topic-sentences/

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

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/topic-sentences

Cultivating-critical-eye

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/revising