Skip Navigation
Request Info
Apply Now
Request Info
Apply Now
Skip to Menu Toggle Button

Online Guide to Writing and Research

EXPLORE MORE OF UMGC

Online Guide to Writing and Research

Welcome

Welcome to the Online Guide. If you want to learn helpful tips to improve your writing and you are ready to organize and streamline your writing process, the guide is full of useful information to assist in each step. Some key takeaways include how to

  • write in a formal tone
  • achieve a balance between your own writing and outside research
  • prewrite the way that your brain processes information
  • write introductions, thesis statements, topic sentences, body paragraphs, and conclusions
  • adopt specific organizational techniques for research, argumentative, and other writing assignments
  • maintain academic integrity and integrate research 
  • assess your own writing and utilize the support available to you at the library and writing center

Chapters 1-8

Ch 1: College Writing
Where do you begin? Learn the steps to the college writing process and some common writing habits to adopt and maintain.
Ch 2: The Writing Process
How do you tackle a writing assignment from beginning to end? Learn how to write every part, from the thesis statement to final revisions.
Ch 3: Thinking Strategies and Writing Patterns
How do you organize writing for specific assignments? Learn how to utilize strategies and patterns depending on the assignment expectations.
Ch 4: The Research Process
How do you incorporate research into your writing? Learn about the research process, where to find credible sources, and how to plan a research paper.
Ch 5: Academic Integrity and Documentation
How do you give credit where credit is due? Learn how to practice academic integrity and give credit to the sources you use.
Ch 6: Using Library Resources
How do you utilize the library? Learn where to go and how to search for information.
Ch 7: Assessing Your Writing
How do you critique your writing? Discover the qualities of strong writing and how to spot them.
Ch 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers
How do you approach other types of assignments? Learn how to write argumentative papers, article and book reviews, and more.

Appendices A-D

Appendix A: Books to Help You Improve Your Writing
Would you like to be a writing expert bookworm? See the list of books we recommend that will be helpful to you as you write papers in college.
Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing
How can you become a better writer working with a group? Learn some strategies on how to make collaborative writing and peer review assignments successful.
Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan
Do you want to improve your writing over time? Develop a journaling and self-assessment habit that involves documenting your progress and learning from prior writing issues.
Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule
Want to breathe easier the day before an assignment is due? Adopt a plan and schedule that builds your essay or project over time rather than experiencing procrastination anxiety.


Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. © 2022 UMGC.
All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.

Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our Privacy Policy.