Writing Resources and Links
Writing Center Resources
You can find writing resources that students (and faculty) can access on their own below including videos, links to writing centers around the country, and writing FAQs.
The Writing and Rhetoric program also maintains student and faculty writing resources.
Writing Video Resources
Find scripts for each video in this document. An extensive list of writing resources that informed the creation of the videos can be found here.
Writing Website Resources
Writing Centers offer a variety of writing resources for all kinds of writers (undergraduates, graduates, and even faculty!) These are our favorite resources from writing centers around the country.
Frequently Asked Writing Questions
How do I structure a college essay?
Most college papers need a thesis that argues a point that can be proven or demonstrated with evidence in the paper. However, writing in the sciences and social sciences might follow an that does not have a traditional thesis but a hypothesis and set of research questions. For more, check out , created by Middlebury faculty member, Dr. Costanza-Robinson.
Watch the and videos and read the handout to determine if you need a traditional thesis. You can also use the worksheet to outline the structure of your paper’s argument, evidence, and analysis.
What is the difference between revision, editing, and proofreading? When should I use each of these?
There are many elements to the writing process and not all of them occur linearly or just once.
Revision is a large scale re-working of your writing structure, content, argument, and tone. When you revise, you may re-write entire sections of your essay or you change the tone, structure, or content to better suit your audience and writing context. Editing focuses on fixing errors, such as grammar, punctuation, word choice, citation conventions, etc. Proofreading is often the final stage of the revision process and involves editing writing at the granular level (word choice, tense, citation correction, etc.).
To learn more about the difference between editing and revision (and how to do both), which includes a comparison chart. You can also review this document for a deep dive on .
You may also want to learn more about the writing process and how writing instructors teach student writers by reviewing .
How can I check if I have written a good paper?
While reviewing your writing, check all the components—your titles, introductions, thesis statement, paragraphs, flow, tone and conclusion. To encourage revision-provoking questions for each of these sections, watch the and see this And, of course, come visit the Writing Center. Peer tutors are a great stand-in for audience/readers and can provide feedback on your writing!
How do I develop my writing?
There are many ways to develop as a writer but, notably, they involve developing consistent writing practices and habits, engaging in the feedback process with other people (like peer tutors!), reading widely, and consciously developing one’s writing process to include things like revision (not just editing). To learn more watch the , , and videos. And, come to the Writing Center to do this work!
I have found a topic. Where can I find background information on my subject?
You can use the link to find subject guides and encyclopedias for each department as well as how to find, use and site resources. These are great references when conducting research. Librarians can always give you more advice on finding background information as well.
My research topic may be too big. How can I focus it?
To focus a research topic, a researcher needs to narrow in on what specifically interests them about the topic and what question they might be trying to address. For a list of questions to guide this process see .