Writing Guides

Writing is a process, and many students struggle to know where to start. The following resources can help you understand how to move forward during different stages of the writing process. This doesn't mean all steps must be followed chronologically, though! If you're like most writers, you'll find that you might need to backtrack and go back to do some more research after you've already started writing your first draft, or you may need to go back to rework your outline once you start revising your paper. Writing is fluid!

In addition to the following resources, you can also view our streaming video channel.

Interactive Tutorial

• The Writing Process

Quick Guide Handouts

• Understanding Assignment Guidelines
• Gathering Evidence
• Brainstorming
• Planning
• Developing an Outline
• Drafting
• Revising
• Editing
• Proofreading

Parts of an Essay

These resources help you better understand each part of the essay and the function it serves in your paper.

Interactive Tutorial

• Anatomy of a Paper

Quick Guide Handouts

• Introductions
• Thesis Statements
• Complex Thesis Statements
• Topic Sentences
• Paragraph Structure
• Counterarguments
• Transitions
• Conclusions

Essay Types and Structures

Your instructor may have provided additional instructions in class, but the following are some general resources to help you get acquainted with some common essay types.

Quick Guide Handouts

• Deductive Essay Structure (Most Common!)
• Inductive Essay Structure
• Summaries
• Annotated Bibliographies
• Literature Reviews
• Compare/Contrast Essays
• Research Essays
• Rhetorical Analyses

Inclusivity in Academic Writing

• Let's Talk About Gender and Pronouns (created by MacEwan's Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity)