Guides for Composing Essays and Bibliographies
- The OWL at Purdue — available online, a comprehensive guide to the writing process, from prewriting and research to citation. Free, open access. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/679/01/
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009.
- MLA Handbook — available online, open access, free at The OWL at Purdue https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/679/01/
- MLA Handbook — available in print at LSU, Middleton Library, Reference: LB 2369 .G53 2009
- MLA Style Crib Sheet — an online, open access, free navigational menu for quick and easy reference to questions about writing: http://www.docstyles.com/mlacrib.htm
- Chicago Manual of Style. 16th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.
- Chicago Manual available in print (13th edition) at LSU, Middleton Library, Reference: Z 253 .C57 2003.
- The Chicago Manual of Style Online — a snapshot of basic citation formats. Open, free access. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
- The Chicago Manual of Style — the complete book available online, free, open access at The OWL at Purdue: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/’
- How to Format Internet Sources — MLA style guide for citing (documenting) websites, articles in online publications, blogs, and other common internet sources. Open and free access provided by the OWL at Purdue. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
Books about Writing
- Baker, Sheridan Warner. The Longman Practical Stylist. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006.
- Available for purchase on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Practical—Stylist—Classic—Guide—Style/dp/0321333497/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394995480&sr=1—1&keywords=the+practical+stylist
- 1962 edition available for checkout at Middleton Library: PE1408 .B285. https://lsu.louislibraries.org:5203/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=577399{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER
- Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. 2nd ed. 2012. New York: W. W. Norton, 2009. Reading and writing are portrayed as a conversation, and students are taught how to enter into that conversation by using templates. Full text available online, open access, free in PDF through Harvard University at http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic507971.files/They%20Say%20I%20Say.pdf
- Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin’s, 2010. Free, digital resources on composing, revising, word choice, sentence style, grammar, etc. Registration required. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref7e/#t_612701____
- Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. Writing about Literature: A Hacker Handbooks Supplement. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. For writing about literature in particular.
- For purchase on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Writing—about—Literature—Handbooks—Supplement/dp/031265684X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394994476&sr=1—1&keywords=9780312656843
- Sample literature papers available free online. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref6e/Player/Pages/Main.aspx
- Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing. 3rd ed. New York: Longman, 2003. Free, open access to full text PDF. http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/362/370953/ramagefm.pdf
- Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 9th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2011.
- Rent or purchase on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Writing—Arguments—Rhetoric—Readings—9th/dp/020517163X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395077728&sr=1—1&keywords=writing+arguments%2C+9th+edition
- Rent or purchase eText. http://www.coursesmart.com/writing-arguments-a-rhetoric-with-readings/john-d-ramage-john-c-bean-june-johnson/dp/9780205184545
- Strunk, Jr., William. The Elements of Style. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1919. A classic guide to English usage and the most commonly violated rules of composition. Original version by Strunk is available online for free at these locations:
- Project Gutenberg — hyperlinked table of contents to full text. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37134/37134—h/37134—h.htm
- Bartleby.com — searchable text http://www.bartleby.com/141/
- Strunk, Jr., William and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014.
- Full text available online, open access, free in PDF through the University of Washington. http://faculty.washington.edu/heagerty/Courses/b572/public/StrunkWhite.pdf
- Available for purchase in eBook and print editions at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/The—Elements—Style—Fourth—Edition/dp/020530902X
- Williams, Joseph M and Gregory Colomb. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 10th ed. New York: Longman, 2012. Guide to writing effective sentences and paragraphs.
- Print edition available at Middleton Library: PE1421 .W545 1985.
- Williams, Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity & Grace. 2nd ed. Glenview: Scott Forsem, 1985. https://lsu.louislibraries.org:5203/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=352785{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER
- Free PDF of the 2nd ed. online at http://www.unalmed.edu.co/~poboyca/documentos/Doc.%20Seminario%20I/style.pdf
Other Resources
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Tutorial Help in writing is available for registered LSU students (of all levels), in personal interviews on Campus, without cost—details at: http://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/cxc/studio151/
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LSU Library — provides a list of style guides available through LSU and online. http://www.lib.lsu.edu/sp/subjects/style
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University Writing Program at LSU — provides a list of recommended texts for learning argument strategies. http://english.lsu.edu/English_UWriting/English2000Teachers/Recommended%20Texts/item20577.html
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Writing Center at University of North Carolina — offers free, open access on various matters relating to composition. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/