General Resources

Check out the following resources as you work on your papers and other projects!


Campus Resources

  • The Writing Center: This is the absolute best on-campus resource for students working on papers and other projects. Schedule an appointment to work with one of their trained writing consultants at any stage of your project—the sooner, the better!


  • The Student Success Center at Sinclair Library: Whether you're simply looking for a place to study or you need some extra help with your coursework, this collaboration of student services is a great on-campus option to explore. Click through their site to learn more about what they offer.


  • KOKUA: If you find yourself in need of disability-related support for your papers or projects, please do not hesitate to reach out to the wonderful people at KOKUA. To avoid extra stress when you need it the least, be sure to reach out to KOKUA and/or your professor as soon as you realize you might need assistance.


  • UH Thesis and Dissertation Style Policy: If you are working on your thesis or dissertation, you need to familiarize yourself with this policy. You can download the full style and policy guide for electronic theses and dissertations here. The university updates the guide every few years, so if it's been a while since you last downloaded the PDF, double check to make sure you have the latest version (the last update was in 2018) and skim through it for any changes.


Other Resources

  • Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. 2014. They Say / I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. 3rd ed. New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company.

This concise book offers guidance for engaging with other authors' work in your writing. The index is particularly useful for students needing to expand their vocabulary for introducing authors and ideas.


This guide provides comprehensive advice on using sources, and its sections on evaluating sources and on avoiding plagiarism are particularly useful.


For students needing a little help with the picky details of writing, from punctuation to subject-verb agreement, Khan Academy offers a terrific series of lessons and practice exercises.


  • Nichol, Charlotte, and Lise Uytterhoeven. 2017. What Moves You? Shaping Your Dissertation in Dance. London and New York: Routledge.

This is a great resource for students working on creative projects beyond conventional academic papers. How do you ensure that your work has depth and critically engages with important themes and issues in your field? To find out, check out this book, especially chapter 4!


You've probably heard of the Purdue OWL before, as it is a fantastic, comprehensive resource for student writers. If you have a writing-related question, you will likely find an answer there, so check it out! You will find links to specific OWL resources on relevant Write Oceania unit pages.


  • Turabian, Kate L. 2013. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 8th ed. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

Sometimes referred to as "Chicago lite," this manual provides not only citations and references guidance but also information on a wide range of topics related to writing academic papers.


This project includes a series of concise topic sheets and lessons related to writing academic papers. Take a look through the collaborative's list of topics to see what they have to offer. You will find links to specific topic sheets on relevant Write Oceania unit pages.


  • University of Chicago. 2017. The Chicago Manual of Style. 17th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

All CPIS students should become familiar with this manual, as it offers guidance on everything from grammar and punctuation to citations and references. You can access the full manual online for free via the UHM library's website. For more information on this tool, check out the Write Oceania unit on citations and references. (Please note that while CPIS publications use a modified version of Chicago style, you may follow the manual's guidance more closely in your own work. Just be consistent.)


As we explain in the Write Oceania unit on citations and references, style guides are dynamic, ever-changing resources, and this website is a perfect example of this dynamism at work. The linked page lists great resources for students, but you can also check out their "Chicago Style Q&A" and "Chicago Style Workouts" pages for additional information and practice.


The UNC Writing Center offers handouts and videos on a wide range of writing-related topics. You will find links to specific handouts and videos on relevant Write Oceania unit pages.