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free guidance notes on writing skills and English Language, sample pages, How-to guides, and study resources

free guidance notes on writing skills and English Language, sample pages, How-to guides, and study resources

Writing Reports

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beginner’s guide to report-writing skills

Oxford University Press have just brought out a series of short beginners’ manuals on communication skills. Their emphasis is on compact, no-nonsense advice directly related to issues of everyday life. John Seely’s book on writing reports covers all aspects of the process – from gathering information to presenting it in the most effective way. He starts by describing different types of report and then focuses quite rightly on the importance of pitching the content of a report at its intended audience. He explains the differences between recommendations, proposals, and reports, and shows how to research a topic, how to interview people, and how to record the results.

Writing ReportsThe central portion of the book – which will probably be of most use to beginners – is how to plan a report and give it structure. He also covers often-neglected issues such as the importance of an executive summary and the need to organise details in various appendices. I was glad to see that he emphasises the need to be prepared to make several drafts of any report which is supposed to be important, and he has good advice on the presentation of visual data via graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts.

This is not just aimed at those who write reports for business, but also those who participate in local societies and voluntary groups. They will be glad of the easy look-up advice and sample reports with analytical and critical commentary which is also supplied.

The chapters of this book are short, but almost every page is rich in hints, tips, and quotes in call-out boxes. The strength of this approach is that it avoids the encyclopaedic volume of advice which in some manuals can be quite frightening.

© Roy Johnson 2002

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John Seely, Writing Reports, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.120, ISBN 0198662831

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Writing Short Stories

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creative theory and practical writing techniques

Can creative writing actually be taught? There is some debate about this question, but the number of university departments devoted to the subject is expanding so rapidly, many people must believe it’s possible. And why not? After all, we believe that the skills of painting, music, and architecture can be taught, don’t we. Ailsa Cox teaches creative writing, and this book is her version of an academic seminar – analysing the details of stories, then suggesting exercises which students (or readers) might complete to develop their own ability in writing short stories

writing short stories She kicks off with a good shot at defining the short story. How short is short? How long can a story be before it becomes a novella or a short novel? There are no simple answers to these questions. As soon as you think of an answer, you’ll realise there are exceptions. But she explains what most stories have in common. She sets out a series of chapters which explore various types of short story: the suspenseful narrative, the fantasy, the comic yarn, and so on. Her approach is to explain the genre, outline its rules so far as they might exist, then look in detail at examples from masters of the short story, from Edgar Allen Poe to contemporary writers such as Stephen King and even her own work.

She deals with the plotless story – the ‘epiphany’ as deployed by James Joyce in ‘The Dead’ and Katherine Mansfield in ‘Bliss’. Actually, she skids around quite a bit from one genre to another – from the tall tale, to the horror story, and back again via the anecdote – but there are lots of examples enthusiastically presented in such a way that I imagine they will appeal to the aspirant writers at whom the book is aimed.

She’s very keen on fantasy and science fiction, so Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ and Jorge Luis Borges’ ‘Tlon Uqbar, Orbis Tertius’ are given close scrutiny, alongside stories by H.G.Wells and William Gibson. Each chapter ends with a series of practical exercises. These are designed to provide ideas and prompts for the would-be writer – to start the imaginative pump working.

She makes a reasonable case for considering the higher journalism as a form of creative writing, and rightly points out that some of the best reportage can be considered as short stories if seen in a different light (or published somewhere other than in newspapers). She’s not so convincing on her claims for erotic fiction, but fortunately she redeems herself by a sensitive reading of Chekhov’s ‘The Lady with the Little Dog’.

The book ends with several useful lists of resources for writers: magazines in print and online which accept short stories; prizes for short story writers; and organisations and databases – though for the ultimate list of resources readers will still need to consult The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook or The Writer’s Handbook.

© Roy Johnson 2005

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Ailsa Cox, Writing Short Stories, London: Routledge, 2005, pp.197, ISBN: 0415303877

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Writing skills bibliography

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Writing Skills bibliography David Acres, Passing Exams Without Anxiety, Oxford: How to Books, 5th edn, 2000, ISBN: 1857032691. Study skills tips for examinations up to undergraduate level. Includes advice on writing under pressure.

Writing Skills bibliography Robert Allen, Punctuation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128 , ISBN 0198604394. Beginner’s guide, covering all the basics. Shows how common marks of punctuation should be used.

Writing Skills bibliography Robert Allen, Spelling, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198603835. Cheap and cheerful beginner’s guide, covering all the basics. Explains why spelling is complex in English, and offers lists of ‘difficult’ words.

Writing Skills bibliography Gerald J. Alred et al, The Professional Writer, New York: St Martin’s Press, 1992.

Writing Skills bibliography Daniel Anderson, Bret Benjamin, Bill Paredes-Holt, Connections: a guide to on-line writing, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998, pp.331, ISBN: 0205268471. How to write effectively using the Internet – a classroom manual for students, with advice on everything from email to writing your own web pages.

go Jonathan Anderson and Millicent Poole, Thesis and Assignment Writing, London: John Wiley, 1994.

go Naomi S. Baron, Alphabet to Email: How Written English Evolved and Where It’s Heading, London/New York: Routledge, 2000, pp.316, ISBN: 0415186854. Scholarly study of the relationship between technology and the written language. Particularly strong on Renaissance period. Covers authorship, copyright, punctuation, and typewriters.

go Robert Barrass, Students Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing in Coursework and Examinations, London: Routledge, second edition 1995, pp.194, ISBN 0415132223. Academic writing skills guide which covers notes, coursework essays, and writing in exams. Also features presenting information via maps, charts, diagrams, and graphs.

go Robert Barrass, Writing at Work: A guide to better writing in administration, business and management, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.201, ISBN 0415267536. Writing skills guide for business users – covers planning and editing letters and reports, plus efficiency in communication – including interviews.

go Alison Baverstock, Publicity, Newsletters, and Press Releases, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.96, ISBN 0198603843. How to generate publicity and promotional materials through effective writing. Covers email, letters, press releases, newsletters, and company reports.

go Judith Bell, Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers in Education and Social Science, Buckingham: Open University Press (2nd edn) 1993, pp.176, ISBN: 0335190944. Best-selling UK guide which covers planning and record-keeping, interviewing, reviewing ‘the literature’, questionnaires, and producing the final report. [Highly recommended]

go Howard S. Becker, Tricks of the Trade: how to think about our research while you’re doing it, University of Chicago Press, 1998.

go Hy Bender, Essential Software for Writers: a complete guide for everyone who writes with a PC, Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books, 1993, pp.486, ISBN: 0898796679. Compendium of programs and resources for all kinds of writing – from scriptwriting and journalism to business, medicine, and engineering. [Marvellous book – Out of print, but worth finding]

go Ralph Berry, The Research Project: how to write it, Routledge, third edition, 1994.

go Jo Billingham, Editing and Revising Text, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.144 , ISBN 0198604130. Beginner’s guide which covers all aspects of re-writing and improving text – from choice of individual words, through sentence construction, to creating good structure.

goLorraine Blaxter et al, How to Research, Buckingham: Open University Press, (second edition) 2001, pp.286, ISBN 0335209033. Comprehensive manual of research skills – from choosing a topic to writing up the results. Aimed at students in social sciences, as well as in related subjects such as education, business studies, and health and social care.

go Rita S. Brause, Writing your Doctoral Dissertation: Invisible Rules for Success, London and New York: Falmer Press, 2000, pp.163, ISBN 0750707445. New US guide to writing at post-graduate level which uses practical examples, is strong on planning, and offers tips from former students. Popular.

go Charles T. Brusaw et al, Handbook of Technical Writing, Fifth Edition, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997.

go Judith Butcher, Copy-Editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, (3rd edn) 1992, pp.471, ISBN: 0521400740. Classic UK guide and major source of reference to editing and text-presentation, which covers every possible bibliographic detail. [Highly recommended]

go Christopher Callahan, A Journalist’s Guide to the Internet: the net as a reporting tool, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999, pp.126, ISBN 0205282156. Guide to using the Net for research and fact-checking – strong on search techniques and evaluation of results.

go C.V. Carey, Mind the Stop: A brief guide to punctuation and a note on proof-correction, first published Cambridge University Press, 1939.

go The Chicago Manual of Style, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 14th edn, 1993, ISBN: 0226103897

go John Clancy and Brigid Ballard, How to Write Essays: A practical guide for students, Longman Cheshire, 1983.

go Collins Electronic Dictionary & Thesaurus V1.5 on disk and CD-ROM, Harper-Collins: 1995.

go William Condon and Wayne Butler, Writing the Information SuperHighway, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997, pp.318, ISBN: 020519575X. Instruction guide for students and teachers – concentrates on word-processing, email conventions, collaborative writing, and putting your results onto the Web.

go Claire Kehrwald Cook, Line by Line: How to improve your own writing, Houghton Mifflin, 1986, pp219, ISBN 0395393914

go Phyllis Creme and Mary R.Lea, Writing at University: a guide for students, Buckingham: Open University Press, 1997, pp.152, ISBN: 033519642X. Popular UK guide to understanding questions, planning assignments, reading and note-taking, and developing arguments.

go Martin Cutts, Oxford Guide to Plain English, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, pp.202, ISBN: 0198610114. Pocket-book guide to writing simple, clear English. How to avoid jargon and cliche. Before and after examples of editing for clarity and good style. How to present information visually to make its meaning clear. Recommended.

go John W. Davies, Communication for Engineering Students, London: Longman, 1996, pp.167, ISBN: 0582256488. Straightforward advice on clear writing, grammar, presenting technical information, and even writing job applications.

go Christian W. Dawson, The Essence of Computing Projects – A Student’s Guide, London: Prentice Hall, 2000, pp.176, ISBN 013021972X. Covers what’s required in writing a project – surveying the literature, report writing skills, documenting software, time management, project management, and presentation skills.

go Cory Doctorow et al, Essential Blogging, Sebastopol (CA): O’Reilly, 2002, pp.244, ISBN 0596003889. Blogs (it’s a contraction of Web Logs) are a form of personal diary kept as Web pages. They can record anything from the trivial details of your own life to online political manifestos.

go Jane Dorner, Writing for the Internet, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198662858. Introductory guide to writing efficiently for the computer screen. How to design and produce effective web pages, and how to create a persuasive site.

go Jane Dorner, The Internet : A Writer’s Guide, London: A & C Black, 2000, pp.200, ISBN: 071365192X. New opportunities and digital techniques for writers – from email to electronic publishing – with impressive list of online resources. [Popular title.]

go Jane Dorner, Creative Web Writing, London: A & C Black, 2002, pp.166, ISBN 0713658541. Creative and experimental writing using new media technology – plus lists of Web resources for aspiring authors, as well as the latest on e-books and e-publishers.

go The Economist Style Guide, London: Economist Books, 2001, pp.172, ISBN: 1861973462. Print version of Economist in-house style guide which they issue to all their journalists. It’s designed to promote precision and clarity in writing – and the advice it offers is expressed in a witty and succinct manner.

go Harold Evans, Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers, London: Random House, 2000, pp.296, ISBN 0712664475. Reprint and update of a classic guide. Evans concentrates on skills for journalists, but his suggestions for clear writing and efficient communication are useful for any kind of writing. Contains extensive tutorials on composition, structure, and good style.

go Joan van Emden and Jennifer Easteal, Technical Writing and Speaking, McGraw-Hill, 1996.

go Rudolph Flesch and A.H. Lass, The Classic Guide to Better Writing, New York: Harper Perennial, 1966, pp.288, ISBN: 0062730487. Best-selling US guide with emphasis on how to generate, plan, and structure your ideas. Also covers basic grammar, good style, and common mistakes.

go H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, New York: Longman, (7th edn) 1998, pp.882, ISBN: 0321037979. Encyclopaedic US guide to all aspects of writing – includes vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, style, document design, MLA conventions, editing, bibliography, and the Internet. [Recommended]

go Gary Gach, writers.net: Every Writer’s Essential Guide to Online resources and Opportunities, Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1997, pp.374, ISBN 0761506411. Excellent compendium of Net resources – includes information for academic and technical writing, journalism, data research, plus writing for the screen and theatre. [Recommended]

go Albertine Gaur, Literacy and the Politics of Writing, Bristol: Intellect, 2000, pp.188, ISBN 1904705065. Thoughtful scholarly study of the history of writing and literacy. Covers language as a political system, and spans a period from the origins of writing to a critique of the UK’s current National Literacy Strategy.

go Steve Good and Bill Jensen, The Student’s Only Survival Guide to Essay Writing, Orca Book Publishers, 1995.

go Norman Graves and Ved Varma, Working for a Doctorate: a guide for the humanities and social sciences, Routledge, 1997.

go Tony Greenfield (ed), Research Methods: guidance for postgraduates, Arnold, 1996.

go Constance Hale (ed), Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age, San Francisco: HardWired, 1996, pp.172, ISBN 1888869011. Cheerful guide to writing and editing which looks at the problems thrown up by the new language of the digital age. [Stylish]

go Liz Hamp-Lyons and Ben Heasley, Study Writing: a course in written English for academic and professional purposes, Cambridge University Press, 1987.

go Irene Hammerich and Claire Harrison, Developing Online Content: the Principles of Writing and Editing for the Web, New York: John Wiley, 2002, pp.384, ISBN 0471146110. This is aimed at intermediate to advanced users working on web projects – but it will be of interest to anybody who wants to extend their writing skills into the digital realm.

go Andrew Harnack and Eugene Kleppinger, Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources, New York: St Martin’s Press, 1997, pp.162, ISBN: 0312150237. How to represent digital sources in academic writing. The focus is on bibliographic citation, but it also includes handy Net tips and how to create your own web pages. [Very good value-for-money.]

go James Hartley, Designing Instructional Text, London: Kogan Page, (3rd edn) 1994, pp.183, ISBN: 074941037X. Guide to the presentation of instructions – from paper size, through clear writing, to the use of diagrams and illustrations. [Recommended]

go Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University Press Oxford, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, pp.182, ISBN 019212983X. Classic guide to the finer points of editing and print preparation, spelling and typography. A masterpiece of compression, now in its thirty-ninth edition.

go Wynford Hicks, Subediting for Journalists, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.180, ISBN 0415240859. Professional advice on subediting for the popular press. Main focus on the need for accuracy, clarity, and even legality. Also covers the process of digital print production.

go Wynford Hicks, Writing for Journalists, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.159, ISBN 0415184452. Practical advice on writing for the popular press. Main focus on news reporting, but also includes feature writing, reviews, and even obituaries.

go Catherine Hilton and Margaret Hyder, Getting to Grips with Punctuation and Grammar, Letts, 1998.

go P.M.Howe, Answering Examination Questions, Collins, 1983.

go Roy Johnson, Writing Essays: guidance notes for students, Manchester: Clifton Press, (6th edn) 1996, pp.104, ISBN: 0951984403. Covers every aspect of essay-writing technique – from understanding questions to presenting finished work. Includes sample essays. [Best-seller]

go Roy Johnson, Improve your Writing Skills, Manchester: Clifton Press, 1995, pp.137, ISBN: 0951984454. Written in non-technical language, with quick solutions to common problems. Emphasis on planning, editing, structure, and clarity.

go Yateendra Joshi, Communicating in Style, New Delhi: The Energy and Resources Institute, 2003, pp.250, ISBN 8179930165. Style guide on the finer details of presenting text and data – of particular interest to technical writers and those dealing with business documentation.

go Ronald T. Kellogg, The Psychology of Writing, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, pp.253, ISBN: 0195081390. Detailed academic study of the writing process, from gestation to production, with examples drawn largely from creative writing. [Thorough]

go John Kirkman, Full Marks: Advice on punctuation for scientific and technical writing, Wiltshire: Ramsbury, (3rd edn) 1999, pp.115, ISBN: 0952176246. Practical advice on all common punctuation issues, with lots of practical examples – and not just for scientists and technicians. [Good value]

go Gunther Kress, Literacy in the New Media Age, London: Routledge, 2003, pp.186, ISBN 041525356X. Theoretical study of literacy which argues that multimedia and the screen are starting to challenge the page as the natural medium of writing – and that this in turn is affecting the way we write.

go Leslie Lamport, LaTeX: a document preparation system, Addison-Wesley, 1996

go Mary R. Lea and Barry Stierer (eds), Student Writing in Higher Education: New Contexts, Buckingham: Open University Press, 2000, pp.205, ISBN: 0335204074. Academic research papers looking at student’s writing skills in UK universities as they come under pressure to modernise.

go Judith Leigh, Organizing and Participating in Meetings, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 019866284X.

go Betsy Lerner, The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers, New York: Riverhead Books/Penguin Putnam, 2000, pp.285, ISBN 157322152X. Realistic guidance for would-be writers from an experienced editor.

go Janice R. Matthews et al, Successful Scientific Writing: a step-by-step guide for the biological and medical sciences, Cambridge University Press, 1996.

go MHRA Style Book: Notes for authors, editors, and writers of theses, Modern Humanities Research Association, 5th edn, 1996, pp.100, ISBN: 0947623612. Detailed guidance notes for the presentation of academic writing prior to publication – includes glossary and proof-correction.

go Paul Mills, Writing in Action, London: Routledge, 1996, pp.224, ISBN: 0415119898. Guidance notes for creative writing – covers prose, poetry, and drama, as well as essays and ‘persuasive writing’.

go Chris Mounsey, Essays and Dissertations, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198605056. Introductory guide to essay-writing skills, plus research and examinations – but not quite so much on dissertations as the title suggests.

go Andrew Northedge, The Good Study Guide, Buckingham: The Open University, 1990, pp.248, ISBN: 0749200448. Best-selling study skills guide which includes examples of note-taking and the preparation of coursework essays, reports, and projects. [Good value]

go Paul Oliver, Writing Essays and Reports, Hodder and Stoughton, 1996.

go Walter J. Ong, Orality and Literacy, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.204, ISBN 0415281294. Classic theoretical study of the relationship between spoken and written culture. Ong argues that writing is a quantum leap forward in cultural and intellectual complexity. Highly recommended.

go Elizabeth Orna with Graham Stevens, Managing Information for Research, Buckingham: Open University Press, 1995, pp.191, ISBN: 0335193978. Excellent advice on organising, storing, and structuring information for writing research projects, reports, and dissertations. Includes layout and use of word-processors. [Recommended]

go Oxford Guide to Style, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.623, ISBN: 0198691750. Comprehensive reference to editing and text-presentation, which covers every possible bibliographic detail. Includes referencing digital sources and print preparation. [Highly recommended]

go Oxford Style Manual, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, pp.1052, ISBN 0198605641. This ultimate style guide combines Oxford’s Guide to Style with their equally popular Writer’s Dictionary. Two for cheaper than the price of one. Highly recommended.

go Oxford Writers’ Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990, pp.448, ISBN: 0192826697. Specialist dictionary for writers, journalists, and text-editors which deals with problematic and foreign words, offering correct spellings and usage. [Recommended]

go Richard Palmer, Write in Style: a guide to good English, London: Routledge, 2nd edn, 2002, pp.255,ISBN 0415252636. Amusing and irreverant advice on the basics of good English. Covers good and bad sentences; how to deal with punctuation; how to strike the right tone; and the rules of spelling and grammar. Every point illustrated with vivid examples – gaffes from the popular press and good style from skillful authors.

go Mike Palmquist and Donald E. Zimmerman, Writing with a Computer, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999, pp.269, ISBN 0205274870. How to use word-processors to increase the effectiveness of your writing, plus time-saving tips on the use of templates, short-cuts, and outliners.

go David Parker, Tackling Coursework: assignments, projects, reports and presentations, DP Publications, 1994.

go M. Peelo, Helping Students with Study Problems, Open University Press, 1995

go Estelle M. Phillips and D.S. Pugh, How to get a Ph.D: a handbook for students and their supervisors, Buckinghamshire: Open University Press, third edn, 2000, pp.235, ISBN: 033520550X. Advice on how to get into the system, what to expect, and how to plan your workload, as well as dealing with your supervisor.

go B.A. Phythian, Teach Yourself Correct English, Hodder and Stoughton, 1990, pp.277, ISBN: 0340429968.

go David B. Pirie, How to Write Critical Essays: a guide for students of literature, London: Routledge, 1985, pp.139, ISBN 0415045339. Guidance manual on all aspects of essay writing – from interpreting the question, through making notes, to planning and submitting the finished work.

go Jonathan and Lisa Price, Hot Text: Web Writing that Works, Indianapolis (IN): New Riders, 2002, pp.507, ISBN 0735711518. Guide to digital writing techniques – packed with good examples of how to produce efficient writing for the Web. Intermediate to advanced level. Covers all forms of digital communication – from email newsletters to Web reports and eCommerce site material. [Highly recommended]

go Gary Provost, 101 Ways to Improve your Writing, Mentor Books, 1985, ISBN 0451627210

go Phil Race, How to win as a final-year student: essays, exams and employment, Buckingham, UK: Open University Press, 2000, pp.181, ISBN 0335205119. Writing skills and strategies for students in their last year. It covers the problems of writing longer essays, reports, and dissertations, passing exams, and preparing for future employment.

go Andrew Robinson, The Story of Writing, London: Thames & Hudson, 1995, pp.224, ISBN 0500016658. Illustrated study of the graphical presentation of language, focussing on the decipherment of hieroglyphs and other code-cracking.

go Kjell Erik Rudestam and Rae R. Newton, Surviving your Dissertation: a comprehensive guide to content and process, Sage Publications, 1992.

go Rosemary Sassoon, Handwriting of the Twentieth Century, London: Routledge, 1999, pp.208, ISBN 0415178827. How handwriting was taught and learned – from 1900 to 2000. This shows the gradual move from copperplate script to the modern italic in general use today. Beautifully illustrated.

go Heidi Schultz, The Elements of Electronic Communication, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000, pp.132, ISBN: 0205286461. Brief introduction to emailing protocols, newsgroups, and communication via the Web, with emphasis on writing for clarity in an electronic medium.

go Karen Scott, The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2001/2, London: Alison & Busby, 2001, pp.287, ISBN 0749004975. Reference guide to electronic publishing, with focus on e-zines and e-books. Extensive listings, plus advice on submitting work, payments, and contracts.

go John Seely, The Oxford Guide to Writing and Speaking, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp.304, ISBN 0192801090. Brisk guide to various forms of writing and verbal presentations – from academic work, via faxes and email, to research and dissertations. Plenty of examples and self-assessment exercises.

go John Seely, Words, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198662823. Using dictionaries, history of English language, and words which are commonly misused. Practical guidance if you wish to perform more successfully in the workplace or in studying. Tells you how to improve your vocabulary.

go John Seely, Writing Reports, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198662831. Beginner’s guide to report-writing skills – covers planning, structure, and presentation, how to research a topic, how to interview people, and how to record the results.

go John Seely, Oxford A—Z of Grammar and Punctuation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, pp.148, ISBN 0198608977. Beginner’s pocket guide to basic grammar and punctuation in English. Plus how to punctuate lists; how to avoid the split infinitive; how to show speech in writing; and other practical everyday writing issues.

go John Seely, <>Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp.310. ISBN 0192806130. Covers how to structure a business letter and how to strike the right tone; how to format and follow the protocols of emailing; how to write a persuasive curriculum vitae, structure a job application, and prepare for the interview; how to prepare and deliver a PowerPoint presentation; how to organise and write a report; and how to prepare a press release when dealing with the media. Expanded version of Oxford Guide to Writing and Speaking.

go Mike Sharples, <>How We Write: Writing as Creative Design, London: Routledge, 1999, pp.224, ISBN 0415185874. Excellent study of the various processes of writing – from the origination of ideas, through their expression in words, to the physical production of text. Especially insightful on revision and the way in which the meaning of a text can change. Combines the approaches of psychology and literary theory.

go Catherine Soanes and Shiela Ferguson, Oxford A—Z of Spelling, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, pp.140, ISBN 0198608950. Pocket-book guide to the basic rules of spelling in English – along with all the many irregular cases. It deals with difficult plurals and the apostrophe, Also acts as a reference book, since half of it is devoted to words which are commonly mis-spelled in English.

go Biz Stone, Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content, Indianapolis (IN): New Riders, 2002, pp.309, ISBN 0735712999. Enthusiastic guide to writing web log pages [blogs] – the latest popular form of free journal writing.

go William Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1979, pp.92, ISBN: 0205191584. Old favourite ‘bare bones’ guidance manual which cuts out everything except the essential answers to most common writing problems. [Very popular]

go John Swales & Christine B. Feak, Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential tasks and skills, Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 1994,
pp.264, ISBN 0472082639.

goJudith Tarutz, Technical Editing: The Practical Guide for Editors and Writers, Hewlett-Packard Press, 1992, pp.454, ISBN: 0201563568

go Gordon Taylor, The Student’s Writing Guide for the arts and social sciences, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, pp.250, ISBN: 0521369053.

go Michael Temple, A Pocket Guide to Written English, Michael Joseph, 1990.

go L. Trask, The Penguin Guide to Punctuation, London: Penguin Books, 1997, pp.162

go Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, London: Profile Books, 2003, pp.209, ISBN: 1861976127. Amusing and best-selling guide to punctuation written in a lively style, and free from grammatical rules.

go Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, (6th edn) 1987, pp.300, ISBN: 0226816273. Modern US classic guidance manual for academic writing – covers everything from abbreviations via bibliography and referencing, to page layout. [Highly recommended.]

go Kate L. Turabian, Student’s Guide for Writing College Papers (3rd rev edn) Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1977, pp.256, ISBN 0226816230

go Christopher Turk and John Kirkman, Effective Writing: improving scientific, technical and business communication, E & FN Spon, second edition, 1989.

go Richard Marggraf Turley, Writing Essays: a guide for students in English and the Humanities, London: Routledge, 2000, pp.145, ISBN 0415230136. Practical advice and worked examples for undergraduate students – written in a friendly tone and often quite funny. [Recommended]

go Victor J. Vitanza, Writing for the World Wide Web, Allyn and Bacon, 1998, pp.235, ISBN: 0205266932. Guide for students who wish to convert their written work into web pages – includes examples of HTML code and instructions for uploading the results.

go WAN2TLK? ltle bk of txt msgs, London: Michael O’Mara Books, 2000, pp.95, ISBN: 185479678X. An interesting and best-selling oddity. A micro-dictionary which explains the abbreviated language of text-messaging used on mobile phones.

go Keith Waterhouse, Waterhouse on Newspaper Style, London: Penguin, 1993, pp.250, ISBN: 0140118195. Amusing tour through the abuse of language by UK newspaper journalists – exposing bad writing as a way of promoting clarity and precision. [Very popular]

go Gordon Wells, Writers’ Questions and Answers, London: Allison & Busby, 2001, pp.143, ISBN 0749005319. Practical advice to writers who wish to publish their work commercially. Good on contracts, copyright, payments, and how to submit your work.

go Joseph Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, New York: Addison Wesley, 6th edn, 1999, pp.309, ISBN: 0321024087. Advice for improving your writing – puts its emphasis on editing for clarity, creating structure, and keeping the audience in mind. [Recommended]

go Ian Winship and Alison McNab, The Student’s Guide to the Internet, Library Association, 1996.

go Peter Woods, Successful Writing for Qualitative Researchers, London: Routledge, 1999, pp.158, ISBN: 0415188474. Guide to academic writing at post-graduate level – from the preparation of a project through to the completion (and possible publication) of the finished work.

go William Zinsser, On Writing Well, New York: Harper Perennial, 1990, pp.308, ISBN: 0062735233. Reassuring guidance from an experienced journalist on writing more effectively, particularly good on editing and re-writing. [Best-seller]

© Roy Johnson 2009

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Written style in essays

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1. For most essays your written style should be plain, clear, and straightforward. You should avoid sloppiness and a casual manner. Don’t try to be ‘impressive’, flowery, or emotive. Remember that an essay is an academic exercise, not a piece of ‘creative writing’.

2. Keep in mind that speech and writing are two different forms of communication. Avoid the use of a chatty or conversational tone when writing essays.

3. Avoid the use of contractions such as ‘isn’t’, ‘can’t’, ‘don’t’ which occur in speech but should not be used in formal writing. These terms should be written out in full as ‘is not’, ‘can not’, and ‘do not’.

4. Avoid the use of common abbreviations such as ‘etc.’, ‘e.g.’, ‘&’, ‘i.e.’. If you need to use these expressions, write out the terms in full, as ‘for example’, ‘and’, ‘that is’. [There is a good argument for never using ‘et cetera’: it can easily suggest that you are being lazy.]

5. Avoid using unnecessary jargon (technical terms), clich&eacute (‘leave no stone unturned’), vogue words (‘situation’ or ‘ongoing’), and slang (‘far-out’).

6. Avoid using metaphors you are used to seeing in print or figures of speech which are currently popular. For instance: ‘the bottom line’, ‘a ballpark figure’. (This is one of George Orwell’s rules for avoiding a tired style.)

7. Remember that the common word order (the syntax) of a simple sentence written in English is as follows. If in doubt, adopt this pattern.

subject – verb – object

The cat eats the goldfish
We are the best team

8. Avoid starting sentences with words such as ‘Again’, ‘Although’, ‘But’, ‘And’, ‘Also’, and ‘With’. These words are conjunctions, which belong in the ‘middle’ of a sentence, not at its beginning.

9. Good style is usually connected with the need for precise punctuation and clearly expressed ideas. The following example shows a sloppily written argument transformed by just the removal of two commas and the addition of a full stop. This creates two shorter but clear sentences instead of one which is very confused.

bad
Smoking became as socially acceptable as drinking, in all classes of society, mostly associated with men until the second world war when women began to smoke openly, in public shocking older members of their sex.

better
Smoking became as socially acceptable as drinking in all classes of society. It was mainly associated with men until the Second World War when women began to smoke openly in public, shocking older members of their sex.

10. Try to avoid the awkward ‘he or she’, the ugly ‘he/she’, and the crass ‘s/he’. These formulations are sometimes used to solve the problems of gender references.

awkward
Candidates should note that any employer is obliged to follow Equal Opportunities policies when he/she is interviewing applicants.

11. The simple solution to this problem is to use the plural form:

better
Candidates should note that all employers are obliged to follow Equal Opportunities policies when they are interviewing applicants.

12. An essay which is written in a sparkling and attractive style will obviously be more interesting to read than one which plods along in a dull manner. However, you should be very cautious about creative or decorative flourishes in academic writing. Jokes, bold metaphors, and even figures of speech can easily seem mannered. If in doubt, stick to clear, plain language.

© Roy Johnson 2003

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