General Resources for Graduate Writing

General Resources

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & Fitzgerald, W. T. (2024). The craft of research (5th ed.). University of Chicago Press.

Calarco, J. M. (2020). A field guide to grad school: Uncovering the hidden curriculum. Princeton University Press.

Carter, S., Guerin, C., & Aitchison, C. (2020). Doctoral writing: Practices, processes and pleasures. Springer.
This book is based on well-received blog (now repository) with a major section on dissertation writing. The book synthesizes years of blog posts offering practical advice to both doctoral students and their faculty advisors on how to approach doctoral research and writing. The book is available as a downloadable e-book through the UCLA library.

Cayley, R. (2023). Thriving as a graduate writer: Principles, strategies, and habits for effective academic writing. University of Michigan Press.

Curry, M. J., He, F., Li, W., Zhang, T., Zuo, Y., Altalouli, M., & Ayesh, J. (2021). A to W of Academic Literacy: Key concepts and practices for graduate students. University of Michigan Press.

Graff, G., and Birkenstein, C. (2024). They Say, I Say (6th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2025). The literature review: Six steps to success (5th ed.). Corwin.

Silvia, Paul J. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2007. Print.
Focuses on the importance of a set writing schedule because making writing a habit lessens the need to find energy and motivation to do it. Outlines a number of “specious barriers” to writing that academics often employ, such as needing to do more research and the inability to find time. Argues that the latter points to the need to allot time rather than search for pockets of time to write. Offers two sets of writing task priorities, one for professors, the other for graduate students.

Sword, H. (2012). Stylish academic writing. Harvard University Press.

Sword, H. (2017). Air & light & time & space: How successful academics write. Harvard University Press.

Thomson, P., & Kamler, B. (2016). Detox your writing: Strategies for doctoral researchers. Routledge.

English for Academic Purposes Resources

Caplan, N. A. (2019). Grammar choices for graduate and professional writers(2nd ed.). University of Michigan Press ELT.

Feak, C. B. & Swales, J. M. (2009). Telling a research story: Writing a literature review.University of Michigan Press.

Swales, J. M. (2011). Aspects of article introductions. University of Michigan Press.

Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2011). Navigating academia: Writing supporting genres. University of Michigan Press.

Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills (3rd ed.). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.