Please recommend good books/resources for improving academic writing?

[harrisonfjord]

I am a first year grad student and I think I could benefit from some extra practice in academic writing. Are there any tools, books or resources you would suggest? 

Edited May 30, 2014 by harrisonfjord

[Victoris]

Every time I write a paper, I go to Purdue's Owl website for clarification and review.  Here is the link: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

 

All of my professors support it.  

[Saman]

I have the APA book so if you need that you can let me know. I think that is the most helpful resource I have ever had. It got all the guidelines along with examples.  

[harrisonfjord]

Thank Victoris! I actually live by that site! I use it to write everything. 

 

Saman, thank you for the suggestion. I will have to check it out. If it has examples, that will be all the better. I just get bogged down sometimes regarding how certain sentences should be worded. I've tried using some psychology journals as guidelines, but I've noticed so much variation between some of them that I started to get confused regarding what is ok and what isn't.

[lewin]

Strunk and White - the Elements of Style - is wonderful. Everyone should read it annually.

 

There's also a classic chapter "how to write an empirical journal article" by Daryl Bem, which is from the book "The Compleat Academic". That whole book is good if you're thinking about academia in psychology, though it's a bit dated now. 

[Dedi]

Stylewriter is nice tool for improving academic writing. Unfortunately, it costs money to use it (there is a free trial, however). I know there is a some free sites that will also do the same thing. I cannot remember the names, though.

 

My advisor recommended it to me.

[Govari]

I'd recommend using "How to Write A Lot" by Paul Silvia (http://www.uncg.edu/~p_silvia/). His book is all about how to make writing as natural a part of your day as drinking coffee. It might not be great for improving writing style, but his book is a great resource for strategies that turn writing into a habit.

[clinicalpsychphd20]

http://www.elsevier.com/journal-authors/elsevier-supporting-early-career-researchers/publishing-connect-training-webcasts