Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library: BIOL 30: Principles of Biology: Getting Writing Help

Reading Sources & Taking Notes

College-level reading is different from the kind of reading done in high school. The types of texts and assignments differ, but also the expectations for critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis of ideas. The more you are able to read effectively at the college level, the greater your chances of having success in college, economic advancement, and a more fulfilling life.

View the Excelsior Online Reading Lab to learn how to:

Writing Your Paper

The Art of Topic Development (6 mins.)
Learn how to go from a vague idea of what you'd like to research to a strong, specific topic. The health professions database, CINAHL, and the education database, ERIC via EBSCO, are used to provide examples of the process.
Writing a Literature Review Paper (5 mins.)
Learn how to research, structure and write a literature review paper that synthesizes the key theories and results in your field of study.

Help Writing & Editing Your Papers

Writing labs at the SJSU Writing Center
Writing Resources from Harvard College, including:
- Strategies for Essay Writing
- Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines
- Disciplinary Writing Guides
- Elements of Style by William Strunk

Assignment Calculator

Designed to help you keep your assignment on track, the Assignment Calculator:

Outlines the process of researching and writing step by step
Gives you an action plan with target due dates
Sends you an email with the dates when each step should be done
Helps you finish your assignment on time and on target