University at Buffalo Libraries

Writing Your Paper

Read How - Writing Guides | Citing Sources

Writing Guides

For personal assistance with writing, visit The Writing Place, 217 Baldy Hall, North Campus, (716) 645-2394.

Writing Handbooks

For assistance with punctuation, use of language, and writing style refer to the following manuals:

• The Elements of Style
  Architecture Planning Library / Reference / PE1421 .S87 1979b
  Silverman Library (Capen) / Reference / PE1421 .S87 1979b
  Silverman Library (Capen) / Reference / PE1421 .S87 1979b
  Lockwood Library / PE1421 .S87 1979b
  Online: http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html

• The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers
  Lockwood Library / PE1421 .S87 1979b PE1112 .A24 2000

• The New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage
  Lockwood Library / PE1421 .N46 1994
  

• ActionGrammar: Fast, No-Hassle Answers on Everyday Usage and Punctuation
  Lockwood Library / PE1112 .F395 1995
  

• The Basic Writer's Book
  Lockwood Library / PE1408 .A42 1998
  

• Bookmarks : A Guide to Research and Writing
  Lockwood Library / LB2369 .R88 2000
  

• The College Student's Research Companion
  Lockwood Library / Z710 .Q37 1997
  

• Write Right!: A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar, and Style
  Silverman Library (Capen) /Reference / PE1112 .V4 1995
  Lockwood Library / PE1112 .V4 1995
  

• A Writer's Reference
  Lockwood Library / PE1408 .H2778 2001

Guides to Scientific Writing

• The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication
  Silverman Library (Capen) / Q223 .P33 2002

• Scientific Papers and Presentations
  Silverman Library (Capen) / T11 .D324 2005
  

• The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science
  Silverman Library (Capen) / T10.5 .M65 2003

Guides for the Health Professional

• Health Professionals Style Manual
  Health Sciences Library /Reference / Writing WZ 29 F673h 2007

• Successful Scientific writing a step-by-step guide for the biological and medical sciences
  Ebook Library : Electronic Book
  
  
• Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: a practical guide
  Health Sciences Library / WZ345 A955d 2007

• Grammar and Writing Skills for the Health Professional
  Health Sciences Library /Reference / Writing WZ345 V736q 2005

Citing Sources

Students should always provide proper citations for all quotations, summaries, paraphrases, or any other work or idea that is borrowed from others. When students use another person's idea or work without giving proper credit, they are committing plagiarism, which is considered to be a serious breach of academic honesty. The following links are designed to educate students on how UB defines plagiarism, how to avoid it, and what the potential consequences are:

• Academic Scholarship & Plagiarism (PowerPoint) - A self-assessed tutorial from the UB Libraries
• UB plagiarism policies, Frequently Asked Questions, and video.
  

Which Citation Style Should You Use?

When citing the books, articles, and other materials collected for a research paper, you must organize the important information identifying the author, title, publisher and date of the work according to a specific style.

While some instructors are not particular about citation styles, others will require a specific style. Students should ask if uncertain about which style to use.

Please see the guide to commonly used styles for examples of the following:

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Chicago Style
• Council of Science Editors (CSE) [formerly the Council of Biology Editors, CBE]

For examples of other styles:

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• Columbia Style
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Harvard Style
• Turabian Style