Writing

For help with any stage of the technical writing process, go to Contact a Fellow to set up an appointment with a Communication Fellow, a qualified student that has been trained to help you learn to communicate information more effectively.

Analysis of a Research Paper

Research papers follow certain norms of wording and organziation.  Click on the link to read an analysis of the norms for each section of a research paper.

Analysis of a Survey (or Review) Paper

Survey papers give an overview of a topic or a field.  Read here to see how they are different from research papers, and how they can be useful to you as you begin your research.

 

Ethical Use of Sources in Writing

Ethical use of sources means more than avoiding plagiarism.  You must also be sure that you've cited the source you really used, and that the source you used really demonstrates what you've claimed.  Here are some helpful links:  how to avoid plagiarism, appropriate use of sources, and ways to include reference to sources in your writing.

Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism

 

Choosing a Style for Citing References in Your Paper

 

Examples of successful citation in papers

 

Helpful Links for Writing

On-line Technical Writing by David A. McMurrey
The website contains an especially useful section entitled Power Revision Techniques, which provides discussion and examples pertaining to clear organization and sentence structure. Other useful sections provide examples of all types of technical writing:  memos, short and long reports, progress reports, and the like.  However, the examples are culled from student writing and are not always of the best quality.

TechComm Web
This is the website for technical communication by Mike Markel (the textbook used in EAS 400/500).  Links at the website connect to examples of technical writing (memos, short reports, proposals, etc.) and to tutorials on the following subjects:

• Designing for the web
• Evaluating online sources
• Designing documents with a word processor
• Preparing presentation slides
• Preparing effective charts and graphs

Guide to Grammar and Writing
This website contains lessons on general points of grammar as they pertain to writing.  The Power-Point presentations on grammar give useful information about such topics as sentence fragments and run-on sentences.  In an attempt to enliven an otherwise deadly subject, the lessons overuse flying and dancing graphics, but the lessons will inform you as they keep you awake.

Writing Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For non-native speakers of English:   This website provides a link to an excellent discussions of basic article (a, an, the) usage.

Conducting Research

If you need help with research, please stop by the Engineering Library or contact an Engineering librarian to set up an appointment. Below are some links to helpful resources.

• Research Basics
  Research Basics helps students identify the most relevant resources for each field of
  study. Students can also find general guides to research skills such as choosing topics,
  evaluating sources, and finding full text.
  
  
• Course Guides
  The course guides help students in specific classes to find the resources that are most
  appropriate for their projects.  The guides take students through the research process in
  a step-by-step fashion, linking to useful sources of information along the way.
  
  
• Research Guides
  Research Guides contains links to the “Information Resources in . . . ” series, which
  covers BE, CBE, CIS, EE, MEAM, MSE and SSE.  Students will also find many other useful
  guides listed.
  
  
• Tutorials
  Here engineering and physical science students can learn to use some of the most
  important resources available to them, such as databases and citation management tools.
  
  
• Penn Online Research Tutorial (PORT)
  For students who are new to research, this is a tutorial covering basic skills such as
  developing a topic, identifying the types of information needed, locating, evaluating and
  citing information.

For more information, contact:

Mary Westervelt
Director, TCP
Office:  Towne 306
Phone:  215.573.6486
mwester@seas.upenn.edu

Douglas McGee
Assistant Director for Engineering and Physical Sciences Libraries
Engineering Library
Office: 217 Towne (Engineering Library)
Phone:  215.898.8170
dmcgee@seas.upenn.edu