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Resources for Writing & Language Learning

Welcome to the Resources Page of the Writing and Language Studio (WLS).
The resources compiled here represent a curated collection of our internal materials along with selected external sites, carefully developed and chosen to support your journey as a writer and language learner. Our resources are designed to guide and enhance your learning experience. We encourage you to explore these offerings and integrate them into your learning process.

Writing Resource

Graduate School Application Writing

Click the link to access resources that will help you as you prepare to apply to graduate school or for competitive fellowships.

Academic Assignments and Genres

This page from the Thompson Writing Program at Duke contains links to brief guides to many genres that students commonly encounter. They define genres as “categories of written texts that have recognizable patterns, syntax, techniques, and/or conventions.”

A brief informative and entertaining guide to how to write concise, appropriate emails to your professor

  • Essays
    • Writing an Essay
      This page from the Queensland University of Technology gives a brief overview of academic essays followed by descriptions of suggested structures for the following types of essays: analytical essay; argumentative essay; interpretive essay; comparative essay; problem and solution essay; cause and effect essay.
    • Sample Problem Solution Paper.pdf
      This document from the Ashford University Writing Center briefly explains what a problem-solution essay is and then provides an annotated example.
    • WLS – Writing essay conclusions.pdf
  • Writing in the Disciplines
    • Writing for your Discipline (UCLA)
      This activity from the UCLA library will guide you through analyzing a paper from your chosen discipline to help you better understand the writing conventions of the discipline.
    • Writing for Specific Disciplines (Duke)
      This page from the Thompson Writing Program at Duke contains links to brief guides to writing in several different academic disciplines.
    • Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines (Harvard)
      This page from the Harvard Writing Project website contains guides for writing papers in history, philosophy, English, and psychology, with more disciplines to be added.
    • Senior Thesis Writing Guides (Harvard)
      This page from the Harvard Writing Project website contains guides for writing senior theses (similar to the DKU SW paper) in history, literature, sociology, government, social studies, and gender studies. NOTE: Some of the information in these guides is specific to Harvard and won’t apply to your writing at DKU.
    • Writing Formal Analyses of Works of Art
      These guidelines from the School of Art and Design at UA Little Rock discuss the genre of formal analysis and present example papers.

The Writing Process

  • Drafting: Paragraphs and Argumentation
    • Paragraphs and Flow: The building blocks and glue of writing
      • Paragraph Transitions
        This page gives explanations and examples of transitions between paragraphs.
      • Paragraph Unity
        This YouTube video (VPN needed to watch in China) is from Duke University Professor Denise Comer. She discusses and gives examples of paragraph unity and cohesion.
      • Connecting Ideas in Writing
        This page from the University of Melbourne explains the importance of connecting ideas both within and between paragraphs and gives examples of connectors you can use to improve flow and clarity.
    • Argumentation
      • Writing an Argument
        This guide on argumentation from the Harvard Writing Project includes a video with perspectives from several faculty members and an exercise to help writers “see how scholars write an argument that responds to a question, problem, or debate.”
      • What’s at Stake
        This guide from the Harvard Writing Project includes a video with perspectives from several faculty members on how to indicate the significance of a claim, debate, or topic and an exercise to help “identify the intellectual ‘move’ that is underscoring what’s at stake in a paper’s argument” in sample papers.
      • Structuring a Logical Argument
        This guide from the Harvard Writing Project includes a video with perspectives from several faculty members on how to structure an argument with audience in mind and an exercise to help “see the large-scale organization of a paper’s argument” in sample papers.
      • Evidence & Analysis
        This guide from the Harvard Writing Project includes a video with perspectives from several faculty members on how to use evidence to persuade a reasonable but skeptical audience. It also includes examples of types of evidence and how they are used and an exercise to help see “how evidence plays different roles in a scholar’s argument” in sample papers.

Source Use & Documentation

  • Source Use
    • Working with Sources (Duke)
      This page from the Thompson Writing Studio at Duke contains links to many resources from Duke and other respected institutions on how to evaluate sources and how to integrate source material into your writing.

Language Learning Resources

Independent Language Learning

In this TED Talk, speaker Lýdia Machová shares four principles of independent language learning that have helped her become fluent in seven languages.

The following four handouts can be used for any language. See the sections below for language-specific resources. 

This handout will help you understand what it means to learn a language independently and get started on your own independent language learning journey. 

This handout is designed for people who are at the beginner level in the language they want to learn. 

This handout has example plans and strategies for intermediate learners. 

This handout has example plans and strategies for how advanced learners might use authentic materials. 

中文 (Chinese Language)

English Language

  • Speaking, Listening, and Pronunciation
    • Tools for Clear Speech
      This website from Baruch College has self-study exercises and resources to help with pronunciation in English. The goal is to improve the intelligibility of your English speech so people can understand you clearly.
    • Just to Be Clear (Podcast)
      This podcast is produced by the Tools for Clear Speech program at Baruch College. Episodes focus on language and speech-related topics such as language learning tips, multilingualism, fluency, and pronunciation. Each episode is accompanied by supplemental learning materials focused on vocabulary development, focused listening practice, and speaking practice.

Русский язык (Russian Language)

Français (French Language)

  • WLS – Online Resources for French Language Learning

日本語 (Japanese Language)

  • WLS – Online Resources for Japanese Language Learning

Contact Us

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WLS Office: Academic Building 2101

Contact

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  • DKU-LCC@dukekunshan.edu.cn
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