An orientation: Library Service and Academic Learning Development: CMP, FAMM, Fashion, Film, Photography: Writing & Referencing

• Write Better Essays (YouTube playlist, 30 minutes).  A series of eleven videos in which Bryan Greetham, author of How to write better essays*,talks about essay writing.
   
• How to write an essay | Prospects (website). This is a 1500-word overview of how you might approach writing an essay.
   
• 'How to impress and how to distress markers' | Pete Greasley (PDF).  This free chapter from the book Doing Essays & Assignments provides an interesting and informative view of marking students' assignments from the perspectives of lecturers working in universities.
   
• How to research and write academic essays and dissertations  (Word Document) | James Thickins. This fills in the gaps in some of the other guides.
   
• Understanding essay questions | Making your writing flow | Writing sentences (Word docs)  Three short useful documents that accompany Chapter 11 of The Good Study Guide

• 'How to write an academic essay' (ebook chapter)* in: How to write about contemporary art | Gilda Williams (pp. 113-130).  To create a PDF, press the printer icon and print pages 113-130
   
• Essay writing (ebook chapter)* In: Film; the essential study guide, pp. 95-107*
   

* These are paid-for sources

Do not underestimate this! 

You are not writing in exam conditions, and lecturers expect and appreciate well-crafted writing.

• Grammarly guide.  The University has subscribed to Grammarly for Education for all Westminster students and Staff.  
   
• Proofing and editing your work | UCAS (PDF). Sound advice from UCAS (using the read-aloud function in Word etc is also a good way of proofreading your work).
   
• A useful tip not covered by the UCAS guide is to use the 'read aloud' function on Word etc to help you proofread your work.

Students often do not understand the feedback they get or know how to address the issues raised. The good news is that the feedback students get is not unique to them.  You can anticipate or interpret feedback using the following:

• Using your feedback | University of Portsmouth (webpage).  Good clear advice on interpreting and acting on the comments that most regularly appear on assignments

These are key sources to help with referencing and academic integrity issues (e,g, plagiarism)
 

CITE THEM RIGHT
 

• Cite Them Right (e-resource). The university pays for this resource to give definitive guidance on Harvard and other referencing styles, including Chicago. 
   
• Cite them right (book). This has a good introduction to referencing, which you can print out (pp. 20-23). 
   
• Cite Them Right videos (YouTube playlist).  A series of short videos introducing referencing.
   

WESTMINSTER GUIDES
 

• Referencing guide  | University of Westminster. This includes links to Cite Them Right, workshops, and information about plagiarism.
   
• Harvard Quick Guide (doc).  This quick guide covers the basics.
   
• Harvard Referencing Workbook / James Thickins (PDF). This short workbook shows an example of writing using Harvard referencing and takes you through the key points of referencing whatever style you use.
   
• Generative AI - guidance for students - Official advice from the university on the use of Generative AI, including advice about accessing online courses via Blackboard.
   

CHICAGO NOTES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY STYLE
 

• Notes and Bibliography Style: Sample Citations (Chicago Manual of Style) | The official summary of Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style (i.e. not Harvard)

ACADEMIC PHRASEBANK
 

• Referring to sources | Manchester University Academic Phrasebank.  A collection of phrases that can be used with sources (e.g., Smith... notes/argues/writes/observes/points out/reminds us)

There are more resources available on the Learning Development Advice and Support resource list.