| One of my students came in the other day to ask a | | | | hundreds of academic journals, so it can do all that |
| question about the research paper assignment in our | | | | work for me. It is incalculable how much time this has |
| graduate class in Cancer Biology. In speaking with her | | | | saved me. |
| I realized that she did not know about bibliographic | | | | 3. A dictionary. Sometimes you just need to look |
| software that allows writers to create reference lists | | | | something up. I have a real paper dictionary within |
| without typing every single one. That's when it | | | | reach of my computer both at home and at work. |
| became clear to me that students may not know | | | | It's always better to look up a word or usage than |
| what tools are out there to help them with the | | | | to get back a dry comment in reviews about the |
| important and rewarding task of academic writing. | | | | odd grammatical error you made. |
| These are the tools I can't do without: | | | | 4. Scholarly writing requires some background reading |
| 1. A good word processor program. There are a | | | | to generate a knowledge base and source for |
| number of popular software packages for writing and | | | | comparison with your own thoughts and findings. For |
| editing documents. The important thing is not to use | | | | this you need access to reference material - online, |
| any one specific program, but to find the program | | | | physical books, colleagues. Make sure you have the |
| that works for you and for the people to whom | | | | resources you need and that you know the ropes in |
| you'll submit. Look for a program that has a | | | | your library for requesting reprints or additional |
| user-interface that is comfortable to you, that has a | | | | sources. Cite all of your sources - this is part of |
| file output and formatting options that are useful for | | | | writing with integrity. |
| your field, and that can accommodate the special | | | | 5. Once you have completed your manuscript the |
| symbols you might use. Some useful features to look | | | | most important resource is a reader. Find a friend or |
| for include ability to modify document layouts, ability | | | | colleague willing to read your paper, article, or grant |
| to check spelling and grammar, and ability to work | | | | before you submit it to its destination. It helps so |
| with add-on programs like bibliographies. | | | | much to have a fresh set of eyes look at your work |
| 2. A good bibliographic program. I could not do | | | | from a friendly perspective and to provide you with |
| without my bib program. The one I use is called | | | | some critical feedback that will let you put the |
| EndNote. It integrates into my word-processor so | | | | finishing touches on your work before it goes before |
| that I can add in references as I write. It has a | | | | your professor, your committee, an editorial board, |
| search function that allows me to search within my | | | | or a grant review panel. |
| library, or to connect to online databases in my field | | | | If you have these five tools at your disposal, you will |
| and import new references as I need them. It also | | | | have a great start at doing great things in your |
| accommodates the preferred reference formats of | | | | academic writing. |