Writing Resources

Books on Writing 

  • How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler and Charles van Doren

  • The Seminary Student Writes, Deborah Core

  • Elements of Style, William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White

  • Elements of Grammar, Margaret Shertzer

  • Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers, Lucretia B. Yaghjian

Style and Citation Guides 

  • A Manual for Writers, Kate Turabian

  • The SBL Handbook of Style, Patrick H. Alexander, ed.

Online Writing Resources 

  • Emory University Writing Center
    The Emory University Writing Center is not intended to provide Candler students with personal instruction and consultation. However, their website has resources for grammar, writing and ESL issues.

  • Louisville Seminary Online Writing Lab
    Includes not only advice about how to write better, but also extensive handouts and information on other academic skills, from note-taking to test preparation. Its orientation toward students of theology makes it an excellent resource. Also includes help with the Presbyterian ordination exams.

  • Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
    This amazing and extensive site includes guidance about every stage of the writing process. Its depth of grammatical resources is particularly impressive. Also includes tutorials on writing for specific fields, although not for theological writing.

  • Critical Writing at the University of Pennsylvania
    Links to help with grammar and writing style. Click the plus-sign box on "Online Resources" to see what's available. The site even includes the lyrics to the Schoolhouse Rock songs you may remember from Saturday morning TV!