Writing Support Resources

Turnitin Instructions: Updated 2021

Turnitin is a software application that allows you to check your research papers and dissertations electronically against all Internet and digitized documents to ensure adequate quoting, paraphrasing, and referencing. The software is now available to all GSEP students through Courses powered by Sakai, so you can now independently check your documents and prevent plagiarism.

GSEP has purchased a license with Grammarly@EDU for all of its students. To sign up:

1. Go to https://www.grammarly.com/edu/signup  

2. Click "Join your organization."

3. Provide your name, @pepperdine.edu email, and password.

4. Check your inbox for the email and click on the activation link.

5. Insert this access code when prompted: fwXQZ3uJGfscjucz

6. You should now have access to GSEP's premium Grammarly account.

Download the Apps
To make sure you get the most out of Grammarly, we have some additional helpful features for Microsoft Word, Internet browsers, emails, and the desktop! All components can be downloaded from https://app.grammarly.com/apps or at the links below:

• MS Office plug-in 
• Desktop Apps

Browser extensions:

• Chrome
• Safari
• Firefox

• For general APA formatting help, go to https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines. Use the search bar to find information on specific formatting issues, such as "reference examples" or "overcitation."

• APA 7th PowerPoint Tutorial

• APA 7th Reference and Citation Guide

• APA 7th Edition Updates

• APA 7th Sample Student Paper

• Video: APA 6th vs. 7th Edition

• Video: Updates to APA Manual, 7th Edition

• ESL Grammar Resource Site (Rong Chang Lee, Ph.D): provides extensive information on common areas of concern for ESL students, with a focus on grammar and style.

• Capital Community College Foundation ESL Grammar Quiz Site: a comprehensive collection of grammar quizzes aimed at identifying and remedying common grammar issues; each quiz represents a different area of focus.

• Dissertation Requirements
• Dissertation Copyright Information
• Conceptualizing a Dissertation
• All But Dissertation (ABD) Resources

Links to Dissertation Samples:

• Sample Four-Chapter Psychology Dissertation (APA 7th edition)
• Sample Five-Chapter PhD Education Dissertation (APA 7th edition)

Links to some good school-specific sites that provide additional guidelines for developing and formatting dissertations as well as links to text and Web resources for dissertation writers:

• University of Ottawa
• Nova Southeastern University Dissertation Guide
• University of Michigan Resource Guide

• Writing With Clarity
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) - This is a good source for general writing resources as well as instructional materials. Contains an array of information ranging from ESL resources, to creative writing support and setting-specific writing guidelines.

• George Mason University’s Writing Center Quick Guides - A library of writing resource handouts available in a variety of formats.
• University of Toronto, Scarborough Writing Centre: Academic Style - Web page contains downloadable handouts on academic writing.
• English Club Grammar - Interactive Web page with an emphasis on Word-level and Sentence-level grammar.
• Writing Support Handouts:
  • Conquering Commas
  • Transitional Words and Phrases
  • Scholarly Writing Do's and Don'ts
  • Checklist for Scholarly Writing

• How To Avoid Plagiarism

Visit Assistant Manager of Writing Support Julie Stiegemeyer's YouTube channel for writing tips on a variety of topics, such as APA formatting, grammar, punctuation, and strategies for writers.

Julie Stiegemeyer's YouTube Channel