Chapter 1: About Writing
Writing
Center Services On-line
This site provides links to more than twenty writing centers and university
OWLs (On-line Writing Labs) across the U.S.
English
Program: Writing Skills
This Transylvania University English site contains helpful guidelines for
better understanding the writing process, selected modes of development, and
creative writing.
The
Process Homepage
A straightforward, easy read on the stages of the writing process.
Aims
of Discourse
Classification of writing in reference to the purposes of communication.
Common
Types of Papers
A rich webliography of sites discussing and illustrating various types of
academic and personal essays.
Chapter 2: Reading Critically
Teaching
Critical Reading through Literature. Eric Digest
An overview or summary of critical assumptions about the way we learn from
what we read.
Critical
Reading Strategies
Seven steps that assist reading for understanding.
Study
Skills Package/University of Waterloo
Clearly defined recommendations for enhancing learning in the academic setting.
Critical
Response/The Writing Center at Harvard
An outline of key questions to address in writing the critical response.
Chapter 3: The Writing Process
A+
and Writing: Step by Step
A thoughtful, insightful commentary on the early stages of writing.
Thought-Wrestling:
The Process of Exploring, Composing, and Weaving Ideas into Words
An experienced writer and teacher of composition describes her "ride" through
the writing process.
The
Writing Process/Strever
Reviews the stages of the writing process; introduces the concept of "zero"
drafting.
For
Writers and Would-BE Writers: Starting the Writing Process
Reinforces the common theme about the writing process: "The writing process
is not linear. You may repeat these steps more than once. Sometimes you might
just have to start over!"
Chapter 4: Keeping a Journal
Writing
the Journey
An Online Journal Writing Workshop.
Effective
Use of Student Journal Writing
Different types of student journal-keeping are described.
Journal
Writing
A discussion of different uses for journals.
Chapter 5: Inventing and Discovering
Freewriting:
A Scholarly Review/Texas Tech University
Freewriting is a means of teaching freshmen critical thinking skills, as well
as getting them to write at all.
Chapter 6: Assuming a Rhetorical Stance
Audience
Analysis/University of Northern British Columbia
A checklist for clarifying the audience for college writing exercises.
Voice
According to this site, "Voice is the heart and soul of a piece, the magic,
the wit. It is the writer's unique and personal expression emerging through
words."
"Notes
for a Writing Self Assessment": The Writing Place/Northwestern University
Use these questions to find out what works in your writing, and what needs
to be improved. You can use these questions to revise a draft in progress,
or to take a look at a collection of your writing--a portfolio.
Chapter 7: Reflecting on Experience
Q
and A: Point of View (in Narrative and Fiction)/Nancy Kress
The best bet is usually third person limited.
Voice
This site explains why "Voice is the heart and soul of a piece, the magic,
the wit."
From
Inside to Outside, Outside to Inside: Character Development in Fiction
Writer David Poyer describes the elements of good character development in
fiction.
Chapter 8: Explaining Things
Comparison
and Contrast of Two Articles/Youngstown State University
Helpful tips for comparison/contrast academic essays.
Common
Types of Papers/A+ Research and Writing Links
Links to academic sites addressing frequently assigned college-level writing
exercises.
Chapter 9: Arguing Positions
Mission
Critical/Institute for Teaching and Learning
A thorough introduction to the elements of logic and argument.
Propaganda
Analysis Homepage
Introduces forms of logical fallacies found in common discourse and writing.
Dialectic/Freemasons
A link service to a wide range of online resources related to logic, argumentation,
philosophy, and the physical sciences.
Idenitfying
the Argument of an Essay: A Tutorial in Critical Thinking/Metropolitan Community
College
Exercises in recognizing argument in texts.
Chapter 10: Interpreting Texts
Interpretative
Essay/Transylvania University
Defines interpretive writing and provides links to related online resources.
Literary
Terms/CyberEnglish
An excellent online glossary of major literary terms necessary to discuss
literature effectively.
Critical
Approaches to Literature
Brief introductions to types of literary criticism.
Literary
Genres/Wisdom Search Engine
A links service page to discussions of types of literature.
Chapter 11: Writing Research Essays
Search
Tips for Finding Magazine and Journal Articles/Youngstown State University
Useful guidelines for accessing online periodicals.
How
to Find Periodical Articles/UCLA
An excellent website for beginning academic research projects.
Library
Indexes and Databases/Georgetown University
Links to hundreds of academic databases.
Robert
E. Kennedy Library/CalPoly
Links to lists of databases across disciplines.
Basic
Research Methods for Business
Steps for conducting research in business.
Library
Basics/University of Mississippi
This tutorial provides general tips for students new to academic research
in a college or university library.
Chapter 12: Conducting Library Research
The
World Wide Web Virtual Library/Charles Sturt University
A rich webliography of links to educational databases at all levels.
Libraries
on the Web: USA Academic/Berkeley Digital Library SunSite
Links to all United States academic libraries.
The
Library of Congress Online Catalog
Over 12 million records representing books, serials, computer files, manuscripts,
cartographic materials, music, sound recordings, and visual materials from
the Library's collections.
College
and University Home Pages/MIT
Links to college and university home pages.
U.S.
Federal Government Agencies/LSU LibrariesCollege and University Home Pages/MIT
Links to all United States government agency websites.
Ready
Reference Internet Library Resources/Western Connecticut State University
A link service to a wide range of online library sources and websites.
Doing
Research on the Internet/Georgetown University
Guidelines for conducting Internet research and evaluation of Internet sites.
Search
Tips for Finding Magazine and Journal Articles/Youngstown State University
Useful guidelines for accessing online periodicals.
How
to Find Periodical Articles/UCLA
An excellent website for beginning academic research projects.
Library
Indexes and Databases/Georgetown University
Links to hundreds of academic databases.
How
to Find Articles in Periodicals/The University of Memphis
Lists major academic databases found on the Internet.
Databases
and Reference Tools/Princeton University
Links to important academic databases and online reference tools across disciplines.
Glossary
of Internet Terms/Matisse Enzer
An introduction to key terminology of the Internet.
Robert
E. Kennedy Library/CalPoly
Links to lists of databases across disciplines.
Chapter 13: Conducting Internet Research
The
World Wide Web Virtual Library/Charles Sturt University
A rich webliography of links to educational databases at all levels.
Libraries
on the Web: USA Academic/Berkeley Digital Library SunSite
Links to all United States academic libraries.
The
Library of Congress Online Catalog
Over 12 million records representing books, serials, computer files, manuscripts,
cartographic materials, music, sound recordings, and visual materials from
the Library's collections.
U.S.
Federal Government Agencies/LSU Libraries
Links to all United States government agency websites.
Ready
Reference Internet Library Resources/Western Connecticut State University
A link service to a wide range of online library sources and websites
Glossary
of Internet Terms/Matisse Enzer
An introduction to key terminology of the Internet.
Doing
Research on the Internet/Georgetown University
Guidelines for conducting Internet research and evaluation of Internet sites.
Search
Tips for Finding Magazine and Journal Articles/Youngstown State University
Useful guidelines for accessing online periodicals.
Databases
and Reference Tools/Princeton University
Links to important academic databases and online reference tools across disciplines.
Databases
in Science and Technology/STN
An important link service to major databases in science and technology.
Robert
E. Kennedy Library/CalPoly
Links to lists of databases across disciplines.
Chapter 14: Field Research
Qualitative
Methods Workbook/Shippensburg University
Outlines research methods, including interviews and observation.
Research
Methods Course Homepage/University of Maine System
Contains links to major social science data banks and reports.
Research
Methods Tutorials/Cornell University
Student projects introduce basic concepts of conducting primary research.
The
Scientific Method FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the scientific methodology.
An
Introduction to Searching Electronic Databases/University of Waterloo
A thorough discussion of the use of electronic databases for conducting academic
research.
Writing
Up Research Discoveries/Jackson State University
An outline and discussion of the formal presentation of field research.
Participant
Observation Techniques/Temple University
Guidelines for conducting formal observations.
Chapter 15: Research Sources
Evaluating
Web Material/Syracuse University Library
A links page to various sites addressing the evaluation of WWW resources.
Evaluating
Quality on the Net
Revised May 30, 2000. Originally created in 1995 with the title, "Evaluating
the Quality of Information on the Internet or Finding a Needle in a Haystack"
as a presentation delivered at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, September 6, 1995.
Thinking
Critically about World Wide Web Resources
A help guide provided by the UCLA college library.
Chapter 16: Using Sources
Online
Resources for Writers/Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab)
Includes instructions for use of sources and their documentation in academic
essays.
Plagiarism/Northwestern
University Library
Definition and explanation for how to avoid plagiarizing sources.
Writing
summaries from sources: A vital skill for research(ed) papers/Thomas Nelson
Community College
Tips on writing effective summaries.
Chapter 17: Sampler of Research Essay
Writing
a Research Paper/Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab)
From the site: "The two main types: to analyze or to argue? That is the question."
What
is a Research Paper?
Some answers from The Learning Skills Centre, University of Northern British
Columbia.
Chapter 18: The Revising Process
Paradigm
Online Writing Assistant
Excellent analysis of tasks of the revision stage of the writing process.
Revising
Your Paper/Texas A&M University Writing Center
A check sheet for revising drafts of essays.
Editing
and Proofreading Strategies
A good list of strategies from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue.
Chapter 19: Focused Revising
Paradigm
Online Writing Assistant
Excellent analysis of tasks of the revision stage of the writing process.
Revising
Your Paper/Texas A&M University Writing Center
A check sheet for revising drafts of essays.
Editing
and Proofreading Strategies
A good list of strategies from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue.
Chapter 20: Responding to Writing
Comment
by Brooke concerning teachers and peer editing
A student's reaction to past experiences with peer tutoring.
Peer
Editing Form/Portland State University
A sample worksheet.
Giving
Constructive Criticism/MCN Staff
Tips for giving useful criticism that makes a difference.
When
Criticizing Others: Michigan State University Counseling Center
Tips for positive interviews and evaluations of colleagues.
Chapter 21: Creative Nonfiction
Applying
Creative Writing Techniques
From the site: "Style is the writer's fingerprint. Although there are no two
identical styles, all writers use the same creative writing techniques in
varying degrees. By using pertinent description, analogies, personification,
allusions, and quotations, the writer can keep readers engaged."
Sentence
Variety and Types
Covers "coordination," "repeated terms," "renaming and amplifying the subject,"
and other sentence-enhancing techniques.
Sentence
Variety
Covers "coordination," "subordination," "transitional words and phrases,"
and other writing strategies to improve sentences.
Chapter 22: The Editing Process
Descriptive
Grading of Compositions/University of Virginia
Standards for evaluating compositions according to a range of grades.
Avoiding
Gender-biased Language/Harvard University Writing Center
Tips for avoiding gender-biased diction.
Guide
to Grammar and Writing/Capital Community Technical College
An exceptional site for a thorough review of basic conventions of expository
writing.
Chapter 23: Paragraphs
Paragraph
Development/Ashland University
A basic analysis of the elements of paragraphs.
Review:
Paragraph Development/University of Ottawa
An introduction to patterns of paragraph development.
Writing
Appropriate Paragraphs, Sentences, and Words/Wayne State University
An introduction to paragraph writing.
Chapter 24: Openings and Conclusions
Introductory
Paragraphs/Harvard Writing Center
Suggestions for developing introductions.
Title,
Introduction, and Conclusion/A+ Research and Writing Links/Internet Public
Library
Links to academic sites addressing introductions and conclusions.
Chapter 25: Sentence Structure
Parallel
Form/Guide to Grammar and Writing
Examples of parallel constructions.
Two
Ways to Join Sentences: Coordination and Subordination
Several helpful illustrations of coordination and subordination.
Writing
Effective Sentences
Parallelism and other effective techniques for improving sentences.
Chapter 26: Emphasis and Variety
Adding
Emphasis
A variety of strategies for adding emphasis in sentences.
Independent
and Dependent Clauses/Writers' Workshop/University of Illinois at Urbana
A comprehensive review of clauses.
The
Order of a Sentence/University of Ottawa
Excellent contrast between the "loose" and "periodic" sentence structures.
Chapter 27: Vitality
Strong
Verbs
A definition and exercise.
Active
and Passive Verbs
Useful tips for employing passive and active voice.
Nouns
Defined
A classification of nouns.
Chapter 28: Being Concise
Concise
Writing
From the site: "To make your writing lively, cut all unneeded words."
Writing
Concise Sentences
A superb list of strategies for concise writing.
Chapter 29: Tone
Tone
in Business Writing
An extensive treatment of tone in writing business documents.
Tone:
A Matter of Attitude
A thorough treatment of this principle of composition.
Using
Appropriate Tone and Style
Tone and Style: two important elements of academic writing.
Chapter 30: The Right Word
List
of Dictionaries
The place to begin your search for the appropriate dictionary, a "webliography"
of online dictionaries.
Biographical
Dictionary
An award-winning educational site with more than 27,000 entries.
WWWebster
Dictionary
The online Merriam Webster dictionary.
NetLingo
A handy dictionary of Internet jargon.
Chapter 31: Biased Language
Non-Sexist
Language/The Purdue University Writing Lab
A useful site with illustrations of correct usage.
Language
to avoid
Several types of language to avoid in writing.
Chapter 32: Sentence Fragments
Sentence
Fragments
From the site: "A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be a sentence in the sense that
it cannot stand by itself."
Sentence
Fragments
From the site: "Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become
disconnected from the main clause."
Chapter 33: Fused Sentences, Comma Splices
Writer's
Workshop/Grammar Handbook: Fused Sentences, Run-ons, and Comma Splices/University
of Illinois at Urbana
A discussion and illustration of each of the three principles addressed in
this unit.
Purdue
Online Writing Lab: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences/Purdue University
Illustrations of comma splices and fused sentences and the rules for correcting
them.
Literacy
Education Online: Avoiding Comma Splices, Fused Sentences, and Run-Ons
Graphical aids to visualizing three common sentence errors.
Chapter 34: Verbs
Guide
to Grammar and Writing/Webster
Interactive links exploring a full discussion of the grammatical principles
governing verb use.
Principal
Parts of Verbs
From the site: 'The three principal parts of verbs are the present tense form,
the past tense form, and the past participle."
Verb
Tense Chart
Active and passive tenses.
Chapter 35: Modifiers
Dangling
Modifiers
From the site: "A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word
not clearly stated in the sentence."
Avoiding
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
From the site: "Modifying words and phrases are used to clarify the exact
meanings of other words in sentences."
Dangling
modifiers
From the site: "A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not connect
grammatically with what it is intended to modify."
Chapter 36: Using Pronouns Correctly
Using
Pronouns Clearly/Purdue University Online Writing Lab
A review of pronoun usage with exercises.
Pronoun/Antecedent
Agreement
Includes exercises for practice.
Avoiding
Sexist Language
Tips for using pronouns properly.
Chapter 37: Consistent and Complete Sentences
Verbs:
Voice and Mood
An introduction to verb voice and mood.
Verb
Tense Consistency
A thorough review of verb tense and principles of parallelism in verb usage.
Writing
Tips: Sentence Builder - Verbs
An introduction to verb tense with links to additional levels of study.
Noun
and Pronoun Characteristics/University of Ottawa
A useful overview of gender, case, and number.
Chapter 38: End Punctuation
Punctuation
End marks of punctuation are discussed.
Punctuation
A brief but good discussion.
The
Fantasy Writing Workshop
Includes exercises.
Chapter 39: Commas
Proofreading
for Commas
Tips include punctuating introductory elements in sentences.
Using
Commas
The five basic uses of commas.
Rules
for Comma Usage
Includes quizzes.
Chapter 40: Semicolons
The
Semicolon: Its proper care and feeding.
Includes exercises.
Brief
Overview of Punctuation
Includes discussions of colons and dashes.
Chapter 41: Colons
Using
and Misusing the Colon
A review of the primary functions of the colon in sentence usage.
The
Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Semicolons and colons.
Brief
Overview of Punctuation: Semicolon, Colon, Parenthesis, Dash, Quotation Marks,
and Italics
Includes exercises.
Chapter 42: Apostrophes
Apostrophes
A review of the uses of the apostrophes with examples.
Apostrophe
Review/Writing Center/Youngstown State University
A review of the use of the apostrophe with examples.
Chapter 43: Quotation Marks
Quotation
Marks: Purdue University Online Writing Lab
Exercises with a key on use of quotations.
Quotation
Marks/Wayne State University
A quick review with examples of quotation mark usage.
Chapter 44: Other Punctuation
Brief
Overview of Punctuation: Semicolon, Colon, Parenthesis, Dash, Quotation Marks,
and Italics
Online handout prepared by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Printers
and Publication
A fascinating historical overview of punctuation usage and its evolution.
Grammar
and Style: Dashes
From the site: "Dashes are a wonderful mark of punctuation!"
Chapter 45: Spelling
Some
Rules and Suggestions About Spelling
Selected rules of spelling, exercises, and quizzes.
Spelling:
Common Words that Sound Alike
Selected rules of spelling and some exercises.
Misspellings--The
Writing Center/University of Wisconsin-Madison
A review of commonly misspelled words.
Chapter 46: Capitalization
Capitalization:
Guide to Grammar and Writing/Capital Community Technical College
Basic principles of capitalization
Rules
for Capitalization Contents/Grammar Slammer
A review of basic rules of capitalization
Chapter
4: Capitalization/Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization: A Handbook for
Technical Writers and Editors
A review of principles of capitalization used in technical writing.
Chapter 47: Hyphenation
Using
Hyphens
A handout with five basic hyphen rules.
Hyphens
Includes exercises.
The
Many Uses of the Hyphen
From the site: "Although smart word-processors seem to have taken over the
job of hyphenating broken words at the right-hand end of our lines and spellcheckers
can review our use of hyphens in other places, these technological marvels
are by no means infallible."
Chapter 48: Italics
Using
Italics and Underlining
From the site: "We use italics (characters set in type that slants to the
right) and underlining to distinguish certain words from others within the
text."
Italics,
Underlining, and Quotation Marks
From the site: "Italics and underlining are generally interchangeable."
Parentheses,
Dash, Quotation Marks, and Italics
With exercises and answer key.
Chapter 49: Numbers and Abbreviations
Writing
Numbers
With exercises and answer key.
Methods
of Abbreviation/Catholic Encyclopedia
A history of the development and use of abbreviations.
Reference:
Using Numbers in Writing/Technical Communications Center
A brief review of common conventions of using numbers in technical communications.
Chapter 50: Designing Documents
Designing
Hypertext Documents for the Web
From the site: "The way you design and maintain web documents can help relieve
users of frustration."
Design
Considerations
From the site: "Although there are many style manuals being written on how
Web documents should be designed, there is really no 'correct' style."
Chapter 51: Portfolios and Publishing
What
is the Baccalaureate Portfolio Project?
Portfolio guidelines are discussed.
The
Portfolio
A most useful introduction to student writing portfolios--what they are and
how to organize them.
Portfolio
Guidelines
Includes references.
Chapter 52: Writing for the World Wide Web
Glossary
of graphic design and Web page design/Design Glossary
A glossary of basic terminology for Web development.
Internet.com
Internet news and information Web site.
Glossary
of Internet Terms
A glossary of basic terminology for understanding the Internet.
Chapter 53: Oral Presentations
Oral
Presentation Advice
Topics include Things to Think About, A Generic Conference Talk Outline, Academic
Interview Talks, Other Talks, and How to Give a Bad Talk by David Patterson
Oral
Communication Checklist
From the site: "Good PUBLIC SPEAKING is characterized by the following preparation
and presentation components."
Communication
Resources
"Keys to Effective Oral Communication" are discussed.
Chapter 54: The College Curriculum
WAC
Clearinghouse
A site offering national support for communication across the curriculum.
Writing
Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines
Includes links to colleges with Writing Across the Curriculum materials.
Writing
Across the Curriculum - General Articles
An annotated list of articles.
Chapter 55: Languages and Literature
A
Glossary of Literary Criticism
An introductory glossary of literary terms.
In
Other Words: A Lexicon of the Humanities
A cross-reference guide to the disciplines of the humanities.
Rhetoric
and Composition
An introduction to rhetoric.
Chapter 56: Humanities
MLA
Style/Modern Language Association
Questions and links to documents explaining the MLA stylistic conventions
Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association
A promotional site for the 4th edition.
Style
Manuals
From the site: "Style manuals are 'how-to' rulebooks that guide the authors
and editors of research papers, theses and dissertations, books, and other
forms of scholarly communication."
Documentation:
Modern Language Association (MLA)/University of Wisconsin
A thorough introduction to MLA Style formats for documentation of sources.
Chapter 57: Social Sciences
MLA
Style/Modern Language Association
Questions and links to documents explaining the MLA stylistic conventions
Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association
A promotional site for the 4th edition.
Style
Manuals
From the site: "Style manuals are 'how-to' rulebooks that guide the authors
and editors of research papers, theses and dissertations, books, and other
forms of scholarly communication."
Chapter 58: Physical Sciences
ACS
Style Sheet
Several examples are provided.
ACS
Books Reference Style Guidelines
A number of sample references are provided.
Style
Manuals
From the site: "Style manuals are 'how-to' rulebooks that guide the authors
and editors of research papers, theses and dissertations, books, and other
forms of scholarly communication."
Chapter 59: Business
APA
Format
The basic formats and examples of APA style documentation formats.
CBE
Style Form Guide
The basic formats and examples of CBE style documentation formats.
AIP
Style Manual/American Institute of Physics
Guidelines of the American Institute of Physics for documenting sources.
Citation
and Style Guides
Samples of the MLA, APA, and Turabian documentation formats.
The
Citation Project/Real World Lab
Advanced studies in citation prototype development.
Style
Manuals
From the site: "Style manuals are 'how-to' rulebooks that guide the authors
and editors of research papers, theses and dissertations, books, and other
forms of scholarly communication."
Chapter 60: Columbia Online Style
Style
Manuals
From the site: "Style manuals are 'how-to' rulebooks that guide the authors
and editors of research papers, theses and dissertations, books, and other
forms of scholarly communication."
Electronic
References
APA's electronic citations.
Citing
Electronic Sources
Citation information from the Library of Congress.
Chapter 61: Essay Examinations
The
Millikin Writing Center Exam Help
Links to learning centers and other supporting sites for essay exams and test
taking.
Test-Taking
Hints
Helpful tips for taking essay exams.
Chapter 62: Parts of Speech
Parts
of Speech
One of the most comprehensive on-line sites for exploring parts of speech.
Guide
to Grammar and Writing
A review of selected parts of speech.
Chapter 63: Sentence Elements
Clauses:
The Essential Building Blocks
Includes quizzes.
Phrases
From the site: "A phrase is a group of related words that lacks both a subject
and a predicate. Because it lacks a subject and a predicate it cannot act
as a sentence."
Phrases
From "Lessons to Develop a Writer's Toolkit."
Chapter 64: Sentence Classification
A
Note on Sentence Variety
Includes quizzes.
The
Compound Sentence
A thorough discussion, with several examples.
Sentence
Structure
A good discussion, with links to other resources.
