Writing Resources

OWL - Purdue Online Writing Lab

UNC Writing Handouts

No Red Ink

College Essays

Graphic Organizers

Introduction Paragraph model

Body Paragraph model

Single Paragraph model

Conclusion model

Documentation

In MLA format at the end of your report you must include a Works Cited page that lists the references you used.

The MLA Guidelines have specific rules for what information to include in the citation for any type of reference - a book, a magazine article, an encyclopedia article, a web site, a personal interview, etc. These can get confusing when you throw in works that have several authors or are part of a series or are in one of the new electronic formats.

Basically the rules boil down to giving the information someone would need to find the exact resource you used. That would normally mean the author's full name, the complete name of the resource, the publication date, and who published it. For online resources you need to include the complete URL (web address).

Common MLA (9th Edition) Formats

LW Writing Tips

Refine Your Transitions
Try replacing commonly used transitional words and phrases with transitions that can show a variety of connections

• To add a thought: again, also, as well, besides, beyond the, equally important, finally, further, in addition, moreover, similarly

• To illustrate an example: for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate

• To confirm emphasis: even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly

• To reveal cause and effect: accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus thereftherefore, thus

Stop by The Writing Center for a handout of other transition words and phrases!

Revise Your Writing
Whether you are revising a draft of a paper before its due date, or completing a rewrite assignment, here are some tips that can help you benefit from revision:

• Get a Second Opinion: Have a parent, a friend, or a tutor from The Writing Center read through your paper. Be open to their comments and suggestions and revise your paper as needed.

• Grammar Errors: Begin revision by looking for mechanical and stylistic errors. Obviously, run your paper through spell check and grammar check; check for agreement errors, correct use of possessives, capitalization, apostrophes, etc.

• Organization: Then look at your claims—are they your own ideas? Does your evidence directly support your claims? Do you provide sufficient reasoning to connect your evidence to your claim? Finally, be sure to refocus on your thesis with a clincher sentence.

Polish Up Your Grammar
Common errors seen in high school papers tend to repeat themselves, especially grammatical errors. Take time to refine your use of:

• Sentence Structure:
  Students should write in complete sentences, avoiding fragments and run-ons. Students should also show a working knowledge of the use of varying sentence structures and lengths.

• Subject/Verb Agreement
  Subjects of sentences should agree with their verbs in both tense and number.

• Contractions
  Students should avoid the use of contractions in formal writing. This can help avoid possession errors and minimum competency mistakes.

• Pronouns
  All pronouns should be used only with an antecedent, and all pronouns agree with their antecedent in gender and number. Unless the paper assigned is a personal essay, the use of personal pronouns should be avoided.

• Spelling/Mechanics
  Proofreading and typographical errors will be considered as legitimate errors. Spelling and/or misused words are not acceptable in senior level writing. Use spell check and grammar check, as errors will receive grade level deductions.

For Parents:

Be an Objective Audience
When helping your son or daughter proofread their writing, make sure not to complete their thoughts in your own mind. Your student’s writing should have clear claims, understandable examples/evidence, and reasoning that clearly explains the evidence and works to prove the claim(s).

Let Go of that Pen
As hard as it may be, resist writing any comments on your child’s paper. Since all computers have grammar and/or spell check programs, it can be more beneficial for you to dialogue with your child about what you do not understand in their paper. Dialogue is the philosophical foundation that The Writing Center embraces. We believe that this conversation will help students develop the understanding that writing is a process.

How Much Do Spelling and Grammar Really Matter?
When it comes to spelling, help your child watch out for minimum competency words. If your son/daughter makes these “simple” spelling, usage, and grammar errors, deductions on assignments are larger than normal. Also, their college applications, job applications, and scholarship application letters might be tossed into the garbage! Juniors even see their ACT writing score lowered simply because they are not using proper grammar and spelling.

LW Writing Terms

Below are terms commonly used in writing prompts. They are required in all papers, and students should not only know the term, but how to properly add them to a paper. If you're not sure how to do that, talk to your English teacher or make an appointment with your building's Writing Center.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a sentence that states the purpose of the essay. A thesis statement should be: found at the end of the introduction, debatable, not a fact, one sentence long, and focused on answering the prompt or question.

What is a topic sentence?

A topic sentence is the first sentence in a body paragraph; it states the main idea of the paragraph. It is a sentence that connects the main point of the paragraph with the main point of the whole paper (thesis statement).

What is a claim?

A claim is a further breakdown of what you are claiming. A claim is an original idea that puts forth your insight about your topic, rather than a mere repetition of a fact.

A claim:

States a clear reason that the topic sentence is true;

• Cannot be the same statement as the topic sentence;

• Is provable;

• Works in conjunction with other claims to support the topic sentence

What is solid evidence?

Evidence helps to prove the claim is true. It offers data or specific information (research, examples from your book, results of an experiment, etc.) that is summarized, paraphrased, or directly quoted from a reputable source. The source of your evidence should be cited.

What is an reasoning?

This part of your writing explains how the evidence proves the claim; it provides the connection between the idea and the proof.

What is a clincher sentence?

The last sentence in a body paragraph that reinforces the idea in your topic sentence, but it does not repeat it. This sentence may also aid in transitioning into your next thesis idea/paragraph.