Composing And Revising
Planning
Assessing the writing situation
Understanding the assignment
Exploring the subject
Reading
Annotating texts or visuals
Talking and listening
Listing
Clustering
Freewriting, keeping a journal, and blogging
Asking the journalist’s questions
Asking questions in the disciplines
Drafting a working thesis
Outlining
Informal outlines
Formal outlines
Exercises: Planning
Purpose and audience
Thesis statements 1
Thesis statements 2
Resources for planning
Drafting
Drafting an introduction with thesis
Writing an introduction
Placing the thesis statement in the introduction
Developing the thesis statement
Revising a thesis that is too factual
Revising a thesis that is too broad or too narrow
Revising a vague thesis
Drafting the body
Drafting a conclusion
Exercises: Drafting
Introductions
Resources for drafting
Revising
Making global revisions
Editing sentences and paragraphs
Proofreading
Revising with comments
The comment: Unclear thesis
The comment: Narrow your introduction
The comment: Develop more
The comment: Be specific
The comment: Consider opposing viewpoints
The comment: Summarize less, analyze more
The comment: More than one point in this paragraph
The comment: Your words?
Preparing a portfolio and reflecting on your writing
Exercises: Revising
Conducting a peer review
Choosing an appropriate point of view
Resources for revising
Writing paragraphs
Stating the main point in a topic sentence
Positioning the topic sentence
Paragraphs without topic sentences
Sticking to the point
Developing the main point
Paragraph patterns
Examples and illustrations
Narration
Description
Process
Comparison and contrast
Analogy
Cause and effect
Classification and division
Definition
Paragraph coherence
Linking ideas clearly
Repeating key words with synonyms
Repeating key words exactly
Using parallel structures
Maintaining consistency
Transitions between sentences
Transitions between paragraphs
Paragraph length
Exercises: Writing paragraphs
Topic sentences
Transitions
Resources for writing paragraphs
Designing documents
Quick help: Document design
Design principles
Page layout
Page formatting
White space and margins
Pagination
Headers and footers
Borders and rules
Text formatting
Line spacing
Paragraph indenting and spacing
Text alignment
Tabbed text
Font selection
Fonts for college and workplace documents
Fonts for on-screen documents
Font styles
Headings
Phrasing headings
Formatting headings
Lists
Visuals
Choosing appropriate visuals
Placing and labeling visuals
Types of visuals to suit your purpose
Using visuals responsibly
Writing with technology
Using software tools
Grammar checkers
Spell checkers
Autoformatting
Managing your files
Academic Writing
Writing about texts
Active reading: Annotating a written or a visual text
Outlining a written or a visual text
Summarizing a written or a visual text
Analyzing a written or a visual text
Exercises: Writing about texts
Thesis statements in literature papers
Resources for writing about texts
Constructing reasonable arguments
Examining an issue’s contexts
Putting arguments in context
Addressing skeptical audiences
Stating your position in your introduction
Backing up the thesis with lines of argument
Supporting claims with evidence
Facts as support for claims
Statistics as support for claims
Examples and illustrations as support for claims
Expert opinion as support for claims
Anticipating objections and countering opposing arguments
Building common ground
Resources for constructing reasonable arguments
Evaluating arguments
Distinguishing reasonable arguments
Making generalizations (inductive reasoning)
Deducing conclusions (deductive reasoning)
Drawing analogies
Tracing causes and effects
Weighing options
Making assumptions
Distinguishing between fair and unfair emotional appeals
Judging how a writer handles opposing views
Exercises: Evaluating arguments
Evaluating arguments
Resources for evaluating arguments
Writing in the disciplines
Finding commonalities across disciplines
Recognizing the questions writers in a discipline ask
Understanding the kinds of evidence writers in a discipline use
Becoming familiar with a discipline’s language conventions
Using a discipline’s preferred citation style
Resources for writing in the disciplines
Style
Parallelism
Quick help: Parallelism
Parallelism: overview
Parallel ideas in a series
Parallel ideas in headings and lists
Parallel ideas in pairs
Parallel ideas with coordinating conjunctions (and, but, etc.)
Parallel ideas with correlative conjunctions (either . . . or, etc.)
Parallel comparisons with than or as
Repeating function words to clarify parallels
Exercises: Parallelism
Identifying parallel structure
Parallelism 1
Parallelism 2
Parallelism 3
Parallelism 4
Needed words
Quick help: Needed words
Complete compound structures
Using that to avoid misreading
Making comparisons logical
Making comparisons complete
Adding articles (a, an, and the) for clarity
Exercises: Needed words
Needed words 1
Needed words 2
Needed words 3
Needed words 4
Resources for needed words
Awkward modifiers
Quick help: Awkward modifiers
Placement of limiting modifiers
Placement of modifying phrases and clauses
Ambiguous modifiers
Awkwardly placed modifiers
Split infinitives
Exercises: Awkward modifiers
Awkward and misplaced modifiers
Misplaced modifiers 1
Misplaced modifiers 2
Misplaced modifiers 3
Resources for fixing awkward modifiers
Dangling modifiers
Quick help: Recognizing dangling modifiers
Quick help: Repairing dangling modifiers
Recognizing dangling modifiers
Repairing dangling modifiers
Exercises: Dangling modifiers
Dangling modifiers 1
Dangling modifiers 2
Dangling modifiers 3
Dangling modifiers 4
Resources for fixing dangling modifiers
Shifts
Quick help: Shifts
Shifts in point of view
Shifts in verb tense
Shifts in verb mood
Shifts in voice
Shifts from indirect to direct questions
Shifts from indirect to direct quotations
Exercises: Shifts
Shifts: person and number
Shifts: tense
Shifts: mood and voice, questions and quotations 1
Shifts: mood and voice, questions and quotations 2
All shifts 1
All shifts 2
Editing for shifts
Mixed constructions
Grammatical structure
Sentence logic
Avoiding is when, is where, and reason . . . is because
Exercises: Mixed Constructions
Mixed constructions 1
Mixed constructions 2
Mixed constructions 3
Mixed constructions 4
Resources for avoiding mixed constructions
Sentence emphasis
Coordination
Ineffective coordination
Subordination
Combining choppy sentences
Ineffective subordination
Special techniques for emphasis
Exercises: Sentence emphasis
Identifying coordination
Identifying subordination
Identifying sentence emphasis 1
Identifying sentence emphasis 2
Combining choppy sentences
Using coordination and subordination 1
Using coordination and subordination 2
Using coordination and subordination 3
Resources for using sentence emphasis
Sentence variety
Varying sentence structures
Varying sentence openings
Inverting word order
Exercises: Sentence variety
Sentence variety
Word Choice
Concise language
Quick help: Concise language
Avoiding redundancy
Avoiding repetition of words
Cutting empty or inflated phrases
Simplifying sentence structure
Reducing modifying phrases and clauses
Exercises: Word choice
Wordy sentences 1
Wordy sentences 2
Wordy sentences 3
Wordy sentences 4
Wordy sentences 5
Resources for concise language
Strong, active verbs
Quick help: Strong, active verbs
Strong, active verbs: Overview
Using the active voice
Appropriate uses of the passive voice
be verbs
Exercises: Strong, active verbs
Identifying active and passive voice
Using active voice
Active vs. passive voice
Active vs. be verbs
Using active verbs
Resources for strong, active verbs
Appropriate language
Quick help: Appropriate language
Avoiding jargon
Avoiding pretentious language
Avoiding euphemisms
Avoiding “doublespeak”
Avoiding slang
Avoiding regional expressions
Observing the distinction between standard and nonstandard English
Using an appropriate level of formality
Recognizing sexist language
Revising sexist language
Avoiding offensive language
Exercises: Appropriate language
Jargon, pretentious language, euphemisms, doublespeak 1
Jargon, pretentious language, euphemisms, doublespeak 2
Sexist language 1
Sexist language 2
Sexist language 3
Resources for appropriate language
Exact language
Quick help: Exact language
Connotation
Specific, concrete nouns
Misused words
Standard idioms
Clichés
Figurative language
Exercises: Exact language
Misused words 1
Misused words 2
Standard idioms 1
Standard idioms 2
Clichés and figures of speech 1
Clichés and figures of speech 2
Resources for exact language
The dictionary
Spelling, word division, and pronunciation
Word endings and grammatical labels
Meanings, word origin, synonyms, and antonyms
Usage labels
Resources for the dictionary
The thesaurus
Grammatical Sentences
Subject-verb agreement
Quick help: Subject-verb agreement
Standard subject-verb combinations
Agreement with subject, not with intervening words
Agreement when subjects are joined with and
Agreement when subjects are joined with or or nor
Agreement with indefinite pronouns
Agreement with collective nouns
Agreement with the number, a number
Agreement with fractions and units of measurement
Agreement when the subject follows the verb
Agreement with subject, not with words following verb
Agreement with antecedents of who, which, and that
Agreement with words such as athletics, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics, measles, and news
Agreement with titles of works, company names, words mentioned as words, and gerund phrases
Exercises: Subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement 1
Subject-verb agreement 2
Subject-verb agreement 3
Subject-verb agreement 4
Resources for subject-verb agreement
Verbs
Quick help: Verbs
Irregular verbs
Past tense vs. past participle of irregular verbs
lie vs. lay
-s verb endings
has, does, doesn’t
-ed verb endings
Omitted verbs
Survey of tenses
Simple tenses
Perfect tenses
Progressive forms
Special uses of tenses
Present tense for general truths
Present tense for writing about literature
Present tense for writing about nonliterary works
Past tense for writing about history
Past or present perfect tense for writing in science or social science
Special uses of the past perfect tense
Sequence of tenses
Subjunctive mood
Forms of the subjunctive
Uses of the subjunctive
Exercises: Verbs
Irregular verbs 1
Irregular verbs 2
Irregular verbs 3
Standard English verb forms 1
Standard English verb forms 2
Standard English verb forms 3
Verb tense and mood 1
Verb tense and mood 2
Verb tense and mood 3
Resources for verbs
Pronouns
Quick help: Pronouns
Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Agreement with indefinite pronouns
Agreement with generic nouns
Agreement with collective nouns
Agreement with compound antecedents
Pronoun reference: Overview
Ambiguous pronoun reference
Implied pronoun reference
Broad reference of this, that, which, and it
Indefinite reference of they, it, or you
Pronoun case: I vs. me, they vs. them, etc.
Subjective case
Objective case
Compound word groups
Appositives
we or us before a noun
Comparisons with than or as
Subjects and objects of infinitives
Possessive case to modify a gerund
who and whom
who and whom in subordinate clauses
who and whom in questions
whom for subjects or objects of infinitives
Exercises: Pronouns
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 1
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 2
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 3
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 4
Pronoun reference 1
Pronoun reference 2
Pronoun reference 3
Pronoun reference 4
Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 1
Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 2
Pronoun case (such as I vs. me) 3
Pronoun case (who and whom) 1
Pronoun case (who and whom) 2
Pronoun case: review 1
Pronoun case: review 2
Resources for pronouns
Adjectives and adverbs
Quick help: Adjectives and adverbs
Adjectives: Overview
Adverbs: Overview
Using adjectives to modify nouns
Using adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs
good vs. well
bad vs. badly
Comparatives and superlatives
Form of comparatives and superlatives
Double comparatives or superlatives
Absolute concepts
Double negatives
Exercises: Adjectives and adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs 1
Adjectives and adverbs 2
Adjectives and adverbs 3
Resources for adjectives and adverbs
Sentence fragments
Quick help: Sentence fragments
Sentence fragments: Overview
Fragmented clauses
Fragmented phrases
Fragmented lists
Fragmented examples
Using fragments deliberately
Exercises: Sentence fragments
Sentence fragments 1
Sentence fragments 2
Sentence fragments 3
Sentence fragments 4
Sentence fragments 5
Resources for sentence fragments
Run-on sentences
Quick help: Run-on sentences
Run-on sentences: Overview
Revising run-on sentences
Fixing run-ons with a comma and a coordinating conjunction
Fixing run-ons with a semicolon, colon, or dash
Fixing run-ons by creating separate sentences
Fixing run-ons by subordination
Exercises: Run-on sentences
Run-on sentences 1
Run-on sentences 2
Run-on sentences 3
Run-on sentences 4
Run-on sentences 5
Run-on sentences 6
Resources for run-on sentences
Multilingual Writers and ESL Challenges
ESL challenges with verbs
Quick help: ESL challenges with verbs
Verb form and tense
Survey of tenses
Simple tenses
Perfect tenses
Progressive forms
Base form after a modal
Forming the passive voice
Negative verb forms
Avoiding double negatives
Verbs in conditional sentences
Tense in factual conditional sentences
Tense in predictive conditional sentences
Tense in speculative conditional sentences
Verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives
Verb + gerund or infinitive
Verb + gerund
Verb + infinitive
Verb + noun or pronoun + infinitive
Exercises: ESL challenges with verbs
Verb forms and tenses 1
Verb forms and tenses 2
Verb forms with modals 1
Verb forms with modals 2
Verbs in negative and conditional sentences
Verbs in conditional sentences
Verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives 1
Verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives 2
Using verbs: review
Resources for ESL challenges with verbs
Sentence structure
Quick help: Sentence structure
Linking verb between a subject and its complement
A subject in every sentence
Avoiding repeated subjects
Avoiding repeated objects or adverbs
Avoiding mixed constructions with although or because
Avoiding adverbs between verbs and objects
Exercises: Sentence structure
Omissions and repetitions 1
Omissions and repetitions 2
Sentence structure 1
Sentence structure 2
Articles
Quick help: Articles
Articles and other noun markers
Types of articles and types of nouns
Using the with most specific common nouns
Using a (or an) with common singular count nouns
Not using a or an with noncount nouns
Not using articles with general nouns
Articles with proper nouns
Exercises: Articles
Using articles 1
Using articles 2
Using articles 3
Articles and types of nouns
Resources for articles
Using adjectives
Quick help: Adjectives
Present participles and past participles used as adjectives
Order of cumulative adjectives
Exercises: Using adjectives
Present vs. past participles 1
Present vs. past participles 2
Using cumulative adjectives 1
Using cumulative adjectives 2
Resources for using adjectives
Prepositions and idiomatic expresssions
Quick help: Prepositions and idiomatic expresssions
Prepositions showing time and place
Using nouns (including -ing forms) after prepositions
Common adjective + preposition combinations
Common verb + preposition combinations
Exercises: Prepositions and idiomatic expressions
Prepositions showing time and place 1
Prepositions showing time and place 2
Punctuation
The comma
Quick help: Commas
The comma: Overview
Comma before a coordinating conjunction
Comma after introductory phrase or clause
Commas with items in a series (list)
Comma between coordinate adjectives
Commas and restrictive and nonrestrictive elements: Overview
Distinguishing between restrictive and nonrestrictive from context
Commas with adjective clauses
Commas with adjective phrases
Commas with appositives
Commas with transitional expressions
Commas to set off absolute phrases
Commas with contrasted elements
Commas with parenthetical expressions and other sentence interrupters
Commas with direct quotations
Commas in dates
Commas in addresses
Commas with personal titles
Commas in numbers
Commas to prevent confusion
Exercises: The comma
Commas with independent clauses and introductory elements 1
Commas with independent clauses and introductory elements 2
Commas with series and with adjectives 1
Commas with series and with adjectives 2
Commas with nonrestrictive elements
Major uses of the comma 1
Major uses of the comma 2
Major uses of the comma 3
Major uses of the comma 4
All uses of the comma
Resources for the comma
Unnecessary commas
Quick help: Unnecessary commas
No comma between some compound elements
No comma between a verb and its subject or object
No comma before the first or after the last item in a series
No comma between cumulative adjectives
No commas to set off restrictive (essential) elements
No commas to set off mildly parenthetical elements
No comma to set off an essential concluding adverb clause
Other unnecessary commas
Exercises: Unnecessary commas
Unnecessary commas
Misuses of the comma 1
Misuses of the comma 2
The semicolon
Quick help: Semicolons
Semicolon between independent clauses
Semicolon with transitional expressions
Semicolons between items in a series
Unnecessary semicolons
Exercises: The semicolon
The semicolon and the comma 1
The semicolon and the comma 2
The semicolon and the comma 3
The semicolon and the comma 4
Resources for the semicolon
The colon
Quick help: Colons
Colon to introduce a list or other concluding element
Colon between independent clauses
Conventional uses of the colon
Unnecessary colons
Exercises: The colon
The colon, the semicolon, and the comma 1
The colon, the semicolon, and the comma 2
The apostrophe
Quick help: Apostrophes
Apostrophe in possessives
When to add -’s to a noun for possessive
When to add only an apostrophe to a noun for possessive
Apostrophe for joint possession
Apostrophe for possessive of compound nouns
Apostrophe with indefinite pronouns
Apostrophe in contractions
Apostrophe: Special cases
Common misuses of the apostrophe
Exercises: The apostrophe
The apostrophe 1
The apostrophe 2
The apostrophe 3
Quotation marks
Quick help: Quotation marks
Quotation marks with direct quotations
Quotation marks in dialogue
Long quotations in academic writing
Quotations within quotations
Quotation marks with titles
Quotation marks with words used as words
Periods and commas with quotation marks
Colons and semicolons with quotation marks
Question marks and exclamation points with quotation marks
Introducing quoted material
Misuses of quotation marks
Exercises: Quotation marks
Quotation marks 1
Quotation marks 2
Quotation marks 3
The period
The question mark
The exclamation point
Exercises: End punctuation
End punctuation
The dash
Parentheses
Brackets
The ellipsis mark
The slash
Exercises: Other punctuation marks
Other punctuation marks 1
Other punctuation marks 2
Mechanics
Spelling
Spelling rules
i before e except after c
Spelling with suffixes (word endings)
Spelling of plurals
American vs. British spelling
Words that sound alike but have different spellings (homophones)
Exercises: Spelling
Spelling
Resources for spelling
Hyphens
Hyphens with compound words
Hyphens with compound modifiers
Hyphens with fractions and compound numbers
Hyphens with prefixes and suffixes
Hyphens to resolve ambiguity
Hyphens to divide words at line endings
Hyphens and URLs
Exercises: Hyphens
The hyphen 1
The hyphen 2
Capitalization
Capitalizing proper nouns
Capitalizing scientific and technical terms
Capitalizing personal titles
Capitalizing titles and subtitles of works
Capitalizing the first word of a sentence
Capitalizing quoted sentences
Capitalizing after a colon
Capitalizing abbreviations
Exercises: Capitalization
Capitalization 1
Capitalization 2
Resources for capitalization
Abbreviations
Abbreviations for titles with proper names
Abbreviations for organizations and other common terms
Abbreviations a.m., p.m., No., and $
Abbreviations for eras
Latin abbreviations
Abbreviations for scientific terms
Misuses of abbreviations
Exercises: Abbreviations
Abbreviations 1
Abbreviations 2
Numbers
Spelling out numbers
Acceptable uses of numerals
Exercises: Numbers
Numbers 1
Numbers 2
Italics
Titles that are italicized
Titles that are not italicized
Italics in electronic documents
Italicizing names of spacecraft, aircraft, and ships
Italicizing non-English words
Italicizing words, letters, and numbers mentioned as themselves
Excessive use of italics
Exercises: Italics
Italics 1
Italics 2
Research
Examples of the research process
Schedule for a research paper
Research questions
Narrow research questions
Challenging research questions
Grounded research questions
Exercises: Research questions
Research questions
Research strategy
Consulting reference librarians
Exploring the library’s home page
Using the library
Sample search strategies
Resources for research strategy
Locating articles
Article (or periodical) databases
Keyword searches
Sample database search
When to use a print index
Resources for locating articles
Locating books
Searching the library catalog
Sample catalog search
Resources for locating books
Researching on the Web
Search engines
Sample advanced Web search
Directories
Digital archives
Government sites
News sites
Discussion forums
Resources for researching on the Web
Other search tools
General reference works
Specialized reference works
Bibliographies and scholarly citations
Field research
Evaluating sources
Functions of sources
Selecting sources
Evaluating catalog search results
Evaluating database search results
Evaluating Web search results
Selecting appropriate versions of electronic sources
Reading sources critically
Primary vs. secondary sources
Detecting bias
Assessing the author’s argument
Evaluating Web sources
Managing information; avoiding plagiarism
Working bibliography
Keeping track of source materials
Taking notes without plagiarizing
Summarizing without plagiarizing
Paraphrasing without plagiarizing
Quotation marks to avoid plagiarizing
Resources for evaluating sources
Documentation style
MLA and APA in-text citations
CMS (Chicago) footnotes or endnotes
Subject-specific style manuals
Highlights of one student’s research process
“How do I begin a research paper?”
“What sources do I need, and where should I look for them?”
“What search terms should I use?”
“How do I select sources from my search results?”
“How do I evaluate my sources?”
“How do I integrate sources into my paper?”
“How do I keep track of and document my sources?”
Resources for highlights of one student’s research process
MLA Papers
MLA papers: Overview
Supporting a thesis
Forming a working thesis
Organizing your evidence
Using sources for different purposes
Using sources to provide background
Using sources to explain terms
Using sources to support claims
Using sources to lend authority
Using sources to counter objections
Exercises: Supporting a thesis
Thesis statements in MLA papers 1
Thesis statements in MLA papers 2
Resources for supporting a thesis
Avoiding plagiarism
Citing common knowledge
Using quotation marks with borrowed language
Summarizing and paraphrasing in your own words
Exercises: Avoiding plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism in MLA papers 1
Avoiding plagiarism in MLA papers 2
Avoiding plagiarism in MLA papers 3
Avoiding plagiarism in MLA papers 4
Avoiding plagiarism in MLA papers 5
Recognizing common knowledge in MLA papers
Integrating sources
Limiting your use of quotations
Using the ellipsis mark to limit quoted material
Using brackets to make quotations clear
Indenting long quotations
Using signal phrases to integrate sources
Marking boundaries between your words and the source’s words
Establishing authority
Introducing summaries and paraphrases
Putting direct quotations in context
Integrating statistics and other facts
Synthesizing sources
Considering how sources relate to your argument
Placing sources in conversation
Exercises: Integrating sources
Integrating sources in MLA papers 1
Integrating sources in MLA papers 2
Integrating sources in MLA papers 3
Integrating sources in MLA papers 4
Resources for integrating sources
Citing sources, MLA style: Overview
MLA in-text citations
General guidelines for in-text citations
Author named in a signal phrase
Author named in parentheses
Author unknown
Work with no page numbers (Web source)
One-page source
How to cite a source with an author or authors
Author named in a signal phrase
Author named in parentheses
Two or three authors
Four or more authors
Authors with the same last name
Two or more works by the same author
Two or more works by different authors
Corporate author
Government agency as author
An entire work
Indirect source (source quoted in another source)
Encyclopedia or dictionary entry
One-page source
Selection in an anthology
Multivolume work
Novel with numbered divisions
Literary work without parts or line numbers
Verse play
Poem
Sacred text
Work with no page numbers (Web source)
Web source with page numbers
How to cite a source with no author
Author unknown
Encyclopedia or dictionary entry
Historical or legal document
Sacred text
Work with no author (Web source)
Web source with page numbers
How to cite a source with page numbers
Book (with author named in a signal phrase)
Book (with author named in parentheses)
Article
Encyclopedia or dictionary entry
Corporate author
Government agency as author
Literary work without parts or line numbers
Selection in an anthology
Multivolume work
One-page source
Web source with page numbers
How to cite a source with no page numbers
Work with no page numbers (Web source)
Work with no page numbers (Web source, author unknown)
Encyclopedia or dictionary entry
An entire work
Historical or legal document
Novel with numbered divisions
Verse play
Poem (with line numbers)
Sacred text
Exercises: MLA in-text citations
MLA documentation: in-text citations 1
MLA documentation: in-text citations 2
MLA documentation: in-text citations 3
Resources for MLA in-text citations
MLA list of works cited
General guidelines for listing authors
Single author
Two or three authors
Four or more authors
Corporate author
Unknown author
Two or more works by the same author
How to cite books
Book (basic format)
Online book
E-book (electronic book)
Book with author and editor
Book with author and translator
Book with editor
Book with a title in its title
Chapter in a book
Graphic narrative or illustrated book
Foreword, introduction, preface, or afterword
Selection in an anthology
Edition other than the first
Multivolume work
Republished book
Book in a series
Publisher’s imprint
Encyclopedia or dictionary entry
Sacred text
Pamphlet
Dissertation (unpublished)
Dissertation (published)
Dissertation (abstract)
Proceedings of a conference
How to cite articles in periodicals
Article (basic format)
Article in a monthly magazine (print)
Article in a weekly magazine (print)
Article in a weekly magazine (online)
Article in a journal (print)
Article in a journal (online)
Article from a database
Article in a newspaper (print)
Article in a newspaper (online)
Editorial in a newspaper
Letter to the editor
Interview (published)
Review
How to cite Web sites and parts of Web sites
Web site (entire)
Web site with author
Web site with corporate (group) author
Web site with author unknown
Web site with editor
Web site with no title
Short work from a Web site
Entire Weblog (blog)
Weblog (blog) entry or comment
Wiki entry
How to cite personal communications
Posting to an online discussion list
Letter (personal)
Interview (personal)
How to cite audio and video sources
CD-ROM
Podcast
Sound recording
Film, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc (BD)
Live performance of a play, ballet, opera, or concert
Interview (radio or television)
Lecture or public address
Musical score
Radio or television program
Online video clip
How to cite government and legal sources
Government publication (print)
Government publication (online)
Historical document
Legislative act
Court case
How to cite graphics
Work of art (original)
Work of art (online)
Cartoon
Advertisement
Map or chart
Exercises: MLA list of works cited
MLA documentation: identifying elements of sources
MLA documentation: works cited 1
MLA documentation: works cited 2
MLA documentation: works cited 3
MLA documentation
Resources for MLA list of works cited
MLA information notes (optional)
MLA research paper format
MLA guidelines, body of paper
MLA guidelines, works cited list
Sample MLA papers
Resources for MLA research paper format
APA Papers
APA papers: Overview
Supporting a thesis
Forming a thesis
Organizing your evidence
Using sources for different purposes
Using sources to provide background
Using sources to explain terms
Using sources to support claims
Using sources to lend authority
Using sources to counter objections
Exercises: Supporting a thesis
Thesis statements in APA papers 1
Thesis statements in APA papers 2
Resources for supporting a thesis
Avoiding plagiarism
Citing common knowledge
Using quotation marks with borrowed language
Summarizing and paraphrasing in your own words
Exercises: Avoiding plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism in APA papers 1
Avoiding plagiarism in APA papers 2
Avoiding plagiarism in APA papers 3
Avoiding plagiarism in APA papers 4
Recognizing common knowledge in APA papers
Integrating sources
Limiting your use of quotations
Using the ellipsis mark to limit quoted material
Using brackets to make quotations clear
Indenting long quotations
Using signal phrases to integrate sources
Marking boundaries between your words and the source’s words
Introducing summaries and paraphrases
Putting direct quotations in context
Integrating statistics and other facts
Synthesizing sources
Considering how sources relate to your argument
Placing sources in conversation
Exercises: Integrating sources
Integrating sources in APA papers 1
Integrating sources in APA papers 2
Integrating sources in APA papers 3
Integrating sources in APA papers 4
Resources for integrating sources
Citing sources, APA style
APA in-text citations
General guidelines for citing authors
Basic format for a quotation (one author)
Basic format for a summary or a paraphrase (two authors)
A work with two authors
A work with three to five authors
A work with six or more authors
Variations on citing authors
Author unknown
Organization as author
Authors with the same last name
Citing multiple works
Two or more works by the same author in the same year
Two or more works in the same parentheses
Citing Web sources
Web source with author
Web source with no author
Web source with no date
Web source with no page numbers
Citing other sources
Personal communication
Indirect source (source quoted in another source)
Exercises: APA in-text citations
APA documentation: in-text citations 1
APA documentation: in-text citations 2
APA documentation: in-text citations 3
Resources for APA in-text citations
APA list of references
General guidelines for listing authors
Single author
Two to seven authors
Eight or more authors
Organization as author
Unknown author
Two or more works by the same author
Two or more works by the same author in the same year
How to cite articles in periodicals
Article in a journal (print)
Article in a magazine
Article in a newspaper
Letter to the editor
Review
Abstract of a journal article
Editorial or other unsigned article
Newsletter article
How to cite books
Basic format for a book
Book with an editor but no author
Book with an author and an editor
Book with a translator
Edition other than the first
Article or chapter in an edited book
Multivolume work
Introduction, preface, foreword, or afterword
Dictionary or other reference work
Article in a reference work
Republished book
Book with a title in its title
How to cite electronic sources
Article from an online periodical
Online book or e-book
Article from a database
Report or long document from a Web site
Short work from a Web site
Chapter or section in a Web document
Blog (Weblog) post
Podcast
Wiki entry
Online posting
Computer program
Document from an organization or a university Web site
Article in an online reference work
Online audio or video file
Article in an online newsletter
Supplemental material published only online
How to cite other sources (print and electronic)
Dissertation
Government document
Report from a private organization
Conference proceedings
Film or video (motion picture)
Television program
Data set or graphic representation
Map, chart, or illustration
Advertisement
Brochure, pamphlet, or fact sheet
Lecture, speech, or address
Work of art or photograph
Sound recording
Published interview
Legal source
Paper presented at a meeting or symposium (unpublished)
Poster session at a conference
Presentation slides
Conference hearing
Exercises: APA list of references
APA documentation: identifying elements of sources
APA documentation: reference list 1
APA documentation: reference list 2
APA documentation: reference list 3
APA documentation
Resources for APA list of references
APA paper format
APA guidelines, body of paper
APA guidelines, reference list
Resources for APA paper format
Chicago (CMS) Papers
Chicago (CMS) papers: Overview
Supporting a thesis
Forming a thesis
Organizing your evidence
Using sources for different purposes
Using sources to provide background
Using sources to explain terms
Using sources to support claims
Using sources to lend authority
Using sources to counter objections
Exercises: Supporting a thesis
Thesis statements in Chicago (CMS) papers 1
Thesis statements in Chicago (CMS) papers 2
Resources for supporting a thesis
Avoiding plagiarism
Citing common knowledge
Using quotation marks with borrowed language
Summarizing and paraphrasing in your own words
Exercises: Avoiding plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism in Chicago (CMS) papers 1
Avoiding plagiarism in Chicago (CMS) papers 2
Avoiding plagiarism in Chicago (CMS) papers 3
Avoiding plagiarism in Chicago (CMS) papers 4
Recognizing common knowledge in Chicago (CMS) papers
Integrating sources
Limiting your use of quotations
Using the ellipsis mark to limit quoted material
Using brackets to make quotations clear
Indenting long quotations
Using signal phrases to integrate sources
Marking boundaries between your words and the source’s words
Introducing summaries and paraphrases
Putting direct quotations in context
Integrating statistics and other facts
Exercises: Integrating sources
Integrating sources in Chicago (CMS) papers 1
Integrating sources in Chicago (CMS) papers 2
Integrating sources in Chicago (CMS) papers 3
Integrating sources in Chicago (CMS) papers 4
Resources for integrating sources
Citing sources, Chicago (CMS) style: Overview
First and subsequent notes for a source
Resources for citing sources, Chicago (CMS) style
Model notes and bibliography entries
How to cite books (print and online)
Basic format for a book (print)
Basic format for a book (online)
Basic format for an e-book (electronic book)
Two or more authors
Unknown author
Edited work without an author
Edited work with an author
Translated work
Edition other than the first
Volume in a multivolume work
Work in an anthology
Letter in a published collection
Work in a series
Encyclopedia or dictionary
Sacred text
Articles in periodicals (print and online)
Journal article (print)
Journal article (online)
Journal article from a database
Magazine article (print)
Magazine article (online)
Magazine article from a database
Newspaper article (print)
Newspaper article (online)
Newspaper article from a database
Unsigned newspaper article
Book review
Web sites and postings
Web site
Short document from a Web site
An entry in a blog (Weblog)
Online posting or e-mail
Other sources (print, online, multimedia)
Government document
Unpublished dissertation
Personal communication
Published or broadcast interview
Podcast
Video or DVD
Sound recording
Source quoted in another source
Exercises: Model notes and bibliography entries
Chicago (CMS) documentation: identifying elements of sources
Chicago (CMS) documentation: notes 1
Chicago (CMS) documentation: notes 2
Chicago (CMS) documentation: notes 3
Chicago (CMS) documentation: bibliography 1
Chicago (CMS) documentation: bibliography 2
Chicago (CMS) documentation: bibliography 3
Chicago documentation
Resources for model notes and bibliography entries
Chicago (CMS) paper format
Chicago guidelines, body of paper
Chicago guidelines, footnotes and endnotes
Chicago guidelines, bibliography
Resources for Chicago (CMS) paper format
CSE Documentation
CSE documentation: Overview
CSE citation-sequence system
CSE citation-name system
CSE name-year system
CSE in-text citations
Basic formatting of CSE in-text citations
Mentioning the author in the text
Referring to a specific part of a source
CSE reference list
How to cite books
Basic format for a book
Two or more authors
Edition other than the first
Article or chapter in an edited volume
How to cite articles
Article in a magazine
Article in a journal
Article in a newspaper
Article with multiple authors
Article with a corporate author
How to cite electronic sources
Home page of a Web site
Short work from a Web site
Online book
Chapter or section in an online book
Article in an online periodical
Work from a database service
Online posting
How to cite other sources (print and online)
Government report
Online government report
Report from a private organization
Online report
Unpublished dissertation or thesis
Online dissertation or thesis
Conference presentation
Online conference presentation
Map
Online map
Audio or video recording
Online audio or video
CSE paper format
CSE guidelines, body of paper
CSE guidelines, reference list
Basic Grammar
Parts of speech
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives and articles
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Interjections
Exercises: Parts of speech
Identifying nouns
Parts of speech: nouns 1
Parts of speech: nouns 2
Identifying pronouns
Parts of speech: pronouns 1
Parts of speech: pronouns 2
Identifying verbs
Parts of speech: verbs 1
Parts of speech: verbs 2
Identifying adjectives and adverbs
Parts of speech: adjectives 1
Parts of speech: adjectives 2
Parts of speech: adverbs 1
Parts of speech: adverbs 2
All parts of speech 1
All parts of speech 2
Resources for parts of speech
Parts of sentences
Subjects
Verbs, objects, and complements
Linking verbs and subject complements
Transitive verbs, objects, and complements
Intransitive verbs
Exercises: Parts of sentences
Identifying complete subjects
Subjects 1
Subjects 2
Subject complements and direct objects 1
Subject complements and direct objects 2
Indirect objects and object complements 1
Indirect objects and object complements 2
All objects and complements
Linking, transitive, and intransitive verbs
Subordinate word groups
Prepositional phrases
Verbal phrases
Appositive phrases
Absolute phrases
Subordinate clauses
Adjective clauses
Adverb clauses
Noun clauses
Exercises: Subordinate word groups
Prepositional phrases 1
Prepositional phrases 2
Prepositional phrases 3
Objects of prepositions
Verbal phrases 1
Verbal phrases 2
Verbal phrases 3
Subordinate clauses 1
Subordinate clauses 2
Subordinate clauses 3
Subjects of subordinate clauses
Phrases and clauses
Resources for subordinate word groups
Sentence types
Sentence structures
Sentence purposes
Exercises: Sentence types
Sentence types 1
Sentence types 2
Glossary Of Usage
Glossary Of Terms
Writing in the Disciplines
Writing in the biological sciences
Forms of writing in biology
Laboratory notebooks
Research papers and laboratory reports
Literature reviews
Research proposals
Poster presentations
Questions biologists ask
Kinds of evidence biologists use
Writing conventions in biology
CSE system for citation in biology writing
Sample student papers: Laboratory report and review of the literature
Writing in business
Forms of writing in business
Business reports
Business proposals
Abstracts and executive summaries
Memos and correspondence
Business presentations
Brochures, newsletters, and Web sites
Questions business writers ask
Kinds of evidence business writers use
Writing conventions in business
APA or Chicago (CMS) system for citation in business writing
Sample student papers: An investigative report and a proposal
Writing in education
Forms of writing in education
Reflective essays, journals, and field notes
Curriculum designs and lesson plans
Reviews of instructional materials
Case studies
Research papers
Self-evaluations
Portfolios
Questions educators ask
Kinds of evidence educators use
Writing conventions in education
APA or Chicago (CMS) system for citation in education writing
Sample student paper: Reflective essay
Writing in history
Forms of writing in history
Critical essays
Book reviews
Research papers
Historiographic essays
Questions historians ask
Kinds of evidence historians use
Writing conventions in history
Chicago (CMS) system for citation in history writing
Sample student paper: Research essay
Writing in nursing
Forms of writing in nursing
Statements of philosophy
Nursing practice papers
Case studies
Research papers
Literature reviews
Experiential or reflective narratives
Position papers
Questions nurses ask
Kinds of evidence nurses use
Writing conventions in nursing
APA system for citation in nursing writing
Sample student paper: Nursing practice paper
Writing in psychology
Forms of writing in psychology
Literature reviews
Research papers
Theoretical papers
Poster presentations
Questions psychologists ask
Kinds of evidence psychologists use
Writing conventions in psychology
APA system for citation in psychology writing
Sample student paper: Literature review
Writing in criminal justice and criminology
Your audience in criminal justice and criminology
Forms of writing in criminal justice and criminology
Research papers
Anaytical papers
Argument or position papers
Investigative and administrative reports
Policy memos
Case briefs and legal briefs
Case plans (or case notes)
Questions criminal justice professionals and criminologists ask
Kinds of evidence criminal justice professionals and criminologists use
Writing conventions in criminal justice and criminology
APA or Chicago (CMS) system for writing in criminal justice and criminology
Sample student paper: Administrative report
Writing in engineering
Your audience in engineering
Forms of writing in engineering
Project notebooks
Laboratory reports
Technical reports
Proposals
Progress reports
Questions engineers ask
Evidence engineers use
Writing conventions in engineering
Chicago (CMS), IEEE, or USGS system for writing in engineering
Sample student paper: Proposal
Writing in music
Your audience in music
Forms of writing in music
Response papers
Program notes
Press releases
Concert reviews
Journal articles
Grant proposals
Questions musicians and musicologists ask
Kinds of evidence musicians and musicologists use
Writing conventions in music
MLA system for writing in music
Sample student paper: Concert review
Writing about Literature
Planning an interpretation of literature
Annotating a literary work
Taking notes on a literary work
Discussing a literary work
Forming an interpretation
Asking questions that lead to an interpretation
Drafting an interpretive thesis
Focusing an interpretive thesis
Outlining an interpretive essay
Writing a literature paper
Drafting an introduction that announces your interpretation
Supporting your interpretation with evidence from the work
Avoiding simple plot summary
Observing the conventions of literature papers
Referring to literary authors, titles, and characters
Using the present tense to describe fictional events
Avoiding shifts in tense when integrating quotations
Avoiding confusion of the work’s author with a narrator, speaker, or character
Integrating quotations from a literary work
Creating a context for quotations
Enclosing embedded quotations in single quotation marks
Using brackets and the ellipsis mark for changes in a quotation
Using MLA style for citing literary works
Citing passages from short stories or novels
Citing lines from poems
Citing lines from plays
Documenting secondary sources
Using MLA style to document secondary sources
Avoiding plagiarism in literature papers
Using quotation marks for borrowed language
Paraphrasing in your own words
Sample literature papers
Exercise: Writing about literature
Thesis statements in literature papers
Academic Resources For ESL And Multilingual Writers
College-level expectations
Reading the syllabus
Understanding the expectations of US classrooms
Participating actively
Class participation
Working in groups
Showing respect for peers
Speaking in English
Attending classes
Getting extra help
Writing centers
Professor’s office hours
Useful Web sites
Improving your academic English
Intensive and extensive language activities
Reading while listening
Using an English-English dictionary or a thesaurus
The Academic Word List
Learning about prefixes and suffixes
Keeping a vocabulary notebook
Keeping an editing log
Targeting areas for improvement
Academic writing and cultural expectations
Asserting your claim before providing evidence
Taking a stand on an issue
Including details that support the main idea
Understanding intellectual property and avoiding plagiarism
Recognizing intellectual property
Avoiding plagiarism by integrating and citing sources
Sample student essay
Practice exercises
Intensive grammar exercises
Topics for writing practice (intensive and extensive)
Instructions for intensive practice (focus on grammar and on writing and editing skills)
Instructions for extensive practice (focus on fluency and speed)
Writing prompts
Strategies For Online Learners
Preparing to learn online
Checking your readiness for online learning
Traditional versus online courses
Asynchronous versus synchronous communication
Becoming familiar with your online course
Navigating the course platform and other technology
Home page or welcome page for the course
Course content units
Discussion forums (asynchronous communication)
Chat rooms, live chat, and instant messaging (synchronous communication)
Course e-mail (personal communication)
Other tools
Becoming familiar with course materials and requirements
Syllabus for an online course
Assignments in an online course
Announcements
Content pages
Course organization
Participating actively in online courses
Setting priorities and managing your time effectively
Using the course calendar and a personal planner to manage your time
Communicating regularly with your instructor and classmates
Making adjustments to increase your motivation and participation
Contributing appropriate content in online courses
Submitting your best work
Communicating courteously and professionally with your instructor and classmates
Dealing with controversial topics
Offering sound advice in peer reviews
Writing with diversity in mind
Writing with permanence and portability in mind
Reading with an open mind
Using the appropriate level of detail and clarity in discussions
Submitting only your own work
Finding extra help
Attending workshops or visiting the computer lab
Using help menus or contacting technical support
Asking your instructor or peers for help with course materials
Visiting your school’s writing center—on campus or online
A brief glossary of online learning terminology
Directory to activities for multimodal projects
Understanding And Composing Multimodal Projects
Introduction to multimodal texts
What does it mean to “read” a text?
What is multimodal composing?
Composing hasn’t changed
Composing has changed
Composing in college
Composing beyond college
A toolkit for analyzing and composing multimodal texts
Analyzing written words
Genre: In what kind of document do the written words appear?
Features: What do the words look like?
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom are the words created?
Meaning: What effect do the words have on the reader?
Analyzing sound
Genre: What kind of sound is it?
Features: Pitch, pace, and volume
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom is the sound created?
Meaning: What effect does sound have on the listener?
Analyzing static images
Genre: What kind of image is it?
Features: Context, perspective, and elements
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom are the images created?
Meaning: What effect does the image have on the viewer?
Analyzing moving images
Genre: What kind of moving image is it?
Features: Perspective, composition, and editing
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom are the moving images created?
Meaning: What effect do the moving images have on the viewer?
Analyzing multimodal texts
Genre: What kind of multimodal text is it?
Features: Which modes are represented? How do they function?
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom is the multimodal text created?
Meaning: What effect does the composition have on the viewer?
Starting your own multimodal project
Getting direction from the assignment
Considering the “So what?” question
Understanding expectations and managing your time
Considering your purpose and audience for a multimodal project
Prewriting with your purpose in mind
Identifying your audience’s needs and perspectives
Connecting with your audience
Recognizing an unintended audience
Planning your multimodal project
Understanding your own composing process
Collaborating effectively with others
Deciding on a main idea
Planning support for your main idea
Choosing a genre; deciding on a delivery method
Managing your multimodal project
Saving all your files in one place
Keeping track of all your files
Using clear, descriptive file names
Keeping track of versions
Organizing your multimodal project
Deciding what type of project you want to create
Using outlines, wireframes, and storyboards
Drafting to support your main idea
Emphasizing important information in your multimodal project
Determining what needs emphasis
Choosing a strategy for creating emphasis
Revising and editing your multimodal project
Seeking and using feedback
Revising and remixing a multimodal composition
Editing a multimodal composition
Integrating and documenting sources in your multimodal project
Understanding why documenting sources is important
Knowing when a citation is needed
Determining how to integrate sources in a multimodal composition
Figuring out how to document sources in a multimodal composition
Presenting or publishing your multimodal project
Options for presenting and publishing multimodal works
Pros and cons of presentation and publications spaces
Making your project accessible and usable