FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
"If you cannot write well, you cannot think well, and if you cannot
think well, others will do your thinking for you."
George Orwell
Index of Resources
General Grammar Practice
Reading Comprehension
Public Speaking
ESL Help Online
Parts of Speech
Parts of Speech Poem
Information on Parts of Speech
Parts of Speech Interactive Quizzes
Adjectives and Adverbs
Prepositions
Pronouns
Grammar and Spelling
Verb Tenses
Punctuation
Spelling
Subject/Verb Agreement
Misplaced Modifiers
Sentences
Sentence Composition
Parallel Structure
Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Coordination and Subordination
Paragraphs
Paragraph and Essay Writing
Writing Paragraphs
Editing Paragraphs
Paragraphs Outline (Beginner)
Paragraph Plan (Advanced)
Paragraph Writing Exercise
Self-Assessment Checklist for Paragraphs
Essays and Other Formal Writing
Business Writing
Essay Writing
Types of Essays
Writing Summaries
Writing Critiques
Writing about Literature
Documentation
MLA
APA
Chicago Style
Polishing
Avoiding Plagiarism
Editing and Proofreading
Logic in Argumentative Writing
Transitional Words and Phrases
General Grammar Practice
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
The Capital Community College (Hartford, CT) website by Dr. John Darling gives wonderful
Grammar/Punctuation practice. He gives Instruction (including brief power points for many
areas + marvelous longer, more in-depth power point presentations on clauses, commas,
avoiding sentence fragments, semi-colons, s/vb. Agreement, spelling, apostrophe, capitalization,
parts of speech, basic structure of paragraph, and basic parts of a sentence.
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/grammar_topics.php
Here is an outstanding grammar site that gives in-depth explanations for a vast variety of
grammar questions. Good test website as well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english
The BBC provides information a variety of English topics in flowchart format. Major topics covered
are reading, writing, spelling, word grammar, sentence grammar, and speaking and listening.
www.towson.edu/ows/indexexercises.htm
This website by Peggy Benner at Towson Education gives great online exercises for grammar,
punctuation, etc.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm
These interactive grammar quizzes from Capital Community College are quite good to check the
student’s understanding of various grammar issues.
http://www.townsendpress.net/class/exercises (Simply click on a textbook to view
and do its exercises!)
Townsend Press online exercises will test individual understanding of various reading skills such
as Main Idea, Supporting Details, Sequence of Ideas, and much more, including reading
comprehension.
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/subverag.html
Literacy Education Online has good explanation of Subject/Vb. Agreement.
Transitional Words and Phrases
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
This page provides a list of transitional words and phrases.
Sentence Composition
http://owlet.letu.edu/grammarlinks/sentence/sentence3.html
This shows how to combine sentences through coordination and subordination.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_sentclar.html
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) shows how to improve sentence clarity.
Reading Comprehension
http://www.townsendpress.net/class/exercises (Simply click on a textbook to view
and do its exercises!)
Townsend Press online exercises will test individual understanding of various reading skills such
as Main Idea, Supporting Details, Sequence of Ideas, and much more, including reading
comprehension
Punctuation
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_apost.html
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) website explains the use of the apostrophe.
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/comma.html
University of Ottawa (Canada) has excellent explanation regarding comma usage.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Public Speaking
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek4/speech.htm
Kennesaw State University has good explanation of various elements of public speaking.
http://www.kent.edu/ucm/marketingguide/speeches/practical-tips.cfm
Kent State University gives excellent information on writing and presenting speeches.
http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/
This website contains six modules that you can use to learn about the process of public speaking
and to help you prepare your speeches.
http://www.ljlseminars.com/monthtip.htm
Nationally known speaker Lenny Laskowski offers monthly tips on becoming a better public
speaker. A free monthly E-Zine subscription is also available.
http://www.hawaii.edu/mauispeech/html/infotopichelp.html
This site will assist you in choosing topics for your speeches.
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/speakers/speechwrite.htm
Mr. Mahavir Mohnot, with his 21 years managerial and 10 years training experience, offers
60+online rapid read tips to be effective in public speaking.
http://www.speechtips.com/
This site is a free guide to speech writing and delivery for every occasion.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://www.public-speaking.org/
Public speaking – be the best you can be. Choose from 20 categories and over 100 individual
articles to make it happen.
http://www.school-for-champions.com/speaking.htm
This site, sponsored by the School for Champions ™, offers many tips and guidelines to improve
your public speaking.
ESL Help Online
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/esl/eslart.html
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) gives good explanation of when and how to use
Articles.
http://www.edufind.com/english/englishtests/index.cfm
This websites contains interactive English language tests and games.
Documentation
MLA
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) online guide to MLA formatting
http://easybib.com/
This is an incredible (and free) template site for MLA. Just punch in your source’s information
and you’re ready to go!
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
APA
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) explanation of APA formatting
http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/index.htm?__utma=185732729.17675374
45.1334267091.1334267091.1340060400.2&__utmb=185732729.10.10.1340060
400&__utmc=185732729&__utmx=&__utmz=185732729.1340060400.2.2.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcm
d=organic|utmctr=apa&__utmv=-&__utmk=151023801
This is an APA tutorial presentation by the American Psychological Association itself. This is
great if you are completely unfamiliar with APA and need a quick overview. Note that it has
optional audio.
Chicago Style
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
Chicago Manual of Style online resource explains how to format/cite their way.
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch10_s1-0007.html
Bedford/St. Martins gives a Sample Student paper, with explanations in the margins – quite
helpful!
Business Writing
Resumes, Cover Letters and Letters of Acceptance:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/681/01/
Online Writing Lab gives information on Workplace Writing.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/36957.html
The College Board gives information to students on how to write an effective resume.
Essay Writing
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Thesis.html
Writing Centre (University of Wisconsin-Madison) gives information on how to write an
effective Thesis Statement.
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Structure.html
Harvard University has excellent material on Essay Structure!
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/grammar.sht
ml
Dartmouth Writing Program online information on good writing – excellent!
http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/
This is well-written information on how to construct a typical 5 paragraph essay.
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/studentservices/disability/learningsupport/effective-learning/essay-writing.aspx
Read University of Birmingham, England’s explanation of the proper way of writing a good
essay. This is an interesting explanation of the process!
http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/essay/index.htm
This website gives good information on Parts of an Essay, How to Write an Essay, as well as
Kinds of Essays.
Types of Essays
http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/Types.html
Online Writing Lab of Roane State Community College has good information on how to write
various types of essays.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html
Literacy Education Online discusses how to write Compare and Contrast essays.
http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/writing/essays-guides/default.asp
Bellevue College writing lab has good information on types of essays. It also provides some
sentence structure help.
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/process.html
Literacy Education Online explains how to write a Process essay.
Writing Summaries
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/standsum/
Colorado State University explains how to write a Summary.
Writing Critiques
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/book-review
University of Toronto (Canada) explains how to write an article critique or a book review.
Writing about Literature
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/618/01/
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) explains how to write about literature.
Avoiding Plagiarism
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) explains how to avoid plagiarism.
Editing and Proofreading
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/01/
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) explains how to edit and proofread effectively.
Logic in Argumentative Writing
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/01/
Online Writing Lab (Purdue University) explains how to use logic in argumentative writing.
Parts of Speech Poem
Three little words you often see
Are articles – an, a, and the.
A noun is the name of anything,
As school or garden, hoop or swing.
Adjectives tell the kind of noun,
As great, small, pretty, white or brown.
Instead of nouns the pronouns stand –
Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.
Verbs tell of something being done –
To read, count, laugh, sing, jump or run.
How things are done the adverbs tell,
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
As slowly, quickly, ill or well.
Conjunctions join the words together,
As men and women, wind or weather.
The prepositions stand before a noun,
As in or through the door.
The interjections show surprise,
As Oh! How pretty! Ah! How wise!
The whole are called the nine parts of speech.
Which reading, writing, speaking teach.
-Green Baker
A Freedmen’s School, 1865
Information on Parts of Speech
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/parts.htm
This website from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada gives important
information, as well as interactive exercises concerning parts of speech.
http://www.quia.com/jg/65832.html
This website is composed of games one can play in order to learn and identify the parts of
speech. You will particularly enjoy the Matching game, Concentration game, and the Word
Search.
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/partsp.html
This website contains material on each of the individual parts of speech as well as a Review of
the parts of speech.
http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/index.html
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Interactive quiz on Parts of Speech (50 questions) from Utah Valley University. Take this quiz
and test your understanding! Also, you will find games to help you learn!
Parts of Speech Interactive Quizzes
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/rvpartsp.html
University of Ottawa, Canada has outstanding interactive Review of Parts of Speech.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt/parts.pps
Capital Community College has this wonderful power point presentation on Parts of Speech.
http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos.htm
Interlink Language Center information and quizzes on both individual parts of speech as well as
an overall quiz on all the parts of speech.
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/rvpartsp.html
Interactive quiz on parts of speech.
Adjectives and Adverbs
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/speech/1_4e.htm
University of Calgary, Canada practice helps one distinguish between adjectives and adverbs.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/adverbs/xadvb1.htm
Information and practice exercise on adjectives and adverbs.
http://www.slidermath.com/literacy/Adverb.shtml
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
English grammar and literacy website that helps students learn the difference between adjectives
and adverbs. Read the information, play the game, and learn!
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/adjectives_and_adverbs_1.asp
Take this quiz from The Blue Book of Grammar and see how well you do!
Prepositions
http://langues.cmaisonneuve.qc.ca/clakoff/GRAMMAR%20LINKS/prepositio
ns.html
Good website for Prepositions practice!
http://www.grammaruntied.com/prepositions/prepositions.html
The Tongue Untied (Prepositions Practice)
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/speech/1_5a.htm
University of Calgary, Canada information on exactly what is a preposition, as well as what is
the object of the preposition.
http://www.english-in-chester.co.uk/stayintouch/prepositions-englishlanguage-practice_22.html
Stay in Touch website from the United Kingdom giving several exercises so that you may
“practice” prepositions.
Pronouns
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns1.htm
Good information on exactly what is meant by pronoun and antecedent agreement.
At the bottom of this page, there are links to 2 quizzes.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_pronuse.html
Good explanation of what pronouns are and what they do.
http://iteslj.org/cw/1/vm-pron.html
Pronoun crossword puzzle – fun!
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/usepronn.html
This provides information on “how to use pronouns.” Good website!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/pronoun_quiz.htm
Quiz on pronoun usage.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/pron2_quiz.htm
Quiz on pronoun forms.
http://english.acadiau.ca/tl_files/sites/english/resources/4UnclearPronounRef.pdf
Acadiau University in Canada website gives excellent information to help you understand pronoun
reference.
Parallel Structure
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_parallel.html
This gives the rules and explanation as to exactly what is meant by “parallel structure” in
writing.
http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/writing/essaysguides/documents/parallelism.pdf
Good information from Bellevue Community College on rules and explanation of parallel
structure in writing.
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/parallelism.html
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Literacy Education Online has excellent information regarding parallelism.
http://users.humboldt.edu/tduckart/ParallelStructure.htm
Good explanation of what “parallel structure” truly is.
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/parstruc.html
The University of Richmond’s explanation of parallel structure is one of the best explanations I
have ever seen.
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/parallel_exercise.htm
Big Dog Grammar website on Parallel Structure gives good Practice Exercise to test one’s
understanding of this concept!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgishl/quiz.pl/parallelism_quiz.ht
m
Capital Community College gives an excellent Quiz on Parallel Structure.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/parallelism.htm
Capital Community College gives a link in this website (Parallel Form) to Lincoln’s Gettysburg
Address. Click on it and notice the tremendous use of parallel structure in this historical
document!
Verb Tenses
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_tensec.html
This gives a good explanation of the rules regarding verb tense.
http://ec.hku.hk/epc/interviews/verb_tenses.htm
University of Hong Kong website gives an unusual practice for verb tense!
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs29practicetest.htm
This is a Verb tense practice. Take this and see how well you do!
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs30finaltest.htm
Test on Verb Tenses. Take this and test your understanding!
Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgishl/quiz.pl/fragments_add1.ht
m
Sentence Fragments: Practice Exercise l
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgishl/quiz.pl/fragments_add2.ht
m
Sentence Fragments: Practice Exercise 2.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgishl/quiz.pl/fragments_add3.ht
m
Sentence Fragments: Practice Exercise 3.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/run-ons_add1.htm
Avoiding Run-on Sentences: Practice Exercise 1.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/run-ons_add2.htm
Avoiding Run-on Sentences: Practice Exercise 2. This is yet another practice to see if you
understand the concept of Run-on sentences.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Outstanding site for power point presentations on: Avoiding Sentence Fragments,
Spelling
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm
Capital Community College has a marvelous power point presentation on spelling and its rules.
View and learn!
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/humanities/english/spelling_bee.html
Spelling Bee fun quizzes. Take some of these and see how well you spell!
http://www.quiz-tree.com/English_Spelling_main.html
Quiz Tree educational website for practicing your spelling.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm
This is the Capital Community College list of Interactive Quizzes. Take several of the ones on
Spelling (133-142) and check your understanding.
Coordination and Subordination
http://owlet.letu.edu/grammarlinks/sentence/sentence3.html
Good information on exactly what is meant by coordination and subordination. Also, has
interactive quiz to show if you understand these concepts! This website explains (and shows)
how you can improve your writing through the use of coordination and subordination.
Subject/Verb Agreement
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/subverag.html
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
This is excellent information from Literacy Education Online from St. Cloud State University
regarding Subject/Verb Agreement. This will help with your understanding of exactly what is
meant by “subjects and verbs agreeing with each other”.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslsubverb.html
This is another outstanding website that will help you “understand” what subject and verb
agreement means!
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/agreement_sv.htm
This Big Dog Grammar website is another good tool to help with your comprehension of
subject/verb agreement.
Reading Comprehension
http://www.majortests.com/sat/reading-comprehension.php
SAT Practice tests for reading comprehension skills, grammar, math, and essay writing.
http://www.testprepreview.com/act_practice.htm
(ACT online course, Practice Tests for Math, Grammar, Reading Skills, Essay Writing, plus
Self-Improvement Link Directory for numerous tests)
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/bedhandbook7enew/ch08/clast4.pdf
Practice with CLAST-type tests. This is from Bedford-St. Martin’s Publishers.
http://www.gallaudet.edu/englishworks.xml
(This contains great information from Gallaudet University English Tutoring and Writing Center
website for Traditional Reading Practice. Here you may practice the various skills you need to
identify for reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary.)
http://www.daltonstate.edu/writing-lab/practice-exercises-for-readingclasses/implied_main_idea1.htm
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Dalton State University gives great online practice for determining Main Idea and Supporting
Details
Paragraph and Essay Writing
Prewriting Paragraphs
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/prewrite.htm
What is the prewriting stage?
The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your ideas for your paragraph
before you begin writing.
Six Prewriting Steps:
1. Think carefully about what you are going to write. Ask yourself: What question am I going to
answer in this paragraph or essay? How can I best answer this question? What is the most
important part of my answer? How can I make an introductory sentence (or thesis statement)
from the most important part of my answer? What facts or ideas can I use to support my
introductory sentence? How can I make this paragraph or essay interesting? Do I need more facts
on this topic? Where can I find more facts on this topic?
2. Open your notebook. Write out your answers to the above questions. You do not need to spend
a lot of time doing this; just write enough to help you remember why and how you are going to
write your paragraph or essay.
3. Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic. Look for and write down facts that will
help you to answer your question. Timesaving hint: make sure the facts you are writing are
related to the exact question you are going to answer in your paragraph or essay.
4. Write down your own ideas. Ask yourself: What else do I want to say about this topic? Why
should people be interested in this topic? Why is this topic important?
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
5. Find the main idea of your paragraph or essay. Choose the most important point you are going
to present. If you cannot decide which point is the most important, just choose one point and
stick to it throughout your paragraph or essay.
6. Organize your facts and ideas in a way that develops your main idea. Once you have chosen
the most important point of your paragraph or essay, you must find the best way to tell your
reader about it. Look at the facts you have written. Look at your own ideas on the topic. Decide
which facts and ideas will best support the main idea of your paragraph. Once you have chosen
the facts and ideas you plan to use, ask yourself which order to put them in the paragraph. Write
down your own note set that you can use to guide yourself as you write your paragraph or essay.
Writing Paragraphs
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/paragraphs/
University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill has excellent information on paragraph writing!
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/index.htm
Step-by-step information on how to write an effective paragraph!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/writing%20process/writingprocess.htm
This is a wonderful website that explains the various steps of the writing process. Learn the
history of writing, the writing process, forms of writing, information on different languages, and
rules of punctuation. Go to this website, follow along, and see what makes the writing process
happen!
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/paragrph.html
Here you will find thorough information on every aspect of writing good paragraphs.
http://www.wlu.ca/forms/917/Paragraph_Writing_1.pdf
Good explanation from Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada) of various aspects of “the paragraph”
– topic sentence, supporting details, transitions and conclusion.
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/paragrph.html
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
The Writing Center gives excellent information on how to write a good paragraph. Read and
learn!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ppt/paragraph.pps
View this wonderful power point presentation from Capital Community College regarding The
Paragraph (what and how to properly write one!)
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/write.htm
What is the writing stage?
The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.
Five Writing Steps:
1. Open your notebook and word processor.
2. Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence.
3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.
4. Focus on the main idea of your paragraph.
5. Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your ideas.
Editing Paragraphs
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/edit.htm
What is the editing stage?
The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them.
Grammar and Spelling
1. Check your spelling.
2. Check your grammar.
3. Read your essay again.
4. Make sure each sentence has a subject.
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
5. See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other.
6. Check the verb tenses of each sentence.
7. Make sure that each sentence makes sense.
Style and Organization
1. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence.
2. Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea.
3. Make sure you have a closing sentence.
4. Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea.
5. See if your paragraph is interesting.
Paragraph Outline (Beginner)
Kirzner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Writing First. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s
P, 2009. Print.
Topic Sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
Supporting Sentence #l:
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________.
Supporting Sentence #2:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________.
Supporting Sentence #3:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________.
Concluding Sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________.
Paragraph Plan (Advanced)
General Topic:___________________________________________________________
Focused Topic:_________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence:__________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Primary
Support A: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Detail l:__________________________________________________________
Detail 2:__________________________________________________________
Detail 3:__________________________________________________________
Primary
Support B:______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Detail 1:__________________________________________________________
Detail 2:__________________________________________________________
Detail 3:__________________________________________________________
Primary
Support C:_____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Primary
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
Support D:_____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Detail 1:_________________________________________________________
Detail 2:__________________________________________________________
Detail 3:__________________________________________________________
Conclusion:_____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Paragraph Writing Exercise
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/Paragraph%20Writing%20Exercises.
htm
This is a series of steps in a Paragraph Writing Exercise. Please go to this website, follow each
step, and see what you can do.
Self-Assessment Checklist for Paragraphs
Kirzner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Writing First. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s P, 2009. Print.
o Have you stated your main idea clearly in your topic sentence?
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FSCJ Kent Campus Writing Resources
o Do you have enough points to support your paragraph’s main idea, or do you need to
look back at your notes or try another strategy to find additional supporting material?
o Do you need to explain anything more fully or more clearly?
o Do you need to add more examples or details?
o Should you cross out any examples or details?
o Does every sentence say what you mean?
o Can you combine any sentences to make your writing smoother?
o Should you move any sentences?
o Are all your word necessary, or can you cut some?
o Should you change any words?
o Does your paragraph end with a sentence that sums up its main idea?
Misplaced Modifiers
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/modifiers.html
Good information for Literacy Education Online regarding what misplaced modifiers are! Read
and learn!
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/misplaced.htm
This is Big Dog Grammar’s explanation of misplaced modifiers. Take the Self-Test to check
your understanding, please.
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/msplmod.html
University of Ottawa information of what it means to “have misplaced modifiers”.
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/mismod.html
University of Richmond’s website gives an outstanding explanation of what misplaced modifiers
really are.
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ows/moduleDangling.htm
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Towson Education has good material to explain what a misplaced modifier is. Built into this
material are several Practice Exercises.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/modifier_quiz.htm
Quiz on misplaced modifiers. Take this and see how far you have come in your understanding!
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