Writing Skills Resources

Below you will find Web resources for students that offer practice in writing in English.

This site contains links to other websites. These links are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information in such site has been endorsed or approved by Seminole State.

Paragraphs

1. Structure of a Paragraph (a sample paragraph and interactive explanation or structure)
   http://english-zone.com/writing/para-strctr.html
2. Structure of a Paragraph Quiz
   http://english-zone.com/writing/strctr-quiz.html
3. Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
   http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html
4. Great Paragraphs (Folse textbook; tutorial quizzes cover the following topics: 1. What is a Paragraph?; 2. Developing Ideas for Writing a Paragraph; 3. The Topic Sentence; 4. Supporting and Concluding Sentences; 5. Paragraph Review; 6. Definition of Paragraphs; 7. Process Analysis Paragraphs; 8. Descriptive Paragraphs; 9. Opinion Paragraphs; 10. Narrative Paragraphs; 11. Paragraphs in an Essay: Putting it All Together)
   http://elt.heinle.com/cgi-telt/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20H&product_isbn_issn=0618271929&discipline_number=301&from_series_id=1000000822&subject_code
5. Writing Tips (reviews paragraph-building ideas)
   http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap
6. Paragraph Song and Lesson (video; offers an easy explanation about how to write paragraphs)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivAvsXeJAqM

Paragraphs/Essays

1. A Guide to Writing a Basic Essay
   http://members.tripod.com/%7Elklivingston/essay/index.html
2. Writing the Five-Paragraph Essay
   http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1437/index.html
3. Homework Center Writing Skills (essays and topics with links)
   http://www.infoplease.com/homework/writingskills1.html
4. Writing Paragraphs, Paragraph Organization, Sentence Order (a list of activities; British)
   http://www.uefap.co.uk/writing/writfram.htm
5. Paragraph a Week (prompts; a yearly writing program designed to give students practice with writing various types of paragraphs)
   http://www.teachersdesk.org/topics/par_week_program.html

Planning Your Writing

1. Writing Planning Guide
   http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/writingguide.html
2. Spatial Organization
   http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/writing_org.html
3. Focusing Your Topic
   http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/writing_focus.html
4. Writing Basics (planning strategies)
   http://www.rism.ac.th/Hs/resources/studyguides/wrtstr1.htm

Planning Your Writing/Graphic Organizers

1. Education Place (graphic organizers; many of them are printable)
   http://eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
2. Graphic Organizers
   http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/index.html
3. Printable Graphic Organizers (reading and writing)
   http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/
4. Scholastic (printable graphic organizers)
   http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/graphicorg/index.htm
5. Discovery School (links to graphic organizer sites)
   http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html#go 

Punctuation/Grammar

1. Web Resources (a list of grammar links)
   http://www.seminolestate.edu/adulted/els/web_resources/grammar.htm
2. Punctuation Chart
   http://www.englishclub.com/writing/punctuation.htm
3. E.L. Easton (writing references)
   http://eleaston.com/writing.html
4. Punctuation References
   http://eleaston.com/writing.html#p
5. A Guide to Grammar and Writing
   http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
6. Grammar Practice (commas, irregular verbs and pronoun agreement)
   http://chompchomp.com/exercises.htm

Reference Sources: Dictionaries, Citation Guides and Bibliography Handbooks

1. APA Style Citation Guide
   http://www.psychwww.com/resource/apacrib.htm
2. Links to MLA Style Resources
   http://www.aresearchguide.com/12biblio.html
3. Dictionary and Thesaurus (with audio)
   http://yourdictionary.com
4. Merriam Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus
   http://www.m-w.com
5. The Free Dictionary by Farlex (with audio)
   http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dictionary.htm
6. MSN Encarta Dictionary (with audio)
   http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx

Sentences

1. Simple, Compound and Complex (an explanation with practice quizzes for non-native speakers of English)
   http://www.eslbee.com/sentences.htm
2. Sentence Song and Lesson (video; offers an easy explanation about four types of sentences)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fTIalGqR4Q&NR=1

Spelling/Rules/Charts/Games

1. The Alphabet and Basic Rules for Alphabetizing (for beginning students)
   http://www.englishclub.com/writing/alphabet-order.htm
2. Hyphenation/Syllables Chart
   http://www.englishclub.com/writing/hyphenation.htm
3. Spelling Patterns (including rules)
   http://eleaston.com/spelling.html#R
4. USSpeller (a free online American spelling tutor and game)
   http://www.usspeller.com/
5. American English Spelling (tips and rules)
   http://www.studygs.net/spelling.htm
6. Catch the Spelling: Practice Your Spelling and Review Vocabulary While Having Fun
   http://www.manythings.org/cts
7. Spelling Rules List
   http://gkestner.com/spellingrules.htm
8. Homeschool Curriculum Spelling Course (rules)
   http://www.splashesfromtheriver.com/spelling/spelling_rules.htm
9. Spelling Rules (rules and links to other sites)
   http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/spelling-rules.html
10. Spelling (rules)
    http://www.angelfire.com/blues/writing/spelling.html
11. The Eight Great Spelling Rules
    http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Eight-Great-Spelling-Rules&id=1845169
12. English Spelling Rules
    http://www.teslcafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1335
13. Spelling Match (for various grade levels)
    http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmsv/smg/
14. Spelling Games
    http://www.kidsspell.com/

Student Writing Resources

1. Student Support Center (Click "English" in the left menu.)
   http://net2.valenciacc.edu/mwhissel/
2. Purdue's Writing Lab
   http://owl.english.purdue.edu/oldindex.html
3. Advice on Academic Writing
   http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html
4. Virtual Writing (great handouts from the Writing Center; includes cover letters, memos, article usage for ESL students, revising prose and more)
   http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/handouts.html
5. Writing Handouts and Materials (an extensive list of links)
   http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index.html
6. Using English for Academic Purposes (British)
   http://www.uefap.co.uk/writing/writfram.htm
7. English Writing for ESL Learners (with links to various topics)
   http://www.englishclub.com/writing/index.htm
8. E.L Easton Reference Resources
   http://eleaston.com/writing.html
9. A List of Grammar and Writing Topics
   http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html
10. The Writing Process: Editing Guide for your Papers (PDF document from Seminole State's Academic Success Center)
    http://www.seminolestate.edu/academicsuccess/media/asc_edit_guide.pdf

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