Need help writing an essay?

 

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I once asked one of my former professors at Austin Peay State University, "If you compiled a 'wish list' for your students coming into your classes, what things would you want to students to be at least proficient in?" 

This was his response:  "It may sound too basic, but effective reading and writing are at the top of my list.  The reading part requires focus and understanding.  The writing part requires knowledge of the rules of grammar, logic, and composition."  This statement comes from Dr. Dewey A. Browder, Professor and Chair of the Department of History and Philosophy at Austin Peay State University. 

So you want to go to college?   Here's a great way to prepare not only for college but for those upper level high school courses where you'll need good reading and writing skills!

This section provides helpful resources and links to make you a better writer!  Thanks to Mr. Logsdon for providing his outline example which is an excellent place to start!  Grammar is also very important!  Go to http://grammar.ccc..commnet.edu/grammar/ for an excellent online source if in doubt! 

Were you aware that the MLA style changed in 2009? (thanks, Mr. Roberts for bringing it to our attention)  In order that we all be consistent on these changes, he has provided a great link that you should use each time you write a research paper:

  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

According to Mr. Roberts, "....many MLA helps / "Works Cited" generators online are still working with the old style because they haven't been updated.  It is important to stress this fact to your students as they work on research."

So you may ask, "What is a thesis statement?"  Click on the previous link to a great website to get the answer as well as some other helpful resources.

Sometime along the way, you'll hear the term plagiarism.  What is it and how do you avoid it?  Click on the previous link to give you a definition as well as examples of plagiarized materials.  It even gives you some practice paragraphs of original works to try out for yourself!

Finally, here's another website that gives you some information called "Six Traits + 1".    You may have seen posters like this in our classrooms.  Check it out and see how this can help you improve your writing skills!