W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: The Writing Process: Planning
Tips on planning for the essay once the thesis has been formulated. Use the links on the right for other parts of the writing process. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.5
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: Developing a Definition
Not sure what a definition paper is? This is a great site from the Capital Community College to help you with developing a definition. Includes a sample essay and guiding questions.
Other
Grays Harbor College: Writing Essays: Four Tips
This resource explores four tips for writers: "Center Your Thinking," "Organize Your Thinking," "Specify Your Thoughts," and "Present Your Thoughts Clearly." The information is presented in an easy-to-follow outline with examples given...
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: Paragraph Development
This site from the Capital Community College helps with paragraph development and topic sentences.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: A Significant Influence: Describing an Important Teacher
In this project, young scholars write tributes to teachers who have made a profound difference in their lives then publish their work in a class collection.
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Thesis and Shaping Information
This tutorial on writing essays contains several sections pertaining to the thesis. These include thesis definition, characteristics, analysis of thesis to gather and shape information, and topic sentences. Many examples given. W.9-10.2...
Other
Letter of the Law on William Stafford
Adam Cornell, from Lewis and Clark College, writes an essay on Stafford. In this essay, you can read Stafford's poems "Lost Little Orphans" and "The Summer We Didn't Die."
University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina: Writing Center: Handouts: Evidence
What kinds of evidence best support the points you make in a paper? Where can you find the evidence you need? This handout answers all these questions and more, including the difference between primary and secondary sources. You'll also...
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Shaping Information: Ordering Information and Outlining
Discusses finding a logical order for the ideas you wish to present in your essay. Uses samples to show how changing the position of the topic sentence changes the emphasis. Briefly touches on transitions. Then discusses the outline as...
Other
Tidewater Community College: Book or Article Review or Critique Guidelines
Many students are not sure what type of information to include in a book or article review. This site provides some general guidelines. It covers not only the type of content to be included but also the format.
Other
Glendale College: Structure of the Five Paragraph Essay
This website from the Glendale Community College shows the structure of five paragraph essays and the elements within the paragraphs (motivator, thesis sentence, topic sentence, specific support, reworded thesis, clincher). Gives...
W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: Elements of the Essay: Tone (And Audience)
An explanation about using an appropriate tone for the intended audience of an essay.
W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: Elements of the Essay: Thesis
An explanation and examples of interpretive claims and evaluative claims in a thesis statement. Click on list on the right for more information about elements of the essay.
W. W. Norton
W. W. Norton & Company: Lit Web: The Research Process
Information about the research process including: reference works, bibliography, online and card catalogs, evaluating sources, taking notes, integrating source material into the essay, editing, proofreading, citations, quotations, and more.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Getting an a on an English Paper
Written by a college professor, this site discusses five areas for students to work on to improve their writing. The areas are Thesis, Research, Close Reading, Style, and Mechanics. The author is clear and concise in his advice, and...
Quia
Quia: Santa Barbara City College: Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay [Pdf]
This site provides two graphic organizers. The first graphic organizer provides all parts of a personal essay, of a college essay. The second graphic organizer serves as a planning tool for a student's personal essay. W.9-10.3,3a...
Hanover College
Hanover College: Mary Rowlandson's Captivity Narrative
College essay examines Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative in its historical context and in light of her religious beliefs. Analyzes Rowlandson's view that her captivity was punishment by God for breaking the covenant between God and...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: I Am What I Learn Video Scholarship Essay Contest
This lesson provides students with the opportunity to explore a variety of available scholarships to determine which scholarships may be sources of funding for college. Students will create a video essay which will be used to apply for a...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing for the Sat
This student guide provides insightful information about preparing for and taking the SAT. It explains how the exam is scored, how to approach the essay section, and gives prompts for practicing essay writing. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: Cause and Effect
Capital Community College gives excellent overview, assistance, and examples of using cause and effect in writing and composition.
Other
Hamilton College: Guidelines for Writing an Essay
This resource presents many guidelines here that will be helpful as you write your first draft. Click on the topic you want to know more about and the guidelines will load.
W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: Elements of the Essay: Structure
Click through an overview of how to structure an essay, including the introduction, body, and conclusion. Use the list on the right side to learn all of the elements of an essay.
W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: Elements of the Essay: Evidence
An explanation of how to incorporate evidence into an essay in order to provide support for the thesis.
Other
Idea: Debatabase
The IDEA Debatabase is designed to help high school and college level debaters by providing both pro and con arguments for hundreds of debate topics. These arguments have been prepared by experts in debate, both debaters and judges....