Webbased Resources for Teaching Writing

1
Web-based Resources for Teaching Writing

• Presented by Leigh Ann Mayfield
• Library Media Teacher
• Rancho San Joaquin Middle School
• Irvine Unified School District
• 2007/2008

2
This workshop will

• Present online resources for teaching writing
• Promote the use of online products to foster
  writing skills
• Provide website links to...
• Tutorials for Writing
• Tools for Writing
• Tips for Writing in General
• Tips for Writing Across the Curriculum

3
William Zinsser, editor, author and teacher
states

• Writing is thinking on paper.
• Writing and learning and thinking are the same
  process.
• Writing is a craft not an art.
• Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no
  accident. Very few sentences come out right the
  first time, or even the third time. Remember this
  in moments of despair. If you find that writing
  is hard, its because it is hard.

4
Input from current students at UCLA

• My teacher in high school taught me the
  three-point essay what are you trying to say,
  how are you going to say it, and why is it
  important. Susie
• The five-paragraph essay is key, I use it and
  expand on it all the time. Val
• Teach how to structure an argument. Samantha
• For every statement or example you need twice as
  much explanation all in your own words.
  Lauren
• Always go back and edit. Lauren
• Avoid redundancy. Lauren
• Why say in 10 words what you could say in 3!
  Lauren
• Write succinctly. Lauren
• Teach transitions, use stronger verbs, switch up
  syntax! All
• Remember V of SS variety of sentence
  structure - Sam

5
Online Teacher Resources

• http//www.webenglishteacher.com/writing.html
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/teachers/index.h
  tml
• http//www.readwritethink.org/resources/index.asp
• http//edsitement.neh.gov/

6
More online teacher resources

• http//teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/index.htm
• http//www.thewritingsite.org/default.asp
• http//writingfix.com/
• http//www.kn.pacbell.com/index.html

7
Even more

• http//www.learner.org/
• http//www.rubrician.com/writing.htm
• http//www.teachnology.com/web_tools/rubrics/writi
  ng/
• http//jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox
  /

8
Online Products

• http//thetraits.org/
• http//www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/langarts/sixtrtcr
  smtrl.htm
• http//www.big6.com/
• http//www.big6.com/kidsshowarticle.php?id311
• http//www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/big6/
• http//www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/TRAITS.HTM
• http//www.noodletools.com/index.php

9
Tutorials

• http//www.aresearchguide.com/
• The goal of this site is to provide all the
  necessary tools for students to conduct research
  and to present their findings.
• http//www.writinglabedge.com/
• Excellent tutorial for the research process!
• http//ksdl.ksbe.edu/writingresource/writingproces
  s.html
• Click on the tabs Types of Writing and MLA Style
  for more tutorials.
• http//staff.esuhsd.org/danielle/English20Departm
  ent20LVillage/CAHSEEEnglish2.html
• Online material designed to support the
  California High School Exit Exam.

10
More tutorials

• http//www.fas.harvard.edu/wricntr/resources.html
  
• Writing tutorials from Harvard University.
• Note Most colleges and universities provide
  online writing tutorials.
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/
  ResearchW/ - Research Paper Tutorial
• http//www.kidinfo.com/Language_Arts/Writing.html
• Links to writing help for students.
• http//www.sdst.org/rguide/
• Excellent online guide for the research process
  from Springfield Township High School.

11
Even more tutorials

• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index.html
• Handouts and materials from OWL.
• http//www.studygs.net/
• Clear and concise tutorials on many subjects.
• http//www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/writing/Writing
  .htm
• An interactive guide from the English Department
  of the University of Calgary. Click on the other
  links in the sidebar for more tutorials.
• http//leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrit
• Another tutorial from a university.
• http//www.infoplease.com/homework/writingskills1.
  html
• Writing skills from Infoplease.
• http//www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas
• Writing help from Time for Kids. Lower level.

12
More kid-friendly tutorials

• http//www.ipl.org/div/aplus/
• http//www.libraryspot.com/features/paperfeature.h
  tm
• http//www.infoplease.com/homework/t2picktopic.htm
  l
• http//www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml

13
Online Tools

• http//arapaho.nsuok.edu/dreveskr/WT.html-ssi
• Multiple links for writing - some dead links but
  still worth checking out!
• http//www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/6-12/T
  ools/Index.htm
• Excellent tools and graphic organizers PDF
  versions.
• http//www.refdesk.com/factdict.html
• Dictionary and language tools for writing
  scroll down for multiple links.

14
More online tools

• http//www.reference.com/browse/all/
• Always click on more
• http//grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
• http//brightmindsnet.com/etypes/5-paragraph_essay
  .php

15
Online Tips

• http//www.bestessaytips.com/
• Excellent links.
• http//coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/writing.html
• The Learning Toolbox from James Madison
  University
• http//www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/index.htm
  l
• Click on Boost Your Skills then Writing Skills.
• http//www.newsdesk.umd.edu/culture/2006/Writing/f
  roshtips.cfm
• From the University of Maryland.
• http//www.bartleby.com/141/index.html
• Online version of The Elements of Style by
  William Strunk, Jr.

16
More online tips

• http//www.pitt.edu/atteberr/comp/tips.html
• An English professors tips to his students!
• http//www.maths.strath.ac.uk/aas96106/tips.html
• 101 Writing Tips too good to miss!

17
Even more I couldnt stop!

• http//lrc.sierracollege.edu/writingcenter/thesis.
  htm
• Thesis development
• http//www.aaps.k12.mi.us/pioneer.english/files/
  thesis_statement.pdf
• Looks like they used the site above to adapt
  (or cut paste)

18
Writing Across the Curriculum

• http//wac.colostate.edu/books/young_teaching/youn
  g_teaching.pdf
• Link to the online version of Teaching Writing
  Across the Curriculum
• http//chnm.gmu.edu/courses/westernciv/writing/wri
  ting_in_history/writing_in_history.html
• The Importance of Writing in History from George
  Mason University
• http//www.thewritingsite.org/resources/curriculum
  /default.asp
• Excellent resource for teaching
• http//www.writingfix.com/Writing_Across_Curriculu
  m.htm
• Excellent ideas

19
Online tools for Writing Across the Curriculum

• Cornell Notes
• http//www.bucks.edu/specpop/Cornl-ex.htm
• http//coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.ht
  ml
• Journaling
• http//www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/SCORE/actbank/tjournal.
  htm
• Double Entry Journal
• http//web54.sd54.k12.il.us/instruct/resource/illi
  nois/materials/dbljrnl.htm
• Note Taking Systems
• http//sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.
  html

20
Online tips for writing across the curriculum

• http//www.how-to-study.com/
• http//www.historyguide.org/guide/guide.html

21
Final online tip

• http//www.shibumi.org/eoti.htm