Writing Techniques
Thesis Statements: Every paper needs a thesis. This presentation defines the differences between a thesis statement and a working thesis and gives several tips as to how to develop a strong thesis statement.
Developing an Outline: Outlines help you organize your thoughts, formulate your thesis statement, set out your arguments, and set up how your essay will flow. Some professors will ask for one along with a first draft.
Introductions and Conclusions: The introduction of a paper is one of the most important parts. In order to be successful, a paper needs to have a strong opening and closing. This presentation details how to write a solid introduction and conclusion for an MLA style paper.
Transitions: Switching ideas in the middle of an essay can seriously damage the flow of a paper. Adding transitional phrases or paragraphs helps your paper transition smoothly from one idea to the next .
Using Academic Language: Academic Language is the language used in textbooks, tests, essays and publications. It is the language expected of students in essays to give their papers a professional tone.
Integrating Quotes: Simply dropping in quotes in the middle of a paper weakens it. This presentation details how to introduce quotes in your essay and how to give them greater relevance.
Revising a Draft: After your first draft is finished, it needs a good revision. A first draft should never be handed in for a final grade. This presentation guides you through the revision process to strengthen any paper.
Proofreading: This presentation acts as a tool to help you learn to proofread your own work, including common spelling and grammatical errors.
Editing: Editing is a key part of the revision process. This presentation demonstrates how to reduce extraneous information, including wordiness.
Documentation Styles
MLA vs. APA: Provides a point by point discussion of the main differences between MLA and APA styled papers. This helps students who have never written in one or the other styles.
APA Format: Introduces the basic format of an APA styled paper from beginning to end.
Research, Quoting, Citing, and Paraphrasing
Research Techniques: Provides a guide to conducting research online and in the library as well as how to identify credible sources.
Annotated Bibliography: Discusses the purposes of writing an annotated bibliography and shows how one can be drafted. Covers both APA and MLA annotations.
Quoting, Citing and Paraphrasing: Details how to properly cite sources in order to avoid plagiarism and the differences between quoting and paraphrasing.
The Literary Analysis Essay
Literary Analysis: Gives an in-depth look at how a literary analysis essay should be written. This presentation clearly defines the differences between summarizing a topic or work and analyzing it and finding a deeper meaning.
Grammar and Mechanics
Run-ons and Fragments: Teaches basic sentence structure as well as how to avoid run-ons and fragments.
Semicolon vs. Colon: Identifies the differences between colons and semicolons and in which instances they should be used.
Prepositions: Gives a basic definition of prepositions and some 'rules' governing their use. Provides a basic list of the most common prepositions and how to create a prepositional phrase.
Passive Voice: Provides a detailed look at the passive voice, how to identify it, and in which instances passive voice can be an advantage.
