SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Colons: Rules for Use
This resource discusses four uses of the colon: to signal a list, to signal and emphasize a comment or explanation that follows, to show that a longer quotation is coming, and after a greeting in a business letter. L.9-10.2b Colons
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Semi Colons
This resource discusses two uses of the semicolon and provides examples for each use.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Alliteration
This site fully explores the term "alliteration." Content includes a definition, examples in literature, and a look at why and how it has been used throughout literary history.
University of Richmond
University of Richmond: Writer's Web: How to Make Sentences Clear and Concise
Four simple rules for students to follow when editing sentences to make them more clear and concise. By looking at the use of prepositions, verb choices, active voice, and more, students can learn to improve their sentence writing...
Towson University
Towson University: Online Writing Support: Colon
This entry focuses on the when and how to use a colon including to formally introduce a list, between two independent clauses, before a formal appositive, and between hour and minute / chapter and verse. It includes detailed examples of...
Towson University
Towson University: Online Writing Support: Semicolon
This entry provides the rules for semicolon use and examples of each including between independent clauses without coordinating conjunctions, between independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb, and between items in a series containing...
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Fiction Writing Basics
This resource discusses some terms and techniques that are useful to the beginning and intermediate fiction writer, and to instructors who are teaching fiction at these levels. W.11-12.3a Narratives
Towson University
Towson University: Ows: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Exercise 1
This is a 10-question, self-grading exercise/quiz on revising Comma Splices and Fused Sentences.
Towson University
Towson University: Ows: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Exercise 2
This is a 10-question, self-grading exercise/quiz on revising Comma Splices and Fused Sentences.
Towson University
Towson University: Ows: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Exercise 4
This is a 10-question, self-grading exercise/quiz on revising Comma Splices and Fused Sentences.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Revision Lesson: Re Shaping Narrative Writing
This lesson, inspired by the novel Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes is a fabulous classroom mentor text that helps teach a very powerful revision strategy: rewriting an idea in a completely different genre. Grimes' book shares short...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Between Repeated Lines
In this instructional activity young scholars will write a poem about someone they love after they have brainstormed an original idea.
Get It Write
Get It Write: Using the Colon
Very clear, detailed explanation of the appropriate use of colons in sentences. You will find several examples of both correct and incorrect usage, and a short quiz to test understanding. L.9-10.2b Colons
Other
Roane State Community College: Online Writing Lab (Owl): Creating Outlines
Outlining isn't always an A-B-C, 1-2-3 exercise. Try this more informal system of outlining to organize your paragraphs and entire paper. This page also discusses writing introductions and conclusions.
Other
Indiana Univerisity of Pennsylvania: Writing Center: Descriptive Writing
This website from the Writing Center at Indiana Univerisity of Pennsylvania focuses on descriptive writing. It includes discussion and examples of the following: Creating a dominant impression or mood, using sensory details, using vivid...
University of Sydney (Australia)
The Write Site: Strategies and Exercises for Improvement
This module provides a practice exercise that will help students avoid writing sentence fragments.
Other
Univ. Of Southampton: Wessex Parallel Web Texts: Intro to Traditional Grammar
If the terms of grammar are foreign to you, this is a good basic place to start. Each term is defined with examples and brief commentary.
Other
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Punctuation
This site provides the answers to six frequently asked questions regarding punctuation. For example, "Should I use a comma before AND in a series?" The question "Do commas and periods go inside our outside the closing quotation mark?" is...
Other
University of Bristol Faculty of Arts: Improve Your Writing: Using the Colon
In this exercise, students are given 3 sentences from which they must select the one with the correct usage of the colon. There is also a link for other grammar exercises.
Other
University of Bristol Faculty of Arts: Using the Colon to Improve Style
In this exercise, students are given sentences without a colon; they are asked to retype each sentence using the colon to make it more forceful. The site also offers a link with more grammar exercises.
Other
Illinois State Univ.: Punctuation Made Simple Colons
What purpose does a colon serve in a sentence? Use this website for explanations and examples of colon use.
Other
Ncte: Organizing Your Writing
This PDF article explains five different patterns of organization to help students select an organization that matches the purpose of their writing so that the audience can more easily follow along. The patterns are sequential, spatial,...