Tutorials and Helpful Information

HANDOUTS FROM MTSU’S WRITING CENTER Here you’ll find a wealth of handouts from our friends at the University Writing Center at Middle Tennessee State University, covering:

Grammar

Punctuation

Writing

Writing in the Disciplines

Research and Documentation

Speech

Miscellaneous

 

 

GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS

Here, you’ll find exercises and helpful info on some of the most common trouble areas in student writing. All of the information under this heading is borrowed from Purdue University’s OWL (Online Writing Lab). Peruse the OWL site further for help with virtually any aspect of writing and research. 

COMMAS

Exercises I

Exercises II

Exercises III

Commas with Nonessential Elements Exercise

OVERVIEW OF COMMA USE RULES (a great, comprehensive review that just might cure you of some misunderstanding or bad habits)

APOSTROPHES ( They may get no respect in text messaging, but make sure you use them—-and use them correctly—-in your writing, whether causal, academic, or professional.)

Apostrophe Exercise

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

Fragments Exercise I

Fragments Exercise II

Fragments Exercise III

OVERVIEW OF SENTENCE FRAGMENTSWHY THEY HAPPEN AND HOW TO FIX THEM

ELIMINATING WORDINESS IN YOUR SENTENCES

3 Fabulous Rules for Eliminating Wordiness in Your Sentences (So helpful!)

Eliminating Wordiness Exercise I

Eliminating Wordiness Exercise II

QUOTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING (If you’re using sources in your writing, you need to review this. No question.)

OVERVIEW OF QUOTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING

More on paraphrasing

Writing About Literature

Writing about Literature Diagram

 

Researching the Paper and Citing Your Sources

Frightened by MLA format? Don’t be. Writing an MLA-style paper is as simple as figuring out what kind of sources you’re using, looking up the correct citation and Works Cited entry format for those sources, and then formatting your citations and Works Cited list accordingly. Just follow the template. You can find all the info you need on MLA format at these sites (among others):

MLA Formatting and Style Guide (from Purdue’s OWL)

MLA Citation Style Guide (color coded for easy use! from Long Island University)

ALSO SEE: Links to citation-creating online tools on the Watkins Writing Center’s homepage

 

Creating Effective Search Strategies

Evaluating Online Sources

Evaluating Sources

Citing Online Resources

Citing and Plagiarism

Citing a Print Image

How to Research


Now it’s time to Write

Writing the Paper — Choosing a Topic

What is a Research Paper?

How to Put it All Together and on Paper

10 Simple Steps to a Bad Ass Essay


Abstracts and Annotated Bibliographies

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography : Note: This tutorial covers Annotated Bibliographies and Critical Analysis of Sources, both print and online.