Lesson 3: Prewriting, Outline, Annotated Bib
GETTING STARTED
Lesson 1
Purpose and Audience
The first task is to choose what you will write. Whatever writing assignment you choose should be a minimum of three pages double spaced and a maximum of five pages. You should use a title page to begin and a reference list on the last page.
Review the following list of web resources to learn more about writing for specific purposes and audiences. After reviewing the resources, choose the type of paper you will write for this tutorial.
If you are using this tutorial as part of a class, you should write your first academic paper for your class using the steps in this tutorial.
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Lesson 2
Researching the Topic
Now that you have chosen the topic for this paper, it is time to proceed with the research for your topic. Review the web resources linked here for tips about how to conduct effective online research.
WRITING THE DRAFT
Lesson 3
Pre-Writing, Outline, Annotated Bibliography
The first step in writing the draft of your paper is writing an outline of your paper and organizing your research. When preparing the research to include in your paper, you should write an annotated bibliography that includes short notes on the source as well as the proper documentation format (MLA or APA, which is covered in another lesson). Once the outline and annotated bibliography are complete, then you will be ready to write the first draft of your paper.
Lesson 4
Writing Style and Structure
Once the outline and annotated bibliography are complete, then you will be ready to write the first draft of your paper. It is at this stage of your writing that you should pay particular attention to the writing style, structure of sentences and paragraphs, and grammar and spelling. The web resource links provide information on all these topics.
Strategies for Writing Introductions
Strategies for Writing Conclusions
Strategies for Paragraphs and Sentences
Lesson 5
Grammar and Spelling
Grammar and spelling can make or break your paper. These days, most people write on a computer and use grammar check and spell check. However, be forwarned that even with these two very handy technology tools, you still need to understand and be able to use standard English grammar and spelling. These are some general web resources for grammar and spelling. More grammar resources are included in the Proofreading and Editing lesson.
Lesson 6
APA Style Guidelines
The most comprehensive and up-to-date guidelines are on the
EDITING AND WRITING THE FINAL PAPER
Lesson 7
Proofreading and Editing
Now that you have completed writing and documenting resources, it is time to proofread and edit your work. Most people begin with a quick computer Spell Check and Grammar Check. Be sure to set your Grammar Check on Academic or Formal Writing and also make sure you have check Grammar and Style under the options (rather than Grammar Only). The follow with a thorough, visual proofreading.
Lesson 8
What Is It? How Do I Avoid It?
Plagiarism happens in two forms: intentional and unintentional. Generally and simply, plagiarism is using someone else's thoughts or words without giving due credit to the original author or creator. When people do not understand how to conduct proper research or how to cite sources properly, there is a tendency to copy words directly or paraphrase without crediting the original source. While ignorance due to lack of education often results in unintentional plagiarism, it is still a copyright violation and a very serious academic honesty offense.
Intentional plagiarism needs no explanation. When someone copies another's work for the purpose of using it as his/her own, it is rarely an unintentional act and is more commonly known as cheating.
In order to understand the definition of plagiarism and the many forms it can take, as well as ways to avoid unintentional plagiarizing of others' work, review the linked web resources.
People write for many reasons: creative writing, scholarly writing, business and technical writing, to name just a few. We learn how to write at very young ages and we continue to write all through school and then in our jobs and careers. People communicate every day through writing.
It is important to know how to communicate effectively when writing. This includes grammar, sentence structure, spelling, choosing the most effective words to convey meaning, and proofreading to ensure the quality of the intended message.
In this tutorial, we will cover the writing process from beginning to end. You will begin an assignment and carry that through all the lessons that follow. This is an independent study tutorial and you will be the sole judge of your writing. I do suggest that if you can, it would be a good idea to show your final product to a colleague or friend who can help with a fair, yet objective, assessment of your writing.
