All+WRITING

Think of writing as a process with steps to go through to get the best results!

Tips on Proofreading:

When You Proofread
> For instance, read through once (backwards, sentence by sentence) to check for fragments; read through again (forward) to be sure subjects and verbs agree, and again (perhaps using a computer search for "this," "it," and "they") to trace pronouns to antecedents. > But remember that a spelling checker won't catch mistakes with homonyms (e.g., "they're," "their," "there") or certain typos (like "he" for "the"). An excellent site on grammar and writing skills is: [|Writing and grammar] http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
 * **Work from a printout, not the computer screen.** (But see below for computer functions that can help you find some kinds of mistakes.)
 * **Read out loud.** This is especially helpful for spotting run-on sentences, but you'll also hear other problems that you may not see when reading silently.
 * **Use a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines below the one you're reading.** This technique keeps you from skipping ahead of possible mistakes.
 * **Use the search function of the computer to find mistakes you're likely to make.** Search for "it," for instance, if you confuse "its" and "it's;" for "-ing" if dangling modifiers are a problem; for opening parentheses or quote marks if you tend to leave out the closing ones.
 * **If you tend to make many mistakes, check separately for each kind of error, moving from the most to the least important, and following whatever technique works best for you to identify that kind of mistake.**
 * **End with a spelling check, using a computer spelling checker or reading backwards word by word.**

DOCUMENTING & CITING SOURCES / AVOIDING PLAGIARISM site for reference : [|UCLA site]

1. Here are some powerpoints to help!

Many students find the following process useful for summarising [|Practice]and paraphrasing information. Refer to this: As 'fun' site with some good - and some silly activities - for summarising. [|BBC site]


 * Read the text carefully - you may need to read the text several times, and check the meaning of terms you do not understand in a dictionary.
 * Identify and underline the key words and main ideas in the text, and write these ideas down.
 * Consider these points as a whole and your purpose for using this information in relation to the structure of your assignment. You may be able to group the ideas under your own headings, and arrange them in a different sequence to the original text.
 * Think about the attitude of the author, i.e. critical, supportive, certain, uncertain. Think about appropriate reporting verbs you could use to describe this attitude.
 * Think of words or phrases which mean roughly the same as those in the original text. Remember, if the key words are specialised vocabulary for the subject, they do not need to be changed.

PIADS will follow **MLA** citing style. Here is a sample paper:

=//1. Essays//=

Site to guide you: http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/learn-skills/essay-writing-skills

[|Site to guide you in every step]