Online Writing Lab

Established and maintained by RHS ELA Teacher Althea Terenzi

Welcome to the RHS OWL

The following resources are arranged in sections, generally in the order in which they might be useful in the writing process. The topics within each section are listed alphabetically.

Information Gathering

Task	Information	Resources
Databases	How to search a database	Revere High School databases
Evaluating sources	Overview & tips checklist	Many practice modules for evaluating multiple criteria
Note-taking	Overview & methods Notecard method Science Fair Logbook	Types of note-taking organizers Note-taking templates Templates for reference sources
Organizing sources	Source organizer for historical investigation Notecard method	4 exercises
Quotations	Overview of using literary quotations in a paper	Pattern folder method video
Research process	Visit the Learning Commons website for tutorial videos, library catalogue, and more.	Checklists and handouts

Planning & Prewriting

Task	Information	Resources
Audience Analysis	Overview Tone and Audience Awareness	Worksheet
Brainstorming	Brainstorming for journalism Ideas and techniques for poetry Brainstorming for memoir Brainstorming for humor writing Brainstorming for short fiction Brainstorming for persuasive essays	Link to mind-mapping tools & apps Guide to techniques
Outlining	How to outline Basic outline for synthesis essays	Template
Organization	Guide to narrative writing Presentation on expository writing Tips for persuasive essays Guide to critical analysis Guide for compare/contrast essays	Organizers for a wide variety of assignments Essay Map Generator Persuasive Argument Map Generator Graphic Organizer for 5-para. Essay M.E.A.L. graphic organizer

Writing: Grammar & Usage

Common Issue	Learning Resources	Practice
Apostrophes	Rules	Quiz yourself
Capitalization	Capitalization rules Animated video- the basics Video tutorial	Exercise in capitalization Quiz yourself
Colons	Rules Video tutorial	Practice Quiz- colon vs. semicolon
Commas	All the rules	Practice 1 ; Practice 2 Game 1 ; Game 2
Dialogue	Rules for punctuation Video lesson for punctuation Lesson on dialogue tags	Exercise
Quotation marks	Rules- basic ; Rules- advanced Single vs. double quotation marks Punctuating with quotations	Exercise Game
Run-on sentences	Explanation Animated video- the basics	Practice 1; Practice 2 Quiz yourself
Semi-colons	Video tutorial Rules (funny)	Exercise ; Game Quiz yourself
Sentence fragments	Overview with examples Video- how to identify and fix	Practice- identifying fragments Practice- fixing fragments Practice- revision
Subject-verb agreement	Making subjects and verbs agree Video- How to identify and fix	Practice Quiz yourself
Titles	General guide- punctuation Handout- punctuation & capitalization	Quiz yourself
Verb Tense Consistency	Guidelines for controlling shifts in tense	Exercise Review with quiz

Writing: Content & Style

Common Issue	Learning Resources	Practice
Conclusions	Overview and tips
Evidence Analysis	Worksheet
Integrating Sources & Ideas	Integrating literary quotations Full text of They Say, I Say They Say, I Say templates for presenting sources and ideas
Introductions	Video- Literary Analysis Introductions Guide & Strategies Helpful Tips with examples	Comprehension questions
Paraphrasing	How to paraphrase with examples	Exercises
Revision	Checklist
Summarizing	Difference between summary, paraphrase, and quotation ; When and how to summarize	Practice
Synthesis	Full text of They Say, I Say
Thesis statements	Video- How to write a thesis Worksheet for developing a thesis
Transitions	Guide
Wordiness	Strategies for eliminating wordiness CRISP method of style revision	3 exercises

Writing: Citing Information & Source Attribution

Common Issue	Learning Resources	Practice
APA- works cited/ bibliography	Making a works cited / references page rules and examples	Exercise. You will have to create a user name and password
APA-in text citation	In text citation rules and examples	Exercise. You will have to create a user name and password
EasyBib.com	Free MLA bibliography generator. Note: EasyBib often misses important information that may need to be entered manually.
MLA- works cited / bibliography	Making a works cited page rules and examples	Exercise. You will have to create a username and password
MLA- in text citation	In text citation rules and examples	Exercise. You will have to create a user name and password
Plagiarism	What is academic dishonesty? Check out the RHS Student Handbook on this topic, pages 58-59.	Checklist for avoiding plagiarism Interactive tutorial

Revision

general	formal writing	creative writing
Revising Drafts- General Guide CRISP method	Guide to revising memoir Guide to revising journalism Essay Revision Step-by-Step Guide to revising persuasive essays	Guide to revising humor Revising Fiction checklist Guide to revising short fiction Five tips for revising poems Style Sheet for revising poetry

Presentation

Tutorial- preparing presentation slides

Tutorial- preparing charts and graphs

Tutorial- document design

MLA format and style guide

APA format and style guide

CMS manual of style

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