Writing Resources

Learning English is not so simple. It has its roots in so many different other languages that the rules are often very difficult to follow. Sometimes, they don’t even make sense when you consider other rules. Yet, it doesn’t mean that learning the language has to be a nightmare. Here are some links to resource pages to help kids get a better grasp on the English language.

Grammar

• Grammar Facts: Outlines the important facts of using Grammar.
• Lynch Guide to Grammar and Style: A detailed outline about how to properly use grammar.
• Online Grammar Guide: Discusses the most common grammar facts.
• Griselda's Guide To Grammar: Aimed at slightly younger children that teaches grammar rules.
• Improving Grammar Skills: Explains how to improve one’s grammar skills.
• A Short Guide To English Grammar: Brief guide to grammar and the English language.

Punctuation

• Punctuation Made Simple: A good guide on the use of colons, semicolons, periods, etc.
• Punctuation Study Skills: Offers brief information about using proper punctuation.
• Punctuation Points: Detailed guide to using different punctuation types.
• The Philosophy of Punctuation: Famous essay that explains why using proper punctuation is important.
• Joys of Punctuation: Explains why proper punctuation is necessary.
• Comma Usage: Shows how to use a carrot.
• Sentence Punctuation Patterns: Breaks down how punctuation is used, i.e. what patterns are most common.

Spelling

• Spelling Tips for Children: Discusses common spelling rules like “I before E except after C.”
• General Tips on Spelling: An overview of spelling tips.
• Commonly Misspelled Words: Lays out the words most people have trouble spelling.
• SATS Spelling Tips: Provides SAT-level spelling tips for students.

Subject Verb Agreement

• Proof-Reading: A section on proof-reading with emphasis on making sure that subject verb agreement is present.
• Subject and Verb Agreement: Describes the subject-verb agreement.
• Subject-Verb Agreement Diagrams: A diagram that explains how subject-verb agreement works.
• Overview: Pamphlet with an overview of what subject-verb agreement is.
• Agreement Examples: Provides good examples of proper subject-verb agreement.

 Tense

• Verb Tenses: Discusses how verb tenses work.
• Verb Tense Overview: Shows verb tenses, how many there are, etc.
• Overview: A short overview of why verb tenses can be difficult for kids to understand.
• "Active" vs. "Stative" Verbs: Explains the differences between these verb tenses.
• Past, Future and Present Tense: Discusses verb tenses and their differences.

Voice

• Putting Voice into a Paper: Explains how to use the proper voice when writing.
• Active vs Passive Voice: Shows the differences between voices and when to use them.
• Passive Voice: Describes passive voice and when it should be used.
• Active Voice: Discusses active voice and the best time to use it for a paper.
• Eliminating Passive Voice: Shows how to write in an active voice.

Adjectives

• Recognizing Adjectives: An activity that allows students to determine which parts of a paragraph are adjectives.
• Overview: Simple page designed to show students what adjectives are and when to use them.
• Parts of Speech: Adjectives: Discusses adjectives and other parts of speech.

Nouns

• Noun Demonstration: Interactive page that teaches kids about nouns.
• Quick Start: Nouns: Detailed explanation of nouns and how to identify them.

Verbs

• Most Common Verbs: Lists the 300 most common verbs used in the English language.
• Types of Verbs: Discusses all the types of verbs.

• Editing and Proofreading: Some tips and tricks on how to facilitate editing and proofreading.
• The Deadly Sins Checklist: A short but complete listing of the most common grammatical errors.  
• Guide to Hard Copy Editing: A guide for understanding the common symbols in editing.
• Proofreading Symbols: Another guide for common proofreading symbols and abbreviations.
  
• Understanding the Writing Process: A comprehensive page detailing the writing process from the conception of an idea to the execution of it.
• The Editing and Rewriting Process: A detailed page about how to edit and rewrite an assignment properly.
  
• A Student's Guide to Identifying Main Ideas, Topics, and Supporting Details: A great page designed to help students quickly and efficiently recognize important details of what they have read.

This resource kindly provided by Amy Marshall

NSD  >  Educational Services  >  Classroom Resources  >  Curriculum   >  Online Writing Resources

May 17, 2012