Writing & Rhetoric
Writing & Rhetoric
No matter your major or future vocation, the one required academic project that connects all college students is writing essays. This assignment demands proficiency in many areas. Do you rememeber the subject-verb agreement? How an interjection is used? Elements of an effective paragarph (so they aren't full of "fluff") and how to cite your sources properly to avoid plagiarism? The below resources will ensure your words, sentences, paragraphs, essays and citations are all grammatically sound. A quick guide on effective public speaking is also included!
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. - Romans 15:4
Downloadable Resources ⬇
"The boy yelled, "Help!" and he saw a brave dog quickly run to the rescue." - If you can identify in this sentence the nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronoun, articles, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection, then great job! If not, take a look at this Grammar + Syntax Refresh resource to review the 9 Parts of Writing and Speech to prevent grammatical errors (and potential grade reductions) from affecting your writing.
We write sentences everyday, but if asked what kind or type of sentence, most would more than likely be unsure. Take a look at this quick guide to refresh yourself on sentence structures so that when you write paragraphs and essays, you know that you are using your sentences in a grammatically correct way.
Paragraphs are the building blocks of essays, and require care in their construction. To ensure your paragraphs are logically sound and fully coherent, they should be able to be PEEL-ed apart. What does this mean, you ask? Take a look at this resource to find out!
All college essays have a basic structure, but essays quickly diverge into many essay types. Take a look at this resources to preview how any college essay should be structured, and learn about the 9 common essay types you will undoubtedly encounter during your years as an essay-writing student.
Cornerstone Theological Seminary (CTS) has crafted a specific guide for essays writing. Please click the link above to view specifics on the required formatting, style and mechanics for CTS essays.
Proper citations in an essay are important--to both cite the source you are refrencing and avoid academic dishonesty (plagiarism). The two most popular citation formats are MLA and APA formats, which the above quick guide covers. If you need assistance with additional citation formats (such as the Chicago citation style), or more information on MLA and APA, the Miller Library's Citation Help webpage can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Often times, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." Public speaking is a powerful skill to have, and your time as a college student is the perfect opportunity to master this art. If you have an upcoming speech, this quick guide is the perfect resource for you to review the basics.
Both the Cornerstone University Miller Library and Writing Center (housed within the Miller Library) can provide students with valuable support for writing, essay research, proofreading and much more! If you have questions after viewing these resources, contact the library by phone at 616-222-1458 or email at library.reference@cornerstone.edu
Online Learning Tips
← If you're an Online Learner, you will most likely do much writing in online discussion forums. Take a look at this resource for success in your forum writing!
Please fill out the request form below and a representative from the Center for Academic Success will schedule a meeting with you shortly.