Writing Resource Guide

Throughout your academic and professional careers you will encounter many different writing formats such as MLA, APA, and Chicago among others. A great resource to help you make sure you are following each format correctly is Purdue Owl.

When you are getting ready to do any sort of writing assignment it is often helpful to organize your thoughts before you start. There are many different sorts of quickwrites or activities you can do to help with this. Some opitons are:

• Journaling: you can answer questions or quick prompts to help jump start your ideas.

  • Some prompt ideas are:

    • Write a Haiku (for help with the format of a Haiku or other poems check out the this great site!)

    • What is your favorite toy and why?

    • Write an elevator speech (for help on what an elevator speech is and what to include click here)

      • There is also the Inigo Montoya Approach (see below)

    • Write a six word memoir (click here for guidance on how to create one)

    • Other prompt ideas are available here

• Create a RAFT:

  • Role=Who is speaking/narrating?

  • Audience=Who is listening/reading?

  • Format=What is the format of your writing?

  • Topic=What are you writing about?

• Here are some RAFT examples:

  • Role=Genie

  • Audience=Aladdin

  • Format: Persuasive Speech

  • Topic=Why You Should Make Me a Prince

• • Role=Student

  • Audience=Your Principal

  • Format: Argumentative Essay

  • Topic= Should We Eliminate Homework?

Once you have orgnaized your ideas it is time to sit down and write. There are several websites that are great resources for how to organize your paper from introduction to conculsion depending on the specifics of what you are writing. These resources can be found here:

• Writing handouts and level-specific information: The Stanford University Writing Center

• Information for writing in specific subjects such as science or business: The Center for Communication Practices at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Thousands of great writing resources: Colorado State University's Online Writing Center

• Handouts and links to other great resources: Cal State Writing Center