Highline Writing Center

Tips on Writing Essays

•  Writing Den: Writing Tips: Specific tips about writing, divided into three groups: sentences, paragraphs, and essays.
•  Paradigm Online Writing Assistant: This helpful site will guide you through all stages of the writing process, from prewriting exercises to tips for proofreading and revision.
•  Writing Guidelines for Science and Engineering Students: Discusses common types of writing in the sciences (memos, lab reports, and more) using models written by other students.

Citing Sources

•  Documentation Guidelines: Citing Sources: A good quick reference for common citations. Uses APA, MLA, and CMS.
•  Big Dog's Quick Guide to MLA: An explanation of citation vocabulary, and why we cite sources anyway.
•  Chicago Citation Style: A quick reference to the Chicago Manual Style from Long Island University.

Grammar Handouts and Exercises

•  English Works!: A detailed look at the parts of speech and an extensive selection of grammar quizzes.
• HyperGrammar: An extensively interlinked walk-through of some of the trickiest grammar terms.
• Run-Ons
• Fragments
• Counter Arguments/Rebuttals  
• Common Errors
• Common Grammar Errors
• Proofreading Guide & Tips
• Other Writing Resources
  

Interactive Grammar Quizes

•  Dave's ESL Cafe: Quizzes: Interactive quizzes on topics of interest to students learning English, such as prepositions, irregular verbs, and subject-verb agreement.
•  Grammarstation Quiz Zone: Includes a diagnostic quiz to help you identify "which of the eight language areas you are weak in."

Vocabulary and Spelling

•  Word A Day: These words are grouped into common categories depending on the theme of the week.
•  Spelling Test: Quiz yourself on fifty commonly misspelled words!
•  Common Errors in English: An interesting and extensive explanation of commonly misused words and phrases. Explains the difference between commonly misused pairs of words, such as "effect" and "affect."
•  Dictionary: Merriam-Webster online abridged dictionary; this site also offers premium, unabridged services.
•  Thesaurus: Roget's Thesaurus.

ESL

•  Prepositions: A list of common prepositions, sorted into three categories: location, time, and action and movement.
•  ESL Slang Page: An alphabetical list of meanings and examples. This site also notes any words or phrases which might be offensive.
•  ESL Idiom Page: An alphabetical list of meanings and examples for common idioms.