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Current Tip
The
"I-Me" Mix Up
This tip helps us to learn
when to use "I" and when to use "me" and warns us about
substituting "myself." December 10, 2007
More Foreign
Expressions in English
This tip gives two more examples of foreign words that have become part of
the English language. November 26, 2007
Foreign
Expressions in English
This tip gives some examples of foreign words that have become part of the
English language. November 19, 2007
Don't Slip with
Ellipsis
This tip outlines some of the common uses for ellipsis. November
12, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut's
Rules for Writing Fiction
This tip introduces us to Kurt Vonnegut's witty and useful rules for better fiction writing.
November 5, 2007
Writing Concise
Sentences
This tip helps you to follow Stephen King's advice from last week to
"Get to the point" and "Cut down your text." October
29, 2007
Stephen King's 7
Tips for Writers
This tip gives us Stephen King's concise and easily followed tips for
beginning writers. October 22, 2007
Is That an
Example or In Other Words?
This tip helps you tell the difference between the abbreviations,
"e.g." and "i.e." October 15, 2007
Using Story
Quotes in a Short Paragraph
This tip gives a demonstration paragraph written on theme for the short story,
"The Heyday of the Blood." October 7, 2007
"Ironic?"
Maybe! Using Quotation Marks Correctly
This tip makes clear that marking
a single word with quotation marks gives the word a new, mostly ironic,
meaning. Includes a link to the hilarious "Blog"
of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks. September
30, 2007
Have the Guts to
Cut
This tip refers to a descriptive essay written in conjunction with his
English classes. Includes a sample essay and a link to a document to see
where the cuts were made. September 24, 2007
A Dominant
Impression: Writing Better Description
This tip points out that creating a dominant impression in a description is
the key to its success. September 17, 2007
How to Write
with Style (Kurt Vonnegut)
This tip points out an outstanding article on writing by Kurt Vonnegut.
Follow his seven simple tips to becoming a better, more stylish, writer. September
10, 2007
Defining the
Topic Sentence (Revisited)
This tip points us to a 2003 Web collaboration based on trying to decide
which sentence is the "true" topic sentence in a paragraph. Answers
from renowned experts are interesting, diverse and, believe it or not,
contradictory! September 3, 2007
One Stop Essay
Tips
This tip brings together all his tips for essay writers. Especially helpful
for those writing essays in summer school this term! August
6, 2007
Pacing Your
Writing
This tip comments on the importance of establishing a pace to your written
work. July 31, 2007
Using Your Head
Using You're
This tip explains the sound-alike pair of "your" and
"you're." July 23, 2007
The Inseparable
"Not Only . . . But Also"
This tip refers to Warren Clement's column on
grammar, outlining why this construction cannot drop the "but." July
17, 2007
Commas with
Adjectives: The "And" Test
This tip explains a simple way to check if adjectives require a comma before
a noun. July 8, 2007
The Virtue of
Simplicity
This tip refers to advice taken from William Zinsser's
famous book, On Writing Well. June 19, 2007
Improve Your
Writing: Use Colons!
This tip points out some valuable uses of the colon: as an indicator of
what's to come and also for giving emphasis. June 10, 2007
Avoid Fancy
Words!
This tip suggests that you follow the advice of the great writing text,
The Elements of Style. June 5, 2007
Persuasion or
Propaganda?
This tip helps you to distinguish between persuasion and propaganda. May
28, 2007
Repeat Yourself!
This tip demonstrates the special power of repetition. May 21, 2007
An Especially
Good Special Tip
This tip explains and demonstrates the difference between
"especially" and "special." May 14, 2007
Preparing for an
In-Class Essay Test
This tip reflects on his recent experiences helping students to prepare for
an in-class essay test. May 7, 2007
Pants Loose?
Good! Don't Lose Them
This tip looks at the commonly confused pair of words, "lose" and
"loose." April 29, 2007
Easily Confused
Spellings
This tip looks at a number of commonly confused words and examines the effect
of getting them wrong. April 22, 2007
Don't Flaunt
that Rule!
This tip identifies two easily confused words: flaunt and flout. April
15, 2007
An Everyday Day
Every Day
This tip
identifies a "most abused word," "everyday" used as an
adjective and its counterpart, "every day," used as an
adverb. April 8, 2007
Oh You Shouldn't
Of!
This tip identifies a common mistake in writing that originates in spoken
English and marks the writer as less than competent. April 3, 2007
Are You Perfect?
Present Perfect!
This tip explains the importance of correct use of this tense. Includes links
to a worksheet and explanation online. March 25, 2007
Editing: On
Screen or Paper?
This tip argues for a paper edit of all your writing
as computer screen editing often leads us to avoidable errors in our
work. March 13, 2007
Short Sentences
Create Suspense
This tip quotes Roy Peter Clark from his column, Writing Tools, where he
explains and demonstrates how to make the short sentence work to create
suspense. March 5, 2007
Be Wary of the
Exclamation Mark!
This tip quotes Lynne Truss's strong opinions on the use of the exclamation
mark. Includes some rules and examples of how to use the mark correctly in
your writing. February 27, 2007
The Effect of
Affect
This tip teaches the difference between these two words. Includes sample sentences.
February 20, 2007
The Problem with
"Always"
This tip warns about the word "always," quoting from the useful
writing text, The Process of Composition by Joy Reid. February
13, 2007
Not "To
Be": Avoiding "Is"
This tip warns writers about weak "to be" constructions and links
to three excellent online resources to help you get an excessive use of
"is" out of your writing. February 6,
2007
Some Cautions on
the Thesaurus
This tip argues that a thesaurus can lead a writer astray as easily as it
helps in finding just the right word. January 29, 2007
Sentence
Fragments Sometimes
This tip discusses the occasions when a sentence fragment may be appropriate
in your writing. January 21, 2007
Adverbs
Necessary? Not Always!
This tip discusses how an overuse of adverbs can cause harm to your prose.
Includes a link to a great Web resource. January 14, 2007
Understanding
Point of View
This tip discusses the difficulties of understanding how point of view
affects a piece of writing. Includes a link to a great Web resource. January
2, 2007
Learn from the
Greeks: Onomatopoeia
This tip lists some interesting "sound-alike" words you can use to
improve your writing. December 16, 2006
What the Honest
Writer Does . . .
This tip quotes John Gardner from his book, The Art of Fiction: Notes on
Craft for Young Writers. December 11, 2006
Reading Leads to
Better Writing
This tip quotes the thoughts of the writing greats on the importance of
reading widely. December 4, 2006
Adjectives? Kill
Them! (Mark Twain's Advice)
This tip starts with a quote from Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn, who
counsels us to avoid using too many adjectives in our writing. November
27, 2006
Learn from the
Greeks: Simile
This tip outlines some of the many kinds of simile. Yes, the Greeks outlined
the uses of simile a long time ago! November 21, 2006
Learn from the
Greeks: Zeugma
This tip outlines a powerful rhetorical technique first defined by the
Greeks. Includes a writing sample to demonstrate its use in your writing. November
13, 2006
Don't Be Afraid
to Repeat!
This tip uses the writing of Elie Wiesel from his book on the Holocaust, Night, to
illustrate the power of intentional repetition. November 7, 2006
The Many Uses of
Would
This tip links us to a worksheet and teacher writing sample to help you learn
more about how to use "would" in your writing. October 30, 2006
The Secret to
Writing Good Dialogue: Eavesdropping!
This tip gives a number of suggested places to practice this ancient art
form: eavesdropping! October 24, 2006
Learn to Use the
Semicolon Like the Experts!
This tip outlines an online exercise you can use to find and examine
semicolon use by writers working online. Includes a link to an article for
practice. October 15, 2006
Be Careful with
"Only"!
This tip demonstrates how a sentence's meaning can change depending on where
"only" is placed. October 8, 2006
How We See
Things: Following Shakespeare's Example
This tip uses Shakespeare's Hamlet to help us understand the
importance of our own perceptions and how these perceptions affect how we and
others see the world. October 1, 2006
Two Part Phrasal
Verbs: A Great Resource
This tip points out a great resource for students working in a second
language. Includes a huge list of these tricky idiomatic constructions and
examples to help you use them correctly. September 24, 2006
Short and
Choppy? Sometimes, Yes!
This tip gives an example of the effective use of short and choppy sentences.
September 17, 2006
Learning to be
Reverent
This tip refers to Ann Lamott's comment on the
responsibility of writers to be reverent. September 10, 2006
Reading and
Writing
This tip refers to best selling author Stephen King's advice on reading. September
5, 2006
A Writer's
Secret: Smell
This tip reminds writers to use our most powerful sense, our sense of smell,
to reach their audience. August 29, 2006
Use Nouns and
Verbs Not Adjectives and Adverbs
This tip brings us the advice of the great writer, E.B. White, also featured
in our Quote of the Week. August 13, 2006
Write Like a
Writer: Begin by Understanding Life
This tip responds to a quote from writer Anne Lamott's
book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. August
6, 2006
A Quick Way to
Improve Writing: Using Idioms
This tip goes over the pluses and minuses of using idiom to improve your
writing. August 1, 2006
Speed Up! Using
Keyboard Shortcuts
This tip helps you to increase your computing speed. Get more done and save
your wrists in the process! July 24, 2006
Looking for a
Word in Word? Hit Shift + F7!
This tip gives instructions on using the thesaurus built into Microsoft Word.
May 16, 2006
Variety: The
Spice of the Writer's Life
This tip offers a few practical hints to improve the variety of your writing.
April 23, 2006
Making Your
Writing Specific
This tip includes two detailed student examples with his comments for
improvement. April 16, 2006
Microsoft Word
Grammar Check? Beware!
Brad warns students to be wary of the built in grammar checker offered with
the popular software. April 11, 2006
The Dash: A
Handy Mark
Brad explains the dash and gives a number of examples of its correct uses. April
4, 2006
Using the
Semicolon Well
Brad explains the semicolon and reminds us to avoid "semicolonitis."
March 28, 2006
Advice on Being
Specific: Susan Goldsmith Woolridge
From another
book from This bookshelf for writers comes a
specific activity to help you find the specific in your writing. March 21,
2006
Writers Care:
Reading Anne Lamott
From one of This favourite books
on writing, read this week's tip for an interesting quote from writing
teacher Anne Lamott. March 4, 2006
Sleep On It!
Advice to a weary student: when the writing job is complex, go to bed and
have a good sleep! February 21, 2006
Top Ten Ways to
Fix Writing Problems
Another great resource, this one found by an English 12 student in the course
of researching her weekly assignment on student writing problems. February
14, 2006
50 Writing Tools
An index of 50 writing tools that will help you to improve your writing. A
fabulous online resource for any writer, make
it a weekly stop and see your writing improve! February 5, 2006
Online Writing
Lab (OWL) at Purdue University: Useful Handouts
An incredible resource, OWL has been assisting students and teachers with
their writing needs for many years on the Web. January 22, 2006
More on the
Essay Thesis
An additional resource students writing an essay should check for ideas and
advice on improving that most important sentence—the thesis. January 10,
2006
Writing Good
Essay Introductions and Conclusions
Some important tips to remember when writing your essay's introduction and
conclusion. Includes links to samples at our web site. December 6
More Comments
and Suggestions for Writing about Literature
Still more examples of student writing from English Language Arts 11 with
detailed commentary from the teacher on what works and what might be
improved. Based on Shirley Jackson's story, "The Possibility of
Evil." November 19
Comments and
Suggestions for Writing about Literature
A number of longer examples of student writing with detailed commentary from
the teacher on what works and what might be improved. November 12
Using Quotations
in Answers (with examples)
English 11 students are learning to use quotations correctly in their
answers. Find examples and advice in this week's tip. October 29
Some Thoughts on
the Topic Sentence
From a class discussion with the English 10 class, comments on the
expectations teachers have for the topic sentences you write. October 2
Avoiding the
Fancy
Beginning with advice from the famous text, The Elements of Style,
Brad advises students to keep away from elaborate words when simple ones tell
the same story. September 25
The "One
Sentence" Rule for Revision
Peter Elbow, author of the book Writing with Power, gives us a good
piece of revising advice. September 20
Characteristics of a Good Dictionary
Students at any level benefit from a good dictionary. What
characteristics should a student look for to find a dictionary? Find out this
week! Includes a link to an excellent student dictionary. September
11
Learning to Use
Microsoft Word
Using a word processor can really help you make assignments look better. This
tip will help you with becoming faster and more proficient at using Word.
September 6
What is a
"Controlling" Idea?
Want to write the best topic sentences? Learn about the
"controlling" idea and you will be on the road to better sentences
and ideas for your essays and paragraphs. August 18
Eight Steps to a
Successful Test Essay
An eight step plan for writing a test essay. The tip includes a full sample
essay, "The Benefits of Daydreaming" based on a standard essay
topic. May 22
A Place I Hate:
Using the Senses
A series of different sensory views of a place I hate: the weight room at my
local community centre. February 13
Simple,
Parallel, Short: What Sentence Should We Use?
A series of sentences that demonstrate key aspects of sentence style. February
5
A Writing
Exercise with Exercise (Being Specific)
Poet Susan Goldsmith Woolridge gives valuable advice
on being specific and helps a writer to stay physically healthy at the same
time! January 23
Practice,
Practice, Practice
Students in
this week's Writing Practice wrote for 10 minutes. Done daily, writing
practice will improve your writing steadily. January 14
Learn One New
Word Every Day!
Many of my
students identify vocabulary as a key weakness. Use the Merriam Webster
"Word of the Day" web site to learn a new word every day! January
9
The One
"Essential" Book of English Usage
A small book,
available at any bookstore or online and one that any serious student of
writing should consider. January 2
Five Important
Rules of Written Grammar
Why not master
these five tips for the holidays? Grammar, particularly English grammar, can
be difficult for writers to master. December 14
Commas: Student
Examples with Teacher Comment
The comma is
one of our most powerful punctuation marks. Writing Tutorial students
practiced commas this week. View their sentences and This
comments. November 7
Adding Detail
after the Object
Making
sentences longer can be a challenge. Why not add detail after the object,
that part of the sentence following along behind the verb? October
23
Students' Errors
Classified
Read about the
common errors students make in composition. How many do you share with them?
Results are from the English 10 and Advanced Composition classes. September 26
Student
Examples: Important Writing Rules
Students
discussed important rules for writing and writers. Find out what they
think! September 20
Student
Examples: Character Description
Students
discussed the use of indirect description in class this week. Here are some
good examples to follow, each one with a detailed commentary from the teacher
and the class. August 14
Student
Responses to Lynne Truss
Lynne Truss
says, “Proper punctuation is both the sign and the cause of clear thinking.”
What does she mean, exactly? Here are some student responses. August
3
A Paradox from Wislawa Szymborska
Students of poetry may find the excerpt interesting. A fine example of
paradox. June 7
Student
Rules for Topic Sentences (with examples)
Results of a class exercise on topic sentences with the Advanced Composition
(daytime class) students. May 18
Student
Writing Examples with Teacher Comments
Three pieces by Literature and Composition 4 students are revised, corrected,
and commented on in detail. May 10
Advanced
Composition: Imitating Great Writers
Students helped the teacher write two faithful copies of the style of two
great writers, Carol Shields and Jack London. Includes comments on the craft
shown in the writing. April 22
Student
Examples of Titles and Introductions
More from the students on essay structure. February 29
Student
Rules for Writing a Good Essay
Results
of a class discussion on six parts of the essay and the rules one should
follow for each. There are only five parts listed here. Can you think of a
sixth? February 19
Breaking
the Rules: Avoid "Short Choppy Sentences"?
Sometimes, teachers' rules are meant to be broken! Look at this example of
the effective use of "short choppy sentences" by Canadian writer,
Ethel Wilson. December 30
Strong
Verbs: Intensifying Meaning
Yet another tip that will help you obtain the
highest marks possible for your certificate test writing this term. December
7
Variety:
The Spice of a Reader's Life
Yet another tip that will help you obtain the highest marks possible for your
certificate test writing this term. December 1
Logical
Order: The Key to Coherent Paragraphs and Essays
Follow logical order and see your test writing marks improve! November
25
Answering
Questions Well
The English 3B-C Class worked on answers to questions about water
conservation in Vancouver.
Learn about some good "answering questions" techniques. October
6
The
Title Rules! (Review and Examples)
The Literature and Composition 4 students have learned how to write good
titles. View their work, along with a thorough review of the rules for
writing good titles. May 25
Questions
and Answers about the Essay
A series of student questions about different parts of the essay. Topics
discussed include, Paragraph Hooks, Placement of Body Paragraphs, Transition
Words and more. April 18
Punctuation
Review: Increasing Sentence Length
Sentences by the Level 3B-C show how to use the comma, apostrophe, hyphen,
exclamation mark, and quotation marks. Comments from the teacher on
increasing sentence length. March 19
Metaphors
We Live By (All Language is Metaphor!)
Metaphor is used by poets, right? No, we use metaphor all the time, according
to the text, Metaphors We Live By. January 19
Want
to be a Writer? Stephen King's Advice
Stephen King's book, On Writing, is a wonderful text. What is his
primary writing advice? January 5
Parallel
Structure: A President's Inaugural Address
Read a quotation from Lyndon Bains Johnson's
Inaugural Address and learn more about the effective use of parallel
structure in your writing. December 3
Vision:
"The Beholder's Eye"
Diane Ackerman explains in her book, A Natural History of the Senses,
that about 70 percent of our sensory information comes through our eyes. No
wonder, then, that visual image is important to writers! September
29
Smell: "The
Mute Sense"
"Nothing is more memorable than smell." So Diane Ackerman says in
her book, A Natural History of the Senses. And nothing, she adds, is
harder to describe than smell to another who has not experienced it. September
7
Participles:
Verbs as Adjectives
This week, Brad gives some examples of participles that are also useful as
adjectives. July 31
Note
Pads and Cards
This week, Brad outlines a popular method for writers to save their ideas:
writing them down! July 20
The
All Important Audience
This week, Brad reminds us of the importance of audience to a writer.
Includes links to a worksheet and a teacher writing sample. July 1
Writing
with Power: Practical Advice
This week, Brad points us to one of his favourite
writing texts. Includes a sample piece of advice and a link to
Amazon.com. June 23
What
Makes Writing Memorable
This week, Brad comments on his pleasurable experiences as a marker of many
student paragraphs and essays. June 16
Should
I Ask? The Rhetorical Question
Is it right to ask the rhetorical question? Find out This opinion! June 4
Student
Essay Examples with Comments
Brad has written comments for a number of excerpts from student practice
essays. Learn more about what makes a good essay! May 26
Do
You Know Your Essay Structure?
Brad has written a quiz to help you check! May 19
Assigned
a Paragraph? Write ONE!
This been marking student paragraphs this week. Much to his dismay, some
students have written short essays, although he had only asked for one
paragraph! May 12
On
"What" Other Hand?
Brad has some advice on transitions in writing. On the other hand, will he
give good advice? Come to read about the use (and misuse) of transitions. May
5
26
Golden Rules for Writing Well
Brad laughed at this list. Visit the site to see why. April 28
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