ESL | Writing | Oral Communication | Quantitative | Content

These are online versions of pamphlets we have available in the Center for Teaching and Learning. They offer answers to frequently asked questions about writing and address common student writing problems.

Tackling the Research Paper by Dan Shaw
When writing a research paper, many students don't know where to begin.  This section features a slide presentation that guides you through the process of writing a research paper.

Editing the Needless Word
Often writing is hampered by the use of excessive words. Remove them to make your papers more readable and interesting.

What is Plagiarism?
Most student plagiarism (the act of claiming another writer's ideas or words as one's own) is unintentional. Learn how to avoid this dangerous pitfall through proper techniques for using evidence from sources.

Punctuating the End of Quotations
This is one of those punctuation areas in which our friends, the British, throw us off. Learn how an American punctuates clauses and sentences ending with a final quotation mark.

The Semicolon
Oh, the misunderstood semicolon. How often it is mistreated, abused, distorted, mistaken for a comma or a period or colon. Help save the semicolon! Read this document.

Nominalizations
Nominawhat? Learn how you can dramatically improve your writing by changing these clumsy nouns into strong verbs.

Some Thoughts on Style
Style is where we really enter into the joy of writing. Learn how to make paragraphs flow, sentences sing, words vibrate off the page. Step right in to a new world of writing!

Ellipses...
Having problems whittling down that unwieldy quotation? Look here to find out how.

About Writing Essays: What the Reader Wants to See
Want to grab your audience's attention? Check out these tips about essential elements in essay writing.

An Approach to the Tutoring Session
You may have gone through tutor training a few years ago, but good tutoring never goes out of style. Refresh your memory here.

The Ethics of Peer Tutoring
Respect yourself and your tutee by tutoring with integrity. Here are some thoughts on this important issue. Don't forget the Honor Code applies to tutoring too!

Tips for Checking Papers (Especially First Drafts)
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to comment on a student's paper. These guidelines will help you direct your feedback in a helpful manner.

Where to Begin
Don't know where to start? This practical guide can help you determine a focused objective for your tutoring session so both tutor and student can see tangible results.