Archive for the Writing Centre Category
January 02
Banished Words 2012
Lake Superior State University has published their list of banished words for the year. Comments can be left on their Facebook page. (Thank goodness someone is finally speaking out against “thanking you in advance”. ) So, what’s wrong with using a word often? Nothing… if it’s an article. Every other word should be used deliberately, [...]
December 12
More Comma Rules: Too
I think it would be fair to say that it’s well-nigh impossible to learn *all* the comma rules. That said, you should probably give it a shot. It will, at least, make you less susceptible to grammar police and friends who would love to quote you on every social network available. Today’s comma rule involves [...]
December 05
Look It Up… Or Not
“If you don’t understand a word, look it up in the dictionary.” How many times have you heard that? And how many times have you actually done that? Yeah. Me, too. Let me start at the beginning of language acquisition: when you were a baby, did you look up all the new words in a [...]
November 29
Rhetorical Writing Patterns
This post has been inspired by one of my students, one who is, unfortunately, not likely to read it. This student is convinced there is only one formula for writing an essay, and that formula MUST be followed, on pain of death. I don’t know what the student thinks will happen if they write a [...]
October 03
Talking To Yourself, In Which You Get Organized
One of the main problems I correct in others’ writing is the problem of organization: introductions are sketchy; body paragraphs are all over the place, discussing several points and maybe even some things that have nothing to do with the matter at hand; conclusions consist of one hastily scrawled sentence. So, how do you fix [...]
September 26
Transcribing Dialogue
At the risk of being labeled a “grammar vigilante”, I *have* to blog about this. I’m Canadian and rather proud of it; not all-other-countries-suck proud, but Canada-is-awesome proud. Patriotism involves demonstration, so my browser’s homepage is the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). While the page may be 50% filler, at least I’m getting Canadian news first. [...]
September 19
Seilstad’s Channel on YouTube
There’s a new academic writing guy on YouTube. Seilstad’s channel is all about the basics of academic writing. These videos are good for ESL students, or anyone who needs a quick review in grammar or essay structure. They don’t go into great detail nor do they explain anything that you won’t find in a basic [...]
September 12
Cornell Note-Taking System
The Cornell Note-Taking System is probably one of the best ideas man has had since the invention of soft bathroom tissue. It keeps the student organized and makes it easier to apply the learned information. But note-taking isn’t just for students: those *long* meetings where people nap and think about how to get that last [...]
September 06
Preparing for the Onslaught
Well, happy students, it’s that time again! Information, knowledge, wisdom… and essays. If you’re reading this blog, chances are that writing isn’t something that comes easily to you. Fret not: there are ways to make it easier. At the risk of sounding like a Boy Scout leader, being prepared is the best way to ensure [...]
June 27
How and Why
Think back to Grade 1 when you learned how to use the question words: who, what, when, where, why and how. Remember how your teacher made it seem really important that you give the information for each word? Nothing has changed since Grade 1. It’s still important. Just like brushing your teeth and looking both [...]
About Author
I'm Sheila van den Heuvel-Collins. Currently, I am the primary blog
writer. Please feel free to contribute writing tips and ideas by
commenting on the blog entries.
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