Writing
“Can you put that in writing?” is a common question that shows how writing is perceived as something serious, reliable, and permanent. Writing also scares us for these same reasons. It’s as if we catch our thoughts on paper and that’s it, they are caught in ink, forever. Other times, they flow freely, but they just don’t look or sound as perfect as they were in our heads, and instead of seeing them on paper or screen–so imperfect, yet permanent–we sit there and wait for perfection, for inspiration, for the muse to grant us the wonderful piece of writing that we have imagined.
This sense of permanency may be the reason why all (yes, all) writers experience writer’s block. However, experienced writers know that they must allow themselves to be imperfect; they know that writing is a process; and they know they can use various resources to help them rewrite, revise, edit, and proofread their writing until they are happy with the final version.
The resources below will help you develop the strategies that experienced writers use. If you’re already a confident writer—use these resources to discover what you can do with your writing talent! If you’re struggling with writing—use the resources to find ways to make writing easier. If you don’t really care—think of what you care about, and you will soon notice that it involves some type of writing to get you there.
ConnectED skills related to Writing: Communicative fluency; Ethical reasoning; Global and cultural responsiveness; Information literacy; Problem solving (critical and creative)
General Writing Information
- Basic Grammar Tips – Grammarly
- Proofreading – Writing Commons
- Transitional language – Writing Commons
- Understanding Writing Assignments – Purdue University
- What is College Writing? – University of Maryland University College
- Writing Conclusions – UNC Writing Center
- Writing Introductions – UNC Writing Center
Narrative/Experiential Writing
- Writing the Personal Narrative Essay – Kim Zicafoose, VCU
Process Writing
- Nobody Writes Like Me: Drafting – Soomo Publishing
- Nobody Writes Like Me: Peer Review – Soomo Publishing
- Nobody Writes Like Me: Revision – Soomo Publishing
- Revising Your Writing: Seeing Your Draft Like a Reader Rather Than a Writer – Kim Zicafoose & Michaux Dempster, VCU
Argument/Persuasive Writing
- Introduction to Claims
- Introduction to Evidence
- Distinguishing between Reasons and Evidence
- Introduction to Warrants: Stating the Principles that Link Your Claims, Reasons, and Evidence
- Acknowledgement & Response (counterarguments)
- For guidance on structuring ethical arguments, see “Elements of Ethical Reasoning” here
For resources on related topics such as logical fallacies, see Critical Thinking.
For resources to assist with plagiarism and academic integrity, see the Academic Integrity page.