Writing FAQs
Use the links below to view the information on the most frequently asked questions about writing.
How do I create effective introductions?
An introduction should capture your reader's attention with the impact of a good first impression then move your reader gradually from your general opening statements to a specific controlling idea as you present your thesis statement. Hopefully, your intro will influence the reader to decide that you are well informed and have something interesting to say. Check out these resources from the Excelsior College OWL for more information:
This page explores the different purposes an introduction may have relative to your assignment.
This page offers some sample strategies to keep in mind when you need to get started with your introduction.
Watch a video of a student commenting on a draft introduction.
How do I write strong conclusions?
A conclusion makes your reader realize that your paper was worth reading. Your conclusion might begin by reminding your reader of your thesis and then highlighting main points from your argument, but you want to do more than simply restate your thesis. In the conclusion you want to strengthen your essay by providing additional insight to your argument – by giving a sense of the lingering possibilities of the topic, its larger meaning, its implications.
To consider how to write your conclusion, think about how you would answer the question "So what?" It sounds ridiculous, but it works because it shows you the perspective your reader will take toward your writing and allows you to explain the significance of your paper. Check out this page from the OWL to get more information on writing an effective conclusion:
This page offers tips on writing a strong conclusion to an academic essay.
How do I come up with a thesis statement?
The thesis statement, or statement of purpose, is the central idea that controls and unifies your paper. It is the point you want to make and the idea, attitude, claim, or opinion that you hope your readers will accept as true and carry away with them after they finish reading. Read on for more information on thesis statements from the Excelsior College OWL:
A strong thesis makes a point about your topic. This page will provide you with the basic parts of a good thesis.
Learn more about making sure your thesis has a good angle.
This checklist can help you remember what you need for a strong thesis.
Take this short quiz to see if you can identify strong thesis statements based on specific topics.
Watch as a student works to write and revise a thesis in this helpful video.
How can I write with a tone or voice that fits my writing assignment?
Your tone of voice should be appropriate to the writing situation. In academic writing, your voice should be relatively formal for most projects. Your voice makes an impression with your readers about your credibility, so you want to make sure you write with a voice that works. Read on to find out more about choosing a voice that works well for your particular writing situation:
Learn more about analyzing your assignment and choosing a voice that works well for that assignment.
This page offers tips on choosing the right voice and explains the importance of your decision.
Get the tips you need for writing in a voice appropriate for an academic setting.
How do I know when to use a comma?
The correct use of commas can seem confusing, but there are a few general rules that can clarify this pesky punctuation. Commas are not as confusing as they may seem to be. See what the Excelsior College OWL has to say on commas:
This page begins a series of pages on commas that provide a summary of all the comma rules. Written in clear language, these pages provide all the information you need on commas.
After you review the comma rules, take the quiz to see if you can place the commas where they should be in the text.
What is plagiarism, and how do I avoid it?
Stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another as your own is known as plagiarism. Generally-known facts (like George Washington was the first president of the United States, or Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, from an assassin's bullet) do not normally need acknowledgment because they are available from innumerable sources, are not disputed, and have simply become common knowledge. But summarizing or paraphrasing the ideas or arguments of another person without acknowledging the source of the ideas or arguments constitutes plagiarism. You avoid plagiarism by crediting your sources. The OWL offers a comprehensive plagiarism resource. Read more about it below:
This comprehensive tutorial explains plagiarism, explores its consequences, and teaches you how to avoid plagiarism. In this tutorial, you will watch videos and take quizzes to help you practice things like quoting, paraphrasing, and citing.
Where can I go for help with formatting for APA?
APA's Publication Manual provides complete style guidelines and should be consulted first in all matters concerning APA style. But, if you do not have access to the manual or do have it but would like a user-friendly resource on APA, check out the excellent resources offered by the OWL:
This page overviews the requirements of APA format.
Learn how to format your in-text citations using a user-friendly interactive PDF that can be viewed from the web or printed and kept with you.
Use this visual and user-friendly interactive PDF to get instructions and see samples for formatting all the major reference types.
Several short videos provide you with a tour of APA formatting basics, in-text citations, and references.
Test your knowledge of APA formatting in this interactive quiz.
Where can I go for help with formatting for MLA?
If you are asked to use MLA format for a research paper, the book to consult is MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. However, the Excelsior College OWL provides excellent support for all aspects of MLA formatting, from the heading to the Works Cited page.
This page overviews the requirements of MLA format.
Learn how to format your in-text citations using a user-friendly interactive PDF that can be viewed from the web or printed and kept with you.
Use this visual and user-friendly interactive PDF to get instructions and see samples for formatting all the major source types for your Works Cited page.
Several short videos provide you with a tour of MLA formatting basics, in-text citations, and the Works Cited page.
Test your knowledge of MLA formatting in this interactive quiz.
When doing your research, you need to critically evaluate the data that you find for its usefulness and validity. The Excelsior College OWL provides some excellent resources to help you out:
Learn how to evaluate sources suitability, authority, documentation, and timeliness.
Use this checklist to help you evaluate and analyze sources you are considering.
For each assignment it is important that you know what writing genre you need to follow. For all writing formats it is essential that you know your audience, how the writing will be read or used, the purpose, the layout, the level of complexity of the content, whether the sources of information need to be primary or secondary, the structure, and the style.
This area of the Excelsior College OWL provides you with the step-by-step information you need to write an essay for your classes.
This area of the OWL takes you through the detailed process of writing a research paper.
Learn about the purpose of annotated bibliographies and how to format them. You can even view a sample.
This page provides you with the tips you need to write a strong Literature Review and provides you with a sample Literature Review as a basic model.
Learn how to write an effective e-mail and why e-mail writing skills are important.
Learn all about writing effective discussion posts for your classes. Watch a video that provides you with some helpful tips.
Get tips on writing effective blogs and watch a video of the blog-writing process.
These pages will help you create effective PowerPoints and Prezis.