The following links lead to websites instructors can use in the classroom or have students visit on their own. If you are interested in a particular type of site (ex. one on revising), click on the link in the table below to jump to that portion of the site.
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Mark Sutton
Last updated: 8/16/07
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Compose, Design, Advocate
Compose, Design, Advocate has been adopted by Kean's College Composition program. The site includes student resources, web-based assignments, and instructor resources that can be used with the book.
Mycomplab
Mycomplab is a suite of online resources and programs created by Longman for use in writing classes. It includes exercises that guide students through different aspects of the writing process, a peer-review program, grammar exercises, and resources for teaching students about research and plagiarism. Many College Composition instructors at Kean use this site in their classes.
Re: Writing
Re: Writing is the portal site for all of Bedford/St. Martin's Press' online resources dealing with writing. Most of these resources are free, though some require users to create an account.
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
The Paradigm Online Writing Assistant is a writer's guide and handbook developed by Chuck Guilford. In addition to discussing the writing process in general, it provides advice on adapting the process to specific genres, including informal, thesis/support, exploratory, and argumentative.
Stages of Writing (CUNY)
Part of CUNY's Online Writing Lab, this interactive site leads users through the different aspects of the writing process.
UVic Writer's Guide
Developed by the University of Victoria's English Department, this site is an online rhetoric textbook. It also includes information useful for literature classes.
Assignment Calculator
Maintained by the University of Minnesota Library, this site helps students develop a schedule for completing an assignment. It also provides web resources they can use, though some may be restricted to students enrolled at the University of Minnesota.
One Word
This site gives students a word and asks them to freewrite on it for 60 seconds. When done, they can post their work to the site.
Assignment Key Words (CUNY)
This site contains information and exercises on analyzing keywords in assignments. Understanding what these terms ask writers to do is an essential part of the prewriting process.
Paragraph Punch
Paragraph Punch is an online tutorial that guides users through the steps for writing a paragraph on a topic the site provides.
Revising (CUNY)
Part of CUNY's Online Writing Lab, this site leads students through a series of exercises that will help them revise their work.
The Descriptive Outline
This site provides information on writing a descriptive outline, which can help writers focus on the structure of a draft they are revising
Twelve Steps to Giving Up Stress over Revising and Editing Papers
This handout, created by Sandra Jamieson at Drew University, gives a twelve step procedure for revising a draft, starting with larger issues and moving into sentence-level editing.
Elements of Style
This site contains an online version of William Strunk and E.B. White's Elements of Style, a classic text on editing and style.
Attending to Style
This handout, created by the Writing Program at Dartmouth University, discusses seven principles for writing clear prose. It draws on Joseph Williams' well-known and well-respected Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace
Word Count
This site contains a database of the 86,800 most commonly used English words. Users can search the site for a specific word and see how often it is used.
UNIX Style and Diction Programs
This site contains programs that can analyze a text's style (using several formulas) and that can point out possible variations in word choices.
A Glossary of Rhetorical Terms with Examples
This page, maintained by The University of Kentucky's Classics program, lists common rhetorical tropes and schemes, also known as figures of speech. Writers use these devices to make their writing more memorable and interesting.
A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
This site, maintained by Robert Harris, lists sixty rhetorical figures of speech. It also includes a self-test on identifying the figures as used in quotes from the Bible and literature.
Rhetorical Figures in Sound
Part of the American Rhetoric site, this page contains over 200 audio clips providing examples of 39 figures of speech.
Proofreading Strategies (Purdue)
This page, from Purdue's Online Writing Lab, lists several strategies for proofreading, including ways to focus on both rhetorical and grammatical aspects of a piece. A printable version of this page (pdf) is also available on the site.
An Introduction to Peer Review
This site, part of the Colorado State University Writing Guide, provides advice to students on workshopping.
Sentence Sense
Sentence Sense is an online textbook. Drawing on the principles of sentence combining, it helps students become better able to manipulate and create complex sentences.
The Guide to Grammar and Writing
Maintained by Capital Community College, The Guide to Grammar and Writing contains several handouts on common grammar and writing issues, as well as interactive quizzes. It is my favorite grammar site.
Common Errors in English
A very well-known site, Common Errors in English was created by Paul Brians at Washington State University. The site explains common spelling, diction, and usage errors.
Englishpage.com
Englishpage.com contains a selection of tutorials on grammar issues that can hard for ESL writers, such as verb tense and prepositions. The site also includes online dictionaries and other resources.
22 Short Films about Grammar
This site contains 22 short films dealing with grammar errors, presenting them in the context of popular culture spoofs. Showing the films seems to require Windows Media Player.
Silva Rhetorica
Silva Rhetorica is a complete online rhetoric, drawing heavily on classical principles. It provides a thorough presentation of all parts of the art, including copious examples and definitions.
An Illustrated Glossary of Rhetorical Terms
Maintained by Richard Nordquist, this site contains a glossary of rhetorical terms with examples, as well as links to similar sources.
Corax: The Crow's Nest
Created by Thomas Kinney, this site provides an overview of rhetorical history and theory, as well as links to other resources.
A Short Handbook on Rhetorical Analysis
Created by William P. Banks, this online handbook introduces readers to the elements of rhetorical analysis, emphasizing principles from classical rhetoric.
Identifying the Argument of an Essay: A Tutorial in Critical Reasoning
This site contains a tutorial asking students to identify the basic parts of an argument, focusing on the claim (the site uses the term conclusion) and reasons.
The Toulmin Project
This site, developed by students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, teaches users Toulmin logic, a model for analyzing and constructing arguments that many instructors at Kean use. It contains an overview of the model with detailed information on each part, as well as review quizzes.
Toulmin Arguments
This site describes Toulmin logic, a model for analyzing and constructing arguments that many instructors at Kean use. The site includes several examples.
Mission: Critical
This site, maintained by San Jose State University, leads students through a series of readings and interactive exercises on critical thinking as it can be used to construct arguments.
Common Errors of Logic in Argumentative Writing
This site, maintained by Steve Moiles, lists eleven common logical fallacies, including examples of each.
Argumentation and Critical Thinking Tutorial
This site, developed by Jay VerLinden, provides a selection of quizzes dealing with argumentation and critical thinking
Critical Thinking Rubric
Part of the Critical Thinking Project at Washington State University, this page contains a rubric for evaluating students' use of critical thinking. The page links to the larger Critical Thinking Project site, which may contain other useful information.
Texas Information Literacy Tutorial (TILT)
The Texas Information Literacy Tutorial, or TILT, is an extensive tutorial that helps users learn about selecting appropriate sources, searching library databases and the Internet, and evaluating and citing information. Each module ends with a quiz, the results of which can be mailed to the instructor.
The Process of Research Writing
The Process of Research Writing is an online textbook that helps students prepare research papers. Steven Krause, of Eastern Michigan University, created it.
The Bedford Research Room
This site contains a lot of resources to help students through the research process. It is based on The Bedford Researcher, a textbook written by Mike Palmquist.
Finding It Online: Web Search Strategies
This site contains an online tutorial that teaches users how to develop online searches. Its exercises have students use many of the major online search engines and file directories, such as Yahoo!
Bedford Bibliographer
This site, developed by Mike Palmquist for Bedford/St. Martin's Press, helps students organize, annotate, and evaluate research sources, as well as create a bibliography. It requires users to create a free account.
Writing Demonstrations (CSU)
This site, maintained by the Writing Center at Colorado State University, contains two interactive demos on conducting research: one on conducting electronic searches and one on working with sources (emphasizing citation).
Easybib.com
Easybib will create citations in MLA format for users. Some parts of the site require a subscription.
A Guide to Writing Research Papers: MLA
Part of Capital Community College's Guide to Grammar and Writing, this site leads students through the process of researching a paper. It emphasizes MLA style.
Research Strategy: 7 Steps
This site outlines, in seven steps, a strategy for finding and documenting sources for a research paper. It is maintained by Cornell University's library.
factcheckED
According to its homepage, this site aims "to help students learn to . . . see through the deceptions they encounter daily, to dig for facts using the Internet and other resources, and to set aside prejudice and weigh evidence logically." It includes lesson plans, interactive activities, and an annotated list of information sites.
Kean Academic Integrity Policy
This site explains Kean's academic integrity policy. All Kean students and faculty are expected to be familiar with it.
Plagiarism Court
Plagiarism Court is an online tutorial on plagiarism. It ends with a quiz to test the user's knowledge.
Avoiding Plagairism (Purdue)
This link leads to the section of Purdue's Online Writing Lab that deals with plagiarism. It includes a handout on plagiarism and an exercise (not interactive).
Internet Public Library
The Internet Public Library is, as its title suggests, the web version of a public library. It contains collections of links and articles on most academic subjects, a reference section, news sources, and special collections.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the nation's library, containing copies of some of our most important texts. In addition to a searchable catalog, the website also contains exhibitions on American culture and history, as well as pictures, sound files, and other multimedia elements.
Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus
This site contains an online version of Webster's Dictionary and Webster's Thesaurus. Parts of the site require a subscription.
Reference.com
Reference.com provides users with a thesaurus, dictionaries on language and medicine, and links to other sites dealing with grammar, vocabulary, and writing.
Refdesk.com
Refdesk.com is a resource of links to various reference sources, including dictionaries, maps, and quotations.
ReferenceDesk.org
This site links to research sources on the web, including maps, people finders, encyclopedias, and dictionaries.
Biographical Dictionary
The Biographical Dictionary is a searchable database of over 28,000 entries on famous people, including details like birth and death dates, professions, and lists of their literary and artistic works.
MLA Language Map
The Modern Language Association created this site using 2000 census data. It allows users to see how many people in a state speak a specific language, presenting the information in map, graph, or table format. Users can also compare different states and different languages within the same state.
The Quotations Page
Quote Search is an online collection of quotes. The site's search engine allows users to locate quotes on a particular subject.
Encyclopedia Mythica
The Encyclopedia Mythica is an online encyclopedia of mythology and folklore.
Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center conducts national surveys on social issues. Their site includes raw data and reports analyzing the data.
Federal Registrar's Presidential Papers
This site, maintained by the Office of the Federal Registrar, is an archive of presidential speeches and documents, dating as far back as 1993. It can be searched by week or by topic.
Public Agenda
Public Agenda, according to its homepage, is "a nonpartisan opinion research and civic engagement organization [that has helped] Americans explore and understand critical issues since 1975." Their site includes research studies and guides on major social issues.
Project Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart is a nonpartisan group that analyzes political trends. Their site allows users to search state and national politicians' voting records.
American National Election Studies
According to their website, the "American National Election Studies . . . produces high quality data on voting, public opinion, and political participation." Their site includes raw data and reports analyzing that data.
Political Advocacy Groups: A Directory of United States Lobbyists
This site contains a list of advocacy groups.
Some of these sites may require a subscription to access parts of them.
Google News
Google News, according to its homepage, "presents information culled from approximately 4,500 news sources worldwide and automatically arranged to present the most relevant news stories first." A computer program locates articles, arranges them, and updates the site throughout the day, leading to a wide range of viewpoints in one place.
Arts and Letters Daily
Arts and Letters Daily is an offshoot of the Chronicle of Higher Education. The site contains links to several news outlets, both domestic and international.
Newsvoyager
Newsvoyager is a portal that links to newspapers across the United States and the world.
Newspapers.com
Newspapers.com allows users to search United States and international newspapers, as well as locate specialized newspapers.
Onlinenewspapers.com
This site is a portal to newspapers all over the world. It uses pull-down menus to help users organize their search.
Newslink
Newslink contains links to US newspapers, magazines, and television stations. It also includes links to news sources on other continents.
Resources for Writers (IWCA)
Maintained by the International Writing Center Association, this site is a clearinghouse of links to handouts on writing.
Purdue Online Writing Lab: Handouts
This link leads to the handouts section of Purdue University's Online Writing Lab. The collection is extremely comprehensive, containing both handouts and exercises on most aspects of writing.
UW-Madison Writing Center Writer's Handbook
This site, maintained by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writing Center, contains handouts on the writing process, common genres of assignments, grammar, style, and citation.
Dartmouth Writing Program Materials for Students
This site, maintained by the Writing Program at Dartmouth University, contains handouts for students on the writing process, as well as writing in the disciplines and for the job search.
King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail": A Rhetorical Analysis
This site analyzes the kind of appeals (logical, emotional, or ethical) used by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Each kind of appeal is color-coded, making it easy to find the different types. (Editor's note: While I consider this site very useful, it seems to go offline quite often).
American Rhetoric
This site, according to its homepage, is "a database of 5000+ full text, audio and video (streaming) versions of public speeches, sermons, legal proceedings, lectures, debates, interviews, other recorded media events, and a declaration or two."
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
This site contains a free version of "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," including reproductions of the manuscript. It is part of the Library of Congress' American Memory archives.
VirtuaLit Interactive Tutorials
This site contains interactive tutorials that teach users how to complete close readings of fiction and poetry. In addition, the tutorials introduce users to critical theory and cultural contexts as ways of interpreting texts. VirtuaLit is a mostly free site maintained by Bedford/St. Martin's Press (access to some parts requires a subscription).
LitLinks
This site, according to its homepage, contains "biographies and carefully chosen, annotated links for over 700 authors." It is maintained by Bedford/St. Martin's Press.
LitGloss
This site, created by Bedford/St. Martins Press, is an online dictionary of literary terms. Links allow students to see connections between related concepts.
Poets on Air
Poets on Air is a series of interviews and readings by contemporary poets. They are part of the radio program Poets on Air, which is produced and hosted by Susanna Rich, professor of English at Kean University.
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets, according to their website, "is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry." The site contains a database of poetry and poets, and they spotlight a different poet each month.
Bartleby.com
Bartleby.com is an online publisher and bookseller of reference sources and literary classics. This portion of their site provides free access to several literary and reference titles.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is trying to put as much non-copyrighted literature on the web as possible. Its free library is very extensive, up to over 20,000 works as of June 2007.
Student Life Calculator
This site contains a program that allows students to see how much free time they have in a week after factoring in courses, necessary activities (like sleeping), and a day off. Completing this may be a useful way to help students learn time management.