Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Having your notes in order will make the actual writing of a research paper, if not a breeze, then at least much easier than it might have been otherwise.
Finding quality sources is the first step in writing a research paper. Use this "bibliographic bootstrap" method to get what you need.
Writing a good research paper is a tough challenge, but breaking it down into smaller pieces helps a lot.
There are many different ways to cite research sources. This method - parenthetical citation - is currently most in favor.
"Know the romance market," says Sheri McGregor, author of "Under One Roof." Romance novels made up more than 50 percent of mass market fiction sold in 1997. "Read in the genre and find where you think your story ideas fit. Get the guidelines. Then write your story with the market in mind, without letting go of your story's heart," McGregor says.
The ghazal is a loosely defined, traditional stanza. Although the term often refers to a lyric poem written in Arabic, Persian or Urdu, its English counterpart has its place, too. The English ghazal is a poem consisting of unrhymed closed couplets written in any meter.
A traditional poetic form of French origin, a kyrielle is a poem of any length, divided into quatrains containing eight-syllable lines, with each quatrain ending in a refrain. The rhyme scheme is optional and entirely up to the poet.
"Get the facts straight," says Sheri McGregor, author of "Under One Roof." "Readers will know if your facts are wrong. Did the gals wear bustles in 1880s France? If your book is set during that period and location, find out. What other undergarments did men and women wear? Appropriate research is absolutely necessary to write in the historical period."
A traditional poetic form of Japanese origin, the tanka consists of a single five-line stanza, with no rhyme scheme and a defined syllabic verse pattern of 5-7-5-7-7.
Created by Pindar out of the traditional forms of Greek tragedy, the ode is generally defined as a rhymed poem of irregular meter that praises its subject. The English ode consists of an undefined number of 10-line stanzas.
A traditional poetic form created by Arnaut Daniel, the sestina is made up of six six-line stanzas and a final three-line envoi. Written in iambic pentameter, the sestina is unique in that the poet is required to end each line using a set pattern of the same six words.
"'Romance novel' can mean a 50,000-word category romance that focuses primarily on the romance and usually involves few subplots, or a 100,000-word (or more) single-title novel that encompasses a wide spectrum of story and plot not necessarily dependent on the central romance," says Sheri McGregor, author of "Under One Roof," to be released in summer 2000.
The most common stanza form used in English poetry, a quatrain is simply a four-line stanza. It may have a rhyme scheme, a meter, both or neither. The term quatrain also refers to any four-line poem.
Plagiarism is a serious academic crime that could get you expelled from school. It's also easy to commit by accident if you're not careful.
"Just get it done. Writing a romance is like anything else - if you love what you're doing, you'll make time to do it," says Sheri McGregor, author of two romance novels.
Often used to refer to any five-line stanza, the cinquain is a fully defined traditional stanza of syllabic poetry. Created by Adelaide Crapsey while translating Japanese poetry, the form consists of a five-line, unrhymed stanza with lines fitting a 2-4-6-8-2 syllabic pattern.
This traditional poetic form consists of five triplets and one quatrain. Written in iambic pentameter, the form utilizes repeating lines as well as a rhyme scheme.
According to romance novelist Sheri McGregor, a writer can create different types of tension to suit the type of novel being written. "It can range from sweet tension that results from a lifting of spirits in inspirational romance, or a take-notice attitude in a career romance, to something hot that sizzles up the spine and makes the hands sweat in a racier line," McGregor says.
You've been staring at your computer screen for hours. You know that fast-paced feature article or short story is there, somewhere, just waiting to come out. If only you could write something - anything! All writers know about writer's block. But you needn't let writer's block ruin your writing aspirations. Move those annoying, invisible writing obstacles out of the way.
Writing well is a practiced art, but practicing on your own with no feedback is not the way to make progress.
A first-rate speech not only lets you share interesting and important information, but also can help establish you as an expert in your field. Don't skimp on preparation. As you walk to the podium, you'll be grateful for every bit of effort you've invested.
Learning how to write a newspaper article can be a rewarding experience because you are sharing information with a potential audience of thousands or more. If your articles are good enough, you may even be able to make a living as a reporter.
In the world of writing, if you want to sell an idea for a story, whether you have written it yet or not, you write a treatment. A treatment is a summary of your story written with a marketing slant to sell your story to television, print, or film. In a treatment, you've got anywhere from one to ten pages to pitch your story, so concise writing is important.
For any student writing a research paper, the proposal is the most important step in the process. The quality of your proposal can be the deciding factor in whether the review board accepts your topic. Here are some steps to help you write a proposal for a research paper.
When you write a radio ad, the most important thing to remember is that you are writing for a listener, not a reader or viewer. Plus, you have a limited amount of time to convey the message because the advertisements are just fifteen, thirty or sixty seconds. Here are some tips in writing an effective radio commercial.
Abstracts are short statements that briefly summarize an article or scholarly document. Abstracts are like the blurbs on the back covers of novels. They entice someone to read further. With an abstract, you have to prove why reading your work is worthwhile.
Case studies are used in academic and professional settings as a research method. Though there are several types of case studies such as illustrative, exploratory, critical instance, cumulative, medical and narrative, there are some basic guidelines on how to write a case study.
When organizations are in search of funding they often decide to pursue a grant. Writing a grant can be an easy way for your organization to obtain funds from an outside source. Most new organizations tend to be unfamiliar with how to write a grant proposal, so here are some steps to helping you through the process.
Most people who would like to become teachers don't consider the time and effort that goes into writing a lesson plan, which really benefits both the student and the teacher. Even after taking education courses in college, some still may need some pointers on constructing a good lesson plan. Here are some helpful steps.
If you learn how to write a movie review, you can enhance your appreciation of films, as well as help people from wasting money on a lousy movie. You might also get the chance to have your reviews published and get paid. Here are some steps to writing a movie review.
Writing a paragraph can be difficult if you don't know where to begin. Strong paragraphs need clear topics. Whether they introduce, describe or conclude, paragraphs need the same structure. Model yours with these paragraph writing steps!
Writing a college paper in APA style only seems like a hassle. Being proficient with it will help you beyond any classroom. The format some university professors require is well-respected everywhere. Use this guide as a quick reference for the proper format for your paper and its sources.
Clear, concise job descriptions attract worthwhile applicants. They define job requirements for new employees. Follow these steps to create job descriptions in any industry, for any office or small business.
Article websites generally include headings that offer a quick summary. This summary gives readers an opportunity to decide whether or not they would like to read more. When writing an article heading, you'll want to capture a reader's attention so that he or she will click "read more." When they click "read more," they'll be directed to the page with your full article.
A story is based on plot, right? If you're a beginning author, then you've tried so many plots that you've lost count. Here are a few pointers for getting through the plotting process and come out the other side with a great plot!
Property owners can issue verbal or written warnings to trespassers, forbidding these intruders from entering their property without permission. To reduce the chances an offender suing you, a written trespass warning detailing the violation and repercussions can be more effective.
Metaphors are the cold knife in your side. They are the speed bumps that keep you from picking up writing momentum. They are the hidden monster lurking in the closet of ... of ... oh, darn it. Metaphors are tough, no doubt about it. But approached methodically, metaphors can be the spice in the cuisine that is your written work!
Essay writing can be elevated to art or an incredible chore. An essay needs to get its points across clearly and succinctly, but not be so dry that your audience is bored to tears. Really, an essay isn't that much different than a short story--it should be well-organized, well-written and engaging.
A biography is a life story. Often about famous people, a biography can also be about someone ordinary. A biography can vividly recreate past times, historical events or personal accomplishments.
A persuasive essay is writing to persuade the reader to understand an issue or stance. Write a persuasive essay to convince the reader to accept the point or argument. Keep your clear objective in mind while writing a persuasive essay.
A literature review is a report or overview of literature found relevant to an area of research or study. It provides an overview of current literature that is available on a given subject, usually in academia. Include the elements listed below for a complete and concise literature review.
A thesis presents a theory or idea for consideration and usually is written by candidates for academic degrees. Follow these steps to write an effective thesis.
A summary conveys the main idea of a body of work in an abbreviated version of the original. Follow the guidelines below, whether writing a summary on a fictional or nonfictional piece.
Shakespeare had a passion for romance, as he demonstrated in his mastery of the love sonnet. Follow these tips to lend a sweeping flourish to your poetic declaration of love.
Abbreviations should be used sparingly in formal writing, but they do have their place. Here are some tips to use them properly.
Outlines are an important and relatively easy way to organize a paper, presentation, training document or anything that can benefit from pre-planning. Beginning with an outline can help save you time in rework later. The outline will also show you where you may have too much or need more information to support your topic and can be done in a reasonable amount of time.
An undergraduate thesis may be a good option for upperclassmen, especially those who are academically advanced. Whether applying to graduate schools or eagerness to explore specific topics, follow the steps below for writing a successful undergraduate thesis.
Proofreading can be a major pain, but learning to italicize properly is easy! Here are some simple steps to follow when you are unclear on italics.
Knowing when to hyphenate is easy once you know a few simple rules. Here they are.
Proposals have no mandatory structure or formula. In fact, the structure of a proposal is as varied as the interests of the granting organizations. The idea behind writing a proposal is to develop a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a foundation or corporation. This is necessary because nonprofits often have the vision to execute effective community programming but not the financial resources to carry it out. Proposals request funds for a myriad of needs, but good proposals generally include similar elements.
Whether you are new to writing lab reports or just need a refresher, bear in mind the many different types of lab reports. Depending on the school, the class, and the instructor, your lab reports may vary in style, formatting and content. Regardless, there are a few basic elements that remain the same from one report to the next. Keep the following elements when composing a lab report to ensure you produce a quality report despite any special instructions.
No matter where you live or where your child goes to school, we all would love to have a well stocked library that is easy to use and nicely built. There are grants available out there for building and helping to maintain libraries. Writing a grant takes time and effort, but is well worth it when you get a check for your library.
Circle writing inspires creativity in writers of all ages and experience. Circle writing enhances storytelling skills and an understanding of story structure. In more mature writers, circle writing cultivates skill in tone, mood and voice. For all writers, circle writing is great fun that inspires community and lots of laughs. So circle up and get started!
When writing a story or novel, some writers start by thinking of a theme, plot, or a particular scene. But even if they start this way, it isn't long before they have to think about the characters that will move the story along. The best stories are about people--or animals or things with human characteristics--so it is important to create realistic fictional characters for your stories.
You can correct spelling mistakes to produce prose that is comprehensible and effective. Just follow these steps.
Nothing repels a reader like cumbersome sentences. Powerful writing is succinct and clear. Mastering the art of the short sentence will enhance your communication skills. Follow these steps.
An essay exam demands preparation, concentration and an active writing approach to earn a good grade. By preparing correctly and approaching the exam with a few general principles in mind, you can greatly improve the chances of scoring a good grade on any essay exam.
The English language is one of the most difficult languages to use! And in a world of constant emails and Internet cover letters, it's more important than ever that your punctuation is correct. After all, you don't have your smiling face to impress a potential employer. You only have your writing. This article will help you use punctuation correctly.
Writing an English paper is a necessary part of passing high school and college. For some, writing a paper worthy of an A is as easy as writing their name. For others, a bit more time and energy is required. The good news is that by following certain steps you will be sure to ace your English paper.
If you are one who has a hard time finding the right word or expression, you are not alone. Developing strong writing skills takes practice and patience. For some people, writing clearly and concisely does not always come easily. However, there are several ways you can sharpen your skills. Here are some suggestions.
White papers are most often technical documents describing some aspect of a particular position or concept. Businesses often use white papers to provide non-marketing information on technologies relevant to their products, which can be more trusted by prospective customers than pure marketing materials. Care should be taken when writing white papers to ensure that they are accurate, unbiased and that they clearly support the covered material.
In many kinds of writing, especially non-fiction, writers are trained to use action verbs to keep text engaging. There is a style or set of styles that readers seem to prefer. Even though today's print media seems to be withering away, it still pays to be attentive about ways that action verbs make your writing "competitive" as opposed to bloated or pedantic. Read on to learn more.
No one can use perfect grammar every time. However, by learning about the most common writing mistakes, you can reduce the number of times you make them. Letters, reports, papers and manuscripts that have grammatical errors make you look bad. They reduce your chances of communicating with your audience because they get in the way of your ideas.
All lab reports contain a Materials and Methods section. While different departments may give you different instructions on how to structure this section of your lab report, a few things remain constant. The Materials and Methods section is used to confirm that your experiment is replicable. Do not underestimate its importance. If your experiment can not be replicated, it is not valid.
No matter what the scientific field, lab reports all have similar elements. One such attribute is the inclusion of a discussion or conclusion section. Many feel intimidated when composing this section because it requires the most critical thinking. The main purpose of the conclusion and discussion section is to comment on the results mentioned in the lab report.
A main idea sentence is the key to cohesive, effective writing. The main idea is the leading point that guides your readers so they easily can decipher the point of your writing. A few simple steps can produce effortless main idea sentences.
An abstract is a short summary of a longer report composed after the lab report is written. Abstracts are meant for others to read. It gives an overview of what happened in the lab and tries to persuade the reader to read the full-text version of the lab report. Some online databases only list abstracts. As technology advances, the ability to write an informative abstract is more important.
Lab reports are written for many reasons. They are written to express an understanding of a basic scientific phenomena, to document your experimenting skills and to convey lab work to the scientific community. Different types of lab work, instructors, supervisors and publications have different guidelines regarding what to include when writing a lab report. Regardless, no lab report is complete without an introduction.
A personal mission statement is what you make of it. A successfully written one should always be open to changes as you yourself change, learn and grow. Drawing from it as you continue to pursue your goals in life will help guide you in the positive direction you want your life to go. The following steps will aid you in creating your own personal mission statement.
Grammar can be tough to tackle, but don't let quotation marks scare you. Like most elements of grammar, quotation marks can be mastered with a little bit of practice and a clear understanding of the rules. Get on your way to being a quotation mark guru with these simple solutions.
Public officials, whether local or in Washington, are your voice in government. It's important to let public officials know how certain issues affect your community, your workplace and most importantly, your family. Getting the attention of public officials with quality letter writing is one way to get your opinion heard.
The literary analysis paper is a rite of passage for any scholar. No English class is complete without the dreaded literary analysis assignment. With some practice and patience, you don't need to dread this paper's yearly occurrence. Literary analysis papers aim to focus your thinking about a text and give a venue through which to express either the journey to an opinion or the validity of the opinion itself.
An interpretive analysis is just that: a document that takes apart and explains what another author wrote. To interpret something is to put it in words that the reader can better understand. To analyze is to examine the parts of a work with the goal of determining the nature of the whole. Interpretive analysis can help discover deeper meanings within a written or artistic work. Follow these steps to write an interpretive analysis.
Write an essay to persuade a reader to share your view or opinion on a certain topic. An essay should have three main parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. All components are important, but an introduction catches the reader's attention and introduces the topic as well as conveys the writer's feelings on the matter. Use the tips below when writing an introduction to an essay.
Write an essay to express feelings, thought and opinions on a given subject. An essay should include three main parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Presenting an essay in a structured format can most successfully convey your thoughts on a subject. Use the tips below for writing the body of the essay.
It is very important to write an effective conclusion to an essay. It is this brief conclusive paragraph that will make the final impression on your reader. It is also your last chance to convince the reader. Follow the tips below when writing a conclusion to your essay.
SparkNotes is a website site that provides students with study guides for literature, history, films and philosophy. There are also study guides for standard tests like the ACT and SAT. The services are free and convenient, with information available online or as text message searches to your cell phone.
The five-paragraph essay writing model is a standard in education. Used to test a students ability to organize information and demonstrate understanding of basic writing skills. Complete a five-paragraph essay with an outline. Many students fail to create an outline and suffer with organizing their essay. Writing an outline only takes a few simple steps.
Writing numbers is one of the trickiest skills to master in English grammar. Most people are unsure of the proper use of numbers in text, and most literature we read demonstrates a general inconsistency. Unfortunately, there's no Bible for writing numbers; but these guidelines will help you clarify some of the common rules. Read on to learn more.
Learning the art of proposal writing is essential in academia, the non-profit field and the business sector. The Statement of Need section is crucial to a successful proposal because it documents your need for funding. In it you have the opportunity to justify your research and its necessity.
Successful proposals lead to jobs, funding and research opportunities in the academic, non-profit and business sectors. An unsuccessful proposal may lead to a dead end. The Executive Summary is the first thing a prospective investor reads. It needs to be concise, but packed with information. It also needs to inspire the reader to want to learn more and read on through your proposal.
A basic economics test should cover all of the major points of both microeconomics and macroeconomics. These major sections must be divided into smaller sub-sections. A good economics test also should include at least one essay question and a section of short answer questions so that the test taker's grasp on economics can be adequately assessed.
When writing a work of fiction the ending or resolution is the most important part of your story. The resolution reflects the progression of the characters. Under develop the resolution and the reader is left feeling unsatisfied. Use these simple strategies to make the most of resolution when writing.
William Shakespeare, the famous British writer, wrote numerous plays and sonnets, all of which are vigorously studied in the high school and college classroom. Often, students find Shakespeare's work difficult and writing about Shakespeare an almost unapproachable task. But it's really not that bad. Shakespeare's work can be a source of entertainment and enlightenment and most definitely worth writing about. Below are guidelines to writing about Shakespeare's work.
A description helps to form a picture in the mind of a reader or a listener. A description can be of a job, book, page or a certain text. You need basic writing skills and the ability to convey the message in a coherent way to write a description of any given material. Read on to learn how to write description.
Narration is a way of telling a story in the form of an essay. It is a means to disclose important information in a relaxed and informal conversational style. A cohesive approach and strong adherence to details are required to write a narrative essay of any kind. Read on to learn how to write narration.
Although they are meant to be helpful, commas can be a major pain. They aren't as obvious as periods, but luckily, they aren't as elusive as quotation marks either. The rules are tricky and tough, but these guidelines and examples should be easy to use and simple to remember.
Cause and effect essays are usually taught in high school and introductory college writing courses. This type of essay does just as the title suggests; it explains the cause of a problem and details the resulting effects. A few quick steps can help you draft this type of essay.
Students, researchers and professionals in the social and behavioral sciences use the American Psychological Association’s guide when writing reports, term papers, dissertations and academic articles. The APA guide explains how to format articles and reports as well as formatting in-text and bibliographic citations. Your report will have four sections: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body and References. You cite references in the body of the report and in the bibliography.
"Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams says that humor writing goes hand in hand with danger and risk. You'll be putting a part of your personality on the line when you do it. So if you're too cautious, writing humor might not come naturally for you. Nevertheless, the ability to write humor, whether fiction or nonfiction, is a talent that can be sharpened by taking to heart some simple concepts.
There are a number of reference sources that are available for your use in libraries and on the internet. Knowing how and when to use these sources can be tricky for some people. There are a few things that you can do when using reference sources to make sure you are thorough and accurate in your search for information.
Acceptance letters are a professional response to a company, organization, or business, that offers you employment. By sending an acceptance letter to the respected organization, you are accepting the position that has been offered. Therefore, your letter serves as a rough contract. For this reason, this letter should reflect your professional conduct. Here are a few tips.
Commonly misunderstood and seriously stereotyped, cowboy poetry is a mystery to most mainstream audiences. However, cowboy poetry represents a deeply sensitive, intelligent, gritty and centuries-old genre. Test your own skills as a cowboy poet by following these steps.
When writing an essay for class or an article for a publication, you may need to cite online resources. While format for these citations varies slightly in different styles, all of them include the same basic information.
Vivid language is the difference between captivating writing and words that bore. Writing with rich sensory details turns novels into page turners and sales pitches into success stories. Here are some writing tips for using vivid language in essays, fiction, nonfiction and business writing.
A news story's purpose is to inform readers about events and facts. News writers must be objective and not include their opinion on the subject matter they are covering. News stories are not essays or creative writing pieces. There are a number of journalistic guidelines to follow when writing a news story.
The written English language has some unusual punctuation. None is, perhaps, as remarkable as the diagonal slash mark. This tiny mark is capable of explaining your reasoning in various ways. Depending on your mood, it can show sameness, opposites and a relaxed style of writing.
Ellipsis marks are a set of three periods that indicate dropped words or a dropped thought within a sentence. Knowing their grammar rules gives you more options when you quote and also allows you to create effects in your writing with them.
When it comes to creating a neat and easy-to-follow timeline, there are a number of software products or excel spreadsheets that can be used. If you are like most amateur computer users, you probably don't want to spend the extra money on software to create a single timeline or spend the extra hours trying to figure out Excel. Most computers come equipped with Microsoft Word, a program more than capable of creating a timeline.
Whether you're writing an advertisement or an essay, you can convince someone of something with the words you use. You want to get your point across and influence the reader. Follow these tips to write persuasively and convince someone to follow your advice.
