Katharine's Writer's Block

Where gathering research is one-half the battle in essay prep, properly using the research in an essay is the other half. Research done right and well gives reputable depth to your claims, but credit must be given where credit is due when incorporating it in an essay. It’s a matter of academic honesty and formality. Not doing so leads to significant consequences. Presenting work or ideas from another source as your own without proper consent or acknowledgement is plagiarism

Throughout history, the act of writing has embraced many tools and mediums. Writers of previous centuries wrote with quill pen and ink. The written word went from preservation on payprus scrolls to the printing press. Writers of previous decades wrote with pencils, ballpoint pens, or typewriters. Even more recently, writers have shifted from using paper to digital forms. For all the evolution in the act of writing, the art of writing still prevails. Spelling, grammar, and eff

I touched on how punctuation is a fundamental ingredient to good writing but I only skimmed the surface of the subject. This lesson is a deeper dive into what punctuation is and how it's properly used. In addition, I’ll tell you more about my wedding! Punctuation is a collection of symbols used in reading and writing. They are meant to help us understand written communication in terms of purpose, emotion, or emphasis; the beginning or end of an idea; and connections between

Think of the different food styles you know: Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Chinese, American, homestyle, seafood, fast food, desserts...essays exist in the same way. What you’re intending to express in an essay has an appropriate style and format to use. The basic essay types that most learn are: argumentative/persuasive - as the name implies, this kind of essay attempts to argue or persuade certain points on an issue. (The art of persuasion is an upcoming post!) descript

Previous lessons have touched on the foundations of written expression and producing your best work . Now let’s put them into practice! Your writing materials are at the ready! A blank new document on your computer screen awaits your typing touch. A fresh notebook page anticipates the scrawl of your writing utensil. However, your mind is as blank as the canvas you stare at! Your ideas have become elusive butterflies! You keep missing your trains of thought! A pesky voice in

In my previous lesson , I introduced a recipe for good writing. All that’s needed is a variety of complete sentences expressing common ideas in a logical arrangement, appropriate punctuation, details that paint a clear mental picture, and a generous amount of proofreading. Proofreading is an important thing to do for the success of your written message. Failing to proofread makes it less presentable, like not icing the cake or not cleaning up the mess in the kitchen after y