Composition FAQ: Difference between revisions

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Welcome to the English Composition Writing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). This FAQ addresses difficulties that many new writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure. While meant for the neophyte writer, even experienced writers may benefit from some of the answers to the following questions.
Welcome to the English Composition Writing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). This FAQ addresses difficulties that many new writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure. While meant for the new college writer, even experienced writers may benefit from some of the answers to the following questions.


Comments, questions, and submissions should be forwarded to the FAQ’s Editor. If you have a question, feel free to send it to me, or link it below and hopefully someone will answer it in due time. Please check back frequently if your questions have not yet been answered. Anyone wishing to submit content to the FAQ should do so. Any questions in red have not been answered.
Comments and questions should be forwarded to the FAQ’s Editor. If you have a question, feel free to send it to me, or link it below and hopefully someone will answer it in due time. Please check back frequently if your questions have not yet been answered. If you have a submission — an answer to a question — please include it below. Anyone wishing to submit content to the FAQ is strongly encouraged to do so. Any questions in red have not been answered; click on one to answer it. Please follow the [[Composition FAQ Guidelines]].


== Start Here ==
== Initial Questions ==
* [[How do I get started writing?]]
* [[How do I get started writing?]]
* [[What questions do I need to ask as a writer?]]
* [[What questions do I need to ask as a writer?]]
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== Mechanics and Grammar Questions ==
== Mechanics and Grammar Questions ==
* [[What is a “comma splice”?]]
=== General ===
* [[What is the difference between possessives and plurals?]]
 
=== Sentences ===
* [[What is a sentence?]]
* [[What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?]]
* [[What is an independent clause?]]
* [[What is a “run-on” sentence?]]
* [[What is a “run-on” sentence?]]
* [[What is a “sentence fragment”?]]
* [[What is a “sentence fragment”?]]
* [[What is “subject/verb agreement”?]]
* [[What is “pronoun/antecedent agreement”?]]
* [[What are “coordinating conjunctions”?]]
* [[What are “subordinating conjunctions”?]]
* [[What are “conjunctive adverbs”?]]
* [[What is a dangling participle?]]
* [[Can a sentence begin with “and” or “but”?]]
* [[What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?]]
* [[What is an “objective complement”?]]
* [[What is parallel structure?]]
=== Punctuation  ===
* [[What is the correct way to use punctuation with quotation marks?]]
* [[How do you usually punctuate conjunctive adverbs?]]
* [[What is an ellipsis and how do you use one correctly?]]
==== Commas ====
* [[How do I know when I need to use a comma?]]
* [[How do I know when I need to use a comma?]]
* [[Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?]]
* [[What is a “comma splice”?]]
* [[Is a comma really necessary after the last element in a list of three or more?]]
* [[Is a comma really necessary after the last element in a list of three or more?]]
==== Semicolons ====
* [[How do you use a semicolon?]]
* [[How do you use a semicolon?]]
* [[What is “subject/verb agreement”?]]
* [[What's the difference between a semicolon and a comma?]]
* [[What is “pronoun/antecedent agreement”?]]
* [[What are “coordinating conjunctions”?]]


== Structural Questions ==
== Structural Questions ==
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* [[How do I get the ideas from my head to the paper?]]
* [[How do I get the ideas from my head to the paper?]]
* [[What are “transitions”?]]
* [[What are “transitions”?]]
* [[How do I present titles of other works in my essay?]]
* [[How do I present titles of poems, novels, etc. in my essay?|How do I present titles of other works in my essay?]]
* [[What are the basic citations in books, articles, and scholarly journals in MLA format?]]


== Stylistic Questions ==
== Stylistic Questions ==
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* [[How do I organize a critical essay about literature?]]
* [[How do I organize a critical essay about literature?]]
* [[What are some basic guidelines for approaching literature critically?]]
* [[What are some basic guidelines for approaching literature critically?]]
== Online Writing ==
* [[How does online writing differ from traditional writing?]]
* [[What types of online writing are there?]]
* [[What are the unique components of online writing?]]
* [[What is multimedia?]]
* [[How and when do I use images?]]
* [[How does research and citation differ when writing online?]]
===Blogs===
* [[What is a blog?]]
* [[How does a blog differ from a traditional essay?]]
* [[How does a blog differ from a wiki?]]
* [[How do I write on a blog?]]
===Wikis===
* [[What is a wiki?]]
* [[How does a wiki differ from a traditional essay?]]
* [[How does a wiki differ from a blog?]]
* [[How do I write on a wiki?]]
===Podcasts===
* [[What is a podcast?]]
===Vodcasts===
* [[What is a vodcast?]]


== Research Questions ==
== Research Questions ==
* [[Research? What research!?]]
* [[Research? What research!?]]
* [[How do I go about doing research?]]
* [[How do I go about doing a research paper?]]
* [[What are good sources to cite?]]
* [[What are good sources to cite?]]
* [[What is MLA documentation style?]]
* [[What is MLA documentation style?]]
*[[What is APA documentation style?]]
* [[How does research and citation differ when writing online?]]


== Revision and Editing ==
== Revision and Editing ==
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* [[What are some basic editing strategies for new writers?]]
* [[What are some basic editing strategies for new writers?]]


=== External Links ===
== External Links ==
 
* [http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/ Geroge Mason University’s Writing Center] — Some excellent resources for writers and ESL.
* [http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab] — A great site for tutorials, workshops, study materials, and more.
* [http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab] — A great site for tutorials, workshops, study materials, and more.
* [http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/ University of Ottawa’s Writing Centre] — Check out [http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/grammar.html Hypergrammar] and their other writing resources.
[[Category:Composition]]

Latest revision as of 14:18, 5 November 2014

Welcome to the English Composition Writing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). This FAQ addresses difficulties that many new writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure. While meant for the new college writer, even experienced writers may benefit from some of the answers to the following questions.

Comments and questions should be forwarded to the FAQ’s Editor. If you have a question, feel free to send it to me, or link it below and hopefully someone will answer it in due time. Please check back frequently if your questions have not yet been answered. If you have a submission — an answer to a question — please include it below. Anyone wishing to submit content to the FAQ is strongly encouraged to do so. Any questions in red have not been answered; click on one to answer it. Please follow the Composition FAQ Guidelines.

Initial Questions

Content Questions

Mechanics and Grammar Questions

General

Sentences

Punctuation

Commas

Semicolons

Structural Questions

Stylistic Questions

Writing About Literature

Online Writing

Blogs

Wikis

Podcasts

Vodcasts

Research Questions

Revision and Editing

External Links