Archive for the ‘Free Writing Resources’ Category
Friday, December 25th, 2009 |
Whether you’re a classroom teacher looking for writing prompts for kids, or you’re a mom or dad looking for interesting subjects for your child to write about, writing prompts serve an important purpose in overcoming one of the largest psychological obstacles of writing for many kids. Often, coming up with an idea to write is an overwhelming task, not only because the child doesn’t have a large number of life experiences to draw from, but also because they are often very shy and afraid of being ridiculed for their ideas.
By providing students (or your children) with writing prompts, you can spark their creativity and avoid the initial difficulty of coming up with ideas. Often, writing prompts generate some of the most amazing and insightful writing from children!
Coming Up With Writing Prompts for Kids
If you’re unsure about what writing prompts for kids that you should use, always think simple. Some people make use of longer writing prompts, actually providing a couple of sentences to start a story or an event in the child’s mind. However, doing so can limit children and create a scenario that’s too narrow. Instead, provide only one sentence or even only part of a sentence, and then watch the creative sparks fly.
The short list below comes from the writing prompt powerhouse CanTeach. I’ve selected the best writing prompts from the long list, but if you want to see them all, make sure to visit the site and browse the entire page.
The Top 25 Writing Prompts for Kids
- What is the best way to treat meddlesome people?
- What is the meaning of “He laughs best who laughs last”?
- What is something that really bugs you?
- What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted? When would you use this ability?
- What would happen if there were no television? Why would this be good? bad?
- What if cows gave root beer instead of milk?
- What would happen if everyone wore the same clothes?
- What would happen if you threw a piece of trash on the ground? What if everyone did?
- What would happen if you grew taller than trees? How would this change your life?
- What would happen if you found gold in your backyard?
- What would you do if a bully bothered you on your way home?
- What would you do if you saw little bugs in your salad?
- What would you do if you woke up in another country and no one could understand you?
- What would you do if someone said you did something wrong and you didn’t?
- What do you think about ghosts?
- What do you think about when you can’t fall asleep?
- What do you think courage means?
- What does “Have your cake and eat it too” mean to you?
- What does “There are two sides to every coin” mean to you?
- What are you afraid of? Why?
- What would you invent to make life better?
- I wish I had a million… Then I would…
- I wish I had enough money to……
- I wish everyone had…..
- I wish there were no more…..
One liners are always the best writing prompts for children, and the ones above are sure to generate some of the most entertaining, interesting and intriguing writing from your kids and your students. Make sure to come back and let us know what sort of amazing stories came from these ideas in the comments section below!
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 |
If you’re looking for an example of a research paper outline, the odds are you find yourself faced with the task of going through the steps to writing a research paper. While it’s an excellent idea to use an example of a research paper outline (and you’ve come to the right place for that), it’s just as important to make sure you understand the steps involved in writing a research paper. The outline for your paper is only one step - but it’s not the first step.
The first step is getting a good grasp on exactly what topic (thesis) that you plan to pursue. Ultimately, the rest of the process of writing your research paper will flow from the topic you choose, the research materials you find, and how the analysis and findings play out.
Understanding the Steps to Writing a Research Paper
If you just came here for the example of a research paper outline, feel free to scroll down and use the sample printed at the bottom of this article. However, before you start using the outline, following the steps from the beginning will make the process of completing your research paper much easier, and will ensure a much better grade - most likely an A+. So what are the steps to writing a research paper? Read on.
First: Select Your Topic. This assumes the topic isn’t assigned. If you have the freedom to choose your own topic, try to choose a topic where you already have a few resources to conduct research. For example, if you know you have an uncle who was in WWII and that he would offer you an interview, doing a research paper on some aspect of WWII would be an excellent idea.
Second: State the thesis of your paper. This is the central point that you want to examine with your paper. It should be a question or a statement that you’d like to prove or disprove.
Third: Conduct Your Research. This is the most difficult step of writing your research paper. It actually comes before you create the outline. This is because based on what you uncover during your research, you may decide to change around the outline. Obviously, dive into Google and don’t forget to sift through the invisible web for even more information you couldn’t normally find. Once you’ve exhausted the Internet, don’t forget the many other resources at your disposal at your local library including books, references, and journals. Finally, also consider the option of interviewing experts if you really want to score some huge points.
Create Your Outline. See below!
Organize Your Research. This should be done during your research, but you can also do it after the fact. Take all of the notes that you’ve collected and organize all of your research into major groups or “points.” These are the major points that will make up the major sections of your research paper. Since you already know at this point that you have all of the information you need, the paper will practically write itself.
Write, Revise, and Rewrite. The part of writing a research paper that so many students fail at is properly editing. As you work through your research notes and write each section of the paper as you’ve outlined it, you’ll need to make sure that you only write the paper in terms of what the research taught you - be very careful not to plagiarize! When you’ve written the first draft of your research paper - remember, you’re not done! Carefully edit for grammar and spelling, and then retype the entire paper into final version format. Your polished work will be a surefire A+
An Example of a Research Paper Outline
Moving on to the reason that you came here - the example of a research paper outline. Please use the outline as a general starting point, but remember that the information you uncover during your research will really define how you fine tune the final outline.
- The Title of Your Paper
- A statement that describes the thesis of the paper
- Introduction - this includes a description of the question or issue that you’re going to examine and explore in the rest of the paper. It explains why the issue is relevant and important to investigate, how much of the issue the paper covers (the scope), and list the questions that you plan to pursue to answer the final thesis.
- Describe your Methodology - Explain how you went about doing your research, including not only online methods but whether you performed any sort of tests of your own, or whether you interviewed subjects and what procedures you used to analyze the information you uncovered.
- Analysis - This is the body of your paper and will likely make up the majority of the pages. Make sure to seperate this section into the logical subsections and you make your way through the process of answering questions and making your way toward answering or validating the original thesis you set out to pursue with the research paper. Carefully cite your sources whenever you use any of your research, and make sure to keep a numeric notation of the source noted in the paper so that you can list the source in the bibliography at the end of the paper.
- Conclusion - The conclusion of the research paper wraps up all of the issues examined and analyzed throughout the paper and draws a conclusion related to the original thesis based on all of those points and analysis. Don’t forget to include recommendations for future research to better answer the thesis, or to ask further questions related to the original thesis.
- References - This is probably the driest part of writing a research paper, but it’s also the most important because it’s the evidence that holds up your analysis. Check out this Cornell reference page for a good example of how to make references using APA format.
Once you’ve finished writing your research paper, please come back and list the grade you received in the comments section below!
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Friday, December 4th, 2009 |
One of the most important goals here at FreeWritingCenter is to truly serve as a Free Writing Center for all of your writing needs. If you’re in the middle of writing a character reference for a friend, then you’re probably here because you really don’t know where to start and you’re looking for a free writing resource for help. You’ve come to the right place.
Writing a character reference as a friend is a bit different than doing so as an employer, and you may be nervous about ruining your friend’s chances for a job or some other opportunity because you messed up the reference letter. The following guide will walk you through the simple process of writing a character reference for a friend that will put them in a very good light for anyone who might be interested.
A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Reference for a Friend
If you’ve been staring at that blank piece of paper (or computer screen) for a while now, and you simply don’t know where to start - keep in mind the objectives that you want to accomplish with your letter. Ultimately, you want to:
- State how you know the person and why you’re a credible reference.
- Describe how your friend has the sort of characteristics that the organization is most likely looking for.
- Provide interesting anecdotes as evidence of your friends strong character.
- Offer a general summary statement and stand behind your statements about your friend with an offer to the organization to call or contact you for more information.
Each goal above actually represents the four important elements of a reference letter. Since you’re not an employer, finances and work ethic do not come into play at all. As a friend, you’re offering a character reference, so that’s exactly what you should aim to do by highlighting every good quality your friend has, and not mentioning any negative characteristics that you may know about. Your friend asked you for a reference because they trusted you to provide a very positive one, so don’t let them down.
An Example of an Effective Character Reference for a Friend
The following sample is an example of a character reference that incorporates all of the elements described above. By projecting confidence for your friend and your appreciation for your friends stellar character, the reader will understand that they are dealing with a person who truly makes a positive impact on the people that he or she knows.
To Whom it May Concern:
I have known Amy Thomas for over five years. Her daughter is close friends with mine, and we’ve gone on many outings and trips together both individually and as a family. She also cared for my children on weekends when my husband and I had to travel for business.
Amy is one of the most patient and generous individuals that I’ve ever met. One weekend when my husband and I had a last minute conference come up in another state, we called Amy and asked if she could watch our children. Amy actually canceled her own personal weekend plans so that she could help us with our child care crisis.
Amy also demonstrated a meticulous attention to detail and an ability to effectively accomplish complicated tasks in a very short time when she organized my daughter’s large graduation party for us. The event included my daughter’s entire class, family, decorations, live entertainment and food. Amy managed to produce one of the most entertaining and exciting events, and even came in under budget.
I feel that Amy would be a tremendous addition to any organization that she joins, and that she would prove to be an invaluable part of any job, project or task that she’s assigned. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any further questions about Amy.
Sincerely,
Christy Smith
As you can see, the letter is both professional and passionate, and it portrays how important Amy is within the life of the writer. By using the tips listed above and the sample letter provided here, you’ll be able to effectively convey that message and help your friend in whatever it is he or she needs your reference letter for.
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Monday, November 9th, 2009 |
One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is by taking free writing classes that help with many of the fundamentals of writing. It isn’t absolutely necessary to have every grammatical rule memorized, but in order to write well you do need to understand the basic rules of well-structured writing.
Not long ago, I provided a list of the best free online writing courses. One of those websites, The Owl at Purdue, is my absolute favorite. So, I wanted to take a moment to provide a tour of this wonderful free resource, and recommend that if you like what you see, take some time to work through these free writing classes. You’ll discover that your writing will improve significantly.
Free Writing Classes from Purdue University
The first thing that you’ll notice when you visit The Owl at Purdue is the long list of available free classes that run down the right menu bar. The areas of writing that you can learn about with this site make it the premier website for learning how to write well. In fact, I would say that if you could only pick a single site to use that could teach you everything you need to know about good writing, this site would be it.
Some of the available subjects that you’ll find include Grammar and Mechanics, Research and Citation, and even The Writing Process - an excellent first stop for beginning writers. When you drop down any one of the menu items, you’ll discover a treasure trove of subjects that you can study.
When you choose a class that you want, you’ll notice that each subject is laid out using the same template, with an introduction and then a menu bar as shown here.
Menu options include getting help, downloading all materials in a multi-page printable format, obtaining permission to make copies of the coursework, an option to let Purdue know that you’re linking to the site (I’ve just done that!), the option to report an error with the courseware, and finally a button where you can provide feedback about the lesson.
As you work through each lesson, you’ll notice that the concepts are described and laid out in a manner that’s very simple to understand, and with graphical representations of each idea provided whenever it’s appropriate. There’s nothing dry or boring about these lessons - they’re well designed, well written, and well presented. You’ll also notice that at the bottom of every lesson page, there’s a complete listing of all pages that make up the lesson.
This navigational menu makes it very easy to go back to any concepts that you either forgot or you simply want to review one more time. You can jump back and forth through the lesson pages and work through it at your leisure, at your pace and whenever it’s convenient for you.
I’d like to offer kudos to the fantastic tutoring group over at Purdue for building this valuable online resource for all writers who are looking to improve their writing abilities. If you like this free tool, don’t forget to check out the Purdue “Grammar Gang” - a fun blog run by the tutoring team.
Whatever your reason for seeking out free writing classes - The Owl at Purdue is an excellent free resource and a great site to bookmark and return to whenever you need a refresher on grammar, correct writing structure and other writing guidelines.
Do you have any other free writing tools or resources that you use often to improve your writing? Share your own resources in the comments section below.
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Thursday, November 5th, 2009 |
At Free Writing Center, I’m always looking for tools and resources that will help with some of the most popular types of writing that people are searching the Internet for, and free resume writing software is at the top of the list. One of the most popular items that people are constantly looking for help with is with their resume. This is especially true in today’s job market when so many more people are looking for a new job - you really have to make sure that your resume is up to date and that it shines.
The problem is that most people just don’t have time to put together a nicely formatted, perfectly written resume. You might remember all of the rules of resume writing that you learned in high school or college, but do you still remember all of them now? Do you have time to take a class and relearn all of those rules? Yeah, I didn’t think so. So, to help all of you who are looking for some simple ways to spruce up your resume, I present the free resume writing software online called the Resumizer. Yes, the name is a little bit corny - but wait till you see what this awesome online tool can do.
How Free Resume Writing Software Can Automate the Process
Forget understanding the rules - that’s what templates are for, so you don’t have to remember. When you first go to the online Resumizer tool, you’ll find yourself staring at “Step #1,” which is choosing a resume style. Each style is legitimate and adheres to proper resume etiquette. At this point it really comes down to a matter of style and what most people within the industry that you’re applying to might prefer. This is really hard to know without asking around - but if you don’t know anyone to ask, don’t worry. Any of these styles will do fine.
You can also choose to swap the experience section with the education section, depending on which one you really want to show prominently at the top of your resume. Choose the section that you feel presents the strongest case for your training and your value. Once your done and you click on the next step, it’s time to enter your contact details.
Obviously, don’t be as brief as my examples. When it comes to entering your skills, you really want to take your time and list, in some detail, each and every one of your skills that qualifies you for the particular job that you’re applying for. In fact, it’s a great idea to use this free resume writing software to customize an individual resume tailored for each job that you apply to. Considering that this tool only has a few steps involved, doing so really isn’t out of the question.
The next step is entering your employment history. Again, don’t be brief here - dig back and pull out all relevant work history that’s even remotely related to the job and industry that you’re applying to. Your employment history doesn’t have to be a perfect match. If it could be related, in any way, to any skill that you might need in the job that you’re applying for, then include the job in your employment history. If the job has absolutely no relationship - you can include it if you want, but you don’t have to.
Step four is entering in any and all education you’ve had through the years. In this section, you should include any formal classroom training you’ve received, even if it wasn’t as part of a degree program. The section is for any form of education you’ve received, and individual classes or series of classes counts - so include it, especially if it’s related to the job you’re applying for!
The final step is where you can enter in additional certifications or licenses you might hold. Include or note anything in this section that sets you above the tens or hundreds of other applications for the job. Don’t hold back - you’re in competition with a lot of folks who are looking for work too, so really sell yourself!
Finally, you can opt to customize the font style, size and the coloring of your resume to suit your particular tastes. The default settings are really good enough, but if you want to add a little bit of pizzaz to your resume, then go for it. Just be careful not to go too over the top or it you could turn a good resume into a total flop. Proceed with caution! After this last step, just click on edit and you’ll see the following screen.
The coolest part of this online free resume writing software is that you get to download the final resume as a text file, an html file or a PDF. I’d suggest downloading a copy in all three because there are good uses for each format. For example PDF is perfect for email, HTML is great for your online profile or website that you added to your resume, and of course many employers on places like Monster request text format. Downloading all three - you’ll be ready for anything. What does the final product look like? Check it out!
The view above is the HTML format. The formatting is pretty slick for HTML, and it’s nicely laid out with all of the information fitting neatly within each section. Any employer that sees your resume will think that you spent many hours putting it together. Little do they know that you learned about this little secret weapon from FreeWritingCenter!
Are you out of work and looking for a job? Did Resumizer save you some time putting together your resume? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
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Monday, October 19th, 2009 |
While the art of writing certainly requires a bit of talent, learning the techniques of good writing through free online writing courses can send your own writing quality into the stratosphere. When it comes to online writing, the truth is that good things come to those who write well. Once your articles reach wide distribution and your name gets out there as a recognizable source for excellent writing - your earning potential as a freelance online writer is limited only by how much time you have available to devote to your writing.
Previously, I’ve written quite a bit about free online resources and tools for online writers, and I’ve also provide a little bit of insight into the path that you can follow to become a freelance writer. However, in order to lay down a solid foundation as a writer, you really need to take a few writing classes - so I’ve decided to put together a useful list of the top 10 sites that offer free online writing courses in order to provide you with a page that you can bookmark and return to often whenever you’d like to take another free writing course.
Top 10 Free Online Writing Courses
Much of the Internet is over-run with useless sites that don’t really offer anything much of value, but instead try to draw in search engine results with spammed keywords and meaningless text (often written with the most atrocious grammar you’ll ever read). In order to cut through all of that nonsense, I’ve collected the finest sites offering a wide range of writing courses that cover all aspects of good writing.
- Learning Space - This UK based online courseware site easily takes the top spot on the list of the best free online writing courses due to the sheer volume of available free courses. The Arts and History section has the most available lessons, but you can find excellent writing courses throughout other disciplines as well.
- MIT Open Courseware - Can’t get into MIT? That doesn’t mean you can’t take writing classes from one of the country’s Premier technical colleges. Select the Writing and Humanistic Studies Department and you’re whisked away to a list of dozens of classes. Just choose your class and download the full course - it’s as simple as that!
- Utah University - This University also offers open courseware that includes a few valuable English classes. Remember, these are full University courses that you can download for absolutely free.
- NewsU - I’ll be honest, I’m a journalist at heart. I love hunting down the truth behind a story. News University does charge for some courses, but there are enough free, high-quality courses here to put this site toward the top of the list. If you’re a budding freelance journalist, don’t pass this one by.
- Utah State - Utah State University also has a wide range of excellent courses for writing across all departments, but obviously the English Department is the best place to start.
- Western Governors University - This site lists a great collection of classes under “Liberal Arts.”
- Purdue - This top University offers some of the best open courseware of any other site available on the web. You’ll find fantastic courses like “Proofreading Your Writing” and “The Writing Process.”
- Steven Barnes - This well known author and screenwriter offers prospective writers a complete writing course for absolutely free.
- The Writer’s Channel - If you enjoy watching video more than reading, this series of video and audio writing courses are right up your alley.
- Ezine University - This site offers an eclectic mix of online courses, many of which are focused on the art of writing for various purposes.
Learn the Techniques and Practice
When it comes to writing, about half of the effort to become a better writer is learning how to write as though you’re having a conversation with the reader, or how to use different methods to persuade, sell or draw an emotional reaction from your reader. Once you learn these techniques, the other half of the effort is to put what you learn into practice by writing as often and as much as you have time for. Make it a hobby that you do with every spare moment that you have available, and in a very short time you’ll find that not only have your writing skills improved, but you’re writing will also be well in demand.
Good luck with your studies, and make sure you share your success stories in the comments section below!
Posted in Free Writing Resources, Writing for Income | 2 Comments »
