Writing Process
Idea and Essay (PDF)
A detailed explanation of what I mean by the idea that shapes an essay.
Writing the Investigative Essay or Feature article (PDF)
An overview of the process of developing and assembling a substantive piece
Shaping an Essay (PDF)
Suggestions for focusing an essay as you draft and revise
Resources for Checking Facts and Controversies (PDF)
Links to sites that can help you check facts and understand social and political controversies
References
"Research and Documentation online"
Resources for locating and citing sources, including proper MLA style
Link to Encyclopedias for the Sciences
This is a link to the Sciences page of Research and Documentation Online (ed. Diana Hacker). For each science listed, there is a button "Reference Books." You can use this to find encyclopedias in relevant fields for your research-based essay.
Purdue OWL Writing Resources
A very useful—and clearly organized—compendium of all kinds of help, from grammar and mechanics to why and how to write definitions of words, to MLA and APA style guides.
Blogs
Online resources on environmental science and issues (PDF)
Includes links to New York Times blogs and others
PressThink blog on issues in journalism
A very thoughtful weblog by Jay Rosen, on the journalism faculty at NYU.
Fun
FreeRice.com Vocabulary builder
This clever website allows you to donate grains of rice for each correct answer.