Writing Resources

Welcome to BCHS's Writing Resources. Below are links to handouts and to web pages that will help with APA format and style, basic grammar and usage, and writing essays and research papers. Any questions may be sent to mary.millione@bchs.edu.

THE WRITING LAB

The Writing Lab is a free "drop-in" service for BCHS students to help with any aspect of writing for any writing assignment. Areas of help include development and organization, research writing and documentation, grammar and punctuation usage, and APA format. Staffed by a BCHS English professor, the lab is in room L4 of the BCHS library and is meant to assist with both individual writing needs and group projects. Current semester days and times for this service are posted in the Library.

APA FORMAT

• Setting up the 6th Edition APA Paper: Before typing APA papers using Microsoft Word, it is important to set the correct formatting for line spacing, font face, font size and margins by completing the instructions found on this link, setting up the APA Paper.
• What is plagiarism? The basics from APA on what plagiarism is and how to avoid it are explained in this PDF document.
• APA Manual handout: The attached document is meant to be used with the 6th edition APA Publications Manual. The handout shows the basics of using APA format and refers the user to the chapters and page numbers within the manual for details, explanations, and examples. This handout is not meant to be used as a substitute for the manual, APA 6th edition handout.
• APA citing for research papers: A PDF document discussing the APA Reference page and how to cite in text including where to find specifics in the 6th edition APA Publication Manual, APA citing for research papers.
• APA formatting and style guide: This PDF document downloaded from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University gives the basics of APA formatting, APA from OWL Purdue.

WRITING ESSAYS

• Writing essays and research papers: A general guide on how to write essays: This handout explains the basics of writing essays, from the introduction and thesis statement through the conclusion, how to write an essay handout.
• Link to essay writing basics: This link to OWL at Purdue gives the basics of essay writing along with descriptions of the various types of essays, including expository and argumentative essays.

GRAMMAR AND USAGE

• Common grammar usage errors and how to correct them: The attached handout explains common errors: fragments, run ons, comma splices, subject verb agreement problems, and apostrophe and pronoun errors. View the common grammar usage errors and how to correct them handout [DOC].
• Link to grammar exercises: OWL Exercises at Purdue's website explains punctuation rules, such as comma and apostrophe usage; sentence structure, such as fragment, run on, and subject verb agreement problems; and common spelling errors such as they're, their, there and it's/its.