Writing Assistance: Dr.Wicked: Write or Die

http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html

OK. It's 10:00 the night before your paper is due. You started to write, really, you did, but were distracted by sooooo many other things. Unlike other, more friendly forms of positive reinforcement, this site offers only negative reinforcement. If you stop...well, this is what the site promises will happen:

"Write or Die is a web application that encourages writing by punishing the tendency to avoid writing. Start typing in the box. As long as you keep typing, you're fine, but once you stop typing, you have a grace period of a certain number of seconds and then there are consequences.
Negative Reinforcement "strengthens a behavior because a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the behavior."


Consequences:

Gentle Mode: A certain amount of time after you stop writing, a box will pop up, gently reminding you to continue writing.

Normal Mode: If you persistently avoid writing, you will be played a most unpleasant sound. The sound will stop if and only if you continue to write.

Kamikaze Mode: Keep Writing or Your Work Will Unwrite Itself

These consequences will persist until your preset conditions have been met (that is, your time is up or you've written you wordcount goal or both)
This text box is not a word processor, it is not for editing, the way to save is to select all of the text, copy and paste into your own text editor. The idea is to separate the writing process and the editing process as much as possible.
This is aimed at anyone who wants to get writing done. It requires only that you recognize your own tendency towards self-sabotage and be willing to do something about it. If you're sick of saccharine writing advice that no one could honestly follow and you want a real method to getting work done."

Seven Secrets to Success in English 101

Seven Secrets to Success in English 101
By Richard Nordquist, About.com
http://grammar.about.com/od/yourwriting/a/freshcomptips.htm

Excellent tips on surviving English 101. There are tabs for Grammar & Composition Words & Sentences and Paragraphs & Essays. Good, solid advice.

Writing Assistance: Story Squared

http://www.storysquared.com/ Story Squared

"Want to be creative but don't have the time? Start a story on StorySquared and see where it goes. Friends and family contribute to a story thread that you create. The results can be funny, imaginative, or just plain strange. Try it out now and see! Start your story “Once upon a time…” Send it to the people you want to contribute. You and your friends read the story as it unfolds! "
Above is the lead into this site. It's an interesting tech twist on an old writing technique that would be great for imtermediate and higher level ESL students, and would also obviously work on an online environment. There are public stories that you can add to, or create an entirely new story.

Writing Assistance

http://www.powa.org/

The Paradigm Online Writing Assistant has help with organizing, writing and editing, along with some specifics on various essay styles. One of the best sections is entitled "Six Problem Areas" which covers topics such as subject-verb agreement, shift in tense, shift in person etc. Each topic is explained, examples are given and there is an accompanying activity. If you are looking for some solid help with writing, this may just be the source.

ABC of Academic Writing and ABC of Essays

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/gloess.htm

Good information on writing, and covers a lot of categories.

Study Skills: Writing Techniques

http://www.how-to-study.com/Writing%20Techniques.htm

Welcome to how-to-study.com. Please use the free study skills, study strategies, and study tips on this site. We update our content, so check back often for valuable new study aids. Click on any topic below to learn about it.
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IPL Website: Research and Writing

http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/

Quick Tips for the Panic-Stricken

Step by Step Research & Writing
Why the Step by Step Approach?
Step 1 - Getting Started - preparing for the assignment and getting ready to choose a topic
Step 2 - Discovering and Choosing a Topic - reading to become informed
Step 3 - Looking for and Forming a Focus - exploring your topic
Step 4 - Gathering Information - which clarifies and supports your focus
Step 5 - Preparing to Write - analyzing and organizing your information and forming a thesis statement
Step 6 - Writing the Paper - writing, revising and finalizing

Info Search
Where's the Information?
Learning to Research in the Library
Learning to Research on the Web
Skills for Online Searching
Information Found—and Not Found—on the Web
Search Strategy: Getting a Broad Overview of a Subject
Search Strategy: Finding Specific Information

Guide to Writing a Basic Essay

http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/

Quite a comprehensive site taking you through the process of writing an essay from choosing a topic through finish. Includes samples.

PBS Literacy Link: Workplace Essential Skills

main page: http://litlink.ket.org

Good skills lessons based on employment skills. Requires a free registration.

Workplace Essential Skills
Lessons
Orientation program
Orientation: Making It WorkThis 30-minute video program is a student orientation to the course. Learn how to use the different components of the Workplace Essential Skills series to improve your skills and opportunities.
Employment:
Finding a jobPlanning to Work
Matching Skills and Jobs
Applying for Jobs
Resumes, Tests, and Choices
Interviewing

Ready for Work
Workplace Safety
Learning at Work
Communication & Writing: Communication Skills
The Language of Work
Communicating with Co-Workers and Supervisors
Working Together
Communication & Writing: Writing skillsA Process for Writing
Supplying Information: Directions, Forms, and Charts
Writing Memos and Letters
Reading
Reading for a Purpose
Finding What You Need: Following Directions
Reading Reports and Manuals
Math
Number Sense
Solving Problems
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Measurements and Trends and Predictions

Pronunciation Practice

http://www.englishclub.com

Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, writing and ESL jokes.