English Links
ENGLISH FOUNDATIONS PRE-HIGH SCHOOL AND LITERACY
Title: Literacy Alberta Canadian Site
Level: Any
Comment: We help adults find literacy or upgrading programs in their own communities. We will even make the call to a program on behalf of the student. For help call toll-free 1–800-767–3231 or 403–263-3640.
Title: National Adult Literacy Database Canadian Site
Level: Any
Comment: The NALD database contains information about adult literacy programs, resources, services, and activities across Canada.
Title: ABC’s of the Writing Process Canadian Site
Level: ABE
Comment: Excellent introduction to the Process Approach of writing. The student is expected to go through the five-step process. Great writing links, but the site has no interactive features. The information is geared to the middle school rather than adult students.
Title: TV411: Tune into Learning
Level: ABE
Comment: This site is suitable for literacy or ESL students. Online articles are difficult to read but interactive tutorials are good. Caution: math problems use U.S. units of measure.
Title: Sentence Sense
Level: ABE
Comment: This site has an online textbook in Basic Writing. The three parts include, How Sentences Work, Common Errors, and Techniques for Developing Ideas in Writing. Over 200 graded or self-graded exercises to encourage students to have Fun with language. The site is outstanding!
Title: The Five-Paragraph Essay
Level: ABE
Comment: This is the choice site of many on this topic. It is comprehensive with Great links, and supplies basic, easy to read instruction on writing a short essay. Here, you will find excellent presentation of essay types. The site has no site map and no interactive features.
Writing Help
Title: University of Victoria-Writers Guide Canadian Site
Level: HS
Comment: The English Department on this site shines! Material presented in CLEAR, concise, expert, non-jargon format. Designed for university but could be effectively used in high school. A glossary of literary and rhetorical terms (sorted alphabetically and by category) and the English department jargon index are very useful.
Title: The Five-Paragraph Essay
Level: ABE
Comment: This is the choice site of many on this topic. It is comprehensive with GREAT links, and supplies basic, easy to read instruction on writing a short essay. Here, you will find excellent presentation of essay types. The site has no site map and no interactive features.
Title: Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
Level: ABE, HS
Comment: This one of a kind online writing workshop is for the serious writer or want to be writer. Step by step instructions and inspirations for a variety of writing forms. Don’t miss the Poetry Writing workshops.
Title: The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
Level: C&U
Comment: This comprehensive writing guide has many gems including an excellent discussion of clarity and an article on the “Top Ten Mistakes”. All articles are text-based, but there are hyperlinks to both internal and external sites. The Index navigation bar on the left allows you to zero in on a particular writing topic.
GRAMMAR GUIDES
Title: Sentence Sense
Level: ABE
Comment: This site has an online textbook in BASIC WRITING. The three parts include, How Sentences Work, Common Errors, and Techniques for Developing Ideas in Writing. Over 200 graded or self-graded exercises to encourage students to have fun with language. The site is outstanding!
Title: University of Victoria—Grammar Canadian Site
Level: ABE
Comment: Students match their grammar needs with online exercises.
Pros: Immediate feedback from completed interactive exercises.
Cons: The beginning adult student may not know sufficient vocabulary terms to identify appropriate exercises.
This site has no other links.
Title: Bluebook of Grammar and Punctuation
Level: ABE, HS
Comment: This site offers the Online Grammar and Punctuation Encyclopedia. It has a very professional format and excellent, easy to follow examples. There are several interactive exercises and tests available on the site.
Title: Guide to Grammar & Writing
Level: ABE
Comment: Whether a presentation is required or simply grammar and writing knowledge, this site has it all! Well organized, straight to the point advice with added quizzes and ask a question features. Engaging & comprehensive.
LITERACY CRITICISM AND TERMS
Title: Internet Public Library
Level: C&U
Comment: 45,000 links to just about every topic. Well organized and easy to navigate. Bonus in the Ask a question section. Submit your question (and email), receive answer within 48 hours.
ONLINE LITERATURE
These sites are listed only by titles and/or descriptor.
Title: A unique archive of Fables
Title: Searchable online database of classic literature
Title: Graphic rich exploration of Shakespeare’s life
Title: Great ghost stories in Real Audio!
Title: Online searchable version of Bartlett’s Quotations
Title: Multi-media offerings from the Library of Congress
Title: An unsearchable online catalogue of best loved short stories—all the favourites!
Title: A wonderful collection of plays written by women, dramatized in real audio or media player
STUDY GUIDES AND CRIB NOTES
Title: Bibliomania
Level: C&U
Comment: The “low down on the high brow!” Use this site to read and research classic texts online. One of the best! Features a reading program that reads aloud as the viewer reads along, online reference books, and other creative features such as love poems on Valentine’s Day! The site features excellent page design.
Title: Spark Notes
Level: HS, C&U
Comment: Developed by Harvard University graduates. This site provides short notes on an impressive number of subjects, and is a good source of quick information/tools. Additional current information is available from the message boards. Every note has an author. On the “down” side: advertising is annoying and visitors to the site will have to log on with an email address for many resources.
Title: Plagiarism
Level: HS
Comment: Five types of plagiarism are explained with examples of actual plagiarism compared to how not to plagiarise from source material. Most student don’t know they are plagiarizing except in most obvious cases. If you know what plagiarism is then you can avoid it.
DICTIONARIES AND THESAURI
Title: Merriam-Webster Online Search
Title: Thesaurus.com
Title: Visual Thesaurus
Title: WriteExpress
APA/MLA AND RESEARCH HELP
Title: Alberta Ask A Question Canadian Site
Level: Varies
Comment: On this site you can submit a question via email and receive an answer within 48 hours. The question remains open for 96 hours to facilitate ongoing dialogue. Try this for those difficult to find answers.
Title: Research Helper Canadian Site
Level: ABE, HS
Comment: Do you have: A research task you need to get done? An information problem you need to solve? An information question you need to answer? Try the Sarah Hughes 4 Research Steps to Success. A great site posted by a Canadian teacher/librarian.
Title: APA style.org
Level: C&U
Comment: The purpose of this site is mostly to provide information about ordering materials about the APA format but there is a good online guide to citing electronic sources. See the OWL tutorial (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html) for more information on the APA format or the OWL MLA tutorial for information about MLA format.
Title: KnightCite
Level: HS
Comment: A time saver! By filling in the boxes, the user can easily create a proper citation in MLA, APA, or Chicago style. Give it a try! If the user wants to register with the site they can organize and edit right on the website and then export the entire bibliography as a ready to print Word file, already formatted in the chosen style.
Title: Choosing & Focusing a Topic
Level: C&U
Comment: Start to finish process on how to write a research paper complete with worksheets needed to establish your product and questions to ask yourself in order to successfully complete your project. Excellent college writing guide!
Title: Internet Reference Guide
Level: C&U
Comment: Site consists of two parts. First part promotes authors 2003 book which at first glance could prove valuable if not yet dated. Second part outlines a very concise explanation of various citation styles. Bonus is the extensive list of internet portals organized by subject area. Makes a person want to buy the book!
Title: Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
Level: ABE
Comment: Planning to improve your writing? This book is simply the best writing guide for the college student! It provides a map for the journey of writing while offering encouragement every step of the way.