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Grammar and Mechanics Resources

At some point in the lives of many students, grammar and punctuation rules have been either confusing, overwhelming, or beyond boring. But when you take the time to understand the logic of the rules and the creative and communicative possibilities opened up by seeing the "grammar light," a rule can become cool. The following resources offer detailed explanations and representations of grammatical and mechanical standards.

Guide to Grammar and Writing (Find exactly what you need in the INDEX. There are PowerPoint slides as well.)
• Sentence Sense Grammar (featuring pre-tests and mastery tests)
• Sentence Sense Usage (featuring pre-tests and mastery tests)
• Punctuation Points
• General Reference
• Grammar Terms
• Schoolhouse Rock videos (e.g., "Conjunction Function")
  

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Once you have a working understanding of a specific area of grammar and mechanics, it is important to reinforce and build upon what you have learned. Two great ways to accomplish this is by identifying the rules put into practice by published writers and by putting the rules into practice yourself in your own essay writing. Another productive way to reinforce your comprehension of the rules is by using online exercises, many of which provide instant feedback. The following exercises sites may prove helpful, provided you sincerely review and analyze your wrong and right answers. Also, be sure to refer back to your handbook and explanatory grammar sites so that you avoid taking wild guesses during the exercises. Remember, you are not in a race.

• Anker's Real Writing Exercise Central Diagnostic  (Register as a student, take the test, and then give yourself direction--in less than an hour--by using the diagnostic test report and the links to tutorials and Exercise Central.) Learn how!  Or try Prentice-Hall's diagnostic or the VLC's diagnostic. 
• Exercise Central
• Grammar Bytes (Win amazing prizes!)
• Grammar Quizzes
• Grammar Hot Spots
• Feed the Grammar Gorillas

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Whether they admit it or not, even the most technically skilled students and teachers use a handbook to verify their grammatical and mechanical choices. After all, that is probably why they are so technically skilled, so follow their example. If you are online and also writing an essay, you may find the following resources great for quick reference and clarification.

Lunsford's Top Twenty Writing Errors (Click on a number; learn why it's an error!)
• Grammar Rules
• Purdue's OWL

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Additional Sites

The following Web resources should help reinforce the skills and strategies explored above.

• Hacker's
Grammar Exercises (Enter by logging in or pressing cancel.)
• SLOTH  at CCSF
• Strunk and White's Rules of Usage
• Thomson Learning's Grammar, Mechanics, and Punctuation Concept Libraries  (Jump to the "Grammar," "Mechanics," and "Punctuation" links.)
• New!  You might like Grammar Girl
  
  

* To view the slideshow files linked on this page, you'll need PowerPoint or the free PowerPoint Viewer:

For the PC
For the Mac

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