Student Success Commons: Writing

Phase 1. Brainstorming and Planning. Before writing an essay or speech you need a topic. Once you've chosen, begin thinking about the main points you will include. Create an outline indicating where each point or piece of information will fit into your speech or essay.

Brainstorming (article by The Writing Center at UNC)

Choosing a Topic: A Librarian's Guide 

What is a Thesis? (article by Harvard College Writing)

Three-Step Method for Crafting a Strong Thesis (video)

Thesis Outline Worksheet (PDF download)

Phase 2. Write, write, write. When you start writing, do so without worrying about perfection. Follow your outline but allow flexibility. Focus on getting ideas down—bullet points are a great place to start. From there, begin to expand ideas into full sentences and then paragraphs. 

First Draft Tips for STUDENTS and WRITERS! (video)

Tips for Writing Early Drafts (PDF)

Phase 3. Review, edit, revise. Review your writing for clarity, coherence, and logical flow. Add, remove, or rearrange content as needed. Take time to strengthen arguments, transitions, and the overall structure of your writing. Repeat this process until you have an organized, clear, and well rounded piece.

Proofreading Strategies (article by Purdue Owl)

Phase 4. Polishing. Check grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. You may realize you need to improve word choice and conciseness. Ensure consistency in tone and style.

Phase 5. Final Check. Before submitting your assignment, be on the lookout for typos, spelling mistakes, and minor errors. Read aloud or use spell check tools. Ensure final version is polished, professional, and meets any criteria set forth by your instructor.

Research is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information to answer a question or deepen understanding of a topic. The Library at York County Community College is the best place to start your research journey. Our knowledgeable librarian can help you from A to Z. Visit the library today!

For additional tips regarding effective research, check out the following resources:

 Tips for Writing a Good Research Paper (article by American Public University)

How to Do Research for an Excellent Essay: The Complete Guide (article by Oxford Royale)

Grammar includes rules for sentence structure, punctuation, verb tense, and word usage. Good grammar enhances clarity and communication, ensuring ideas are expressed accurately, making it a vital skillset. Use these resources to ensure you're on the right track:

•  CaPiTal LetTErS
•  Punctuation?!
•  Sentence structure
•  PEA (Point, Evidence, Analysis) Paragraphs
•  SSC Interactive Comma Tool
•  4 Grammar Mistakes that Could Kill Your College Essay

Most people feel anxious at the mere thought of giving a speech. However, with preparation, practice, and confidence-building techniques, anyone can successfully deliver a great speech. Use these tips to help the next time you need to talk in front of a group:

1. Be Prepared: Research your topic thoroughly. Organize your speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Practice multiple times in different settings to feel comfortable.

2. Know Your Audience: Tailor your language and examples to make your speech relatable. Engage listeners by making eye contact and using inclusive language when appropriate.

3. Work on Delivery: Speak clearly and at a steady pace—don’t rush! Use natural gestures to enhance your message. Vary your tone and volume to keep the audience engaged and to avoid sounding monotonous. Remember to avoid reading directly from your notes.

4. Manage Nervousness: Take deep breaths before speaking. Focus on the message, not the fear. Use calming techniques that work for you.

5. Don't Forget Nonverbal Communication: Maintain good posture and avoid fidgeting. Use facial expressions that match your message. You're a human, not a robot, so don't be afraid to emote as is appropriate for your topic.

6. Use Visual Aids Wisely: If using slides or props, keep them simple, relevant, and visually appealing.

• SUBJECT LINE: The subject in an email states the main purpose and goal of the content. This one line of text can affect how and when your email is opened and read. Make your subject line short, clear, and to the point, while keeping your goal and audience in mind.

• GREETINGS: Always use a proper salutation: "Dear [Name]," is the most common and professional way to start an email. Include the recipient's title if applicable. Avoid opening your email with no name or title; using a name personalizes the communication, making the recipient feel acknowledged and more likely to engage with the email, as it shows you took the time to address them directly. This can lead to a more positive impression! In most professional settings, addressing someone by name is seen as polite and respectful. Also be sure to consider your relationship with the recipient. You can adjust your greeting based on your familiarity with the receiver. For example, when emailing your professor for the first time avoid being overly casual. Once you receive a reply, the person's sign-off can indicate their style and how they want to be addressed in future correspondence.

• BODY: When writing professional emails keep things concise, clear, and respectful. It's important to write for your audience. This means adjusting your writing style to suit different recipients. For example, when emailing a dean at the college, it's best to keep the email professional, polished and free of any informalities. Emailing your classmate (or the tutor you work with every other day) can probably be more casual. In any case, simple is offer best: keep it straightforward and to the point. Even if you have a lot to say, be sure to avoid any irrelevant information or lengthy sentences. When replying to an email match the tone of the writer. If they sign off with "Sincerely, Professor Smith" use the same tone in future correspondence. On the other hand, if the recipient replies with something like "Sounds good! Jane." it's reasonable to use a similar approach in future emails.

• CLOSING AND SIGN-OFFS: The closing is the last line of your email before you sign off. You can use it to thank the recipient, reiterate your message or question in a short sentence, or confirm details. Keep your closing clear and concise. Your sign off, or signature, is where you sign off to end the email. Use a polite phrase, with the name and title you want the recipient to use when replying.

• YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: When communicating with staff and faculty at YCCC always use your student email. It's also a good idea to have a separate email for professional matters. "BrbEatingTacos@yahoo.com" is a perfectly fine email address but might not get the reaction you want in a more formal situation.

Citations are acknowledgements within a piece of writing that indicate where an idea, information, or quote originated, allowing readers to locate the source and verify the information. When writing an essay or other academic work, you may be asked to cite your sources using APA or MLA.

APA CITATION STYLE

• APA 7th Edition Citation Style Guide (Printable PDF)
• APA Style Guideline Example Paper from Purdue OWL® (Downloadable PDF)

MLA CITATION STYLE

• MLA 9th Edition Citation Style Guide (Printable PDF)
• MLA Style Guideline Example Paper from Purdue OWL® (Downloadable PDF)

CREATING A BIBLIOGRAPHY OR WORKS CITED PAGE

Note: Be sure to carefully read your assignment or ask your instructor to ensure you create the correct type of document.

Works Cited/Reference List: A works cited list (MLA) or references list (APA) includes only the sources you directly cited in your paper.

• MLA Formatting: List of Works Cited (video by Purdue Owl)
• APA Formatting: Reference List Basics (video by Purdue Owl)

Bibliography: A bibliography is a list of all the sources used in the process of researching and writing a piece of work, including books, articles, websites, and other materials.

Annotated bibliography: An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents, with each citation followed by a brief (usually 100-300 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation, that informs the reader about the source's relevance, accuracy, and quality. 

• Annotated Bibliography Samples from Purdue OWL®
• What is an Annotated Bibliography? (video by Purdue Owl)

NoodleTools allows you to create and edit MLA and APA-style bibliographies online. Visit YCCC's online library to connect with our librarian for support using NoodleTools for the first time.

• NoodleTools Login
• Step-by-step Guide for Using NoodleTools for Bibliographies (Downloadable PDF)

As per the YCCC 2024–2025 COLLEGE CATALOG:

The College promotes and maintains high ethical standards of academic conduct. It is College policy to discourage academic misconduct via appropriate administrative penalties. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to: cheating or dishonesty of any kind in performing academic work; plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional; and receiving, or attempting to receive, academic credit under false pretenses; submitting the same work in more than one course, without prior permission of the instructor of the second course, or assisting anyone engaged in academic misconduct.

As plagiarism is a serious form of academic misconduct, students must take action to avoid it. Keep the following tips in mind:

1. Understand Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It includes copying text, ideas, images, or other creative and intellectual works without providing proper credit.
2. Properly Cite Your Sources: Whether you are paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting, always give credit to the original author.
3. Paraphrase Effectively: Don't copy and paste sentences, even if you exchange a word or two. If you aren't making a direct quote, you must change the structure and wording to reflect your own understanding. Use synonyms and different sentence structures to avoid simply rearranging the original text. Cite the source when paraphrasing; even if you've rewritten the information, you still need to acknowledge the original author.
4. Develop Original Ideas: Think critically and form your own conclusions. Don't just regurgitate information from your sources. You must analyze and interpret it. Add your own insights and perspectives: Share your unique understanding of the topic.
5. Manage Your Sources: Keep track of your sources as you research: This will make it easier to cite them accurately later. Use a system that allows you to easily locate information and citations.

A note about AI

If allowed during a class, college students must use AI responsibly by ensuring that it enhances their learning rather than replacing critical thinking and original work. They should use AI tools ethically, following their professor's guidelines, properly citing AI-generated content when necessary, and avoiding plagiarism or academic dishonesty. AI can be a valuable resource for brainstorming, research assistance, and skill development, but students must critically evaluate its outputs and maintain academic integrity. If you are unsure as to whether or not your teacher allows AI reach out to them before using it.