Writing Commons

Writing Commons aspires to be a community for writers, a creative learning space for students in courses that require college-level writing, a creative, interactive space for teachers to share resources and pedagogy. Our primary goal is to provide the resources and community students need to improve their writing, particularly students enrolled in courses that require college-level writing. As mentioned in 'About Us', we believe learning materials should be free for all students and teachers‰ part of the cultural commons. Hence, we provide free access to an award-winning, college textbook that was published by a major publisher and awarded the Distinguished Book Award by Computers and Composition: an International Journal.

Material Type: Reading, Textbook

Style for Students: A Writing Guide

Whether planning a paper, running a grammar check, completing a report, composing an email, puzzling over a usage or grammar issue, or writing a resume or online portfolio, you are bound to find the material and examples you need in Style for Students Online.

Material Type: Full Course, Textbook

Media Literacy Challenge: Writing Your Own Argument

This lesson will challenge learners to critically read and evaluate news articles presenting different positions on a single issue that the learner takes interest in. The learner will then be challenged to formulate their own opinion by refining their own argument on the issue. The target audience of learners for this lesson constitute the Career and College Readiness Standards Grade Level E (9-12) in their reading and writing abilities. Learners will hone practical skills by engaging in this lesson, such as how to critically engage with news and media, being able to succinctly summarize larger pieces of information, and using information to write a structured argument based on their own opinions. These skills will have practical applications for everyday life, reading and writing the GED, and when applying for jobs that require information processing.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Reading

Author: Christopher Klune

Public Speaking: The Virtual Text

Public Speaking: The Virtual Text is a free online public speaking textbook. Chapters appear in PDF format and may be printed in black and white or in color.

Material Type: Textbook

Public Speaking

The purpose of this course is to systematically examine the elements and factors which result in an effective speech. Tying these together are the themes of information and ethics, emphasized in each resource because they are becoming increasingly important to all communicators. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: resolve ethical issues involving speech preparation and presentation; recommend techniques for resolving issues, which may interfere with active listening; identify the most effective speech topics, qualities, content, and delivery techniques based on the specific characteristics of an audience; evaluate the effectiveness of speeches for different types of audiences; use online and library-based research to find and critique the credibility of sources of information; cite sources of information appropriately, accurately, and clearly in both spoken and written contexts; choose the most effective pattern of organization for presenting different types of information to a listening audience; evaluate the effectiveness of supporting details or evidence based on the main ideas or arguments they are used to support; choose the most appropriate pattern for organizing a persuasive speech, based on the relationship between arguments and evidence or the relationship between the topic and the audience; identify whether the functions of an introduction or conclusion have been fulfilled and will be effective when presented to a specific type of audience; create keyword and sentence outlines for informative and persuasive speeches; revise a passage written for readers so that it can be delivered effectively and engagingly to listeners; identify and use techniques to improve the fluidity and clarity of verbal delivery; recognize non-verbal techniques that communicate the speakerĺÎĺ_ĺĚĺ_s confidence and credibility in a sample speech; demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of effective, ethical public speaking by accurately and thoroughly assessing the qualities of entire informative, persuasive, and special occasion speeches. This free course may be completed online at any time. (Communication 101)

Material Type: Assessment, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Lecture, Reading, Syllabus, Textbook

Principles of Public Speaking

The course is an introduction to the preparation and delivery of oral presentations in an extemporaneous style. Emphasis is on ethical research, critical and logical analysis, and organization of informative and persuasive presentations.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Lisa Schreiber

Achieving Success and Happiness in College: 5 Ways to Make it Work

ACHIEVING SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN COLLEGE is designed to help students to be successful in college. This includes students who plan to enter a college or university, as well as those who are currently enrolled and want to make the most of it! This book provides insights to help students understand college life and strategies to address the most pressing issues—the personal challenges, social pressures, and academic demands. It includes thought-provoking quotes, humor, honesty, and techniques for becoming an effective learner as well as a leader. ACHIEVING SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN COLLEGE describes how to play an active role in creating learning opportunities that are both meaningful and inspiring, which can help students down the path to a happy, productive, and personally rewarding college experience. Additionally, this book will be of significant interest to professionals who help students achieve success from an academic, social, and health perspective. Family members will see it as a valuable resource for their college-bound children.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Charles Durgin

Test-taking and studying advice

This is a resource I had created for students to look at that went over some general tips I had thought of on studying and taking tests. It is pretty much what I do and it has helped me be very successful on tests.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: John Hammar

Bay College - FYE 103 - Career Exploration

Online OER text created for First Year Experience (FYE) Career Exploration by Denise Dufek for Bay College.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Edie Erickson

College Success

College Success takes a fresh look at what it means, in today’s world, with today’s students, to be successful in college.Although many of the topics included—from study skills to personal health, from test-taking to managing time and money—will look familiar to those who have used student success texts that have been around for many editions, College Success takes a new approach. The focus is on realistic, practical tools for the students who need them. This is a book designed, frankly, for students who may have difficulty with traditional college texts. The style is direct and to the point. Information is presented concisely and as simply as possible. This is not a weighty tome that discusses student success—this is a manual for doing it.College student demographics have changed considerably in recent decades. More than a third of all students enroll not directly from high school but after a delay of some years. More students are working and have families. More students come from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds. More students are the first in their family to attend college. More students have grown up with electronic media and now read and think in ways different from the previous generation. With these and so many other cultural changes, more students are not well prepared for a college education with the study skills and life skills they need to become successful students.For each student to get the most out of College Success and their college experience they must understand who they are as it relates to college. To that end, in every chapter students explore themselves, because success starts with recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses. Students make their own goals based on this self-assessment, determining what success in college really means for them as individuals. Interactive activities then help students learn the choices available to them and the possibilities for improving their skills. Skills are presented in step-by-step processes, tips for success in manageable highlighted displays. Most important, students always see the value of what they are reading—and how they can begin to apply it immediately in their own lives.College Success is intended for use in Freshmen Orientation, Study Skills or Student Success courses. A 2009 study revealed that currently nationwide, 34% of college freshmen do not return to their college for their sophomore year. This book is designed to help change that.

Material Type: Reading, Textbook

Author: Anonyous

Rio Salado Student Success Seminar

In this course, you will explore five areas that will prepare you for achieving success as you pursue your goal of continuing your education. Modules include: Strategies for Staying on Course, Study Habits and Skills, Effective Communication, Initiative and Motivation, and Career Exploration

Material Type: Full Course, Lecture, Reading

Heritage Spanish

If you have found yourself searching for, adapting or creating materials for your heritage classes because of a lack of readily available commercial resources, this site is for you!

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Case Study, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning (COERLL)