Writing Resources

There are two kinds of writing supplements: some explain language mechanics, and some teach the elements of style. Getting the mechanics (punctuation, grammar, etc.) straightened out isn't much fun, but it's necessary. Exploring style is lots of fun, but can be just as frustrating.

Even the best writers often have trouble teaching others the craft. Teaching writing, it seems, isn't intuitive. Like many skills, when one gains proficiency putting words on paper (thoughtfully and creatively), the steps to get there are often forgotten. The books in this section are intended to help instructors teach, and students learn, the basic elements of good writing.

Any Child Can Write is a classic manual for parents wanting their kids to develop good writing skills from an early age. Harvey Wiener shows how even a shopping list can provide excellent practice for burgeoning writers, and how exercises don't need to be overly elaborate or stressful to be valuable. This is a good book to read before your kids even get to the writing stage, though it's useful at later levels as well.

Using the same methodology that made her Easy Grammar series popular, Wanda Phillips' Easy Writing teaches elementary, middle school, and high school students the basics of sentence structure through repetitive exercises that implant and cement information in kids' minds. Jump In goes further, by offering step-by-step instructions for composing creative essays (this is a popular product and highly recommended).

Many of these resources are workbooks, showing kids how to compose an outline, find a topic, take notes, conduct research, etc. Titles like The Write Stuff Adventure are less about composition and more about finding something to say and knowing how to express it. Such books are especially helpful for students who complain about writer's block.

Some now-standard reference works stand out: The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk, Style by Joseph Williams, and On Writing Well by William Zinsser all offer excellent advice for those trying to find their own effective voice. The newer Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a more mechanics-oriented book on a similar theme (how punctuation affects what you're trying to say).

None of these materials should be looked at as simply for those who want to be novelists or famous writers. They're for everyone, to improve your writing and help you say what you want in the best way possible. Writing isn't a school subject just so you can get A's on your papers; it's an essential communication skill that will determine your success at work and at home for the rest of your life. Get good at it!

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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68 Items found Print
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1001 Commonly Misspelled Words
by Robert Magnan & Mary Lou Santovec
from McGraw-Hill
for 10th-Adult
in Spelling Resources (Location: REF-SPE)
$15.00
Analogies for All of Us
by Marc Hays
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-9th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$24.99
Art of Fiction
by John Gardner
from Vintage Classics
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Beate Not the Poore Desk
by Walter Wangerin
1st edition from Rabbit Room Press
for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$14.99
Blended Structure and Style in Composition
by James B. Webster
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 2nd-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$35.00
Comprehensive Composition
by Kathryn Stout
from Design-A-Study
Writing Curriculum for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Design-A-Study (Location: HSR-DAS)
$14.00
Creative Writer Level 2
by Boris Fishman
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$18.95
Creative Writer Level 3
by Boris Fishman
1st edition from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$16.95
Easy Writing
by Wanda Phillips
from Easy Grammar Systems
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-12th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$30.95 $18.00 (1 in stock)
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
by Lynne Truss
from Gotham Books
Grammar Reference for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$15.00 $7.50 (3 in stock)
Elegant Essay Writing Lessons - Set
by Lesha Myers
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$49.00
Elegant Essay Writing Lessons - Student Book
by Lesha Myers
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$29.00 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Elements of Style
by William Strunk & E. B. White
4th edition from Allyn and Bacon
Writing Handbook for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.99
Elements of Style (Illustrated)
by E.B. White, William Strunk Jr.
from Penguin Books
for 7th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$18.00
Exciting World of Creative Writing
by Ruth McDaniel
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Writing Curriculum for 7th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$12.85
Exciting World of Creative Writing - Tests
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Writing Curriculum for 7th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$3.00
How to Write Clearly
by Ruth Beechick
from Mott Media
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.99
How to Write Irresistible Query Letters
by Lisa Collier Cool
from Writer's Digest
for 9th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$12.95
Jensen's Format Writing
by Frode Jensen
2nd edition from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$21.59 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Format Writing - DVD Supplement
by Frode Jensen
3rd edition from Wordsmiths
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$20.00 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Jump In - Parent/Teacher Manual
by Sharon Watson
from Apologia Educational Ministries
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
$7.00 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Jump In - Student Workbook
by Sharon Watson
2nd edition from Writing with Sharon Watson
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
in Writing with Sharon Watson (Location: WRI-SWW)
$40.00
Just Write Book 1 - Teacher's Guide
by Elsie S. Wilmerding and Alexandra S. Bigelow
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-3rd grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$7.89 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Learn to Write the Novel Way
by Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Konos Writing (Location: WRI-SING)
$39.95
Lively Art of Writing
by Lucile Vaughan Payne
from Mentor Books
Writing Reference for 10th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$8.99
Office of Assertion
by Scott F. Crider
1st edition from Intercollegiate Studies Institute
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$15.00
Painless Writing
by Jeffrey Strausser
3rd edition from Barron's
for 6th-10th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.99
Paragraph Book - Book 1
by Marjorie Gann
Wkb Rep from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99
Paragraph Book - Book 2
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Book - Book 3
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Book - Book 4
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Power in Your Hands - Teacher's Guide
by Sharon Watson
2nd edition from Writing with Sharon Watson
for 9th-12th grade
in Writing with Sharon Watson (Location: WRI-SWW)
$20.00
Put That In Writing Level One - Answer Key and Test Bank
by Steve & Shari Barrett
2nd edition from Barrett's Bookshelf
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Put That In Writing (Location: WRI-PTW)
$7.50
Put That In Writing Level Two
by Steve & Shari Barrett
from Barrett's Bookshelf
Writing Curriculum for 9th-12th grade
in Put That In Writing (Location: WRI-PTW)
$74.95
Rhetoric Alive Senior Thesis Student Workbook
by Alyssan Barnes
from Classical Academic Press
for 11th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$29.95
Rhetoric Alive Senior Thesis Teacher's Edition
by Alyssan Barnes
from Classical Academic Press
for 11th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$31.95
School of Fantastical Wordcraft
by N. D. Wilson
from Canon Press
for 3rd-Adult
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$45.00
Someday You'll Write
by Elizabeth Yates
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
Non-fiction for 5th-9th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$5.00
Spelling Dictionary for Writers Book 2
by Gregory Hurray
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Spelling (Location: SPE-EPS)
$17.09 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Story Starters
by Karen Andreola
from Charlotte Mason Research and Supply Co.
for 4th-10th grade
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$34.95 $20.00 (2 in stock)
Student's Guide to Writing College Papers
by Kate L. Turabian
Fourth Edition from University of Chicago
for 10th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$17.00
Teaching Writing: Structure and Style - Binder & DVDs
Institute for Excellence in Writing
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 2nd-10th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in IEW Excellence in Writing (Location: WRI-IEW)
$189.00
Usborne Creative Writing Book
by Louie Stowell
from Usborne
for 3rd-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$13.49
Wakeful Words
by Jen Greenholt
from Classical Conversations
for 6th-12th grade
in Words Aptly Spoken (Location: LITCUR-WAS)
$14.99
Who Is This Kid? Colleges Want to Know!
Building Writing Skills
by Joyce Slayton Mitchell
from Critical Thinking Books
in High School & College Prep (Location: HSR-HSC)
$15.99
Word Write Now
by Loranna Schwacofer
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$35.00
Wordsmith
by Janie Cheaney
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
Writing Curriculum for 7th-9th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Wordsmiths (Location: WRI-WORDS)
$18.00
Wordsmith Apprentice
by Janie Cheaney
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
Writing Curriculum for 4th-6th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Wordsmiths (Location: WRI-WORDS)
$18.00
Wordsmith Craftsman
by Janie Cheaney
3rd edition from Common Sense Press
Writing Curriculum for 10th-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Wordsmiths (Location: WRI-WORDS)
$18.00
Wordsmithy
by Douglas Wilson
1st edition from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$14.00
Write Source 2000
by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper & Verne Meyer
4th edition from Houghton Mifflin
Writing Reference for 6th-8th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$26.95 $15.00 (2 in stock)
Write Your Own Storybook
by Usborne
from Usborne
for 3rd-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$13.49
Writer's Guide to Perfect Punctuation
by Victor C. Pellegrino
from Maui arThoughts Company
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$14.95
Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs
by Victor C. Pellegrino
from Maui arThoughts Company
Writing Reference for 6th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$24.95
Writer's Guide to Transitional Words and Expressions
by Victor C. Pellegrino
from Maui arThoughts Company
Writing Reference for 6th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$16.95
Writer's Toolbox
from Bob Jones University Press
Writing Handbook for 9th-11th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$34.00
WriteShop I - Copying and Dictation Exercises
by Kim Kautzer & Debra Oldar
from WriteShop
Writing Curriculum for 6th-10th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in WriteShop (Location: WRI-WSHOP)
$7.00
WriteShop I - Starter Bundle
by Kim Kautzer & Debra Oldar
5th edition from WriteShop
Writing Curriculum for 6th-10th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in WriteShop (Location: WRI-WSHOP)
$121.00
WriteShop II - Workbook
by Kim Kautzer & Debra Oldar
5th edition from WriteShop
Writing Curriculum for 8th-12th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in WriteShop (Location: WRI-WSHOP)
$62.00
Writing a Research Paper
by Edward Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$10.00
Writing a Research Paper (old)
by Edward Shewan
from Christian Liberty Press
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$4.00
Writing Magic
by Gail Carson Levine
Reissue from HarperCollins
for 4th-6th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$7.99
Writing Strands - Teaching Companion
Writing Strands
by Dave Marks
from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for Preschool-12th grade
in Writing Strands (Location: WRI-WS)
$8.79 $5.00 (3 in stock)
Writing Strands Creating Fiction
by Dave Marks
from National Writing Institute
Writing Curriculum for 12th grade
$16.00
Writing Strands: Evaluating Writing
Writing Strands
by Dave Marks
from National Writing Institute
Writing Curriculum for Preschool-12th grade
$14.00
Writing Trails in American History
by Laurie Barrie
from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-5th grade
in Writing Trails (Location: WRI-TRAIL)
$15.00
Writing Trails with Great Composers
by Laurie Barrie
from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Trails (Location: WRI-TRAIL)
$15.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Writing Trails with Men of Science
by Laurie Barrie
from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Trails (Location: WRI-TRAIL)
$15.00