Absolutely Essential Writing Guide

So many writing and formatting guides are written for adults and are too complex for students. They don't communicate the basics of good writing in a way that kids can easily grasp and integrate into their own writing. The Absolutely Essential Writing Guide offers the perfect solution. Filled with straightforward language, lots of easy-to-understand examples, and straight-to-the-point guidance, this handbook was designed from the ground up to meet the needs of your students.

This fantastic guide covers all of the basics of good writing, including:

• essential elements of writing and editing;
• definitions of terms used in prose writing;
• definitions of types of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry;
• helpful references;
• common usage errors and how to avoid them; and
• information about writing sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

The compact dictionary format makes information easy to find. Reference pages provide quick access to commonly asked questions. From writing strategies, to literary and composition terms, students will find what they need to support their writing in The Absolutely Essential Writing Guide.

This extensive text includes the essential elements of prose and poetry. With definitions and terminology, common errors, sample formats, and helpful guidelines, this book will be a reference that writers will refer to again and again.

For additional guidance in grammar, see The Absolutely Essential Grammar Guide.

Grades 5-12

Nancy Atlee holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in middle grades education, with an emphasis on reading. She has more than 25 years of classroom experience, primarily with gifted and talented students. During this time, she also served as a mentor teacher in language arts, taught college classes, and regularly presented staff development workshops for her district and at professional conferences. She presently consults in the areas of writing, reading, and gifted education.

Atlee's work reflects her deep commitment to creating a literate learning environment, rich in literature, where students develop critical thinking and communicate their ideas in a wide variety of writing activities. Her books focus on effective ways to teach and apply writing and reading strategies/skills in a dynamic, risk-free setting.