LitMUSE

A sentence fragment occurs when one or more of the following is true: there is no verb there is no subject the word group is part of a subordinate clause or phrase A true sentence must contain at least one independent clause: a group of words with a subject and a verb that can stand [...]

In writing a thesis statement, you should follow some general guidelines. Be sure your thesis contains an arguable position about the topic. To do this, you should avoid stating facts, asking questions, or using unsupportable language. Facts are good for subjects, but make lousy thesis statements. If you cannot take a position about a topic, [...]

The thesis statement, or simply “thesis,” is the heart of your essay. The thesis explicitly states the subject of your essay, discloses your assertion about the subject, suggests an organizing structure for your essay, and provides the scope of your essay. The thesis makes a promise to your reader: it clearly explains the purpose of [...]

An essay should never lose focus on its subject and assertion. Each part of the essay should keep a continual eye on the focus, both at a macro and micro level. Each body paragraph of an essay should be working to prove the overall focus of the essay while also striving to support and illustrate [...]

One of the most common errors in new college writers is how to use possessives correctly. One of the confusing elements here is that both plurals and possessives are usually signified by using an “s” at the end of a word. Most students get plurals correct: books – more than one book (this is a [...]

Beginning this semester, Spring 2009, I will be using Engrade for all my classes. Grades will no longer be available on Humanities Online. The best way to find out how you’re doing in the course is still to see me during my office hours so we can discuss your progress, but I know this is [...]

You can go to the Macon State College ARC and schedule an appointment with a tutor. Or, you can get assistance online, like on the Composition FAQ, Diana Hacker’s Writer’s Reference Online, MSC’s Online Writing Lab, or any number of sources. You may also see me during my office hours. If all else fails, you [...]

You will notice that on the right sidebar of every page among the site is a section labeled “Gerald R. Lucas, Ph.D.”; under this section is a link labeled “Contact.” This link will take you to my other web site’s (grlucas.net) contact page. This page lists all the necessary information about giving me a shout, [...]

Consult your individual course requirements for the specifics of your daily writing. In general, blog entries and forums should have a minimum of 350 words per entry or thread, respectively. See also Blogging: Some Considerations and Some Notes on Forums. You might also have a look at Tips for Writing. Comments should always be thoughtful and [...]

The short answer: the Regents’ Test (RT) is a reading and writing test required by the University System of Georgia (USG) as one method of satisfying the Regents’ Writing and Reading Skills Requirement mandated by the Board of Regents. The RT has two parts: Essay and Reading. They have recently made some changes to the [...]