English Companion Ning Group

"What is good writing? Ask an English teacher, and they'll tell you good writing is grammatically correct. They'll tell you it makes a point and supports it with evidence. Maybe, if they're really honest, they'll admit it has a scholarly tone - prose that sounds like Jane Austen earns an A, while a paper that could've been written by Willie Nelson scores a B (or worse). Not all English teachers abide by this system, but the vast majority do. Just look at the writing of most graduates, and you'll see what I mean. It's proper, polite, and just polished enough not to embarrass anyone. Mission accomplished, as far as our schools are concerned. But let me ask you something: Is that really good writing?"

"January 17th, 2010\n\nSolid writing skills open up career-boosting opportunities for professional writers and for those with aspirations beyond their basic job description. Journalists, fiction writers, scientists, teachers, business professionals, law students and other professionals can all get ahead by inspiring and influencing others with their writing. Whether you're an undergraduate wanting tips to organize your papers; a novelist who needs help with character development; or a technical writer in search of tips to write more engaging copy, here are 100 little ways all of you can dramatically improve your writing."

Poems from more contemporary poets. Includes readings of some poems

"The University of North Carolina Press joins the UNC Office of Information Technology in publishing the Internet Poetry Archive. The archive makes available over a worldwide computer network selected poems from a number of contemporary poets. The goal of the project is to make poetry accessible to new audiences (at little or no cost) and to give teachers and students of poetry new ways of presenting and studying these poets and their texts. "

"Storytelling is changing" Has today's English teacher? Bill Ferriter always has good info.

Bill Clinton discusses Shakespeare's Macbeth, Richard II, and Henry V.

How do feel about Wikipedia? This brilliant article from Doug Johnson.

A simple online game to teach students how to check the accuracy of digital information.

Self-paced training module on Accuracy and Fact Checking. This is a free online module designed to promote fact checking. Our research has found that students resist the idea of looking beyond the surface. They need to be specifically taught how to verify facts.

Resource kit with materials about evaluation of web 2.0 content. A building block for information fluency: knowing how to evaluate digital resources.

Search game, find Kermit's picture. Here's a way to teach essential search skills is a game environment. Great for a lab class activity.

The Reading Writing Poster Pack