Learning to write an essay is not fun or easy. Believe me, I know. However, learning how to write an effective essay is a necessary evil–especially if you want to be prepared for college English composition. Here are a couple of sites to guide you and help you write more effective essays.

Click here for “How to Write an Essay–10 Easy Steps”

Click here for “Basic Guide to Essay Writing”

Found poem: A found poem is a list of images or descriptive phrases found a written selection. These phrases are then arranged in the format of a free verse poem, usually in the order they appear in the original text. However, sometimes the writer of a found poem chooses to place certain images together to create a more profound effect. There are a few rules for writing found poetry:

Delete words where necessary to create a new image

In addition you may change the tense of a word, and repeat words, phrases, or sentences.

Here are step-by-step directions for writing a found poem:

Select a particularly descriptive passage

Identify significant words, phrases, and sentences in the passage

Arrange the excerpts into a found poem

Now, write three found poems—one from each section beginning with “Grendel Attacks the Danes” pp. 48—51 and including“The Coming of Beowulf” pp 51—55 and “The Battle with Grendel” pp. 56—59.

Your found poems must be written in ink or typed.

Distinguish poems by using the titles of each section.

Use MLA format for name, etc., on first page of your found poem assignment.

If you are having trouble with your bibliography entries, click here to go to NoodleBib Express. Select MLA and follow the directions.

If the link takes you to the NoodleTools Sign In page, just click on Home.  NoodleBib Express is the last entry in the Free Software Tools column. Click on that link, then MLA, and you are ready to make your bibliography entry.

Please click here to visit Ramblings of Like Minds, our class Wikispace site and respond to the questions I have posted about man and monsters. I know you have something thought-provoking to add to our discussion.