Writing Handouts

The Shenandoah University Online Writing Center contains 150 worksheets on a variety of topics. Choose from the subject menu below to view a list of the available worksheets originally developed by the Indiana State University Writing Center or other institutions as noted:
 

SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT

• Rules of subject and verb agreement (Purdue OWL)
• Information on the simple and complex subjects

• SUBJECTS: Finding and filling in the subject  (w/ answer key)
• SUBJECTS: Finding the singular plural subject  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Finding the sequence of tenses of verbs (Purdue OWL)
• VERBS: Finding in paragraphs and helping verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Finding verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Finding main and auxiliary verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Finding action and linking verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Selecting in what, which, and who questions  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Selecting the proper forms of 'be'  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Using the proper forms of 'be'  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Filling in the past tense of 'be'  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Selecting and filling in the proper forms of 'be'
• VERBS: Filling in 'be,' 'have,' or 'do'
• VERBS: Changing from past to present tense
• VERBS: Filling in past forms of verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Changing verbs from past to present tense
• VERBS: Changing verbs from past to present tense
• VERBS: Filling in the past participle of 'has' and 'have'
• VERBS: Selecting the past participles of verbs  (w/ answer key)
• VERBS: Selecting the past participles of verbs
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting 'is' or 'are' after 'there'   (w/ answer key)
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting and using be, go, have
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting and using be, have, do
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the verb with prep. phrases
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the verb with prep. phrases
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the verb with prep. phrases
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the verb with prep. phrases
• SELECTING VERBS: Verb and subject agreement
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the correct verb
• SELECTING VERBS: Selecting the correct verb
• SELECTING VERBS: Finding the subjects and verbs
• SELECTING VERBS: Verb and subject agreement
• CORRECTING VERBS: Choosing 'has' or 'have'
• CORRECTING VERBS: Choosing he, she, they, or it
• CORRECTING VERBS: Correcting incorrect verbs
• SUBJECT/VERB: Finding the subject and selecting the verb
• SUBJECT/VERB: Finding subjects and verbs in a paragraph
• SUBJECT/VERB: Changing the tense of the subject
• SUBJECT/VERB: Finding the antecedent of a pronoun
• SUBJECT/VERB: Review of subject and verb agreement
• Conjugation of the verb "to see"
• TROUBLESOME VERBS: lie, lay; sit, set; rise, raise;
• TROUBLESOME VERBS: lie, lay; sit, set; rise, raise;

• Basic uses of prepositions
• A reference list of common expressions using prepositions
• Time related words when written in past tense

• Circle the correct preposition
• Circle the correct preposition: Place-position-direction  (w/ answer key)
• Circle the correct preposition: Time  (w/ answer key)
• Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions

• Circle the correct pronoun in parentheses  (w/ answer key)
• Select the correct word or expression
• Using subject and object words  (w/ answer key)
• Choose the correct singular or plural form
• Circle the correct pronoun in parentheses
• Making pronouns agree with antecedents
• Write the pronoun and its antecedent in the right column  (w/ answer key)
• Fill in the correct pronouns and its antecedents
• Fill in the correct pronouns and its antecedents
• Pronouns and  antecedents
• Giving a clear reference for it, they, them, or that
• Correct the use of subject words, object words, and words that show ownership

• Listing : Transitional words/phrases
• Listing : Conjunctions and transitional expressions

• Correcting : Identifying (S-B-C-DO-IO)
• Correcting : Selecting adjective/adverb (w/ answer key)
• Correcting : Fill-in adjective/adverb good or well
• Correcting : Changing adjective to adverb
• Correcting : Changing incorrect form (possessive mostly) (w/ answer key)
• Correcting : Fill-in; Selecting possessive
• Correcting : Using negatives correctly
• Correcting : Using s/pl nouns correctly (w/ answer key)
• Correcting : Using pl nouns correctly (one paragraph also)
• Discussion : Abstract/concrete words

• Rules : Forming plurals
• Spelling guidelines : ie/ei; prefixes; s/es
• Words : 195 frequently misspelled words
• Common prefixes and roots
• General guidelines : Spelling learning activities
• Listing : Words or homonyms often confused
• Self-improvement spelling list

• Filling in : Plural nouns
• Spelling guidelines : ie/ei; suffixes; s/es
• Spelling diagnostic test  (w/ answer key)

• Grammatical Terms : Listed, explained, illustrated; active/passive
• Subordinate clauses explained
• Building sentence patterns
• Building complex sentences
• Sentence combining techniques explained
• Parallel structure explained

• Sentence recognition in a paragraph
• Sentence combining exercise
• Sentence combining (2 paragraphs)
• Sentence combining in complex structure (w/ answer key)
• Simple expansion patterns
• Clausal expansion patterns
• Phrasal expansion patterns
• Parallel structure : recognizing part not parallel (w/ answer key)
• Parallel structure : recognizing in sentence
• Parallel structure : recognizing in sentence (w/ answer key)
• Parallel structure : revising; filling in
• Correcting sentences with misplaced/hanging parts

• Fragments : The no verb fragment and the misplaced period -- causes/remedies
• Fragments : The comma-splice, run-on, fragment -- causes/remedies
• Type of clauses and conjunctions

• Fragments : Recognizing and correcting simple sentences
• Fragments : Recognizing and correcting long sentences
• Fragments : Recognizing and correcting (also underline simple subject and verbs)
• Fragments : Recognizing and correcting in paragraph (w/ answer key)
• Fragments : Correcting by adding verbs or by joining
• Fragments : Correcting by joining predicates (w/ answer key)
• Fragments : Correcting by joining to another part
• Fragments : Correcting by finishing a sentence containing a subject and verb
• Fragments : Correcting by joining infinitive phrases
• Fragments : Correcting by participial phrases (w/ answer key)
• Fragments : Correcting by expanding subordinate clauses
• Fragments : Correcting by expanding participle phrases
• Fragments : Correcting by expanding do's with relative pronouns
• Fragments : Correcting by adding subject and/or verb (w/ answer key)
• Fragments : Recognizing/correcting (mixed) (in paragraphs)
• Fragments : Remote as complete sentences
• Recognizing Fragments/run-ons/comma splices (w/ answer key)
• Run-on sentence, comma splice and fragments
• Run-on sentence, comma splices and fragments (additional help)
• Separating run-together sentences with a period  
• Correcting run-on sentence, comma splice and fragments
• Correcting run-on sentence, comma splice and fragments (additional help)
• Separating run-together sentences (w/ answer key)
• Run-on : Correcting with a dependent clause

• Capitals : Rules

• Capitals : Inserting for proper nouns
• Capitals : Inserting in sentences (w/ answer key)
• Capitals : Inserting in sentences (additional help)

• Punctuation : Comma Rules (Purdue Owl)
• Punctuation : Comma vs. semicolon in compound sentences (Purdue Owl)
• Punctuation : Apostrophe rules (Arizona State University)
• Punctuation : Quotation mark rules

• Punctuation : Adding periods, questions marks, exclamation points, and quotation marks
• Punctuation : Comma (adding in paragraphs) (w/ answer key)
• Punctuation : Comma (varied in sentences) (w/ answer key)
• Punctuation : Comma (varied; period (in sentences) (w/ answer key)
• Punctuation : Commas and semicolons in compound sentences (Purdue Owl)
• Punctuation : Apostrophe (avoiding incorrect use) (w/ answer key)
• Punctuation : Adding varied marks
• Punctuation : Rewrite sentences with needed punctuation
• Punctuation : N-E-E-T, punctuation test

• Aids for prepared theme
• Paragraph development : Topic sentence; restricting sentence; illustrating sentence
• Introduction and conclusion : Some do's and don'ts
• Introduction and conclusion : Comment/examples
• Composition : A check list of questions
• Composition : Proof-reading, editing, revising (Purdue OWL)
• Techniques for quoting material
• Research skills
• Introduction and essay structure
• Thesis sentence
• Eliminating wordiness checklist