essay writing resource guide

A Comprehensive Guide for Students, Teachers, and Writers

Introduction

Whether you’re a student who has an essay due within a few days, an aspiring writer who wants to be published, or a teacher looking for new ways to inspire students to express themselves through the written word, this guide is for you. We’ve examined countless sites to discover some of the most helpful essay writing resources. Whether you need just a few pointers to finish your paper or your interest lies in exploring what the world of essay writing has to offer, be sure to check out the more than 40 individual resources in this guide, including writing tips, practical tools (like a helpful plagiarism checker), teaching resources, and much more.

General Essay Writing Resources

Before you dive into the specifics of English grammar, take a moment to review general grammar resources. These comprehensive tools will help you understand what grammar is all about.

English Club: What Is Grammar

This article explains what grammar is, and what it is not, as well as how it can help you master the English language.

English Grammar Guide

Find a complete guide to the rules of the English language; each rule has several examples on the proper and improper usage, categorized by topic.

Daily Grammar: Why Is Grammar Important?

Learn why grammar is important and how it can help you succeed in the real world.

Career Advice: Why Is Grammar Important in Communication

Discover 14 reasons for the importance of grammar in communication; learn why grammar increases accuracy, helps you save face, climb the corporate ladder, etc.

Oxford English Dictionary: Grammar in Early Modern English

This resource explains the main differences between early, modern, and late modern English. Learn how the spelling and usage of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and determinants have changed over time.

Grammar Handbook

Check out this 76-page handbook that explains concepts such as the elements of a sentence, the structure of a paragraph, word choice, and punctuation. This resource teaches the difference between subject and object, correct and incorrect sentence construction, and much more!

What Are Basic English Grammar Rules?

While there are hundreds of different rules for grammar, this source narrows down the most basic ones. Learn how to properly use parts of speech to form correct sentence structures.

Essay Writing Tools

When tasked with writing an essay, it’s nice to have some helpful tools at hand. From step-by-step planning information to a tool to help writers avoid plagiarism, find everything you need below.

Guide to Writing a Basic Essay

Writing an essay may seem like a challenging task, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to follow a few easy steps to format an essay. A clear essay format plus your ideas will equal success.

Plagiarism Checker

Even if you’re sure you didn’t plagiarize someone else’s work, it can still happen. Leave no doubts by using this free tool provided by Writer. They also have a browser extension to ensure your writing is error-free no matter where you are online.

Thesis Generator

Need help figuring out your thesis statement for your essay? Check out this thesis generator that will have you crafting the perfect central idea in no time.

Story Toolz

Make your writing more friendly and useful to readers by using the skill-improving tools on this website. Tools include a readability scale and a cliché buster.

Essay Map

Quickly and easily generate a plan to help you write your next essay with this interactive online organizer.

Graphic Organizers for Writing

Organization is key when planning and writing an essay. Use this link to find helpful graphic organizer templates.

How to Write a Good Paragraph

From the Ashford University Writing Center, this step-by-step guide aids writers in drafting, detailing, and refining ideas to craft a good paragraph.

How to Use Block Quotes

SuperSummary's own guide for how to use block quotes in any essay and using any style guide, including MLA, Chicago, and APA.

Thesaurus.com

Part of making your writing more interesting is utilizing more vivid vocabulary choices. Use this online resource to find synonyms for worn-out or uninspired words.

Hemingway Editor

Use this editor to make your writing less dense. Hemingway will highlight things such as unnecessary words or sentences that are too lengthy.

Wilmington University Writing Resources

This resource contains a plethora of links that cover every step of the writing process. Whether you need to know how to brainstorm or write a great conclusion, you can find help here.

Editing and Proofreading Strategies

Check out this printable guide that presents editing and proofreading strategies to help writers develop their skills in these two important areas.

Paper Rater

This free grammar checker also provides writing suggestions. Simply copy and paste your essay into the free checker to receive instant customized results. Paper Rater also checks for plagiarism.

Essay Writing Resources for Teachers

Inspire your students to write and teach them how to do it with resources that include audio interviews of famous authors, detailed lesson plans, and helpful handouts.

Why I Write

Use this resource to inspire you or your students. Choose from short recordings of various celebrity authors who explain why they write.

The Writing Process Handout

Make the writing process more concrete with this printable handout that uses images to illustrate each step.

Lesson Plans for Teaching Writing

This link contains 20 writing lessons from the National Council of Teachers of English, developed by teachers in the classroom. Helpful inclusions are instructional pointers and reflections from teachers regarding the lessons.

Outta Ray’s Head

Visit this site by English teacher Ray Saitz, who offers intermediate and secondary writing lessons with tips for evaluation and student handouts.

Writing Topics

Find explanatory, narrative, persuasive, creative, and research topics to inspire your students to write. Topics are organized by grade level (1-12) and type of writing so you can easily find what you need.

Writing Persuasive Essays

This essay-writing lesson plan from Scholastic can help you teach the persuasive writing process in six clear steps.

Writing an Autobiographical Essay

This Scholastic lesson plan can help you teach high schoolers to write autobiographical essays with step-by-step instructions, brainstorming worksheets, and evaluation rubrics.

Teaching the Photo Essay

Need something different? Assign a photo essay to your middle or high school students, which will appeal to them and benefit their planning and writing skills.

Writing Superhero Conclusions with Phantom Endings Exercise

You can thank Caroline Trull, English teacher, for this creative and refreshing way to teach high school students how to write a conclusion.

Essay Exam Tips

When writing an essay for a test situation, you can’t always engage in a lengthy writing process due to time constraints. Find out how to create a solid essay in a short amount of time with the helpful tips in the following links.

Taking an Essay Exam

This online guide from Indiana University Bloomington gives helpful pointers about preparing for, taking, and proofreading an essay exam.

Tips on Writing the Essay-Type Examination

This step-by-step guide on how to write an essay for an exam includes tips like using your time wisely and paying attention to directive words.

Writer’s Block: An Essay Test Taker’s Bane

This post from Emeritus Professor Marilla Svinicki of the University of Texas at Austin includes methods for overcoming writer’s block during essay exams.

10 Exam Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

While not all of these mistakes apply to the essay exam, many do. Click the link to find out which ones can help you improve your essay exam technique.

Essay Writing Podcasts

These podcasts can help build your confidence, inspire you, or educate you. While some are specific to essays, a few offer grammar help or general writing advice.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

This podcast provides brief, helpful, and engaging grammar, style, and punctuation tips for better writing.

The Creative Penn

Enjoy author Joanna Penn’s perspective and advice on everything related to writing. Also, listen to her interviews with various writing pros.

Writing the Personal Essay

Writer Sheila Bender has tons of practical experience mentoring people in the creation of personal essays. Learn the ins and outs of writing a personal essay, including dos and don’ts, obstacles you might confront, and overcoming fears.

Start Writing Essays

Build confidence in essay writing via the Start Writing Essays podcast from OpenLearn. Learn how a student uses certain essay writing methods and adapts them for assignments and exams.

How to Write a Kick-Ass Essay with Ann Hood

If you struggle with crafting the perfect essay under 3,000 words, listen to Ann Hood’s lecture from one of Tinhouse’s Summer Writer’s Workshops. Hood offers 10 helpful steps that will have you creating the essay of your dreams in no time.

This I Believe

Weekly podcast This I Believe hosts ordinary people and celebrities who are tasked with reading their own essays about their deeply held beliefs.

Personal Essay Publishing Resources

Find a place to submit your best personal essays for publication and sometimes payment. Get the important details below.