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Materials
Handouts, exercises and other materials on many academic writing issues, including paragraph and essay organization, grammar and style, punctuation and mechanics, ESL, citing sources, and writing about literature are available in the Writing Center.
Below are links to some materials prepared by the staff of the Writing Center. (To open the PDF files, your computer needs Adobe Reader®.*)
Term Paper Handbooks
Sierra College students and staff can pick up a free copy of one of the Writing Center's Term Paper Handbooks in LRC 424 on the Rocklin Campus. Please do not print these handbooks in the computer labs at Sierra College.
MLA
handbook, 2009 
PDF 609K.
Based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition.
The Modern Language Association format is generally required in English
and humanities classes, as well as other subjects.
Supplements
to MLA handbook
PDF 628K Additional
model citations of commonly used types of sources.
APA handbook, 2009
PDF
618K. Based
on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,
6th edition. This format is generally required in psychology, social
science, and some science classes.
Chicago
handbook PDF 219K.
Based on A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations,
7th edition, and The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition.
This format is required in some history classes.
CSE
handbook
PDF 509K Based on Scientific Style and Format,
7th edition, and Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 4th
edition. The Council of Science Editors format is required in some biology
classes.
Video
Tutor
Droid Intros APA Style A
brief overview of APA formatted and documented research papers, for Social
Science and Life Science classes.
Academic Writing Handouts
- Basic
Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis PDF 11K
- Guidelines
for Writing a Literary Critical Analysis PDF 25K
- Thesis
Statement Basics
PDF 19K
- Research
Papers
PDF 32K. How
to write a research paper: overview and steps in the process.
- Creating
an Annotated Bibliography
PDF 143K
- Using
Figures in MLA Format
PDF 329 K
- Using
Figures in APA Format
PDF 182K
Computer Formatting Handouts
- Formatting
a Paper in Microsoft Word 2010
PDF 359K.
Computer
instructions for setting up an academic paper in MLA format.
- Formatting
a Paper in Microsoft Word 2007
PDF 335K.
Computer
instructions for setting up an academic paper in MLA format.
- Formatting
a Paper in Microsoft Word 2003 or Earlier Version
302K. Computer
instructions for setting up an academic paper in MLA format.
- Creating
a Works Cited Page in Microsoft Word 2007
437K Computer
instructions for setting up a works cited page in MLA format.
- Creating
a Works Cited Page in Microsoft Word 2003 or Earlier Version
386K Computer
instructions for setting up a works cited page in MLA format.
- Making
an APA Running Header in Word 2010
516K How to set up the running header required for a
paper in APA format (6th edition, 2009).
- Making
an APA Running Header in Word 2007
326K How to set up the running header required for a
paper in APA format (6th edition, 2009).
- Indenting
a Long Quotation in Word 2007
152K How
to format a long quotation in MLA, APA, or Chicago style academic papers.
Grammar Charts
The following handouts are copies of the posters on the walls in the Sierra College Writing Center, LRC 424 on the Rocklin Campus.
- Compounding
Methods
PDF 59K
- Subordinators
and Relative Pronouns PDF 9K
- Common
Prepositions PDF 9K
- Linking
Verbs and Helping Verbs PDF 8K
- Pronoun
Case PDF 12K
* To download the
free Adobe Reader®, click here: 
Copyright
Policy:
Web site
visitors are free to download or reproduce these materials for educational
purposes. However, without prior written permission from Sierra College
Writing Center staff and Sierra College, these materials may not be published
or otherwise reproduced for profit.