Reading & Writing

Reading & Writing

5 Paragraph Essay Structure: What Each Paragraph Does, and Its Limits

The 5 paragraph essay structure, paragraph by paragraph, with a sample skeleton and what university writing centers say about when the form fits and when it doesn't.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026

Reading & Writing

Writing an Essay Outline: From Question to Thesis to Evidence

Writing an essay outline step by step, from the assignment question to a working thesis, main points and evidence, with the alphanumeric format and a filled-in example.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026

Reading & Writing

How to Paraphrase Without Plagiarizing: Five Steps and a Worked Example

How to paraphrase without plagiarizing in five steps taught by university writing centers, with a before-and-after example and an explanation of patchwriting.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026

Reading & Writing

Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension: What Research Supports

Strategies to improve reading comprehension of academic texts, drawn from IES practice guides and comprehension research, with an example reading session.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026

Reading & Writing

How to Annotate a Text: A Marking System, Margin Notes and an Example

How to annotate a text so the notes are useful later: a small set of marks, margin notes in your own words, and what research found about highlighting alone.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026

Reading & Writing

The SQ3R Method of Reading: Five Steps, an Example and the Evidence

The SQ3R method of reading has five steps: survey, question, read, recite, review. Here is how to use it on a textbook chapter and what research found.

10 min read · Oct 10, 2026