Reading, Writing, and Academic Study Skills Resources

For students:

  • The resources on this site are meant to provide general, supplemental information. Certain things may not apply to your specific context. Be sure to follow your instructor's directions first.
  • If you aren't sure how to proceed, ask a classmate, a tutor, or your instructor for support.

 

For instructors and tutors:

  • If you share TASC Materials, please give TASC credit by keeping our header, footer, and author information.
  • Note: these resources are not meant to replace interactive learning. Many people learn better with others, engaging, conversing, practicing, and appreciate guidance when they have questions or get stuck.

Content created and assembled by Karen Wiederholt and Taylor Harman.

Reading for college is challenging! These resources include strategies for reading more effectively and efficiently. Use them when you feel unmotivated or stressed, or want to tune-up your reading skills.

Getting started and staying motivated

Strategies for Before, During, and After Reading

TIME MANAGEMENT Strategies for Reading

PREVIEW to Get an Overview of Longer Texts

How to GET TUTORING for Reading

PREREAD to Get the Gist of Shorter Readings
 

How to ANNOTATE Readings Effectively
 

Handling VOCABULARY in Readings
 

POST-READING: You’re Not Done Yet!

Writing challenges--the assignment, the writer's feelings, the background noise (literal and figurative)--exist everywhere. Use these resources to learn strategies for when you feel stuck, approaches for getting stronger, or to discover ways to feel more comfortable as a writer. And please, ALWAYS follow your instructor's guidelines if they differ from any of the resources below.

Getting started and staying motivated

Structure and Style

Revising and Proofreading Your Writing

Incorporating Outside Sources

Language DIVERSITY and Writing

Writing Effective INTRODUCTIONS

Guidelines for REVISING– GENERAL

Avoiding PLAGIARISM

Six Techniques to JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING

Writing Effective CONCLUSIONS

Re-Vision: Images and Steps for an Analytical Revising Process

CITING Your Sources

Understanding the WRITING PROCESS: Overview and Tips

Writing Effective THESIS STATEMENTS

Checklist for REVISING AN ACADEMIC ESSAY

PARAPHRASING An Author’s Ideas

Overcoming WRITER’S BLOCK

The “PIE” PARAGRAPH

PROOFREADING Strategies and Tips

SUMMARIZING

Using OUTLINES for Writing

  

How to GET TUTORING for Writing

Using QUOTES in Your Writing

TIME MANAGEMENT for Writing

    

Best VERBS for Sharing Authors’ Ideas

Strong academic skills can make college feel more manageable. Find resources on everything from studying effectively to planning your time with purpose.

Getting started and staying motivated

Time Management

Communication

Other Academic Skills

Tips for UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS

PLANNING YOUR TIME– Overview

How to EMAIL YOUR INSTRUCTOR

How to TAKE NOTES during a LECTURE

Tips for HOW TO STUDY

      

Managing STRESS

      

How to GET TUTORING for Academic/Study Skills

      

Find information here about standard English grammar rules and forms, as well as tips on how to find errors.
How to GET TUTORING For Grammar

Tenses for Academic English

Common Grammar Errors in Academic Writing

Using PRESENT TENSE

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Using PAST TENSE (simple past)

Sentence Boundary Errors: FRAGMENTS

Using PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Sentence Boundary Errors: RUN-TOGETHER SENTENCES

Using PAST PERFECT TENSE