Emma E. Legg Adaptive Technology Center

Writing Skills Test (WST) Preparation: Practice

1. Help on grammar and Writing

2. Grammar practice

3. WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

4. Transition words and phrases

Help on grammar and Writing

Check the Software Location list for a program called Skills Bank which contains basic help in grammar and writing.

        back to top

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT:

This activity will give you practice in writing an effective thesis--one that is neither too broad nor too narrow for the supporting points in an essay. A benefit of the activity is that sometimes you will construct your thesis after you have decided what your supporting points will be. You will need to know, then, how to write a thesis that will match exactly the points that you have developed. 

I

Thesis ________________________________________________________________

Supporting Points

a. All the resorts, from beaches to mountains to amusement parks, charge top dollar at this time.

 b. The heat and humidity during the summer months make traveling extremely uncomfortable.

 c. Highways, campsites, and motels are jammed with other vacationers.

II  Thesis_______________________________________________________________

Supporting Points

a. Daydreaming allows us to exercise our imaginations.

b. Time spent daydreaming can aid relaxation and help eliminate stress.

c. Often, solutions to difficult problems pop into mind while a person daydreams.

III Thesis_______________________________________________________________

Supporting Points

 a. Cutting down on salt will reduce water retention and that bloated feeling.

 b. salt reduction may also help hypertension.

c. Without salt, the natural flavors of food come through.

IV

Thesis________________________________________________________________

Supporting Points

a. A word processor can reduce paper clutter by storing material on magnetic disks.

b. Using a word processor eliminates many kinds of common typing errors.

c. Unlike typewriters, word processors permit rapid editing of material.

 back to top

Transition words and phrases:

  Sequence:

again, also, and, and then, besides, finally, first...second...third, furthermore, last, moreover, next, still, too

Time:

after a bit, after a few days, after a while, afterward, as long as, as soon as, at last, at length, at that time, before, earlier, immediately, in the meantime, in the past, lately, later, meanwhile, now, presently, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, then, thereafter, until, when

Comparison:

again, also, in the same way, likewise, once more, similarly

Contrast:

although, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the one hand...on the other hand, regardless, still, though, yet

Examples:

after all, even, for example, for instance, indeed, in fact, of course, specifically, such as, the following example, to illustrate

Cause and Effect:

accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this purpose, hence, so, then, therefore, thereupon, thus, to this end

Place:

above, adjacent to, below, beyond, closer to, elsewhere, far, farther on, here, near, nearby, opposite to, there, to the left, to the right

Concession:

although it is true that, granted that, I admit that, it may appear that, naturally, of course

Summary, Repetition, or Conclusion:

as a result, as has been noted, as I have said, as we have seen, as mentioned earlier, in any event, in conclusion, in other words, in short, on the whole, therefore, to summarize

  back to top                                                                             BACK TO WST PREPARATION