Writing with IEW

07/09/2025

07/03/2025

Now's the time to order your books for Fall and get free shipping!! You're welcome! 🇺🇸

Promotional code required. Valid July 1–10, 2025, for online purchases only. Free shipping code applies to standard domestic shipping. International and expedited orders will be adjusted accordingly.

05/09/2025

Registration is open for Fall classes, too! 😄

04/20/2025

Aspiring IEW writers, this contest is for you! 😄

We are delighted to present our tenth annual writing contest for all aspiring and accomplished writers, ages eight to eighteen. Whether or not they have experience with IEW's Structure and Style® writing method, your students are invited to participate.

04/10/2025

Avoid the use of “very” to emphasize a boring adjective. Instead, use a Quality Adjective! 👍🏽

12/14/2024

Homeschooling parents, if you are looking for literature and writing classes for the New Year, look no further! Students may join in classes whenever a new unit begins. Taught by a veteran homeschooling mom with a B.A. in English and an MA in Education, classes are methodically taught for success! Choose from online or in person classes. Visit www.wordwielder.com or email shawn.mccowan@wearewordwielders for more information.

10/26/2024

Do you know the difference between a Works Cited and a Bibliography page? More importantly, do you know how to create them?

Beginning at about middle school, teachers begin to require that students cite the sources they are using in their writing. To "cite" simply means to give credit to the people who provided the information! Students should provide a brief in-text citation in their paper, followed by a final page listing more in-depth information. (I will be posting more about in-text citations soon!) These final pages are called the Works Cited or Bibliography.

In short, a bibliography is a list of all the sources a student has read in the process of writing the paper, whereas a works cited page lists only the sources mentioned in the paper.

When students have done much research but only a handful of those sources are actually used in the final paper, they might want to demonstrate the depth of work done in preparation for writing. In this case, they might want to create a Bibliography showing all of the sources that may have been read or consulted in the process of writing the paper.

When the student uses sources and all of them appear in the paper, a Works Cited page is best. Most middle and high school students fall into this latter category.

So how do you create them?

When I was in school, we were required to memorize every jot and tittle that went into a Works Cited or Bibliography. These days, many students use citation generators. No, it's not cheating! Many colleges provide these generators to their students.

The best citation generator I have found (and the most fun!) is at www.mybib.com. Students simply enter their information (be sure to choose the correct format, such as MLA for English papers) and the list is generated for them! They can copy and paste the list into their papers. Best of all, the site is free AND ad-free (for now)! Students create a free account and their work will even be saved for them. Why didn't they have this when I was in college? 😂

10/21/2024

Are you still looking for writing classes for your students? It's not too late to join mine! I'm a veteran homeschooling mom whose call it is to come alongside homeschooling families in the area of writing and literature. My classes feature IEW (I'm certified), The Lost Tools of Writing, classics and Great Books. Check out my current and new class listings (online and in person) at www.wearewordwielders.com.

07/01/2024

Hooray! Just a little perk for the Fourth! 😁

Promo code required. Valid July 1–10, 2024, for online purchases only. Free shipping code applies to standard domestic shipping. International and expedited orders will be adjusted accordingly.

05/18/2024

Does your student need a writing boost? Registration is now open for online Summer and Fall classes, taught by a veteran homeschool mom and certified IEW instructor using the acclaimed IEW program! For more information visit: www.wordwielder.com