How to Use the Stylebook
Welcome to the Stylebook. This guide will supplement what you are
learning in your courses and help you produce well-written essays. The
Stylebook serves a few main functions:
To clarify the shared grading criteria for IVCC's English department
To give a basic overview of the three documentation styles used in IVCC classes
To give a basic overview of how to use sources in an essay
This book is intended to help students write clear and accurate
papers. At times, the instructor may have expectations different from
the guidelines written here. If so, follow the guidelines of the
assignment. The Stylebook is not intended to be a definitive or
comprehensive grammar or documentation guide. Students who have
questions about ideas that are not addressed here are encouraged to
consult other resources:
Your instructor. See faculty web pages.
Your textbook. Many English textbooks have grammar sections and short guides to documentation.
The Writing Center. A tutor in the Writing Center may
be able to help you. The Writing Center also has many other resources,
such as grammar handbooks and documentation style manuals.
Jacobs Library. Librarians are a knowledgeable resource for finding, using, and documenting sources.
A handbook. The Writing Center recommends A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers.
Many of the documents within the Stylebook require Acrobat Reader to view. Download the reader here: Acrobat Reader.
Questions and suggestions about the Stylebook should be directed to the Writing Center Director.
The Stylebook is published and maintained by the Illinois Valley
Community College Writing Center, and was last updated on August 18,
Please feel free to print, copy, and use the
Stylebook for educational, non-commercial purposes, giving credit to the
Illinois Valley Community College Writing Center. The Stylebook should not be modified or adapted without written
permission from the Writing Center Director.
Example Stylebook citation in MLA style:
"Overview of MLA Style." Stylebook.
Illinois Valley Community College Writing Center,
8 Aug. 2016, www.ivcc.edu/stylebooks/stylebook4.aspx.