A BRIEF GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING

A.

What is a paragraph? It is a series of sentences about one main idea. It starts with a point and the rest of the paragraph supports and develops that point.

B.

What are the Goals of Effective Writing? Effective writing makes a point-in-the-main idea, the topic sentence or the thesis statement. Effective writing supports the point by providing specific reasons, examples and other details that explain and develop the point. Effective writing organizes the support by using organization patterns of development: Listing, Time Order, Reasons and Examples

C.

What are Transitions? They are words of phrases that indicate relationships between ideas. They organize and communicate the connection between ideas. They state the idea the writer is leaving and the idea the writer is Coming up to.

D.

How do you reach the goals of Effective Writing? Prewriting (free free writing, clustering and listing) Scratch outline (Outline major points to cover and their details) Write first draft (Using the outline start writing to fill in the details) Revise (In this stage the writer adds to, throws out and rearranges) Edit (In this stage the writer looks at the content for clarity and correctness) Proofread (The last stage of the writing process where the writer looks at the mechanics of the writing)

E.

What is an Essay? It is made up of paragraphs It has an Introduction, Body Paragraphs and a concluding Paragraph

F.

What are the Parts of an Essay? Introduction Establishes the subject Establishes the Purpose for Writing, (Inform, Entertain, Argue or Impress) Establishes the Voice, (the way the writer speaks to his/her audience) It tells the reader what to expect throughout the rest of the Essay. Introductory Paragraph Techniques Stating the thesis or controlling idea Describing the problem- One issue Stating the conflict- Problem between two or more people Sketching the background-Physical setting and time Giving an overview-A short description of the characters Catching the audience by surprise-Dramatic or shocking introduction Body Paragraphs A Traditional College Essay has three or four paragraphs The body paragraphs presents support and development for the topic. Concluding Paragraph The Concluding Paragraph provides a summary of the Support and Brings the Essay to Full Circle. Concluding Paragraph Techniques Returning to the thesis or controlling idea Making a recommendation-How to solve a problem Summarizing major points-Bringing essay to full circle Ending with a quotation from a famous person-A famous quote pertinent to topic Giving warning-Warning of what will happen if changes not made 2

Making a forecast-Predicting the future Calling for further study-Looking further into a situation Showing Application-Showing how one situation relates to another The HOOK- leaves the reader hanging by raising a question in his/her mind G. Practice in Effective Writing General refers to all classes and categories of people. Specific refers to a certain class or category of people. It takes two people to communicate in writing, a sender and a receiver. Voice is the way the writer speaks to the audience (reader) First person voice is used to: entertain or impress Second person voice is used to: entertain or inform Third person voice is used to write: formal papers such as, research, business letters, scholarly journals and argument. H. Pronoun Point of View or Voice Pronouns should not shift their point of view when writing a paper. Be consistent in using first, second or third person pronouns. (Voice) Pronouns should stay consistent in tense, plural noun takes a plural pronoun singular noun takes a singular pronoun. A writers Voice Must Fit within the context: Purpose, Audience and Subject I. Effects of Word Choice Always choose words carefully when writing Select words that are exact and appropriate for the purpose Avoid using slang, clichs, pretentious words, contractions and gender words. Be objective of all persons and groups Do not make a blanket assumption about certain groups Avoid discriminatory language Avoid stereotyping 3

 Use neutral words such as: police officer, postal worker and firefighter Be honest and exact J. Authors Purpose for Writing Impression: The writer reconstructs an emotional or physical experience from a subjective point of view. Informative: The writer communicates objective knowledge about a specific subject giving detail about a procedure, process or appearance. Argument: The writer uses facts and reason to persuade the audience to agree with his/her opinion, or to act as he/she has directed. Entertainment: The writer writes to amuse his/her audience, to excite or divert the audience from weighty matters. K. Writing Patterns Descriptive: Paints a verbal picture Narrative: recounts events in time order. Persuasive: The writer tries to convince the reader to feel or think as he/she. Argument: Is a reasoned, logical way of asserting the soundness of a position, belief or conclusion. Argument takes a stand which is supported by evidence and urges the audience to share the writers perspective and insights. Cause/Effect: Examines the cause of a situation and the effects of that situation. Example: Uses one or more cases to illustrate or explain a general point. Comparison and Contrast: Shows how two or more things are similar and how they are different. L. Argument and Critical Thinking Inductive Argument: Induction proceeds from individual observations to presenting relevant evidence to forming a general conclusion based on evidence. Deductive Argument: Deduction holds that if all the statements in the argument are true, the conclusion must also be true. Argument: Is the most common type of writing

Argument gives the writer an opportunity to express his/her opinions Argument helps the writer to think critically, logically and objectively Argument gives the writer an opportunity to; investigate and present findings in a systematic approach, while keeping an open mind to new information. Argument gives the writer a chance to question material, separating irrelevant from the relevant.