Writing 4 Stages of Writing Prewriting Writing down

Writing

4 Stages of Writing �Prewriting: Writing down ideas in whatever form that works to get your ideas down on paper �Drafting: Write in sentences the ideas you want to communicate—develop/expand link ideas together. This is a preliminary stage of exploration and discovery �Revision: Take a closer look at the organization, structure and logic of the draft and rethink, refine, develop, reshape and/or rewrite—meaning you should delete, expand and/or clarify your ideas �Editing/Proofreading: examine ideas, details, grammar and mechanics (like punctuation) for accuracy and clarity

Things to Note for a Well-Written Piece �Grammar and Mechanics �Style �Focus and Organization �Content

1. Grammar and Mechanics �The few errors that are present do not undermine the overall effectiveness of the writing

Common Grammar Errors � Subject-verb agreement � Fragment � Comma splice/fused sentences � Commas � Run-ons � Modifiers � Pronoun reference/agreement � Parallel structure � Idioms/jargons

Basic Grammar Text Ruvinsky, Maxine. (2009). Practical Grammar. 2 nd ed. Toronto: OUP Note: you can use any grammar book. You don’t have to buy one…

2. Style �Diction is tailored to the audience and purpose �There is an effective and consistent use of a range of sentence types, including subordinators and modifiers �Writing is concise and readable

Things to Note �Voice �make sure the tone of the writing is in accordance with its content �Do not use out-of-place colloquialism/idioms �we use this type of expression for informal talk/writing, but we should avoid them in formal writing (e. g. , “I was an awfully good runner when I was young” should be “I was a good runner when I was young”; “You can’t have your cake and eat it too!” should be…)

Formal Writing �Do not write the way we speak (unstructured). When we talk, our thoughts are spoken without any systemized order. Writing is the opposite. It has to be focused, organized and structured �Also it differs from Informal standard (for memos, speeches, letters, newspapers, newsletters, emails…), and Professional English (for emails, presentations, manuals, professional reports,

3. Focus and Organization �Responds to the topic in a thoughtful/ meaningful way �Main idea (thesis) is focused and clear, and the points are well organized �Paragraphs are fully developed

4. Content �The evidence is consistently, critically, accurately and thoughtfully interpreted analyzed

A Checklist • Are there a topic sentence and a • • • concluding sentence for each paragraph Are supporting details/examples logical and clear? Are transition words used? Do I have varied sentence lengths? Is there a bias in language? Is there any idiom or jargon used? Am I using the right voice?

6 Different types of Writing

1. Narrative as a major writing strategy �Tells a story/event that has occurred or recounts action for a purpose in the first (“I”) person or third person �Answers the six basic questions: who, where, when, what, why and how �The purpose can be “to reflect, inform, explain or to persuade” (

2. Descriptive �Uses sensory details to leave an impression about the central idea �Use specific nouns and strong verbs �Organize details in a spatial and/or chronological order �Can be used to provide solid supporting details for thesis

3 a. Process �A step-by-step, chronological and/or logical explanation of how something happens or is done in a specific order �Ask yourself if the steps are presented in appropriate order and developed in enough detail

3 b. Illustration (examples) �Selecting the right kind of examples is the key �Make sure relevant examples are used to support thesis �The number of examples needed will depend on the topic and thesis

4. Compare and Contrast �Comparison/Contrast is used for assessment purposes to show why someone or something is superior to another to persuade, inform, and/or present a new perspective

Compare and Contrast �If similarities are predominant, use them to focus on the differences, and vice versa �Don’t compare/contrast the too obvious, avoid common expressions, and don’t draw hasty generalizations �There are two ways to compare/contrast

Point-by-Point �Main Point 1: A and B �Main Point 2: A and B �Main Point 3: A and B Blocking �A: Points 1, 2 and 3 �B: Points 1, 2 and 3 �Note: Points for A and B have the same topic

5. Cause and Effect �Explains WHY �One cause can produce many effects �One effect can be the result of many causes �Look for all the possible explanations, like pre-existing conditions and all the possibilities

Cause and Effect �Don’t confuse and/or mix up causes and effects �Just because something happened in a certain order does not mean chronology is the causation �Don’t make hasty generalizations or illogical inferences

6. Argument/Persuasion �Rationally/logically structured evidence is presented �Appeals to logic (facts), ethics (a set of moral values) and/or emotion (feelings) �Has four basic parts 1. Thesis 2. Objection 3. Proof/evidence 4. conclusion

Argument/Persuasion �Logical appeal (facts, authorities, statistics and personal experience) should dominate, but a right dose of ethical appeal sprinkled with emotional appeal can be highly effective �Know the common fallacies and avoid them �NEVER contradict yourself

Sources Dietsch, Betty Mattix, Sauer, Laura, & Levering, Andrea. (2006). Reasoning and Writing Well: A Rhetoric Research Guide, Reader and Handbook. (Canadian ed. )Toronto: Mc. Graw-Hill Ryerson Reinking, J. A. , von der Osten, R. , Cairns, S. A. , & Fleming, R. (2010). Strategies for Successful Writing. (4 th Canadian