Writing and Thinking

Aim---The “Why” of Writing Why do people write? People have a number of different reasons for writing. They talk for the same reasons that they write---because they have something to say, they have somebody they want to say it to. Reasons for writing can be narrowed down to several basic categories.

To Express Themselves To get to know themselves, to find meaning in their own lives journal entry, letter, personal essay

To Share Information To give other people information that they need or want; to share some special knowledge science or history writing, news story, bibliography, autobiography, travel essay, office memo

To Persuade To convince other people to do something or believe something persuasive essay, letter to the editor, advertisement, political speech

To Create Literature To be creative, to say something in a unique way short story, poem, play

Process---The “How” of Writing Good writing doesn’t just happen; it comes from following stages in a process. The stages are all linked to thinking.

Stage 1: Prewriting Choosing a purpose (subject) and an audience Gathering ideas and using pre-writing techniques Arranging information

Stage 2: Writing a Draft Putting ideas down on paper Including new ideas you discover as you write

Stage 3: Evaluating and Revising Making judgments about content and organization Making changes to improve the draft

Stage 4: Proofreading and Publishing Correcting errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics Sharing one’s writing

Topic, Purpose, Audience Audience: the intended reader Topic: the focus of the writing Purpose: reason for writing Express Inform Persuade Create literature

PRE-WRITING TECHNIQUES Writer’s Journal Recording experiences and ideas Free writing Writing for several minutes about whatever comes to mind Brainstorming Listing ideas quickly, without judging them Clustering Brainstorming ideas and connecting ideas with circles and lines Asking Questions Asking the 5W-How questions (who, what, when, where, why, and how) Reading and Listening with a Focus Reading a passage and listening to find specific information Imagining Using your imagination to think of details

Arranging Ideas Types of Order Type of Order Definition Examples Chronological Narration: order that presents events as they happen in time Story, narrative poem, explanation of a process, history, biography, drama Spatial Description: order that describes objects according to location Descriptions (near to far; left to right; top to bottom) Importance Evaluation: order that gives details from least to most important or the reverse Persuasive writing; description; explanation (main idea and supporting details); evaluative writing Logical Classification: order that relates items and groups Definitions; classifications; comparisons and contrasts

Evaluating and Revising Guidelines for Evaluating and Revising Content Evaluation Guide Revision Technique Is the writing interesting? Add examples, an anecdote (brief story), dialogue, and details. Cut repeated or boring details. Does the writing achieve its purpose? Add explanations, examples, or details to achieve the purpose. Are there enough details? Add details, facts, or examples to support the main idea. Are there unrelated ideas that distract the reader? Cut the unrelated ideas.

Editing and Revising Organization Guidelines for Evaluating and Revising Organization Organization Are the ideas and details arranged in a effective order? Reorder ideas and details to make the meaning clear. Are the connections between ideas and sentences clear? Add transitional words to link ideas: because, for example, and so on.

Guidelines for Evaluating and Revising Style Is the meaning clear? Replace unclear wording. Use precise, easy-to-understand words. Does the language fit the audience and purpose? Replace slang and contractions to create a formal tone. Replace formal words with less formal ones to create an informal tone. Do sentences read smoothly? Reorder words to vary sentence beginnings. Reword to vary sentence structure.

6 Traits of Writing Ideas/Content theme, details, focus, audience awareness Organization structure, patterns that hold the writing together, planning, transitions Voice personality behind the piece, should be appropriate to purpose and audience Word Choice writer’s use of specific words or phrases to convey an intended message Sentence Fluency rhythm and flow of language Conventions G.U.M.S. grammar, usage, mechanics