Writing (1) (2007)

W elcome to the New Academic Year! Instructor: Miss Mona Jebril M.Sc. Educational Studies Higher Education (Oxford University) (Oxford University)_____________________ B.A. English Language and Literature Literature (Al Azhar University) (Al Azhar University)

Knowing yourself- a first step! Introduce yourself (3 min) Introduce yourself (3 min) - Who are you? - Why are you here? What are your expectations?

Which of these pieces of writing would you plan carefully? - Birthday card to a friend - Letter to your pen-friend - Postcard to your family - Note to a close friend - Letter applying for a job in Australia - Letter of complaint to a company - English exam composition: ‘Things I like to do’ (from: Cambridge First Certificate, 1993: p. 7) (from: Cambridge First Certificate, 1993: p. 7)

Which of these pieces of writing would you plan carefully? - Birthday card to a friend - Letter to your pen-friend - Postcard to your family - Note to a close friend - Letter applying for a job in Australia - Letter of complaint to a company - English exam composition: ‘Things I like to do’ (from: Cambridge First Certificate,1993:p.7) (from: Cambridge First Certificate,1993:p.7) Informal Formal

Formal Writings: (Academic Writing) As the name implies, it is the kind of writing that you are required to do in college or university. It differs from other kinds of writing (personal, literary, journalistic, business, etc.) in several ways. As the name implies, it is the kind of writing that you are required to do in college or university. It differs from other kinds of writing (personal, literary, journalistic, business, etc.) in several ways. N.B. (for more details, plz see Writing Academic English, p. 2 Under ‘Audience, Tone, and Purpose’)

Writing (1)-Aims This course provides an introduction to writing at college and university level (Academic Writing) This course provides an introduction to writing at college and university level (Academic Writing) It introduces writing as an active process of communicating ideas which requires active thinking and good organizational skills It introduces writing as an active process of communicating ideas which requires active thinking and good organizational skills It assumes that writing good English is not only a matter of talent but also a result of good and continuous practice and the learning of certain writing skills and strategies It assumes that writing good English is not only a matter of talent but also a result of good and continuous practice and the learning of certain writing skills and strategies

English Main Four Skills Listening Speaking Speaking Reading Writing How can you improve your writing?

What are the things that We Should take care of when we write?

Writing (1)- Objectives In this course, you will Learn some techniques which will help you to improve your writing In this course, you will Learn some techniques which will help you to improve your writing - You will learn - how to plan and write a composition (esp. paragraph & essay) - how to improve your style and communicate your ideas more clearly and effectively - how to spell and punctuate - how to write good English (learning more grammar and vocabulary)

Book or books? Main Reference Book Main Reference Book + ( A Reading List) Exam: Exam:Theoretical (definitions /explanations, etc.) Practical Practical (writing paragraphs, essays, etc.) (writing paragraphs, essays, etc.)

How Can I evaluate and Improve my work? Do you agree or disagree with the statements below? (Discuss in pairs) Do you agree or disagree with the statements below? (Discuss in pairs) 1. The teacher should mark my composition and write in all the corrections 2. It’s best to correct your own mistakes 3. The teacher should show me where I have made a mistake, but allow me to correct the answer myself 4. It’s useful to work in pairs, discussing and correcting each other’s mistakes. 5. Mistakes don’t matter that much. Answering the question is what is important. 6. It’s helpful to see different answers to a question- to decide which is best and try to say why. 7. You must not make any mistakes. Correct English is essential. (from: Cambridge First Certificate, 1993: p. 7) (from: Cambridge First Certificate, 1993: p. 7)

Error Correction Symbols Error Correction Symbols

Error Correction Sheet (Self-evaluation)

Example: (Error Correction Sheet)

Some Advices! Use an English-English Dictionary Use an English-English Dictionary Make a glossary of terms Make a glossary of terms Do all assignments given to you Do all assignments given to you Ask questions and discuss with each other Ask questions and discuss with each other Listen, speak and read Listen, speak and read Practice as much as you can Practice as much as you can Believe that you can do it! Believe that you can do it! To write!

The Writing Process * Each phase of the process loops back on the other loops back on the other Plan Write Revise Edit Pre-writing Post- writing

What is pre-writing? Prewriting is any structural experiences that influence active student participation in thinking, talking, writing, and working on the topic under focus in a writing lesson. Such activities may include: Prewriting is any structural experiences that influence active student participation in thinking, talking, writing, and working on the topic under focus in a writing lesson. Such activities may include: (oral group, brainstorming, debating, outlining, oral reading, interviewing, visits to places of interests, clustering, free-writing, etc.) The importance of pre- writing The importance of pre- writing According to D’Aoust (1986:7): ‘Prewriting activities generate ideas; they encourage a free flow of thoughts and help students to discover both what they want to say and how to say it on paper. ‘ ‘Prewriting activities generate ideas; they encourage a free flow of thoughts and help students to discover both what they want to say and how to say it on paper. ‘ (Thomas Karl,1995) (Thomas Karl,1995)

Stage I: Prewriting: Step 1: Choosing and Narrowing a Topic If you are given a specific writing assignment (ex. A paragraph), then what you can write is limited. If you are given a specific writing assignment (ex. A paragraph), then what you can write is limited. You must narrow the subject to a particular aspect of that general subject. You must narrow the subject to a particular aspect of that general subject. Ex. Environment Ex. Environment Pollution Pollution Ocean Pollution Ocean Pollution 1989 Alaskan Oil Spill 1989 Alaskan Oil Spill

Practice! Narrow each of the following general topics to one specific aspect that could be written about in one paragraph. Narrow each of the following general topics to one specific aspect that could be written about in one paragraph. - University - Television - Sports - Entertainment - Food

Prewriting: Step 2: Brainstorming Brainstorming is a writing technique to stimulate creative thinking and generate ideas and material for writing. Brainstorming is a writing technique to stimulate creative thinking and generate ideas and material for writing. * It can get you to write more quickly and save you time. Three useful brainstorming techniques are: ListingFreewritingClustering

Brainstorming by Listing Listing is a brainstorming technique in which you think about your topic and quickly make a list of whatever words or phrases come into your head Listing is a brainstorming technique in which you think about your topic and quickly make a list of whatever words or phrases come into your head Procedures: Procedures: 1. - Write down the general topic at the top of the paper 2. Then make a list of every word or phrase that comes into your mind about the topic. (The harder you think, the more ideas will flow) (The harder you think, the more ideas will flow) 3 -Use words, phrases, or sentences. * Your purpose is to produce as many ideas as possible in a short time, so don’t stop the flow of ideas for juding or editing.

Practice: Brainstorm by listing ideas on one or two of the following topics: Brainstorm by listing ideas on one or two of the following topics: - How to be a good student. - Tourist attractions in your country or city. - Problems of working students

Brainstorming by Freewriting Freewriting is a brainstorming activity in which you write freely about the topic because you are looking for a specific focus. Freewriting is a brainstorming activity in which you write freely about the topic because you are looking for a specific focus. The purpose of freewriting is to generate as many ideas as possible The purpose of freewriting is to generate as many ideas as possible (Write without worrying about appropriateness, grammar, spelling, logic, or organization.) (Write without worrying about appropriateness, grammar, spelling, logic, or organization.)Procedures: 1. Write the topic at the top of your paper. 2. Write as much as you can about the topic until you run out of ideas. Include information, facts, details, examples, etc, that come to your mind about the subject. 3. After you have run out of ideas, reread your paper and circle the main idea (s) that you would be interested in developing. 4. Take the main idea and free write again.

Example: (Brainstorming by Freewriting) What is the biggest problem at Evergeen Colleg? Well, I really don’t know. Infact, I can’t think of one particular problem although I know there are many problems. For one thing the classrooms are usually overcrowded. At the beginning of this semester, …………………………….the classrooms are poorly maintained ……the library is too small and limited….another problem is parking near the campus…………………….. What is the biggest problem at Evergeen Colleg? Well, I really don’t know. Infact, I can’t think of one particular problem although I know there are many problems. For one thing the classrooms are usually overcrowded. At the beginning of this semester, …………………………….the classrooms are poorly maintained ……the library is too small and limited….another problem is parking near the campus……………………..

The student chooses one idea to develop further in his paragraph Topic: To describe the biggest problem at Evergreen College *(parking near the campus) Topic: To describe the biggest problem at Evergreen College *(parking near the campus) The student writes again: I think finding a parking space close to the campus at Evergreen College is a major problem: (Describing the problem, explaining and giving examples, suggesting or studying solutions,.etc.)

Practice! (Brainstorming by Freewriting ) Freewrite on one of the following topic: Freewrite on one of the following topic: - Describe one of the disadvantages of using the internet for information communication in the 21 st Century. - Describe one of the major problems in your city or country.

Brainstorming by clustering Clustering is another brainstorming activity that you can use to generate ideas. Clustering is another brainstorming activity that you can use to generate ideas. Procedures: Procedures: In the centre of your paper, write your topic and draw a balloon’’ around it. In the centre of your paper, write your topic and draw a balloon’’ around it. Then write whatever ideas come to you in balloons around the core. Then write whatever ideas come to you in balloons around the core. Think about ideas and make more balloons around them. Think about ideas and make more balloons around them. ‘Your richest idea will produce a cluster of balloons.’

Activity: Name Tastes Bad points hair build face eyes colour Personal details food music colour size clothes job sex Physical appearance character style nose nationality good points age hobbies

Activity: Name Physical appearance Personal details character Tastes Bad points good points hair Length style colour build face eyes nose size colour age job sex nationality foodhobbies music clothes age

stage II: Planning After choosing topics, narrowing them down and generating ideas by brainstorming, now you should be ready for writing After choosing topics, narrowing them down and generating ideas by brainstorming, now you should be ready for writing Organise the ideas you generated by brainstorming (listing, freewriting, or clustering) and make an outline. Organise the ideas you generated by brainstorming (listing, freewriting, or clustering) and make an outline. Procedures: Procedures: 1. Grouping ideas in As, Bs, Cs for example. 2. Developing a topic sentence to cover the points listed under the selected group A,B or C Ex. Topic sentence Topic: Public transportation Controlling idea : unreliability of Public transportation Topic sentence: One problem is the city’s unreliable public transportation Simple outlining (see next slide for explanation)

Stage II Planning- (3. simple outlining) An outline is a plan for a paragraph. In an outline, you write down the main points and subpoints in the order in which you plan to write about them Topic sentence: One problem is the city’s unreliable public transportation. Topic sentence: One problem is the city’s unreliable public transportation. Supporting point: 1. Daily schedules are unreliable Supporting point: 1. Daily schedules are unreliable Supporting detail: - late arrivals Supporting detail: - late arrivals Supporting point: 2 Passengers are victims Supporting point: 2 Passengers are victims Supporting detail: - Missed appointments Supporting detail: - Missed appointments - Extra waiting time - Extra waiting time

Practice! Work on your list of ideas and develop an outline: Work on your list of ideas and develop an outline: 1. Group similar ideas together 2. Select the idea you would like to write on 3. Write the topic sentence 4. Develop an outline! (Feel free to cross out points that you don’t need and add new ideas)

Stage III: Writing and Revising Drafts Based on your outline, You might need to read and revise several drafts until you have produced a final copy to hand in. Procedures: 1. Write your first draft Notice: Notice: Skip one or two lines per line of writing and leave margins of one inch on both sides of the paper. Skip one or two lines per line of writing and leave margins of one inch on both sides of the paper. While you are writing, you may not be able to think of a word or phrase, don’t worry-just leave a space or a line, it can be filled later. While you are writing, you may not be able to think of a word or phrase, don’t worry-just leave a space or a line, it can be filled later. Writing is a continuous process of discovery, so you can add new ideas or delete original ones at any time in the writing process. Writing is a continuous process of discovery, so you can add new ideas or delete original ones at any time in the writing process.

Stage III: Drafts-Continued 2. Revise content and organizations (Unity- supporting details- topic sentence-conclusion- developing the controlling idea, etc.) 3. Proof read for Grammar and Mechanics (correctness, subject-verb agreement, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, etc. 4. Write your final copy N.B. Don’t get surprised if you had to change things at the final copy!

Summary So far! 1. Academic writing is a special kind of formal writing. 2. Prewriting activities are useful for narrowing down and generating ideas. 3. Revision is an essential part of the writing process. (Writing is a process of discovery) (Writing is a process of discovery)