Writing Workshop for ECS 15 David Masiel WAC Coordinator University Writing Program

Writing Process Draft and Revision not “Perfect drafting” –Discovery draft = exploratory –Re-vison = global holistic evaluation & change –Editing = local corrections N.B. Edit each stage before submitting it but not while drafting

Separate Creator and Critic Be able to take risks Focus on developing ideas Don’t interrupt thinking to edit Use writing as tool for inquiry

Analyze the Assignment Highlight the assignment Notes stages & requirements The better you do each stage, the more useful feedback you will get

Plan your time Introduction & prospectus due Jan. 22 (1-2 pages) Progress Report due Feb. 2 (2 pages) Brainstorming/ Rough Draft due Feb. 19 Revised Paper due Mar. 5 (9 pages)

Requirements Select a topic on the use of computers in any field that interests you –Many options listed or –Make up your own topic Focus for 2500 word term paper –Do-able: limited research –Sense of author-ity –Can be covered credibly

Computers in education Focus by discipline Focus by students, e.g. K-12 or college Focus by potential teaching techniques Focus on specific effects

Computer crime Focus by specific crimes, e.g. identity theft, theft of software, damage to software (viruses, worms, hacking) Focus by perpetrator of the crime Focus by motivations for crime Focus on specific techniques

Computers and business Focus by type of business, e.g., banks, retail, large corporations, e-commerce Focus by functions

Focusing exercise Pair up with someone in class. Since they are your assumed audience, use that relationship to clarify your needs. Explain the topic that interests you and why (2 minutes) Write 3-5 questions that interest you –Try to state as how or why questions –Pick one and write 3 sub-questions –(5 minutes) In pairs, explain the focused topic –(2 minutes)

Problems as Focus Consider the role of two things in any enterprise: Solving problems Exploiting opportunities Ask and answer questions that relate to these two areas of activity

Integrating info from sources When to quote? Rarely if ever Only when exact words are necessary to your argument If you quote, make it as brief as possible

Requirements Intro: explains the problem or question Describe the topic: present research results in detail Discussion or Analysis Answer the analytic question you posed Conclusion: summarize main points & maybe go beyond: explain significance

References Cite sources in text in APA format Bibliography or Works Cited at the end TIPS: –keep track of sources as you research and write –Distinguish quotes from paraphrases in your notes and drafts

Research Process Look for recent academic articles (more recent research than books) Look for a review of the literature: synthesis of findings on a topic Assess the validity of sources Base all opinions on valid research as evidence

Paraphrase Restate in your own words & syntax Select what is relevant Avoid plagiophrase: –Paraphrase that is too close to original in wording and syntax (sentence structure)

Original text Celera of Rockville, Maryland, is a private company that last year (2000) completed a map of all human genes. Formed just three years ago, the company instigated a contentious race with the federally funded Human Genome Project when company officials announced they would create a map in only three years, while the government project had been working on it for about a decade. (

Plagiophrase Six years ago (2000), Celera of Rockville, Maryland, a private company, completed a map of all human genes. Formed just three years before, the company sparked a contentious race with the federally funded Human Genome Project when company officials announced they would create a map in only three years, while the government project had been working on it for about a decade.

Paraphrase In 2000 a private company, Celera of Rockville, Maryland, beat the federally funded Human Genome Project to the goal of mapping all human genes. (