1. Wrye’s Top Ten
Writing Tips

4. Overview of The Writing Process Pre-Write
Determine Your Writing Situation
Prepare to Write
Draft and Incubate, gather further ideas
Revise
Global Revision: Paragraphs
Sentence Revision: Clarity, Concision
Edit, Review, Proofread
Submit Document

5. a. PARC IT. Before writing, determine your writing situation.
AWR C1a-d “Planning”

6. Purpose (document; your p. in relation to it)
Purpose (document; your p. in relation to it) Audience (1st, 2nd, 3rd readers?) Role (who are you in relation to P, A, C ?) Context (constraints; collaborators,, Format?)
AWR C1a-d “Planning”

7. 1.a. Imagine yourself in their shoes.
What does your audience need to know?
Why should they care? “So what?”
What value will you add to people’s lives through your written communication and your interaction with them?

8. Analyze Audience Who? How many? Attitudes or assumptions?
Cultural variables?
What can you research? USE KEY WORDS!
Primary, Secondary Audiences?
Attitudes?
Cultural Variables?
Strategies for Multiple Audiences?

9. 1. b. Make a plan according to your specific writing situation
1.b. Make a plan according to your specific writing situation. Analyze and organize.
For example: analyze your audience’s needs; key words in your topic; narrow your topic and focus your title. Use idea-generating strategies like clustering, outlining.
AWR C1b

10. 2. Draft quickly.
How much time?
Depends on PARC
AWR C2-C3

11. 3. Between drafts, re-view your writing situation; revise and reorganize your paragraphs and sentences.
AWR C2-C3

12. 4. Organize each paragraph around one, or perhaps two, ideas.
Ruthlessly cut, paste, move paragraphs/chunks of text as needed.
Remember: MS Word’s “Edit” menu is actually where key “revision” tools are.
AWR Section C3 & C4 “Composing and Revising” especially p. 45 on reasons for changing paragraphs

13. 5. Use concrete, expressive verbs.
Avoid “to be” (is, being, etc.) verbs generally, and the passive voice specifically (e.g. The river has been polluted; there have been questions; surveys were given…”)
Use parallel structured verbs in lists. (e.g. Resume “Experience” section)
AWR W3 Active Verbs; S1 Parallelism; S2-7 Sentence Problems

14. 6. Conquer the opposition.
Incorporate points that acknowledge your own value assumptions.
Resolve and recognize value conflicts.
Qualify absolutes: “somebunall” (some-but-not-all)
AWR A3 “Evaluating Arguments”;R2 “Evaluating Sources”
Modes of Development; PPT on Value Assumptions

15. 6. Conquer the opposition.
Qualify absolutes: “somebunall” (some-but-not-all)
“All Muslims are dogmatic”  “Some Muslims hold dogmatic views.”
“Homeless people choose to be on the streets.”  “A few homeless people choose to be on the streets.”

16. 7. Revise for specific detail, accuracy, and reference.
Use topic sentences to guide your paragraphs.
Use short sentences for clarity.
Vary your sentences for style.
Use strategic repetition.
Check for parallel structure.
Proofread your documents.
AWR S1-7; AWR Appendix C “Editing and Proofreading Your Documents”

17. 8. Micro-revise to remove repeat words, phrases, or ideas
8. Micro-revise to remove repeat words, phrases, or ideas. Unless, you intentionally repeat something for style, or emphasis.
AWR C4-d (coherence); W2 (wordy sentences)
Donald Murray: “Making Meaning Clear”

18. 9. Know your own weaknesses and get feedback: GFB!
Identify your weaknesses as a writer.
Share your drafts with peers, profs, and colleagues. Ask them for specific comments on your work by telling them why you need them to read it; what to look for.
AWR E1-5 “ESL Challenges”; AWR M1-6 “Mechanics”…

19. 10. Learn where and when to stop. You can always improve a document…
Are you a “perfect drafter?” A procrastinator?
How much time will you need from inception to completion? (not, “when is it due?”)
How much revision can you (or your employer) afford?
What benefits/payoffs will there be for additional revision or editing?
Charles Dunigg “The Power of Habit”; David Murray, “Making Meaning Clear” ..

20. 1. PARC IT. Determine your writing situation and make a plan.
2. Draft quickly.
3. Organize paragraphs and evaluate topic sentences.
4. Between drafts, re-evaluate, revise, and reorganize.
5. Use concrete expressive verbs; check for ineffective verbs.
6. Persuade the opposition.
7. Be specific in detail, accuracy, and reference.
8. Remove repetitive language.
9. Know your weaknesses and get feedback.
10. Know where and when to stop. ..