|
Writing As a Skill:
Just as some students seem to have a talent for basketball and not for math, there are others who have a talent for writing. However, practice, practice and practice coupled with knowledge give students the tools to become competent writers. It just takes hard work. Above all students must understand thinking and planning are the first essential in becoming good writers. Students must follow the basic format for paragraph writing:
- Think about what you want to write. Is it an interesting topic? Do you have enough information to accomplish what you want to say? Is there too much information for one paragraph?
- Plan how you are going to execute your ideas. What will your topic sentence be? Who is your audience? What type of paragraph are you going to write: expository, persuasive, descriptive, narrative? What information will you include in the paragraph to support your topic sentence? Prioritize the information. How are you going to order your paragraph? Is your order going to be a comparison and contrast, chronological, developmental, spatial or in order of importance.
- Write a brief outline.
- Using the outline, write a sloppy copy. This is the first draft. Remember the wisdom of Mary Poppins: “Well begun is half done.”
- Revise the sloppy copy. Reread the paragraph. Does it accomplish what you set out to do? Does you topic sentence contain the main idea? Does it suit your audience and purpose? Are your supports effective and logically ordered? Do you have adequate transitions to connect your ideas concisely and clearly? Is your conclusion effective?
- Write your final paragraph. Try to use the “wisdom of time.” Write the final copy of the paragraph in advance of the due date. Give your self “some settling time.” This is time for you to rest mentally. When the paragraph is not fresh in your mind, it is easier to pick up logic, transition, and grammar mistakes. Reread the paragraph; make any necessary adjustments.
- Hand in the final revised copy. Good job!
Expository Paragraph: A paragraph explaining something to your audience in a clear manner. Your aim is to convey information or explain something so that it is easily understandable. Make sure you topic sentence is a direct factual sentence; use clear, strong supports; use clear language and define any vocabulary specific terms.
Persuasive Paragraph: A paragraph that convinces your audience. Use strong evidence to cover all arguments. Try not to offend anyone.
Descriptive Paragraph: A paragraph that describes something, someone, place, etc..
The paragraph should be vivid and contain many details.
Narrative Paragraph: A paragraph tells about something, someone, place, scene, etc.. Organize it logically and chronologically; use strong action verbs, colorful language, a few figures of speech, etc..
|
|
)