The Writing Process

1. Prewriting: invention, research, note-taking and outlining.

2. Write first/rough draft.

3. Revise: (look at main points, thesis, support, paragraph order, structure).

These items may need to be moved, more information may need to be added or material may need to be deleted.

4. Edit: grammar and meaning are addressed.

5. Proofread: spelling and punctuation issues are addressed.

6. Publish final draft.
http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com/ (C) 2009-10

What is a Descriptive Essay?

Purdue OWL


The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe an object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages the student’s ability to create a written account of a particular experience. What is more, this genre allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).

One might benefit from keeping in mind this simple maxim: If the reader is unable to clearly form an impression of the thing that you are describing, try, try again!

Here are some guidelines for writing a descriptive essay:

Take time to brainstorm

If your instructor asks you to describe your favorite food, make sure that you jot down some ideas before you begin describing it. For instance, if you choose pizza, you might start by writing down a few words: sauce, cheese, crust, pepperoni, sausage, spices, hot, melted, etc. Once you have written down some words, you can begin by compiling descriptive lists for each one.

Use clear and concise language.

This means that words are chosen carefully, particularly for their relevancy in relation to that which you are intending to describe.

Choose vivid language.

Why use ‘horse’ when you can choose ‘stallion’? Why not use ‘tempestuous’ instead of ‘violent’? Or why not ‘miserly’ in place of ‘cheap’? Such choices form a firmer image in the mind of the reader and often times offer nuanced meanings that serve better one’s purpose.

Use your senses!

Remember, if you are describing something, you need to be appealing to the senses of the reader. Explain how the thing smelled, felt, sounded, tasted, or looked. Embellish the moment with senses.

What were you thinking?!

If you can describe emotions or feelings related to your topic, you will connect with the reader on a deeper level. Many have felt crushing loss in their lives, or ecstatic joy, or mild complacency. Tap into this emotional reservoir in order to achieve your full descriptive potential.

Leave the reader with a clear impression.

One of your goals is to evoke a strong sense of familiarity and appreciation in the reader. If your reader can walk away from the essay craving the very pizza you just described, you are on your way to writing effective descriptive essays.

Be organized!

It is easy to fall into an incoherent rambling of emotions and senses when writing a descriptive essay. However, you must strive to present an organized and logical description if the reader is to come away from the essay with a cogent sense of what it is you are attempting to describe.

Writing Strategies

Skimming for the Main Ideas

Practice: Skimming for the Main Idea: 27-28

Main Idea by reading only the first and last paragraphs (intro and conclusion)

What are the topic sentences for the body paragraphs

Title

Bold words

Italic words

Capital words

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10

Outline for the People Essay

I. Brainstorm the following questions

1. Who is outrageously rich or famous in your home country?
2. What person has made an important contribution to your happiness?
3. Who in your country is a household name?

II. Make a list of the ideas in the order that you will write about regarding the questions listed above.

III. Begin your rough draft with a sentence that names the person you admire.

For example:

Jon Bon Jovi is a world-famous singer, songwriter and leader of the American music group, Bon Jovi.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then use your notes to write a rough draft of a composition about the person you admire. Use specific examples of admirable behavior or accomplishments.

For example:

1. Jon Bon Jovi has donated his personal money to build houses in urban areas in the U.S. for people that are less fortunate.

2. Last year, Bon Jovi gave a free concert to 20,000 fans at New York’s Central Park.

3. Bon Jovi has sold over 100 million albums worldwide since their debut in 1983.

4. Despite being a “rock star” and spending most of his life touring the world, Jon Bon Jovi has remained faithful to his high school sweetheart and children.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. End your essay with a sentence that tells why this person is admirable.

Example:

Jon Bon Jovi is a great role model for those that are still trying to find their way because of the optimistic message that relates to the common man throughout his songs.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10

How to Make and Use an Essay Outline: Process

An essay outline is probably the most important friend you will have while writing your essay. It is the scaffolding of your paper and the skeleton of your ideas. It is the framework by which you will write a solid essay. It is difficult to write one without an outline.

Characteristics of a process essay:

• Arranged chronologically.

• This essay will have three paragraphs. (Introduction, long body paragraph and conclusion)

• Thesis statement: Eating food with chopsticks in Far East places like Japan is easy if you follow these steps.

• Long Body Paragraph (All the steps in the correct chronological order.)

• Conclusion

When you begin writing an essay outline, use the following model as a guide:

I. INTRODUCTION:

Thesis:_____________________________________________________.

II. Long Body Paragraph:

Opening Sentence:___________________________________________.

Process 1:__________________________________________________.

Process 2:__________________________________________________.

Process 3:__________________________________________________.

Process 4:__________________________________________________.

Process 5:__________________________________________________.

Process 6:__________________________________________________.

III. CONCLUSION:

Reconfirmed Thesis:_________________________________________.

What do you know how to do well? Brainstorm and think of things that you do well.

Examples of Process Essay Topics

1. How to get in shape

2. How to make pizza at home

3. How to make Libyan pasta

4. How to maintain good health

5. How to prepare rice

6. How to make California Roll Sushi

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com/ (C) 2009-10

Planning for a Timed Writing

There are several formats for planning for a timed writing. The main ones are:

1.  free writing,
2.  outlining,
3.  word map

Use any format that you are comfortable with. Do not spend more 10 minutes for a 30 minute writing.

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com/ (C) 2009-10

More on Narrative Essays

What is a Narrative Essay?

It is story writing.

How do you write an narrative essay?

You write about events in the order that they happen.

What is needed for a narrative essay?

Time order words are needed for narrative essays. Such words are:

Words: first, second, then, next, finally, afterwards, meanwhile

Phrases: at first, at exactly 5:04pm, after a while, after that, in the morning and in the meantime, etc.

This is a partial listing of words and phrases.

What is the outline of a Narrative Essay?

I. Introduction: The following are typically discussed in this part.

A. The setting

B. Main Characters

C. The Plot

II. Body: The climax is typically discussed in this part. Activities are separated in "time divisions".

Paragraph #1: First....
Paragraph #2: Next....
Paragraph #3: Then....

Note: Time order words are changed and switch in any what that the author sees fit as long as everything makes sense.

III. Conclusion: The ending is listed in this part.

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10

Paraphrasing

Purdue OWL


What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to . . .

•Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing

•Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing

•Give examples of several points of view on a subject

•Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with

•Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original

•Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own

•Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work On the Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #s).

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

Practice summarizing the following essay, using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:

•Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.

•Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.

•Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.

•Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10