170 likes | 689 Views
Qualities of Good Writing. How do we know when writing is good? . Good writing is worthwhile. The reader enjoys the writing or learns something from it. “Effective writing almost always creates the illusion of an individual writer speaking to an individual reader.” (Donald Murray)
E N D
Qualities of Good Writing How do we know when writing is good?
Good writing is worthwhile • The reader enjoys the writing or learns something from it. • “Effective writing almost always creates the illusion of an individual writer speaking to an individual reader.” (Donald Murray) • Good writers take risks
Good writing is developed. • Create expectations in the reader. • Rely on details not clichés or vagueness. • Some guidelines • Make your point. • Avoid repetition, wordiness, and vagueness. • Develop your ideas.
Good writing is organized • One sentence leads to another. • One paragraph leads to the next. • Each paragraph is focused and unified. • Readers notice patterns or logic to the order of paragraphs.
Good writing is clear and concise. • Communicate clearly.
Good writing is polished. • Proper grammar, punctuation and syntax matter. • Draft first, polish later. • Poet William Stafford says writers should lower their standards when they get stuck and polish later. • Read your paper aloud to “hear” surface errors.