Effective Writing Techniques: From Reading to Recording to Structuring

1. Week 3: What we’ve learned Techniques for reading/interpreting/recording: - Who is saying what to whom and why? - Double-entry journal How to get started writing: -Quickwrite -Determine a goal (and audience necessary to achieve goal) -Frame and limit your topic (what specifically do you want to accomplish? Where and for whom?) -Outline using lists, word webs -Research; consult experts

2. Week 3: What we’ve learned Writing structure: -Occasion (Why should someone read this? What makes it relevant?) -Thesis (What’s your argument?) -Projected organization (road map to your argument; what point(s) will you address?) -Background (orient the reader) -Counterargument with evidence -Argument with evidence – why do the facts you present prove your thesis? - Conclusion – What does all of this mean? What’s your call to action?

3. Week 3: What we’ve learned Important elements of writing process: - Paraphrasing (new words + new sentence structure) - Quoting (choose quotes that enliven your argument) - Sources/references (these are as important as what you write) Revising: -Use active voice (locate the action in your sentences; get rid of “to be” verbs and prepositions when possible). - Follow conventions of expected sentence structure (Gopen and Swan).

4. Ted Talk How to bring your topic to life – explain why you do what you do: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

5. Homework -Read your group mates drafts! Come prepared to workshop on Tuesday. -Tuesday night: You’ll finish reading the MIT chapter on proposals – 5 important points. -Wednesday: Come to class with your proposal “problem”. -Check out our first guest speaker’s bio and exemplar proposal on our class Wiki: http://ScienceWritingwithButler.wikispaces.com