My Writing Life

1. My Writing Life Brandi Boersma AP Language

2. Pre-Writing • Get distractions out of way • Already check my facebook • Do easier homework first • Eat • Sleep • Pee

3. Setting the Mood ;) • Get comfortable • Warm temperature • Body position • Clothes • Hair out of face • Distanced from work watchers • Grab a pencil and paper • If there is criteria, grab that info

4. Pre-Brainstorming Nonfiction; Research Paper GVSU Honors College Application Anything with facts A few pages, minimum • Type • What kind of paper am I writing? • Audience • Who am I writing this paper to/for? • Main Idea • What subjects should be written about? • Length of paper?

5. Initial Brainstorming • Jot down ideas • Ideas from past • Relevant topics • Areas of interest • Something I’ve been wondering about • Branch off details Poverty Bicycles College Hiccups Alcoholism

7. Eliminating Ideas • Which meets criteria best? • Enough details without missing information • Would I be interested in writing this • Would my audience be interested in reading this? • Not overdone/cliché • Can I tie this into ______(insert points to include, people/ideas to compare, etc) • Does this make sense? • Will I change my mind on this subject later? • Do I include all sides of argument if persuasive.

9. Final Decision • Create outlines • Questions • Details to include? • Order of events? • Interesting and unique? • Achieves purpose/goal? • Includes everything? • I feel good about idea. • Which is best?

11. Pre-Introduction Intelligent Formal As myself Personality Intelligent words and/or phrases • How should I sound? • Intelligent • Humorous • Informal • What to include? • Personal stories • Vocabulary words • Personality

12. Introduction Interesting fact: A pig farmer named Charles Osborne holds the world’s longest record of hiccups—almost 70 continuous years! Introduction to hiccups -What are they -The causes -The process -How have hiccups mattered? • How should I start? • Interesting fact • Definition • One word sentence • Build from initial broad statement • Narrow in • Introduce topic with an overview • Don’t ridiculously obviously state thesis • Connect the dots

13. Take Quick Break • Grab a snack • Facebook pitstop • Potty Break • Read and edit for little details and mistakes • Feeling okay about this? • If not, refer back to second and third choice • Brainstorm, start over

14. BodyFirst Paragraph Mini historical timeline Ends in 3 types today Description and examples of types No cure, at home remedies, end on their own • Allow some distractions • Quiet music • Facebook • Texting • Refer to outline • Logical timeline • Flow • Details • Consciousness of flow • Edit paragraph by paragraph • Connect the Dots

15. BodyThe “In-between” Paragraphs Hiccup demographics Hiccup speed Hiccups in interesting places Hiccups bad/annoying • Refer to outline • Things are still going well? • Best order? • Anything to add? • Do I sound how I want to? • Going in right direction? • Look up interesting facts • Address opposition • Connect the Dots

16. Conclusion Bibliography Hiccups not so bad “The hiccup is simply a friendly reminder that you’re alive, and what a good reminder that is.” • Refer to outline • Missing links? • Criteria met? • Points to recap • Attempt some major WOW statement as final sentence • Usually fail. • Connect the Dots

17. Final Editing • Reread aloud as whole • edit • Break! • Peer edit aloud • Break! • Fix peer edit • Reread as whole • additional editing • Get it out of sight and thought Editing Pal

18. DONE.