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Five Elements of Good Writing

Five Elements of Good Writing. 1. Purpose. Why are you writing? To inform To persuade To entertain Be sure you understand the assignment. Some writers create a “purpose statement” . A reminder for yourself only Not part of your paragraph or essay

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Five Elements of Good Writing

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  1. Five Elements of Good Writing

  2. 1. Purpose • Why are you writing? • To inform • To persuade • To entertain • Be sure you understand the assignment.

  3. Some writers create a “purpose statement” • A reminder for yourself only • Notpart of your paragraph or essay • DO NOT INCLUDE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH: In this paragraph, I will … blablabla.

  4. 2. Audience • Who are they? • Write the kind of document they expect to see • How is an email to your friend different from an email to a college? • How is Mission Impossible different from a movie about World War II? • How is a cookbook different from a textbook?

  5. Person (or “Point of View”) • First Person • Includes “I” • Use first person when you write about your personal experiences • Second Person • Includes “you” • DO NOT use second person when you write for college • Third Person • Includes “he/she/it/they” • This is the most common point of view you will use when you write for college

  6. 3. Clarity • WORD CHOICE • Choose descriptive, specific words • Avoid vague words like good, thing, bad, fun, big, small, old • Use the thesaurus on your computer to help you choose different, new words!

  7. Pronouns • Using the correct pronouns is a way to help your readers follow your writing. • Using unclear pronouns will really confuse your readers!

  8. Pronoun basics • Pronouns refer to the last noun that is used before the pronoun. They need to be the same in number (singular/plural) and they need to make logical sense.

  9. Example: • If you put this handout in your notebook, you can refer to it. • What is the pronoun at the end of the sentence? • What noun does it replace? • How can you be sure?

  10. Another example: • I bought an iPod and a water bottle this weekend. It was blue. • What is the pronoun? • What noun does it replace? • A good rule: Don’t begin sentences with “it.” (Unless you’re talking about weather or time.)

  11. 4. Unity • Make sure all the sentences in your paragraph are about the topic and the controlling idea in your topic sentence. • This sounds easy, but it’s normal for students to go “off topic” when they write because our brains go off topic all the time!

  12. 5. Coherence • Organize your paragraph logically. • Make sure the ideas connect. • Ways to connect ideas: • Logical order (time, space) • Repeat key (important) words • Use transitions

  13. Transitions • Time: First, next, then, finally • Examples: For example, for instance • Compare/Contrast: in contrast, by comparison, on the other hand • To add information: and, next, in addition, also • Look in GP p. 49 and 210-213 for more!

  14. The 5 Elements of Good Writing are: • Purpose • Audience • Clarity • Unity • Coherence

  15. Keep these 5 elements in mind and you will be on your way to being a good college writer!

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