Stepping Stones Note Cards for Writing

1. Stepping Stones Note Cardsfor Writing Name ___________________ Class meets ___________ 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

2. Steps of the Writing Process Unit II PREWRITING a) free writing listing clustering b) OUTLINE including Transitions WRITE THE FIRST DRAFT by hand every other line REVISE by hand using the Revise Check Off sheet Edit by hand & using Edit Check Off sheet Type in changes Color code the “last Rough Draft” PRINT and label as FINAL COPY Follow directions in your assignment packet for additional REQUIREMENTS 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

3. Recording Support: Prewriting step Unit II • Use the 5 W’s or Role Playing to investigate your topic, then use one or several of these Prewriting strategies to further search out your ideas for you paragraph: • Free writing • Listing • Clustering 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

4. Outlining Basics Unit II • Main Idea • Support Points • Specific Examples 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

5. Solving Problems in Outlines Unit II • A missing item (add) • An item that does not fit (eliminate) • An item that repeats another (eliminate & add) • An item that is unclear (use precise wording) 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

6. Put Transitions Your Outline Unit II Write transitional words &/or phrases on your outline for each of your support points. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

7. Topic Sentence Unit IV The most important function of a topic sentence is to express the main idea clearly. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

8. Topic Sentence: “Because” Unit IV Often adding the word “because” to the end of your topic sentence will help you develop support points that make sense. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

9. Support Point Problems Unit IV When students first learn to write support points, three main problems typically may occur: Forgetting transitional expressions Writing support points as fragments Combining the first specific example with a support point. These problems usually occur when students are working quickly and do not follow their outline carefully. Remember, the outline is your navigation system: you should refer to it closely throughout the writing process. If you ignore any important information in your outline, you may get lost while writing the paragraph or cause your reader to become lost. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

10. Remember Transitional Expressions Unit IV USE TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS !! Highlighting them on the outline is REQUIRED. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

11. Common Transitional Expressionsfor Major Shifts Unit IV 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

12. Common Transitional Expressionsfor Minor Shifts Unit IV 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

13. Writing Specific Examples Unit IV Discuss the examples one at a time. Write at least one complete sentence for each example. Add some colorful details to the examples Use minor transitional expressions to introduce examples, to move from one example to another, and to introduce details. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

14. Basic Revision Strategies Unit IV • Revise with Fresh Eyes • take a break or wait a day before attempting revision • Use Your Outline • follow your outline to avoid missing, misplaced, or accidentally changed information • Read Aloud • Read your paper out loud slowly to your self exactly how it is written. Have a pen in hand to make needed changes as you read. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

15. Write the Concluding Sentence Unit VI Follow these guidelines for writing the concluding sentence: Do not repeat your topic sentence in an overly simple or mechanical manner. Find creative, persuasive ways to restate the main idea. Never omit the concluding sentence, even if your paragraph has met any length requirement by your instructor. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

16. Developing colorful and creative details, Unit VI Several kinds of details to use for support: Concrete details: identifying person, places, things Actions details: energizing your verbs Sensory details: describing what you see, hear, smell, taste, touch Quoted details: recording what people say Emotive details: exploring emotions Humorous details: making readers smile or laugh Comparative details: using metaphors and similes 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

17. Unit VI Imprecise Expressions AVOID using imprecise &/or vague expressions 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012 Continued >>>> Stepping Stones BJM Aug 2010 17

18. Imprecise Expressions Unit VI AVOID using imprecise &/or vague expressions 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012 Stepping Stones BJM Aug 2010 18

19. Basic Proofing Strategies Unit VI • Identify Your Style of Proofreading • Use Spelling and Grammar Checkers – but Cautiously • Proofread in Two Views • Proofread Backwards • Use a Grammar Guide • Keep Logs for Spelling, Grammar, and Vocabulary 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

20. Run-ons & Comma Splices Unit VIII • Learn the following: • If you try to join two simple sentences without glue (a comma and a coordinating conjunction), you will have a major grammatical error, either a run-on or a comma splice. • A semicolon is also glue, but a comma by itself is not. • Often, we try to use other words like “glue” however, these other words are not conjunctions, so they can cause run-ons and comma splices. • If you create a run-on or a comma splice, it is easy to fix: Just add glue! (FANBOYS or semi-colon) 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

21. Fragments Unit X • Fragments are “broken,” incomplete sentences, like fragments of broken glass. • To fix these, read your paper OUTLOUD and listen for “sentences” that do not make sense alone. Color coding your paragraph will help you find these, because you will usually be missingsubjectsor verbs.For example: “Reasons I go to college” could be fixed by “I go to college for many reasons.” 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

22. What is paraphrasing? Unit X • An exercise in putting something into your own words • Something could include • Assigned readings • Lectures • You Tube Videos assigned • Journal articles • Any something you want to CLEARLY understand 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

23. 5 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PARAPHRASING Unit X • Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning. • Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase. • Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form. • Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source. • Record the source (including the page) so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012

24. 2nd edition revised BJM for FALL 2012