Keys to Effective Writing

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Keys to Effective Writing

• Dr. Theresa Jiinling Tseng
• 5/23/08
• China Medical University

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What is Effective Writing?

• It has_______________________
• It doesnt have________________________
• It is ________________________
• It isnt ______________________

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The Four Keys to Effective Writing U.S.C. SS.

• Unity Have a clear point
• Support Support the point with enough, specific,
  relevant details
• Coherence Provide transitions
• Sentence Skills Check your grammar and mechanics
  for accuracy

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Unity The First Key to Effective Writing

• It has a clear main point or central idea (topic
  sentence, thesis statement). Whats your point?
  Or Whats your main idea?
• To have unity You need to develop a single point
  and stick to that point. All the details in your
  writing are related to that point.

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The Main Point in a Paragraph Topic Sentence

• Topic sentence
• A topic (what) a controlling idea (what about
  it, a comment)
• Examples
• My after-school job has been an invaluable part
  of my life this year.
• The traffic in Taipei often makes me dizzy.

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Topic Sentence Practice

• ______________________. It never starts in cold
  weather. It often stalls at the traffic light.
  The horn and the left turn signal dont work
  properly. Its headlight is broken. Even a thief
  would not be interested in stealing this
  motorcycle.

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Evaluating Writing for Unity

• You ask Are all the details relevant to the
  topic sentence/main idea?
• Practice Which sentence is irrelevant? (Ex 1.)

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Which sentence is irrelevant?

• There are several reasons why we need to go to
  graduate schools.
• ______People with masters degrees usually earn
  more money than college graduates.
• ______People with masters degrees have greater
  self-esteem and more confidence
• ______Graduate students may develop a deeper
  understanding of the subject they study.
• ______Attending graduate school can be a big
  burden to the students parents.

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Common Problems in Writing Topic Sentences

• Announcements
• The subject of this paper will be my brother.
• Too broad/general
• My brother has been very influential.
• The Internet has changed the world.

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Common Problems in Writing Topic Sentences

• Too Narrow
• My brother is the only male child my parents
  have.
• I was born in Taipei.
• More than one idea
• ? My brother is spoiled in many ways, although he
  is quite mature in many other ways.

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Whats the difference between A and B?

• T.S. Many people in the theater show themselves
  to be inconsiderate.
• A. They make noises and create disturbances at
  their seat in the theater.
• B. Little kids race up and down the aisles,
  usually in giggling packs. Teenagers try to
  impress their friends by talking back to the
  screen. Adults comment loudly on the ages of the
  stars or why movies arent as good anymore.

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Effective Support The Second Key to Effective
Writing

• How to Make Your Support Effective
• 1. Need to be Specific
• 2. Need to have enough details
• 3. Need to be relevant to the topic

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Making Sentences Specific

• Use exact names/numbers
• She bought an expensive bag.
• Judy spent 50,000 for a 2008 LV.
• Use lively verbs
• The flag moved in the breeze.
• The flag fluttered in the breeze

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Making Sentences Specific

• Use descriptive words before nouns.
• An old man lifted the box.
• A weak, gray-haired old man strained to lift the
  heavy wooden crate.

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Making Sentences Specific Use Words Relate to 5
Senses

• The autumn there is colorful.
• ?In Vermont, the red autumn leaves forms a sharp
  contrast to the blue sky. (sight)
• The noise from the fire alarm woke me up.
• ?The non-stop, high-pitched beeping from the fire
  woke me up. ________

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Making Sentences Specific Use Words Relate to 5
Senses

• The bread and milk were not fresh.
• ?The bread was stale and the milk was sour.
  _______
• The kittens fur felt good.
• ?The kittens fur felt like velvet. _______

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Use Words Relate to 5 Senses

• The bakery smelled wonderful.
• ?The aroma of freshly baked bread was in the air
  when I passed by the bakery. ____
• You Try
• The dinner was a disaster.
• ____________________________

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Which passage is specific?

• The cat is sick.
• a. She didnt look lively at all, and she showed
  symptoms of being sick. She was clearly not
  herself. She seemed to be getting worse, and she
  had trouble breathing.

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Which passage is specific?

• The cat is sick.
• b. She curled up in a corner and wouldnt move
  for several days. Her eyes were dull and
  lifeless her once-shiny coat was matted and
  dirty. Then She began breathing with a harsh,
  labored sound.

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Coherence The 3rd Key to Effective Writing

• If you organize and connect the specific
  evidence, you have coherence.
• Usually, you need to use transition words.

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Useful Transitions

• Additional signals first, one, moreover, next,
  furthermore
• Time signals first, then, next, after, while
• Space signals next to, across, on the opposite
  side, to the right, below

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Useful Transitions

• Change-of-direction signals but, however, yet,
  although, on the other hand
• Illustration signals for example, specifically,
  such as
• Conclusion signals therefore, consequently,
  thus, then, as a result, in summary, to conclude,
  finally

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The 4th Key to Effective Writing Sentence Skills

• Grammatical Accuracy e.g.,
• S/V Your neighbor are very noisy.
• Fragment After I learned the price of new
  motorcycles. I decided to keep my old Kwang
  Young.
• Run-on The girls are beautiful, the boys are
  handsome.

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Some Common Word-choice Problems

• The movie touches me. ?I was
• I like terrible movies.
• The story let me cry. The story let us feel
  funny.
• Students read for grades.
• Our education only teaches us how to remember
  textbooks.
• Dont do anything without my promise.
• It spent us ten hours to record the music.
• We have to do anything by ourselves.

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You May Write Effectively if you know

• Your audience
• Your purpose
• How to apply U. S. C. SS.

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• Thank you !