Oct 29
Someone writes more efficiently if they have learned to:
- identify several related but separate writing tasks
- focus on one task at a time and perform each task well
- identify the best sequence for completing the various writing tasks
- reduce writing time by starting quickly and by writing a first draft requires relatively little revision
Writing process is broken down into stages similar to the following:
- Gathering and Choosing Content
- Organizing That Content
- Composing the First Draft
- Finishing the Document:
- revising content and structure
- editing phrasing
- fixing errors
- polishing format
GETTING STARTED
What does my reader need and expect?
What purpose am I trying to fulfill?
free-writing: process of writing until the writer discovers what she or he really wants to say
- Use an audience/purpose profile to determine the types of information and analysis to include. List the types of questions that your reader would ask (or that your reader has already asked).
- Choose an appropriate, proven structure and then “fill in the blanks.” Then, use elements of an audience/purpose profile to modify the suggested structure to meet your readers’ needs and preferences.
- Brainstorm a list of ideas and topics. A random listing of possible topics and ideas works precisely because it takes advantage of the natural chaos that exists in our minds. Often, we are most creative when we allow free thought association to generate a series of loosely related points and topics. It’s important to simply record these points as they come, and not to edit them. Later, when the creative frenzy has abated, you can discard the points that don’t seem relevant. The, you can organize the material that remains.
- Brainstorm ideas in a cluster diagram. Cluster diagramming suits people who think visually. It also suits those who are used to following hypertext links through the internet. Read the rest of this entry »
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