Deciding How to WriteINFORMAL AND FORMAL WRITING STYLES*NOTES GO IN SECTION 2 OF YOUR NOTEBOOK!

Writing Style: DefinedHow one chooses to carry out written communicationTwo main types: formal and informal

FORMAL: done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for or constituting an official or important situation or occasion. INFORMAL: having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner, or nature.

All depends on one thing: YOUR AUDIENCE

Knowing Your Audience Adapt the content to address the main concerns of your audience Also help you to decide on the “voice” to use Very busy people brief written style that conveys the key messages quickly and clearly

ASK YOURSELF: Who will be reading my written work?

Informal Writing StyleAnswer to previous question…FriendFamily memberClose colleagueAnyone you know personally

Informal Writing StyleColloquial Similar to a spoken conversation. May include: slang, figures of speech, broken syntax, asides and so on. Takes a personal tone as if you were speaking directly to your audience (the reader). You can use the first or third person point of view (I and we), and you are likely to address the reader using second person (you and your).Simple – Short sentences are acceptable and sometimes essential to making a point in informal writing. There may be incomplete sentences or ellipsis(…) to make points.Contractions and Abbreviations – Words are likely to be simplified using contractions (for example, I’m, doesn’t, couldn’t, it’s) and abbreviations (e.g. TV, photos) whenever possible.

Formal Writing StyleAnswer to previous question…Potential employerAuthority figure outside of family (teacher, pastor, coach, principal)A person whom you have never met before

Formal Writing StyleComplex – Longer sentences are likely to be more prevalent in formal writing. You need to be as thorough as possible with your approach to each topic when you are using a formal style. Each main point needs to be introduced, elaborated and concluded.

Objective – State main points confidently and offer full support arguments. A formal writing style shows a limited range of emotions and avoids emotive punctuation such as exclamation points, ellipsis, etc., unless they are being cited from another source.

Full Words – No contractions should be used to simplify words (in other words use "It is" rather than "It's"). Abbreviations must be spelt out in full when first used, the only exceptions being when the acronym is better known than the full name (BBC, ITV or NATO for example).

Third Person – Formal writing is not a personal writing style. The formal writer is disconnected from the topic and does not use the first person point of view (I or we) or second person (you).

See the Difference EXAMPLE 1 This is to inform you that your book has been rejected by our publishing company as it was not up to the required standard. In case you would like us to reconsider it, we would suggest that you go over it and make some necessary changes.

EXAMPLE 2 You know that book I wrote? Well, the publishing company rejected it. They thought it was awful. But hey, I did the best I could, and I think it was great. I’m not gonna redo it the way they said I should.

In My Class (and All Your Others)

FORMAL UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE!

Today’s Assignment (Monday)1. Think of a topic. Keep it generalNo: My cat FluffyYes: Cats

2. Write a one-paragraph (5-7 sentences) letter to your friend about something pertaining to your topic.

3. Write a one-paragraph (5-7 sentences) letter to Mr. Kilhoffer using the same content from the letter you wrote to your friend.

SHOULD BE SAME MESSAGE, BUT DELIVERED DIFFERENTLY!

Pre-Writing

Drafting

RevisingEditing

Publishing

The Writing Process

Pre-WritingInformalWriter brainstorms ideas to determine what to write aboutConsider these concepts…What is my topic?What type of writing is it? (Essay, letter, poem, etc.)What is my main goal? (Author’s Purpose)

How will you achieve your goal?Persuade I want to convince my reader to believe something that I do Inform I want to further explain something to make the reader more

knowledgeableEntertain I want to appeal to my reader’s emotions

BrainstormingAnalyze the prompt (question)Determine topic optionsThree-Column-Notes

1. Column 1: Topic Ideas (Paper topic)2. Column 2: Sub-topic Ideas (Paragraph)3. Column 3: Paragraph points (Most Sentences)

Topic Determined Cluster Map (Web)Topic in the center (Paper)At least 4 branches (Paragraph)At least 2 branches off each branch (Most Sentences)

OutliningTransfer the web into an alpha-numeric outlineDetermine which branch will be written first, second, etc. (Roman Numerals)

Determine which sub-branch will be written first, second, etc. (Capital letters)

If any additional information needs to be outlined about a sub-branch (Standard Numerals)

DraftingOnly after you have…

-Brainstormed topic ideas-Determined your topic-Created a web-Transferred your web into an outline

…are you ready to begin your first draft

DraftingInformalWriter begins to write his/her paper using the outline as a guideMrs. Longley’s Helpful Hint: Avoid drafting the introduction until you have finished the entire assignmentOnce you have a full idea of how your paper sounds, then you can

go back and make a unique introduction that prepares your audience for what he/she will be reading

Today’s Assignment (Tuesday)Brainstorm ideas to address the following question in a 4-paragraph essayWhat is one thing in life that makes you the most proud of

yourself?

Create a three-column-notes of at least 3 potential topic ideasCreate a web using the topic you have chosenTransfer your web into an alpha-numeric outline

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

FIND THE MAIN POINTCan you find the thesis (main point) within the introduction?

Is it obvious what you will be reading about?

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

IDENTIFY READERS/AUDIENCEYou: Did you reach your author’s purpose (goal)?Other: What does the author’s purpose appear to be? Check with him/her to see if it’s correct.

PERSUADE. INFORM. ENTERTAIN

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

EVALUATE THE EVIDENCEDo all of the ideas support your thesis?Is there ever a point where the paper has useless information? (Gets off topic)

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

TIGHTEN AND CLEAN UP LANGUAGEBecome an English teacherIf a word doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’tCheck spelling, capitalization, and word choice

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

MAKE NOTE OF GRAMMAR ISSUESContinue being an English teacherMake note of potential grammar problems, even if you don’t know how to fix them yourself

Look for sentence fragments and/or sentences that are way too long (run-ons)

Revising and Editing: What to Look For

EMMERSE YOURSELF AS THE READER INSTEAD OF THE WRITERDon’t go easy on yourselfRead your paper slowlyRead your paper multiple timesRead your paper out loud

Last Changes to Be MadeAre your ideas meeting the requirements of the assignment?Does each paragraph flow smoothly into the next?Does your introduction catch the reader’s attention and get

him/her excited about what’s next?Does your conclusion provide a powerful ending that recaps

your overall message?

IF THE ANSWER IS “NO” TO ANY OF THESE, MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES (EDIT)

Essentially…Revising is look for mistakes and/or areas of improvement within

the writing itselfEditing is following through with those mistakes and/or areas of

improvement (actually changing them within the paper itself)

COMPUTERS DO NOT CATCH EVERY SPELLING/GRAMMAR MISTAKE!

Revising and Editing: Bottom Line

Spelling/Grammar Check Fails

Spelling/Grammar Check Fails

Spelling/Grammar Check Fails

Depending on the size of the writing…Do a paragraph by paragraph editing instead of waiting until you are completely finishedWill help you remember all of your ideas because you are reading them in shorter increments (paragraph fluency)Still go back and re-read in case you missed something else

Mrs. Longley’s Helpful Hint

Finish Monday and Tuesday’s assignments firstIf you are ready to move on…Using your outline as a guide, begin writing your 4-paragraph essay

Remember to follow all criteria: topic and sentence lengthPractice with a paragraph by paragraph editing processPractice writing your introduction last

Today’s Assignment (Wednesday)