On Writing

Why Write?

• Nearly everyone must write in this information-based society

• Writing gives you a public voice• Make a Power Point Presentation for work• Write a poem to read at a coffee house• Communicate via email or snail mail• Chat online with friends or colleagues• Academic writing

(Ruszkiewicz 2)

Dispelling Myths

• MYTH: Good writers are born, not made• FACT: People become good writers

by working at it. If you want to write well, you can if you invest your time. Practice makes perfect.

(Ruszkiewicz 3)

Dispelling Myths• MYTH: Good writers know what

they want to say before they start writing.• FACT: Many good writers begin

with only a general notion of what they want to say. They know that the process of writing can help them generate new ideas and rethink what they already know.

(Ruszkiewicz 3)

Dispelling Myths

• MYTH: Good writers get it right the first time.• FACT: It’s rare for even

experienced writers to produce polished work on the first try. Like you, they usually work through several drafts.

(Ruszkiewicz 3)

Dispelling Myths

• MYTH: Good writers work alone.• FACT: Writers rely on colleagues

for ideas and help. Even if they do much of the actual composing alone, experienced writers ask editors and friends for help and suggestions.

(Ruszkiewicz 3)

What is writing?• Writing is a social activity, a

way of interacting with others. Every time your write, you enter into a writing situation in which • You• Say something• To somebody• For some purpose

(Ruszkiewicz 6)

Define Your Purpose• Inform• Persuade• Entertain

• In this class, you will be primarily writing to persuade.

(Ruszkiewicz 6)

Stages of Writing• Prepare

• Research

• Plan

• Draft

• Incubate

• Revise

• Edit

• Proofread(Ruszkiewicz 5)

Develop Your Topic

• Freewrite about the topic• Important step in process• Write non-stop for 10 – 15 minutes

about what you know and what you want to know.

• The point is to generate ideas

(Ruszkiewicz 20)

Develop Your Topic• Use the Journalist’s Questions

• Why?• Who?• When?• What?• Where?• How?

(Ruszkiewicz 21)

Develop Your Topic• Look at your topic from different

perspectives.• Very important in helping you

develop into a good writer

(Ruszkiewicz 21)

Develop Your Topic• Write a ZERO draft• Read• Talk to others about your topic/

thoughts• Visit the campus writing center

(Ruszkiewicz 23)

Show Me Your Work• I expect to see your proofread

first draft as well as your outline for each formal paper.

• You learn how to write by writing and writing and writing, and then by writing some more.

• Then comes revising….

Writing About Literature• Why?

• Heighten your appreciation for literary works

• Demonstrate your ability to support a thesis

• Explore how readers respond to text• Enhance your skill at interpretation• Expand your knowledge of a particular

era or literary movement• Heighten your sensitivity to other

cultures and eras

(Ruszkiewicz 164)

Works Cited

Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. 8th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. 1-140. Print.

Ruszkiewicz, John, Christy Friend, and Maxine Hairston. The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers. 8th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2007. 2-23, 164. Print.