Lesson 3 - Writing Skills

Cognitive Process Theory

Encourages writers to dedicate time to prewriting and planning

Cognitive Process Theory

Highlights the importance of stepping back to revise your work for clarity and coherence

Cognitive Process Theory

Views Writing as a problem-solving activity

What writers engage in distinct stages - Cognitive Process Theory

Planning, Drafting

Planning

Setting goals, organizing ideas, potentially creating an outline

Drafting

Translating ideas into an initial written format

Revising

Evaluating and improving the content, structure, and overall flow

Socio-Cultural Theory

Emphasizes the influence of the social environments in which we write

Key Considerations of Socio-Cultural Theory

Audience, Purpose, and Convention and Expectation

Audience

Who you are writing for shapes your language, style, and even the content you include

Purpose

What you are trying to achieve guides your writing decision

Conventions and Expectations

Every community, from academic disciplines to workplaces, has established norms for how writing should look and function

Genre Theory

Focuses on the recognizable patterns and conventions within different types of texts

Contents of Genre Theory

Predictable Structure, Shared Purpose, Recurring Features

Predictable Structure

Think of a format of a scientific research paper vs a personal email

Shared Purpose

Genres serve specific goals within a community

Recurring Features

The language, tone, and style are influenced by genre

Cognitive Process

How much prewriting and planning will help you produce a well-organized piece?

Socio-Cultural

Who is my audience, what are their expectations, and how can I tailor my writing accordingly

Genre

What is the best format to communicate my message, and how can I adhere to conventions of that type of writing?

Theories of Writing

Help us understand that successful writing is so much more than correct grammar

Prewriting

Brainstorming, where you rapidly note down related concepts, or free writing

Prewriting

Understanding your Purpose and Audience - Strategies for Effective Writing

Prewriting

Generating Ideas - Strategies for Effective Writing

Prewriting

Organizing Your Thoughts - Strategies for Effective Writing

Prewriting

Researching - Strategies for Effective Writing

Drafting

Focus on Content - Strategies for Effective Writing

Drafting

Overcome Writer’s Block - Strategies for Effective Writing

Revising

The ‘Big Picture’ Review - Strategies for Effective Writing

Revising

Strength of Evidence - Strategies for Effective Writing

Revising

Transition and Flow - Strategies for Effective Writing

Editing and Proofreading

Grammar and Mechanics - Strategies for Effective Writing

Editing and Proofreading

Word Choice and Style - Strategies for Effective Writing

Editing and Proofreading

Formatting - Strategies for Effective Writing