★ Knowledge of Language ★

2 Levels of Formality in Writing?

• Formal Writing

• Informal Writing

Formal Writing

is used for

addressing a superior in a school or work environment

examples of writings that use

Formal Writing?

• business letters

• textbooks

• newspapers

examples of writings that use

Informal Writing?

• private letters

• personal e-mails

• business talk between close associates

Clichés

are

overused phrases

example

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade

Jargons

are

specialized vocabulary that only members of a profession/trade use

→ niche “insider lingo”

example

“He is going to toenail these frames for us.”

( toenail refers to nailing at an angle )

Slang

is used in _______ writing

informal

Slang

is understood by ______

some individuals

example

Yes, the event was a blast! ( the event was great )

Colloquialism

is used in _______ writing

informal

Slang

is understood by _________

a greater range of people ( more familiar! )

example

“Can y’all come back another time?” ( you all )

Writing Style

can be referred to as a writer’s

voice

3 Goals Writers Accomplish with their Stylistic Choice?

expresses their

• meaning

• attitude

• feelings

Point of View

is the

perspective of which the writing occurs

3 Points of View?

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person

First Person

the story is told by a

a person IN the story

First Person

uses the pronoun

I

Second Person

is written

directly to the reader

Second Person

uses the pronoun

You

Third Person

is written with an

omniscient “know it all” narrator ( the writer )

which writing point of view is most common?

third person

Good Writings include:

1. ________

2. ________

3. ________

1. Introduction

2. Body Paragraphs

3. Conclusion

Paragraphs should center around the

main point

Topic Sentence

will

summarize the paragraph’s main point

Topic Sentence

are placed at the _______ of a paragraph

• start

  ( introduction )

• end

  ( if there’s context being provided before )

sentences after the topic sentence are

support sentences

★ Sentences and details that don’t support the main point should be removed

A well developed paragraph has _______ sentences.

more than a few

( needed to provide adequate development )

4 Methods of Development Within Paragraphs

• ______

• ______

• ______

• ______

• Examples

• Illustrations

• Analogies

• Cause and Effect

Examples

are used as

supporting details to the main idea

of a paragraph/passage

Examples

when writing about

something audience doesn’t understand

can

show the author’s point

Examples

when writing about

something not easily accepted

can

prove the author’s point

Illustrations

are

extended examples

Illustrations

require

extra sentences

Illustrations

are used to

further develop & explain an unfamiliar point to their audience

Analogies

will

make comparisons between items that appear to have nothing in common

Analogies

are used to

provoke fresh thought about a subject for

• explanation

• clarification

• argument

Cause and Effect

is great for when

their connection generally agreed as true

Paragraph of Narration

is a paragraph that will

tell a story ( or part of a story )

Descriptive Paragraph

is a paragraph that will

use sensory details to vividly describe a person, place, or object

( smell, taste, touch, sound, sight )

Process Paragraph

is a paragraph that will

describe or teach a process in order

example

First, you pour the milk in the bowl. Then you mix in the eggs.

Comparing Paragraph

is a paragraph that will

discuss similarities between two things

+ provide differences

Contrasting Paragraph

is a paragraph that will

focus on differences only

most paragraphs shouldn’t be too long or short

exception

scientific and scholarly papers prefer ________ paragraphs

long

most paragraphs shouldn’t be too long or short

exception

journalistic writing prefer ________ paragraphs

short

Tips for Paragraph Coherence

Link ideas clearly between ______ and ______ of a paragraph

topic sentence and body of a paragraph

→ smooth transition

Tips for Paragraph Coherence

Do repetition of

key words

→ many words can be present

Tips for Paragraph Coherence

Use Parallel Structures , it helps to

emphasize similarity and connections of ideas

Tips for Paragraph Coherence

Maintain a consistent

verb tense