Freshman Comp. Test #1

What are the stages of the writing process, in order?

1. Generating Ideas 2. Discovering something to write about 3. Discovering material 4. Planning 5. Drafting 6. Developing 7. Revising and editing 8. Proofreading

What are the four tips for making a clear and focused final thesis?

1. State the thesis sentence exactly. 2. State just one central idea in the thesis sentence. 3. State your thesis positively. 4. Limit your thesis to a statement that you can demonstrate.

As shown in the book, both informal and formal outlines can use some kind of numbering. Besides detailed numbering, what information does a formal outline reveal that is not provided by an informal outline?

A formal outline shows how ideas relate to one another.

What is the function of a topic sentence?

A topic sentence spells out the main idea of a paragraph in the body of an essay.

How can an outline be used to help revise the structure of a draft?

An outline can help you diagnose a draft that you suspect doesn't quite make sense by breaking up the topic sentences and supporting details. Then once you look at the outline you can rearrange the structure to be more effective.

Carefully note the difference between the metaphor or broad purpose the book uses to explain an outline's purpose (p.80), and its actual definition

An outline is always a LIST, featuring at least the MAIN IDEAS to be written, and sometimes supporting detail or structures. Metaphor: The outline is like a map- it shows you where to start, where to stop along the way, and where to end up.

What is the "reporter's questions" method of generating ideas?

Asking who, where, why, what, when, and how. Six helpful questions to generate specific details.

What are two ideas and approaches for focusing an interesting opening (introduction), and two ideas for a closing or conclusion paragraph?

Beginning with a story, commenting on a topic, asking a question are all approaches for an interesting opening. Ending with a quotation, stating or restating your thesis, or ending with a brief emphatic sentence are all approaches for an interesting conclusion.

How does proofreading relate to editing?

By intensely proofreading you can catch important errors that occur in writing unconsciously.

When free-writing, why is it important to keep the pen moving and go quickly?

By recording ideas fast for a set amount of time can unlock potential ideas.

How is repetition useful in creating coherence? Ideas from lecture notes related to ch. 6:

By repeating a keyword or phrase the repetition almost guarantees that readers will understand how all the parts of the passage fit together

What two things you should determine about a writing project FIRST before you start the writing process?

Determine your purpose and your audience before you start the writing process.

How does the 'development' stage relate to the 'drafting' stage?

Development stages helps you come up with ideas before you start drafting.

In terms of overall essay unity or coherence, ideally, how does a paragraph relate to the thesis statement?

Each paragraph should support or relate to that overall thesis.

How are details and examples used to support a paragraph?

Examples hold your reader's attention and make your ideas more concrete and tangible. Details is a simple yet effective way of developing ideas.

What kinds of supporting material is used in an effective analysis paragraph?

Facts, statistics, quotes, experience, interviews.

What are two methods you can use to start generating ideas for writing?

Free Writing, doodling or sketching, mapping, asking a reporter's questions

ote the differences between the book's ideas for methods for how to get started writing paragraphs or introductions, and the specific strategies of ideas to use for an opening (introduction) that follow. What trick for beginning to write/draft might work best for you?

How to get started writing paragraphs: Time yourself, Slow to a crawl, Open your app, Scribble on scratch, Begin writing the most appetizing part, State your purpose, Slip into the reader's shoes, Nutshell it, shrink your job, seek a provocative title, record yourself, speak up, take short breaks. How to write and opening: beginning with a story, commenting on a topic, asking a question, ending with the thesis statement. For me beginning by writing the appetizing part works best for me because I start with what ideas I already have and then when I go to work on the more difficult part my ideas are flowing.

Why should the 'macro-revising' issues be addressed first in the process of improving a draft?

Macro Revising is making large, global, or fundamental changes that affect the overall direction or impact of writing, compared to micro revising is paying attention to words, sentences, and grammar, therefore the macro revising should be done first.

Should you judge your ideas while you are trying to generate them?

No let your ideas flow, and critique them later.

Is it more accurate to think of a paragraph as a unit of space, unit of ideas, or unit of time, and why?

Paragraph shift to a new topic so a unit of ideas

What aspects are addressed in micro-revising a draft?

Paying attention to the language aspects of writing- sentences, words, grammar-including ways to create emphasis, eliminate wordiness, and increase clarity.

Can you explain two methods or techniques from the book that you might prefer for grouping similar ideas during planning? Explain why you prefer these.

Rainbow connections, because I am a visual learning so highlighting ideas that go together with the same color helps me visualize the relation. Solitaire because I use sticky notes daily, and play solitaire so it is a method that I would enjoy working with. Plus the sticky notes would be easy to move around as i'm thinking through grouping my ideas

What are three of the several levels of major (macro) revision?

Revising for purpose, thesis, support, structure, audience.

What is the difference between revising and editing, and which comes first?

Revising means re-seeing and rewriting, and editing means correcting wording, grammar, punctuation and mechanics. Revising comes before editing.

Why might it be helpful to start drafting without writing an opening paragraph first?

Some writers often get stuck writing an opening paragraph, and they forget the essentials needed in an opening paragraph. Sometimes writing the body first will give a writer ideas of how to open the essay while sticking to the topic easier.

How can you revise to improve emphasis on an idea?

Stressing what counts, stating it first, stating it last, cutting and whittling, cutting the fanfare, beginning directly, using strong verbs, using relative pronouns with caution, cutting out dead wood, cutting descriptors, selecting short words, and keeping it clear. Repeating key ideas

What does doodling or drawing add to the idea-generating process?

Symbols, colors, figures, labels and notes freely mix visual material and text to create ideas.

How does the use of a process and steps take off the pressure or allow for beginning incompleteness, changes, discovery and improvement in a writing project?

Takes of pressure knowing you don't have to do it all in one, and you have the opportunity to make improvements and explore new ideas.

Definition: What is a thesis statement and its purpose?

Thesis statement: sums up the writer's main point of the essay in just one sentence. The purpose of a thesis is to help clarify what the essay will be about.

Give examples of transitions that help to emphasize the following patterns of grouping ideas: to contrast, to relate cause and effect, to suggest time, to indicate spatial relations.

To contrast: on the other hand, but, or, however, unlike, nevertheless, on the contrary, in contrast, instead. To relate cause and effect: therefore, accordingly, hence, thus, for, so, consequently, as a result, because of, due to, inevitably To suggest time: then, soon, first, second, next, recently, the following day, in a little while, meanwhile, after, later, still, finally. To indicate spatial relations: similarly, likewise, in like manner, in the same way

What are two things you can do to adjust your writer's voice to the expected purposes and audiences for college writing assignments?

Translate causal expressions to concise conventional wording, balance passion and personality with solid reasoning.

What are the THREE locations listed where you can you place a topic sentence within a paragraph, and how does location relate to organization within the paragraph?

You can place the topic sentence at the beginning, like the first sentence (the paragraph will move from general statement to specific examples), near the beginning (first sentence will act as a transition and then you second sentence will be the topic sentence), or end with the topic sentence (the paragraph will move from specific examples to general statement).

What two parts are combined to make a 'working' thesis?

Your topic idea + your point about the topic.

Outline

a general description or plan giving the essential features of the essay but not the details.

Editing

correcting wording, grammar, punctuation and mechanics.

Transitional phrase

help transform a disconnected passage into a coherent one

Drafting

preparing a textual version of your ideas in paragraph form

Revision

re-seeing or rewriting, comes before editing

Concrete Detail

refers to the discrete information, facts, data, and specific knowledge offered to describe, explain, or justify something

Topic sentence

spells out the main idea of a paragraph.

Thesis statement

sums up the writer's main point of the essay in just one sentence.

Coherence

the quality of being logical and consistent, unity, sticks together

What is the purpose of transitional words or phrases?

to transform a disconnected passage into a coherent one, to get the reader to follow your train of thought easily.

Paragraph support

your reasoning and explanations of how the quotes, summaries, and paraphrases relate to your thesis