Assignements on Writing
Who said:
1.
“Writing is a manual labor of the mind: a job, like laying pipe.”
a. John Gregory Dunne
b. Mark Twain
c. Theodore M.
Bernstein
d. Albert Einstein
2.
“If writing must be a precise form of communication, it should be treated like a
precision instrument. It should be sharpened, and it should not be used
carelessly.”
a. John Gregory Dunne
b. Mark Twain
c. Theodore
M. Bernstein
d. Albert Einstein
3.
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference
between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
a. John Gregory Dunne
b. Mark Twain
c. Theodore M.
Bernstein
d. Albert Einstein
4.
“You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your
grandmother.”
a. John Gregory Dunne
b. Mark Twain
c. Theodore M.
Bernstein
d. Albert Einstein
Matching the Columns
1. Writing
2.
Know what you want to
say
3. Audience
4. Organizing
5. Outline
6. Credibility
A. Is a skill that can be learned.
B.
Helps you shape you message.
C. Power of inspiring belief.
D. Is your first draft to you
writing.
E. Is a physical and mental
process.
F.
The first step to improve your writing.
Answers:
1.) A
2.) F
3.) B
4.) E
5.) D
6.) C
1.
These prove the validity of your opinion.
a. Facts
b. Claims
c. Outlines
d. All of the above
2.
It is clear, focused, and easy to follow and understand.
a. Ideas
b. Good writing
c. Opinions
d. All of the above
3.
Which of the following can be learned as an adult
a. Writing to move
b. Writing to convince
c. Writing to inspire
d. All of the above
4. Overuse of statistics and numbers can
a. Bore your audience
b. Alienate your audience
c. Make the
audience ignore what you are saying
d. All of the above
Summary
As we saw earlier, carpentry—like writing—is a skilled trade. Given time, effort, and a little bit of practice, anyone can learn how to build a box. While some carpenters spend their entire lives building boxes, others go on to more challenging projects. A small percentage goes on to produce work that is legitimately referred to as art.
It is much the same with writers.
Those who can learn how to organize their thoughts in a clear and logical fashion can learn how to write clearly and logically. They might not become another Shakespeare or Dante, but they will be able to express themselves and their ideas in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand ways.
Writing is
writing.
If you can
learn how to write a simple memo, you can learn how to write a long one, a report, a
presentation, or anything else you need to write. The 10 steps presented in this section
will work for a memo or a report, a brochure or a news release, a presentation or a
complete book.
The major difference between a memo and a book is the number of words that are required.
Whether you are writing a memo or a book, you are using the same skills. No matter what you are writing, whether it be simple or complex, formal or informal, for an internal audience or an external one, for the chairman of the board or the rest of the people in your group, a 250-word memo or a 60,000-word book, you write it all the very same way—one word at a time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Test
1. ______ You can use as many
numbers and statistics you want when you write.
2. ______ Writing is a skill you
can learn.
3. ______ Organizing is the same as
outlining.
4.
______ When writing something, you establish a
relationship with the reader with obligations and promises on both sides.
5. ______ You should make sure your
writing is honest and relevant to the reader.
6. ______ Facts are limited to
report something factual.
7.
______ You are judged and evaluated by the
process and not your finished product.
8.
______ A careful analysis of your audience can
help you determine what they need and want to know, and how to tell them.
9. ______ There is only one way to
get a message to your audience.
10.______ Your audience can help you
shape your message.
Answers:
1.
F – Too many numbers will bore and confuse your audience.
2.
T
3.
F – Not the same.
4.
T
5.
T
6.
F – Facts also back up opinions.
7.
F – Finished product is what counts.
8.
T
9.
F – Several (news release, newsletter, advertising, e-mail, manuals, memos, etc.)
10.
T
Bibliography
Cook,
J. (1989). The elements of speechwriting and public speaking.
New York: MacMillan.
Kinneavy, J., & Warriner, J. (1998) Elements of writing. Austin, TX:
Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.
Millward, C. (1980). Handbook for writers. New York: Holt, Rinehart, &
Winston.
Glossary
Research - finding out to make sure you have everything you need.
Outline - the skeleton of what you write for the introduction, body,
and conclusion.
Facts - information that supports the validity of your opinions.
Credibility - the quality or power of inspiring belief.
Learning
Objectives
Q&A
1.
What are the steps to help you improve your writing?
You can improve your writing by knowing what you want to say,
know who you want to say it to, know how you are going to say it, research and organize
your ideas, be logical, back up your statements with facts and evidence, do not overwhelm
your audience with numbers, build credibility, keep it simple, and keep it short.
2.
What makes good writing?
Good writing is clear, focused, and easy to follow and
understand. It has a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end – introduction,
body, and conclusion.
3.
Explain, in your own words, what E. L. Doctorow says about writing.
Doctorow says that the preparatory work that needs to be done before we write is not actually writing. Writing is the physical act of writing.