Show:
The Writing Process
Thesis Statements
Patterns of Development
Body Paragraphs
Effective Sentences
100
In this step of the writing process, writers either read their work out loud, publish their work, or give it to someone else to read.
What is the last stage of the writing process -- sharing?
100
True or False: A good thesis statement is a fact.
What is False Good thesis statements need to be opinions.
100
This pattern of writing looks at similarities and differences between two things.
What is compare/contrast?
100
Not fully developing this type of sentences, or not providing enough details in these types of sentences, leads to poorly written papers.
What are supporting sentences?
100
True or False: The best sentences are specific and detailed.
What is: True! Of course true. ALWAYS be specific!
200
In this stage of the writing process, writers don't need to worry about grammar and spelling as they write.
What is the second stage of the writing process -- writing?
200
True or False: A good thesis statement sticks to asserting one main idea.
What is True A good thesis statement will focus on the one, central idea of the essay.
200
This pattern of development explains how to do something.
What is process analysis?
200
Every paragraph needs to have one of these, and it may be located anywhere in the paragraph.
What is a topic sentence?
200
Rewrite: "I remember meeting a mother of child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." -- George W. Bush
What is: I remember meeting a mother in the Oval Office who'd had a child abducted by the North Koreans.
300
In this step of the writing process, some writers will do cluster maps, sketch pictures, outline, or make lists.
What is the first step of the writing process -- prewriting?
300
Good or Bad thesis statement: Nuclear power should be banned as an energy source in this country.
What is Bad Can the writer give the broad subject of nuclear power a fair treatment in four to five pages? Probably not.
300
This pattern of development might look at the reasons why something happened, or what happened after something occured.
What is cause and effect?
300
It refers to how paragraphs flow from one to the next.
What are coherence or transitions?
300
Rewrite: Roger was a really awesome guy he was a really big deal at his company.
What is: Roger, the vice president at his company, took all his employees out to happy hour every Friday.
400
This step of the writing process has two parts -- content editing and grammatical proofreading.
What is the third step of the writing process -- rewriting?
400
Rewrite this bad thesis statement: Voting for Donald Trump for president is a good idea.
What is: Because he would be able to balance the budget and provide stressed-out Americans with much-needed entertainment, voting for Donald Trump for president would be a good for this country.
400
True or false: All writing, no matter what pattern of development, should incorporate specific examples.
What is True ALL writing needs good, specific examples to prove the writer's point!
400
Improve this poorly written body paragraph: Professor Plum is the best professor I've ever had. His lectures are interesting, and he's very concerned about his students. He makes class challening but not too hard. I think he's a great teacher.
What is: Professor Plum is the best professor I've ever had. He incorporates visual elements into his lectures, and he actively goes up to every student at least twice a term to ask how they're doing. ...... Because of these reasons, I think he's an effective teacher.
400
Rewrite: In point of fact, the main reason he lost his job was primarily because of his being too careless and sloopy.
What is: He lost his job because he was careless and sloppy.
500
Reorganizing paragraphs, adding more specific examples, adjusting the writer's tone, and making sure the writing fulfills the assignment are examples of this.
What is content editing, or big-picture editing, in the rewriting step of the writing process?
500
Rewrite this bad thesis statement: In this essay, I will tell you why Mike Tomlin is the best coach the Pittsburgh Steelers ever had.
What is: Mike Tomlin is the best coach the Pittsburgh Steelers ever had because xxxxxxxxxxxx, yyyyyyyyyyyyyy, and zzzzzzzzzzzz.
500
True or false: Critical thinking is only needed in argumentation (persuasive) styles of writing.
What is False ALL good writing requires critical thinking!
500
Improve this poorly written body paragraph: Fans of professional baseball and football argue over which is better. Figures on attendance vary for each season. Football on average has 20,000 fans per game. Baseball on average has 21,000 fans per game. Football is quicker and more physical. Baseball is more mental. Both sides have good points.
What is: Fans of professional basebal and football argue over which is better. Although figures on attendance vary for each season, football on average has 20,000 fans per game, and baseball usually has 21,000 fans per game. They both appeal to different styles, too: Football is physical, but baseball is more intellectual. Even though they have many differences, both sports have positive aspects.
500
Rewrite: Although Jack once regarded her as sweet and innocent, he knew then and there that Jill was really a wolf in sheep's clothing with a heart of stone.
What is: Although Jack once though Jill was better than Truvia, he soon found out she was plotting to poison his coffee and run off with his best friend.