1. College Writing
• In almost every course you will take in
college, you are going to be asked to
present your understanding of the
course using the written word in tests,
essays etc.
• It is of paramount importance to your
success at college that you master the
skill of effective writing…

2. Writing: A Basic
Skill That . . .
• allows you to get ideas on paper, even if
you don’t think you know the concepts.
• enables you to see relationships between
ideas.
• requires you to organize your thoughts.
• inspires creativity.
• enables you to share your ideas.

3. Five Steps to
Better Writing
1. Pre-write to generate ideas. Process those
– Brainstorm, listing, free-writing words!
1. Organize your ideas in an outline
or essay map
2. Write or draft to develop a structure for
your ideas as you put them on paper.
3. Rewrite or revise to polish your work.
4. Proofread for errors, then submit it.
Use your campus Writing Center or
English lab for help with final drafts.

4. Habits of Effective
Writers
• Being ready • Creating the right
• Getting started tone
• Selecting a topic • Following the rules
• Crafting a thesis • Drafting and
• Developing your revising
ideas • Consulting
• Organizing your • Finishing touches
argument • Learning from
feedback

5. Prepare Before You Write
• Know & clarify your goal
• Define your purpose
Preparedness is
• Know your audience paramount!
• Select a topic
• Narrow your topic
• Develop a working thesis
• Support your thesis

6. Know Your Goal
• Are you writing an essay, research paper, etc. ?
Define Your Purpose
• To explain an idea or provide information
(expository).
• To persuade or argue a point.
• To describe an experiment or process or report on lab
results.
• To classify, illustrate or demonstrate.
• To tell a story

7. Who is your
audience?
Probably your instructor, but personally?
Academically? As a critic? As an expert?
What is your topic? What I
want you

Is your topic (subject): to write
about is…
 An assignment ?
Your choice ?
Something completely
“out of the blue?”

8. Develop a
Working Thesis
• It reduces the topic to a • It creates interest in the
single idea, opinion, or topic.
key message. • It establishes the purpose
• It presents your position of the paper.
clearly and concisely in • It establishes the approach
the active voice. or pattern of organization.
• It’s a statement that can • Each paragraph should
be supported by develop a point that
statistics, examples, supports your thesis.
quotes, and references.

9. Are you doing research?
Then you need to gather sources
• Sometimes instructors will specify how many
sources you should include in your paper, and
sometimes they won’t.
• Plan to look at more materials than you will
ultimately refer to in your work.
• Sometimes you won’t get a clear idea about what
will help you until you’ve done some research.
• Quality of evidence is more impressive than
quantity.
• Find some sources that argue against your
assertions.
• Be sure and write down the complete reference for
each source as you go. This will make it much

10. Master the
Library
• Become familiar with your library’s resources so you
can locate information quickly.
• Take a tour with a librarian, and get to know
someone who can help you find what you need.
• Your assignment may or may not specify which types
of sources you can use.
• Most instructors prefer that you read original sources
to support your ideas.
• They are also more impressed by journal articles that
are peer reviewed —critically analyzed by experts in
the field.

11. Use the Internet
• Make use of the Internet for your research projects with
caution.
• Don’t assume Internet sources will be acceptable. Look for:
– Articles written by a recognized authority in the field.
– A site that is supported by a reputable host group.
– Articles that are peer reviewed.
• Most instructors still favor library research that will help you
locate printed publications and peer-reviewed sources.
• If you use an internet site, be sure to cite the URL and date
you visited it.
• Online databases such as JSTOR are acceptable because
they feature articles that first appeared in print in journals
and periodicals.
• Be especially wary of articles on personal websites or other
sites that are not affiliated with an institution of learning or
research.
• Do not plagiarize a website! A simple Google search will

12. Refine Your Style
• Write with an active voice, using action verbs.
• Use descriptive language that draws on the senses.
• Add more words only when it will enhance your impact.
• Don’t use “big” words just to impress.
• Remove words to clarify your meaning. Okay,
• let’s
Replace words that don’t seem right.
clean it
• Shorten sentences to make writing crisper. up!
• Rearrange sentences so that each paragraph starts with
its main idea.
• Write in the present tense.
• Use dependent clauses to add complexity.

13. Follow the
Rules
• Good grammar and spelling are the essential elements of a successful
paper.
• Instructors vary in how much they care about whether you follow specific
guidelines (such as those of the MLA or APA). Be wary of your instructor’s
particular foibles about writing.
• Keep in mind that mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation weaken
the quality of formal writing.
• Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking. Your goal is
always to say what you mean simply and clearly.
• A writing handbook is indispensable at all stages of the
writing process.
• Do not rely on spelling and grammar checking programs.
Students’ most common errors result from relying on these
tools!

14. Learn From
Feedback
• Read feedback from your instructor carefully so you can learn things
that will help you in future assignments.
• If you’re faced with lots of red ink
– take some time to recover before trying to learn
– allow yourself to be disappointed
– return to it with the intention of learning
• If you only receive a grade, ask for more feedback on the strengths and
weaknesses of your paper.
• If you don’t understand something, ask questions.
• There is no failure but the failure to improve!

15. Stay on Course
• Consider your project as a series of small tasks that must be
accomplished once over the course of a particular period of time.
– Identifying a topic
– Exploring sources of information
– Collecting research materials
– Reading materials and noting useful evidence
– Mapping out the presentation of information
– Writing your rough draft
– Revising, proofreading, and finalizing your paper
• Reward yourself for completing each step.

16. – Think “outside the box.”
– Do something other than the typical approach.
May the
– Create an engaging title. Force be
– Use a thesaurus to expand your word choice. with you!
– Add interesting quotations.
– Do for writing what George Lucas did for the
movies!

17. Tips for Becoming a Better
Writer
• Keep a journal. Write Thinker!) day.
(and something every
• Write about what you really like.
• Dig for ideas and reject nothing at first. Be eclectic!
• Read good writing. [This is essential!]
• Practice, practice, practice!

18. Understand & Avoid
Plagiarism
• Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your
own.
• It is a serious academic offense.
• Instructors are very adept at noticing plagiarism, both intentional
or careless.
• Always make a conscious effort to translate information into your
own words and describe it based on your understanding.
• Also, many instructors frown on being given a paper you wrote
for an assignment in a different class.

19. Public Speaking
Opportunities
• Addressing a class formally
• Delivering a carefully researched position
• Giving an extemporaneous speech about a topic you are
handed just moments before
• Expressive reading through the dramatic works of others
• Group speaking projects: panel
discussions or debate
• Asking questions in class

20. Fearless Public Speaking
Keep in mind… I won’t be
• Anxiety usually decreases when you begin scared!
speaking. I won’t!
• Your listeners generally aren’t aware of your I won’t!
anxiety. I won’t!
• Some anxiety can be beneficial.
• Practice makes perfect.
• Don’t think about it, just jump into
it!

21. Six Steps to
Be thankful you
Successful Speaking speaking
aren’t
with a mouthful
Step 1: Clarify your objective. of stones.
Step 2: Analyze your audience.
Step 3: Collect and organize your
information.
Step 4: Choose your visual aids.
Step 5: Prepare your notes.
Step 6: Practice your delivery.

22. Using Your Voice and Body
Language
• Don’t hide behind the lectern or your notes.
• Make eye contact.
• Make gestures for emphasis.
• Pay attention to volume, pitch
and speed of your voice
• Enunciate clearly
• Consider your appearance:
dress for success.

23. Speaking on the Spot:
when it’s extemporaneous!
Okay, here goes!
Use PREParation No notes and
working without a
• [P] Point of view. net!
• [R] Reasons.
• [E] Evidence of examples.
• [P] Point of view restated.

24. And Remember…
• The number one reason for writing and
speaking is:
So make your work:
Clear
Concise
Brevity is the soul of
Understandable wit.
Interesting