2. PROCESS WRITING
According to Malicsi
(2000) in his book, “The
ELP Writing and Reading
Strategies,” the method of
writing that covers both
expression and
comprehension is
5. FASTWRITING
• This literally means
writing as fast as
you can in order to
set down your ideas
in full, connected
sentences.
6. POSTWRITING
• Reader focused. Two Phases
• This stage can be summed • Evaluating
up with the A.R.R.R.
(Adding, Rearranging, • Editing
Removing, Replacing)
approach.
7. THE FOUR C’s OF WRITING
Clarity
Conciseness
Completeness
Correctness
8. Clarity
• Clarity is achieved when
the receiver understands
a message as the sender
intended.
• Word choice, unity, and
coherence affect clarity
9. Clarity – Word Choice
• It depends on the writer’s audience.
• Concrete words are more understandable
than abstract words.
• Many is less specific than most.
• Vehicle is less specific than car or truck.
10. Clarity - Unity
• Sentences and paragraphs have
unity when they have one main
idea and the other information in
the sentence supports that main
idea.
11. Clarity – Unity
The basic attack of the creationists falls apart on two general counts
before we even reached the supposed factual details of their
complaints against evolution. First, they play upon a vernacular
misunderstanding of the word “theory” to convey the false
impression that we evolutionists are covering up the rotten core of
our edifice. Second, they misuse a popular philosophy of science to
argue that they are behaving scientifically in attacking evolution,
Yet the same philosophy demonstrates that their own belief is not
science, and that “scientific creationism” is therefore meaningless
and self-contradictory, a superb example of what Orwell called
“newspeak.”
Stephen Jay Gould, “Evolution as Fact and Theory”
12. Clarity - Coherence
• Unified messages are also
coherent.
• They flow naturally and the ideas
in them relate to each other.
• Transitional words and phrases
and repetition help make messages
coherent.
• Writers use transitional words and
phrases as bridges to join ideas.
13. Clarity - Coherence
Two rangy shepherd dogs trotted up pleasantly, until they
caught the scent of strangers, and then they backed
cautiously away, watchful, their tails moving slowly and
tentatively in the air, but their eyes and noses quick for
animosity or danger. One of them, scratching his neck,
edged forward, ready to run, and little by little he
approached Tom’s legs and sniffed loudly at them. Then
he backed away and watched Pa for some kind of signal.
The other pup was not so brave. He looked about for
something that could honorably divert his attention, saw
a red chicken go mincing by, and ran at it. There was the
squawk of an outraged hen, a burst of red feathers, and
then he ran off, flapping stubby wings for speed. The pup
looked proudly back at the men, and then flopped down
in the dust and beat its tail contentedly on the ground.
John Steinback, The Grapes of Wrath
14. Conciseness
• Everyone prefers messages that express
thoughts in the fewest words possible.
• Concise messages are only long enough to
present all of the necessary information.
• Limit repetition, eliminate excess words,
emphasize and use active verbs.
15. Conciseness –
Limit repetition
• You can reduce
repetition by:
1. Using a shortened
form of a noun.
2. Using a pronoun
in place of a noun.
16. Conciseness
– Limit repetition
ORIGINAL: REVISION:
Johan Erickson was office Johan Erickson was
manager for Ador and office manager for Ador
Smith from June 11, 1995, and Smith from June 11,
until February 27, 1998. 1995, until February 27,
Johan Erickson was 1998. Johan was
efficient and effective. efficient and effective.
Johan Erickson worked
He worked well with the
well with the employees
he supervised and employees he
scheduled the work of the supervised and
employees he supervised scheduled their work to
to assure prompt, correct assure prompt, correct
completion of the tasks completion of the tasks
assigned to the employees. assigned to them.
17. Conciseness
– Eliminate excess words
• A word is excess if it is not needed
for correct grammar or clear
meaning.
A. He dipped his hands in the bichloride solution. He
shook them. The shake was quick. His fingers were like
fingers of a pianist. The fingers of the pianist were
above the keys.
B. He dipped his hands in the bichloride solution and
shook them, a quick shake– fingers down, like the
fingers of a pianist above the keys.
18. Conciseness
– Eliminate excess words
WORDY: CONCISE:
• There are three people who can • Three people can
• at the time we were meeting • while we met
• move up to Canada • move to Canada
• combine together • combine
• in the vicinity of • near
• send back • return
• at the present time • now
• due to the fact that • because
• the meeting on May 10 • the May 10 meeting
19. Conciseness
–Emphasize and Use
active verbs
• Verbs are the most powerful
words in the English language.
• By using active verbs, writers
create messages that are
concise, direct, and forceful.
EXAMPLE
Active verb: The members elected
Carlos Esteban.
Passive verb: Carlos Esteban was
elected the members.
20. Completeness
• A message is complete when all
information necessary for a receiver
to understand is included.
21. Correctness
• Writing is correct when
content and mechanics
are accurate.
• Check grammar, spelling,
and punctuation.
• Seek someone’s help to
make sure your writing is
correct.
22. Correctness
• You must follow three steps after you
complete a draft of your writing:
1. Revise the draft by checking the
content for completeness.
2. Edit the draft to correct grammar,
punctuation, or spelling problems.
3. Proofread the draft aloud to yourself to
catch errors such as missing words or
unclear sentences.
23. What you write says A LOT!
• What you write and
how you write are very
important.
• Take the necessary time
to revise, edit, and
proofread your writing.
24. Steps to Good Writing
1. Memorize and master the
fundamentals
2. Learn to organize your
thoughts
3. Read widely with an eye
towards the author’s
tactics and style.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice.
25. Elements of
Correctness and Style
1. Audience
2. Rationale
3. Intentions
4. Methods
5. Mechanics
6. Try to acquire your own
reference books and then
make good use of them.
