1. WEEK 2: EXERCISE Going through the writing process
Fundamental English Writing Skills
Dr. Hsin-Hsin Cindy Lee

2. Going through the writing process
Writing has everything to do with ‘thinking’.
The writing process is not only a process of writing but also an inner journey of discovering, reviewing and refining your own thoughts.
Never hand in your ‘rough’ draft! Always check and improve your first draft again and again before you submit it. This is the writing process, your efforts and commitment to your work.
The writing process will help you ensure the quality of your work and your reputation as a writer.
Now, let’s practice the prewriting strategies and the principles for revising and editing your work.

3. The First Try
Suppose now you are given a topic to write a short article. The topic is “Your Favorite Sport Player”. You are going to decide a specific title, subject and treatment of this subject by yourself.
What do you know about sports and who is your favorite sport player? Do you know any professional athlete yourself? For example, do you like Wang, Cheng-Ming or know him in person?
Now, let’s try to go through the writing process and practice the prewriting strategies.

4. Prewriting Strategies
Free writing
You write down whatever you think about the topic.
Try non-stopping writing and make it one page (about 400 words).
Brainstorming
You make a list to answer the big-six questions.
If I want to write about Magic Johnson, I do it in this way:
Who? Magic Johnson
What? Great basketball player
Where? NBA
When? For man than ten years
Why? Love of game and great talent
How? Shooting, passing, rebounding, leading, coolness, inspiring…
Who do you want to write about? Make a similar list.

5. Clustering Short shots shoots shooting slams accurate passing Magic
Johnson
long
short
No-look
leading
smile
personality
joy
optimistic
accomplishments

6. Researching Interview Study books or relevant materials
Prepare your questions
Ask people’s opinions
Ask yourself if you agree with them
Develop your own opinions
Study books or relevant materials
Check the sport player’s official website
Search references at the library or bookstores
Read and evaluate your references
What interests you?
What do you think?

7. Writing the topic sentence
Before you write, you decide the main idea of your paragraph (not after!). The topic sentence which normally appears as the first line of your paragraph.
Your topic sentence should include subject and treatment. It should be an ‘opinion’, not a fact, example or detail, etc.
The topic sentence should avoid being too broad or too narrow.
Too broad: “Magic Johnson was everything to everyone.” “Magic Johnson was successful.” (This sounds an opening line. You will need to write a ‘book’ for such a topic sentence.)
Too narrow: “Magic Johnson went to Michigan State University.” (You won’t have much to say after this factual statement.)

8. Practice: Among the three statements, which one can be an effective topic sentence?
_____ Columbus is located in Ohio.
_____ Columbus is a fabulous city.
_____ Columbus has dealt thoroughly with its
housing problems.
------
_____ A monkey is a primate.
_____ Monkeys are fun.
_____ In clinical studies, monkeys have
demonstrated a remarkable ability to
reason.

9. Answer __X_ Columbus is located in Ohio. (too broad)
__O_ Columbus is a fabulous city.
(an opinion, you can agree or disagree with it)
__X_ Columbus has dealt thoroughly with its
housing problems. (too narrow)
------
_O_ A monkey is a primate.
_X__ Monkeys are fun. (too broad)
_X__ In clinical studies, monkeys have
demonstrated a remarkable ability to
reason. (too narrow)

10. Writing the outline – Example
Topic:
My Favorite Sport Player
Title:
The Great NBA Star – Magic Johnson
Topic sentence:
Magic Johnson was a great NBA star because he was excellent in shooting, passing and leading.
Outline:
I. Shooting (major support 1)
A. Shorts Shots (minor support)
1. Shovel (detail)
2. Slam-dunk (detail)
B. Long shots
C. Free throws
II. Passing (major support 2)
A. No-look (minor support)
B. Precise (minor support)
III. Leading (major support 3)
A. Energy (minor support)
B. Spirit (minor support)
1. Faith (detail)
2. Smile (detail)

11. Practice – Completing the following outlines
1. Too many of us are preoccupied with material things.
Clothing
Cars
_______
2. Learning English can be easy and fun.
I. Watch English movies
II. Listen to English songs
III. ____________
3. Smoking should be discouraged.
I. Harm to smokers
II. _________________
III. Cost
4. Shoppers in department stores can be grouped according to needs.
I. ______________
II. Special-needs shoppers
III. Bargain hunters
Fill in the missing outline parts.
The elements of the ‘treatment’ should be relevant and logical.
Consider whether you are dealing with time, examples, causes, effects, parts or steps.
Don’t overlap or mix them up!
When you have time, please develop the details or examples under the minor supports.
Please try! After you complete your outlines, you are welcome to send them back for correction!

12. Revising & Editing: Do you remember the principles?
Rules for revising : CLUESS
C: _______
L: _______
U: _______
E: _______
S: _______
Rules for Editing:
Check COPS problems
C: _____
O: _____
P: _____
S: _____

13. Answer Revising: Editing: Check the following problems: Capitalization
Coherence
Language
Unity
Emphasis
Support
Sentences
Editing:
Check the following problems:
Capitalization
Omissions
Punctuation
Spelling

14. -END-
Reference: At a Glance by Lee Brandon