What Does Good Writing Look Like? QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Be concise A little background is okay, but avoid too much plot summary Writing an intro? Then leave your detailed examples for the body paragraphs

What Does Good Writing Look Like? GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION Never underestimate the power of a good ATTENTION GRABBER or “HOOK” Rhetorical Question A sobering fact or statistic A quote Detailed description

What Does Good Writing Look Like? LANGUAGE USE (AKA “DICTION”) Be aware of your audience Be aware that the words you choose set the TONE (reveals your attitude toward subject) Choose words that say what you mean and make your message clear Do not sacrifice clarity for the sake of a bunch of “fifty cent” words.

What Does Good Writing Look Like? STAY FOCUSED Decide what you goal or purpose is early on, and stick to it Make sure your supporting points relate to your goal Check by asking yourself: How does this sentence/paragraph/detail fit into the overall essay?

What Does Good Writing Look Like? Win over both your reader’s heart and mind LOGIC: Give evidence of your claim in the form of supporting examples that prove your thesis EMOTION: Get the reader to identify with some aspect of your writing by tugging at their heartstrings or appealing to their sense of compassion or morality