Defining Good Writing

Words and Ideas: A Handbook for College Writing Your writing should be your own. –It should reflect your own first-hand observation, your honest attempts to work out your own answers to questions and problems. Your writing should be concrete. –Keep in mind the reader who asks: What is there for me to see? What does it feel like to be there? What does this mean in practice? Back up generalizations with examples; anchor abstract terms to concrete references. Your writing should have focus. –Learn to do justice to one point at a time. Though you are fully entitled to your opinions on many different subjects, limit your writing to the kind of idea you can fully examine, explain and support. Concentrate on a limited area, but cover it well. Your writing should be coherent. –When you move from one point to another, your reader should be able to move with you. He/she should see the logical connection(s) between one paragraph and the next. Your writing should be responsible. –Learn to forego sweeping claims and drastic charges. Learn to respect evidence that goes counter to your assumptions--objections that might weaken your arguments or case. Respect the reader's right to think for himself/herself. Present your sources and your reasoning in such a way that he can examine and verify.

Your writing should be your own Use Your writing Process –Pre-write –Draft –Respond –Revise –Copyedit –Publish Avoid Plagiarism –Both Intentional and Unintentional Your Ideas / Argument / Claim –Your Thesis should be something YOU create. Don’t simply “list” ideas of others.

Your writing should be concrete. A Thesis –The thesis consists of a single sentence which states the argument of your paper. A good thesis represents the answer to a good question. ("A thesis which does not answer a question, or answers a simple or obvious question, is not a thesis.") A good thesis binds you to a particular problem, even as you enter the soaring heights of rhetorical fun and flourish. The perfect thesis narrowly defines the subject of the paper, yet is broad enough to encompass all the stuff -- all the minor points and illustrations -- you will present in the course of your essay.

Central Claim / Thesis Statement What is a thesis statement? The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper. Lets the reader know the main idea of the paper. Answers the question: “what am I trying to prove?” Makes your paper an argument, NOT a report. Not a factual statement, but a claim that has to be proven throughout the paper.

Argument vs. Report Must be PROVEN in paper Not a “Fact” Could be argued against YOUR ideas, opinions, theories Is REPORTED throughout paper Is a “fact” or list of facts Is widely accepted as truth (not arguable) OTHER peoples ideas, opinions, facts, research

Your writing should have focus. Clarity –All writing should be clear. If the author doesn't understand the writing, the reader certainly won't. –Don’t assume the reader will understand your point. Elaborate. Directness –Be specific. Be direct. Get to the point. Avoid statements of abstract expression and ambiguity. Unclutter the mess of confusing thoughts and expression. Aim for precision. Never guess, estimate or generalize. Style –The good writer recognizes an opportunity to infuse style and vitality into the right paper. Not every text lends itself to these bursts of artistry, but the good writer recognizes the opportunity to dazzle and shine.

Your writing should be coherent. Organize –Like any good thriller begin strong, build to a climax and end with a powerful closer. Tell the reader a story. Think ahead. Ask what the reader will want to know next. Keep to a common theme and provide smooth transitions and links. –Obviously this means you may have to plan out your paper BEFORE writing it in a Pre-Writing stage Transitions –Walk the reader through your argument / text. Hold their hand and take them from point to point without losing them

Your writing should be responsible. Critical Thinking –Remember there is another side / perspective to your argument. Instead of dismissing the counter-argument, research how and where it came from and then work to convince the readers. –Work to completely justify your side of the argument. Don’t leave room for the reader to find logical errors.

End Strong Answering “So What?” –Synthesis don’t Summarize Don’t just re-list the ideas in your paper, instead portray them in a new light, or, show how they all fit together. –Reflect on your argument in a larger perspective Why is your argument important? How does your argument work outside the paper? How does it effect your life, society, the world?