BeginningsCMGT Writing Workshop 1

Fall 2014Robinson

The Writing Process

• Recursive (cyclical)• Existential, not ontological• Processual -- not product-based

grad-school speak!

An effective writing process

• is longer than the “writing” process.• includes time for idea-generation and feedback.• includes time for multiple drafts.• often involves actual paper and pens (still!).

Rationalize your writing process!

Man, I wish I had a writing process!

The pre-writing stage

• occurs before, during, and after the composition stage.• is the idea-generation stage of the process.• doesn’t fit well into neat paragraphs and sentences.• enriches the product.• isn’t magical!• can be rationalized!

Strategies for your pre-writing stage

• concept map• fact/idea list• free-write• outline (headings, paragraph topics, sources)• flowchart• bulleted/numbered list• Post-its on a wall• rough plan

Fact/idea list

Organize your brainstorms

See new connections as you generate ideas

Move quickly from brainstorms to research

questions

Conceive keywords for database research

Concept map

see new connections between sub-topics

organize your thoughts

develop an outlinethat you can refinelater

The drafting stage

• Keep your written outlines/heuristics close to hand.• Type an outline first, then fill it in.• Avoid the urge to edit as you go.

The revision stage

• Time pressure makes it harder to revise multiple times – so start early.• Print your drafts & mark them up.• Read drafts aloud.• Share drafts with a friend, family member, or classmate.• Finding weaknesses means the process is working. Stay positive. The first draft of

anything is shit.

The editing stage

• Levels: global, paragraph, sentence• Global• Transitions• Order of sections and subsections (logical? all sections needed?)• Section and paragraph transitions (logical? smooth?)

• Paragraph• Topic sentences• Support• Citations• Transitions between sentences

The editing stage

• Levels: global, paragraph, sentence• Sentence

• Read from the end to the beginning• Agreement (sub/verb, noun/pronoun)• Voice (active where possible)• Punctuation• Diction (word choice)

• Tone• Precision• Personalization• Anthropomorphism• Use a dictionary• Use a dictionary of English usage

Introductions

The APA says an intro should contain:• Review of relevant literature• Purpose of the study• Theoretical implications• Definitions of variables• Statement of hypotheses and their rationales

Note: these are the official guidelines. 540 requirementsdiffer.

540 Intro Paper

• Opener• Literature survey• Research Question

Remember: it’s the introduction to a fictional

50-page paper.

Introduction examples

• Please see handout.• Consider: • What different choices do the authors make? • What information is cited? • What goals do the introductions accomplish?

Exercise with your drafts

• Exchange drafts with the person seated next to you.• As you read and comment, consider the following:• How successfully does the intro grab my attention?• Is there an opener? A lit survey with citations? A clear research question?• The flow: are transitions 1) logical, or 2) achieved with transitional words?• Formatting: APA-compliant in terms of

• Margins• Running head• Title page• Style• Citation format?