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The Penn State Berks Writing Center
Tips For Effective Writing
I have to write a paper. Now what?
Considering Your Audience
Who is my audience?
Why should my audience be interested in my topic?
Am I writing to college students?
Considering Your Audience
What will my audience already know about my topic?
What won’t my audience know about my topic?
What kind of writing will my audience expect?
Am I writing to my
professors?
Considering Your Style or GenreAm I writing a . . .
Persuasive English Composition EssayLiterary Analysis History Research PaperBusiness Research ReportChemistry Lab ReportPsychology Internship DescriptionNewspaper ArticleShort Story or Poem Or am I
writing a text
message?
Considering Your PurposeWhat do I want my writing to do?
InformPersuade/Argue Narrate DescribeAnalyzeExamine/
Investigate RespondSummarize
Or maybe something lighter, like entertain and
amuse?
Do I want my writing to anger? Or
maybe incite a riot?
Narrowing Your Topic
Choose a topic that isn’t too broad for your assignment but will give you enough to write about.
Oh no! I have to write about the lasting impact of William Shakespeare’s plays over the past 400 years?! What am I going to do?!
Let’s Look at an Example!
You’ve been given an assignment to write an article for the Berks Collegian on the topic of social networking on college campuses.
Where to begin?
Narrowing Your Topic
Too broad: Social networking on college campuses.
Still too broad: Facebook in college classrooms.
Just right: Facebook and teaching strategies in the college classroom.
Brainstorming IdeasEveryone brainstorms differently!
OutlinesMappingJotting ideas downFree writingDrawing or doodling
Don’t worry about format, grammar, or structure. You can always go back and refine later.
Brainstorming Ideas
Many students already use Facebook, so professors can utilize that mode of communication.
Many departments and clubs at Berks use Facebook.
Facebook is easy to use and has many options for privacy controls.
Developing an Initial Thesis or Controlling Idea
Your thesis statement will depend on what kind of paper you are writing.
Analytical ExpositoryArgumentative
It should be specific and will usually appear in the introduction.
Be prepared to revise your thesis as you do research.
Developing a Thesis - Examples
Not Specific: A lot of college students use Facebook.
Specific: Even though most college students use Facebook as a primary mode of communication, traditional forms of communication, such as face to face interaction and phone calls, are not becoming obsolete.
Developing a Thesis - Examples
Not specific: Smoking should be banned on the Berks campus.
Specific: Smoking should be banned on the Berks campus in order to promote a healthier environment for all students, staff, and faculty.
The Next Step – ResearchYour research should be from credible sources.
ProQuestDatabasesThe CATReputable websites and magazines
Avoid websites like Wikipedia or others that do not have authors, editors, and/or fact checkers.
After you’ve done research, go back and revise your thesis to reflect what you’ve discovered.
The Thun Library
Maintaining Organization in Your Paper
The body of your essay should prove the point or claim that you are trying to make.
How can you prove your point to your audience?
Logical reasoningResearch Examples
Using EvidenceEvidence is the inclusion of specific information and details that help support a position or argument.
Claim: Many students at Berks already use Facebook on a daily basis.
A recent survey found that 95% of incoming freshman at Berks log in to Facebook at least once a day.
Freshman Bernard Allen says of Facebook, “I check my account like thirty times a day. I can’t live without Facebook. One time, the power went out for a few hours, and I went into total shock. Facebook is my life.”
Bernard says . . .
Introducing QuotesAlways be sure to introduce a quote with the name of the person who has said it and why he or she is knowledgeable on the subject.
According to Professor Ivan Von Dinkleberg, a top researcher of sociology at Vanadoo University, “Facebook is becoming a popular mode of communication with every generation. Businesses, organizations, and even colleges and universities are using it to reach audiences. It won’t be long before professors post class assignments to a Facebook page.”
Professor Von Dinkleberg
s
Revise, Revise, Revise!
Always be open to the revision process. Revision is much more than editing or proofreading; it allows you to make changes to your writing to make it even stronger.
Remember: Writing is a process!
Image courtesy of http://wpluqaprimary.wordpress.com
Where To Go For Writing HelpThe Penn State Berks Writing Center Franco 141
610-396-6407
Make an appointment: berks.mywconline.com
Visit our website: bk.psu.edu/StudentServices/WritingCenter.htm
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/PennStateBerksWritingCenter
Additional Resources
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab
owl.english.purdue.edu
Hope to see you at the Writing Center!
