English (readings)
January 9 2013…
Introduction pg. 1-6. Part 1, Section 1&2.

Introduction…
Practical writing: thinking, organizing and research.
Goal: to express yourself clearly, correctly, and concisely.
3 Steps of writing: 1. Planning or prewriting 2. Drafting 3. Revising
The two approaches of how you could go about writing: conceptual or experimental.

Part 1. Section 1…
Before you begin writing you need to figure out your SUBJECT and who your AUDIENCE will be.
Section 2…
4-S test- a satisfactory subject is significant, Single, Specific and Supportable!

January 14 2013
Section 3…
Main Points- 2 3 4 most imp things you have to say about your subject. *selecting them properly is a vital step.
3 effective ways of stimulating thinking: talking, free writing and brain storming.
Talking… focused dialogue- focused on a specific subject.
Free writing… is basically talking that’s written down. Put the subject at the top of your page, set timer… write for 3, 5, or 10 minutes… quickly and anything.
Brainstorming… write down all ideas about a specific subject. Also the who what when where hows …
Time this exercise as well… also write short phrases or words … pick 3 4 important ones and put them in full sentences.
Top down approach… write down subject at top. Apply 12 questions to see which fits subject best.
Main points must be Significant, Distinct, and Relevant.
4 Ways to Order your Main Points… Chronological, climactic, logical and random.

January 16 2013… Part 1, Section 4… Writing a Thesis Statement
Key to clear organization. Near the beginning that announces the papers subject and scope. It can be one or more sentences. It indicates the subject of your paper and the main points that you will discuss.
Formula: subject+ Link Consists of + main points
Examples of links: are, because, colon(:), on the contrary etc.
Phrasing the main points: make sure all of the main points are phrased in the same way.

January 21 2013… Part 5, Section 15… Description, Narration, and Example
Description, Narration and Example are basic to all writing.
Description: Effective description appeals not only to the readers visual sense, but also to the senses of hearing, taste, smell, and touch. The more senses involved in your description the better for the reader. It recreates the experience.

Tips:
-Purely factual and objective? Or… Convey an emotional attitude with the facts?
Example on page. 227 …
-Select the most important physical details.
-Always choose a specific, concrete word in favour of an abstract… pick word