Showing posts with label AOW Resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AOW Resources. Show all posts

Sunday, April 22, 2018

In this Blog Post I will Explain Why You Should Never Use "I know this because..." and other ideas to strengthen your writing.

Good afternoon, writers!! We're here from lovely West Warwick, Rhode Island with 2 fantastic tips to strengthen your writing today. These teeny-tiny tips are easy to put into action and add a punch to your writing.

Tip #1: Don't write about your writing.

I don't know when this became a fad, but some writers write about their writing instead of just writing it... You've all seen this. Maybe you're even guilty of doing it yourself.
It goes a little like this.
"In this essay, I will talk about why twins are so important to the world."
or
"For my next paragraph, I will say the second reason why twins are important to the world."

Instead of just writing your claim--- Twins are important to the world. The writer chooses to do this, kind of strangish narrator voice-over of their own writing.



The narration might work for documentaries -- the lion will walk over to the pond-- but it doesn't work in writing. We just don't speak like that.

Your reader is smarter than you think.
If your writing is clear, your reader will be able to tell what the essay is about. No need to tell them. If you've done your job, the reader will know what the point of your paragraph is.

Anytime you feel the urge to write about your writing, stop, put your Chromebook down, and walk a lap around the room. When you come back, look at the page with fresh eyes and just write your thoughts. Forget the empty phrases. Get down to business.


Usually, all you need to do is to take out the narration. "This essay will be about the differences between Anne and Peter." can be changed to "There are many differences between Anne and Peter." Then go into your explanation. Simple as that most times.

Tip #2: Do not write "I know this because..."

As a writer, your job is to state your arguments or tell your story with
authority and strength.  
Paying attention to your word choices will help you succeed.
It’s important that your words are varied (different, not repetitive) and sophisticated.



One bad habit that some writers develop is to explain their evidence basically
the
same way...
over and over.
They say, "I know this because..."

"Now, wait a minute, Miss Enos! I thought we were supposed to avoid using the
word "I" in our writing!" You might say.

Well, you'd be right.

Not only do you use the word I when explaining your evidence that way, but when you
repeat similar phrases over and over and over our writing gets boring and
lacks sophistication and energy.

There are so many interesting words and phrases out there that
you could choose instead!



Don’t stick with the same words that you used in your younger days.
Get creative!  Think beyond your writing comfort zone.

Click on this document with some sentence starters
and Try some of these instead!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

In conclusion, transition words are key!

HI Everyone!

Transition words are very important to organize your ideas.  Think of your writing as a conversation between you and the reader.  You want to make sure you clearly guide your reader through your writing piece.  Transition words and phrases are key for that.



The tough part is varying the transition words you use.  Don't be a next-aholic!  Move past first, second, third.  Varying your transitions will help to strengthen your writing.  You all know how much I like sentence starters.  Right up until I graduated from college, I always had my starters in front of me when I write.  It's a great way to make sure I don't overuse my favorites.  Writing that's the same all the time is boring!  Shake it up!

This sheet of transition words and phrases will help you vary your writing and stay organized.

Furthermore, use it!!!


Thursday, February 5, 2015

Don't Be An Evidence Plopper!

You know the story.  We all know the story.  You (teenager) want to sleep over your friend's house on a school night.  You know it's against the rules: no sleepovers on school nights, but you want to give it a try anyway and ask your mom.


Image result for teenage boy worrying
Look at him.  Worrying that his parents will say no to a sleepover at his friend's.
Don't be this boy.  Be prepared!


You have two choices: A) Go into the conversation completely unprepared and spend the evening with your little brother watching cartoons again or B) Get mom to agree that a sleepover is just what you need. 

What is the best way to sway mom's decision??? Why, gather some well-founded, intriguing, strong evidence, of course!  

As you prepare your case, be sure to remember that you don't just want to slam mom with some fast facts and sit there nodding your head stubbornly.  "So, there!" will never get you far in life.  Your goal is to smoothly create a conversation, weaving your thoughts in with all the facts that say sleepovers are important for health, the environment, and academic success.  

To prepare you  for that all-important life skill of getting your parents to change their minds, let's give your providing evidence muscles a workout with this more common, everyday, just regular-old school assignment.  Who knows, maybe writing really will come in handy in the real-world some day.  

Don't just plop that evidence down.  Be smooth and take control of your writing.  Check out these two resources for extra help on how to smoothly incorporate text evidence into an argument:

Sentence Starters:  This sheet is gold!  Don't rely on the same old, same old, phrase to introduce your quotations.  Let this list of words and phrases help you to shake things up and avoid repetition.  Use it!  Learn it! 

Screencast: Journey with me as I show you exactly how to incorporate text evidence into a constructed response.  Walk through my thinking process as I reflect on why Malala Yousafzai deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Use these resources as references to strengthen your writing and your skills at argument!  Never sleep at home on a Wednesday night again!