tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73949996899788130962024-03-12T19:06:25.320-07:00Writing tips, advice, and techniques | Writtenify... about professional and academic writing, created and maintained by writers for writers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-30960004383780775292009-07-28T05:43:00.000-07:002009-07-28T05:51:19.429-07:00Writing classification essays<p>A <strong>classification essay</strong> uses one of the key skills required not only for writing <a href="http://newavessays.com/different_essays.php">other essay types</a> but for living life generally: the ability to sort ideas and things into categories. Fortunately, most students already have the skills required to <strong>write a classification essay</strong>, since almost all students are studying in a field that requires them to sort out concepts. For this reason, a <em>classification essay</em>, once a student has some control of academic writing, should come fairly easily.</p> <h3>Useful strategy for writing classification essays</h3> <p>There are two steps involved in planning a <strong>classification essay</strong>. The first step is to decide what kind of thing you want to classify. If you have an open-ended assignment (such as "<em>Write a classification essay about something you encounter every day</em>"), it's best to pick a topic that you know something about. If you are into computers, write about computers. If you are into art, write about different styles of painting. </p><p>The most important thing to remember when choosing a <strong>classification essay topic</strong> is that it should be representative of a distinct category. For example, computers are types of things that belong in a category of their own. A <em>classification essay</em> about types of technology, meanwhile, would probably be too broad for a typical English class essay.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-36923797253190981932009-07-24T13:10:00.000-07:002009-07-24T13:15:51.830-07:00Turabian citation style<p><strong>Turabian citation style</strong> can be used with any college subject. Arrange each item alphabetically by author's name. In case no author is given, start with the title and then the date.</p> <p><b>Citing a book in Turabian bibliography</b></p> <p><tt>Author last name, first name, and Last2 First2. (Year). <em>Title of the book.</em> Place of publication: publisher.</tt></p> <p><b>Citing a journal article in Turabian citation style</b></p> <p><tt>Last name, first name. Year. Title of the article. <em>Title of periodical</em> volume (Month): page-page.</tt></p> <p><b>Citing a web-site in Turabian citation style</b></p> <p><tt>Last name, first name. Year. <em>Title of article</em> [online]. Name of website; available from http://www.website.info/directory/page.ext; Internet; accessed Month day, Year.</tt> </p> <p><b>Sample Turabian citation style</b></p> <p><tt> Priestley, Sean and Neely, Adaline. 2008. <em>Turabian Bibliography Sample</em>. [online]. New Wave Essays custom essay writing service; available from http://newavessays.com/tutorials/bibliography-formats/turabian/; Internet; accessed September 13, 2008. </tt></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-84778022726506582942009-07-22T03:10:00.000-07:002009-07-22T03:20:05.696-07:00Argumentative and persuasive essays<p>In <strong>argumentative essays</strong> we try to convince others to agree with our facts, share our values, accept our argument and conclusions, and adopt our way of thinking. To strengthen your <em>argumentative essays</em>, you can turn to <a href="http://newavessays.com/blog/?p=53">AIDA method</a> of persuasion.</p> <h3>Helpful strategy for writing argumentative essays</h3> <ul><li>establishing facts to support an argument</li><li>clarifying relevant values for your audience</li><li>prioritizing, editing, and/or sequencing the facts and values in importance to build the argument</li><li>forming and stating conclusions</li><li>"persuading" your audience that your conclusions are based upon the agreed-upon facts and shared values</li><li>having the confidence to communicate your "argument" in writing</li><li>showing awareness of counter-arguments and defend your argument</li></ul> <h3>Steps for developing your own argumentative essay</h3> <ul style="list-style-type: circle; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside;"><li>Read all materials available that are relevant to the topic.</li><li>Identify the main topics covered by the arguments that you have read about your issue. This is so that you have a list of different topics for your paragraphs.</li><li>Use the topics that you have identified in step 2 as your group headings for organizing your research notes.</li><li>Make a decision about what your main conclusion will be.</li><li>Look back at the <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_3.php">paragraph structure</a> and apply it to your own essay.</li><li>Draft a detailed plan for your essay. In this plan note down the information that you will put in each paragraph. Use note form, not complete sentences.</li><li>Begin writing a draft of the body of your <strong>argumentative essay</strong>. Turn to <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_3.php">words & paragraphs</a> page again.</li><li>Check your writing for the following things:
<br />• do your paragraphs present arguments which support your main conclusion as non-debatable or as facts?
<br />• do your paragraphs present arguments which oppose your main conclusion as debatable and possibly not true?
<br />• have you clearly marked the place where you shift from the opposing arguments to the supporting arguments with a contrasting connective?
<br />• have you used connectives, pronouns, and referencing words to make your paragraph cohesive?</li><li>Draft your introduction.</li><li>Draft your conclusion.</li><li>Check your draft introduction and conclusion. Redraft if necessary.</li><li>Now that you have a complete draft of your argumentative essay check it again for the following things:
<br />• Does it provide strong support for your main conclusion?
<br />• Can you make the text more cohesive?
<br />• Are your verbs, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure correct?</li><li>Check the final draft and write a cover sheet.</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-32562545164970299132009-07-19T02:04:00.000-07:002009-07-19T02:21:26.623-07:00Magic formula for professional essay writing<p>A how-to <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/video/">video tutorial on effective writing</a>, offered by <a href="http://newavessays.com">NeWavEssays</a>, offers viewers detailed information about how to improve essay writing in an interesting and entertaining form. </p>
<p>One of the videos is dedicated to the so-called <b>magic formula for professional academic essay writing</b>, which consists of several stages, which the academic essays must undergo.</p>
<p>The steps are:</p>
<ul>
<li>specific assignment</li>
<li>thorough research</li>
<li>know the topic</li>
<li>organized ideas</li>
<li>information flow</li>
<li>revision</li>
<li>and revision</li>
</ul>
<h3>Magic formula for professional writing</h3>
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<p>More videos available at <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/video/">http://newavessays.com/tutorials/video/</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-18317193368604080292009-07-13T11:05:00.001-07:002009-07-13T11:15:31.121-07:00Writer-based purposes for writing<p>Because writing is, or should be, for yourself first of all, everything you write involves at least some purpose that benefits you. Of course, <strong>expressing yourself is a fundamental purpose of all writing</strong>. Without the satisfaction of expressing your thoughts, feelings, reactions, knowledge, or questions, you might not make the effort to write in the first place. </p><p>A closely <strong>related purpose is learning</strong>: <a href="http://newavessays.com/service/custom-essay-writing/how-we-write/">Writing</a> helps you discover what you think or feel, simply by using language to identify and compose your thoughts. Writing not only helps you form ideas, but actually to promote observing and remembering. If you write down what you observe about people, places, or things, you can actually "see" them more dearly. Similarly, if you write down facts, ideas, experiences, or reactions to your readings, you will remember them longer. Writing and rewriting facts, dates, definitions, impressions, or personal experiences will improve your powers of recall on important occasions such as examinations and job interviews.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-3936602689396132182009-07-12T09:22:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.854-07:00Investigation paper writing techniques<p><strong>Investigative writing</strong> begins with asking questions and finding informed, sources: published material, knowledgeable people, or both. In most cases, collecting information in an <a href="/2009/05/writing-about-investigatons.html">investigation</a> requires the ability to use a library and then to summarize, paraphrase, and quote key ideas accurately from other people's writing. In addition, personal interviews are often helpful or necessary. For an investigation, you might talk to an expert or an authority, an eyewitness or participant in an event, or even the subject of a personality profile. Finally, you may wish to survey the general public to determine opinions, trends, or reactions. Once you have collected your information, you must then present your findings in a written form suitable for your audience, with clear references in the text to the sources of your information.</p><p><em>Investigative writing</em> uses the following techniques:</p><ul><li>Beginning with an interesting title and a catchy lead sentence or paragraph. The first few sentences arouse your readers' interest and focus their attention on the subject.</li><li>Giving background information by answering relevant who, what, when, where, and why questions. Answering the reporter's "Wh" questions ensures that readers have sufficient information to understand your report.</li><li>Stating the main idea, question, or focus of the investigation. The purpose of a report is to convey information as clearly as possible. Readers shouldn't have to guess the main idea.</li><li>Summarizing or quoting information from written or oral sources; citing sources in the text. Quote accurately any statistics, data, or sentences from your sources. Cite authors and titles.</li><li><a href="http://newavessays.com/news/">Writing</a> in a readable and interesting style appropriate for the intended audience. Clear, direct, and readable language is essential in a report. Use graphs and charts as appropriate.</li></ul><p>Reports within this section (see subsection links) illustrate three <strong>common types of investigative writing</strong>: the summary of a single book or article, the investigation of a controversial issue (using multiple sources), and the profile of a person. The three types may overlap (an investigation of a controversial issue may contain a personality profile, for instance), and all three types may use summaries of <a href="http://newavessays.com/order.php">written material</a>, questionnaires, and interviews. Some investigative reports are brief, intended to be only short news items, while others are full-length features.</p><p>The intended audience for each report is often determined by the publication in which the report appears: <em>Psychology Today</em> assumes that its readers are interested in personality and behavior; Discover magazine is for readers interested in popular science; and readers of Ms. magazine expect coverage of contemporary issues concerning women.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-79830627103698964952009-07-09T00:19:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.854-07:00Evaluation essay writing: shaping strategies<p>The <strong>shaping strategies</strong> you have used in previous essays may be helpful, but the strategies that follow are particularly appropriate for shaping evaluations.</p><h3>Analysis by Criteria</h3><p>Often, evaluations are organized by criteria. You decide which criteria are appropriate for the subject and audience, and then you use those criteria to outline the essay. Your first few paragraphs of introduction establish your thesis or overall claim and then give background information: what the subject is, why you are evaluating it, what the competition is, and how you gathered your data. Then you order the criteria according to some plan: chronological order, spatial order, order of importance, or another logical sequence. Phyllis Richman's evaluation of the Hunan Dynasty restaurant follows the criteria pattern: </p><ul><li>Introductory paragraphs: information about the restaurant (location, hours, prices), general description of Chinese restaurants today, and overall claim: The Hunan Dynasty is reliable, a good value, and versatile.</li><li>Criterion #1/Judgment: Good restaurants should have an attractive setting and atmosphere / Hunan Dynasty is attractive.</li><li>Criterion #2/Judgment: Good restaurants should give strong priority to service / Hunan Dynasty has, despite an occasional glitch, expert service.</li><li>Criterion #3/Judgment: Restaurants that serve moderately priced food should have quality main dishes / Main dishes at Hunan Dynasty are generally good but not often memorable. [Most important criterion, the quality of the main dishes, is saved for last.]</li><li>Concluding paragraphs: Hunan Dynasty is a top-flight neighborhood restaurant.</li></ul> <h3>Comparison and contrast</h3><p>Many <strong>evaluations compare two subjects</strong> in order to demonstrate why one is preferable to another. Books, films, restaurants, courses, music, writers, scientists, historical events, sports — all can be evaluated using comparison and contrast. In evaluating two oriental restaurants, for example, student writer Chris Cameron uses a comparison-and-contrast structure to <strong>shape her essay</strong>. In the following body paragraph from her <a href="http://newavessays.com">essay</a>, Cameron compares two restaurants, the Unicorn and the Yakitori, on the basis of her first criterion — an atmosphere that seemed authentically oriental.</p><blockquote>Of the two restaurants, we preferred the authentic atmosphere of the Unicorn to the cultural confusion at the Yakitori. At first impression, the Yakitori looked like a converted truck-stop, sparsely decorated with a few bamboo slats and Japanese print fabric hanging in slices as Bruce Springsteen wailed loudly in the ears of the customers. The feeling at the Unicorn was quite the opposite as we entered a rcom that seemed transported from Chinatown. The whole room had a red tint from the light shining through the flowered curtains, and the place looked truly authentic from the Chinese patterned rug on the wall to the elaborate dragon on the ceiling. Soft oriental music played as the customers sipped tea from small porcelain cups and ate fortune cookies.</blockquote><p> Cameron used the following alternating comparison-and-contrast shape for her whole essay:</p><ul><li>Introductory paragraph(s)</li><li>Thesis: Although several friends recommended the Yakitori, we preferred the Unicorn for its more authentic atmosphere, courteous service, and well-prepared food.</li><li>Authentic atmosphere: Yakitori vs. Unicorn</li><li>Courteous service: Yakitori vs. Unicom</li><li>Well-prepared food: Yakitori vs. Unicorn</li><li>Concluding paragraph(s)</li></ul><p> Cameron might have used a block comparison-and-contrast structure for her essay. In this organizational pattern, Cameron's outline would be as follows:</p><ul><li>Introductory paragraph(s)</li><li>Thesis: Although several friends recommended the Yakitori, we preferred the Unicorn for its more authentic atmosphere, courteous service, and well-prepared food</li><li>The Yakitori: atmosphere, service, and food</li><li>The Unicorn: atmosphere, service, and food as compared to the Yakitori</li><li>Concluding paragraph(s)</li></ul><h3>Chronological order</h3><p>Writers often use a <strong>chronological order</strong> to organize their claims and criteria. In her review of Star Wars, for example, Judith Crist shapes her evaluation by following a natural chronological order:</p><ol><li>Comments on Lucas's previous film, American Graffiti.</li><li>Review of the plot.</li><li>Evaluation of the climax of the film.</li><li>Comment on the viewer's good feelings at the end of the film.</li></ol><h3>Causal analysis</h3><p>Analyzing the causes or effects of a place, object, event, or policy can <strong>shape an entire evaluation</strong>. Works of art or performances, for example, oftenjneasure the effect on the viewers or audience. Mark Stevens claims that Goya'si painting has "severairctefmife" effects on the viewer; those specific effects become the evidence that supports the claim.</p><ul><li>Criterion #1/Judgment: The iconography, or use of symbols, contributes to the powerful effect of this picture on the viewer. <ul><li>Evidence: The church as a symbol of hopefulness contrasts with the cruelty of the execution. The spire on the church emphasizes for the viewer how powerless the Church is to save the victims.</li></ul></li><li>Criterion #2/Judgment: The use of light contributes to the powerful effect of the picture on the viewer.<ul><li>Evidence: The light casts an intense glow on the scene, and its glaring, lurid, and artificial qualities create the same effect on the viewer that modern art sometimes does.</li></ul></li><li>Criterion #3/Judgment: The composition or use of formal devices contributes to the powerful effect of the picture on the viewer.<ul><li>Evidence: The diagonal lines scissor the picture into spaces that give the viewer a claustrophobic feeling. The corpse is foreshortened, so that it looks as though the dead man is bidding the viewer welcome.</li></ul></li></ul><h3> Title, Introduction, and Conclusion</h3><p>Titles of evaluative writing tend to be short and succinct, stating what product, service, work of art, or performance you are evaluating ("The Gettysburg Address," "Goya's The Third of May, 1808") or suggesting a key question or conclusion in the evaluation ("How Much Car for $3990?" "'Feel Good' Film").</p><p> Introductory paragraphs provide background information and description and usually give an overall claim or thesis. In some cases, however, the overall claim comes last, in a concluding "Recommendations" section, or in a final summary paragraph. If the overall claim appears in the opening paragraphs, the <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/basic-writing-tips/words-sentences-paragraphs/">concluding paragraph</a> may simply review the strengths or weaknesses, or just advise the reader: This is or is not worth seeing, reading, watching, doing, or buying.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-53132859719101301642009-06-28T13:09:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.854-07:00Attention, Interest, Desire, Action (AIDA)<div class="storycontent"> <p><b>Attention, interest, sesire, action</b> (or <b>AIDA</b>) is an effective technique for persuasion.
</p><p>The ability to persuade is a very useful skill in business. The ability to write effective <strong>persuasuve messages</strong> will help you significantly in your career (which is why argumentative and <a href="http://newavessays.com/essay_argumentative.php">persuasuve essays</a> are quite often assigned in schools and colleges). You might want to persuade your supervisor you are experienced enough for promotion or argue for a certain point in your team. The following <acronym title="Attention, Interest, Desire, Action">AIDA</acronym> principle will help you understand the nature of persuation and help you write <em>effective argumentative essay</em> papers at school and persuasive messages at work.</p> <h3>Attention</h3> <ol><li>Show that you know your audience and its concerns.</li><li>Formulate and tailor your statements so that they do not sound like bribes or suspicious high-pressure sales</li><li>Introduce a benefit for your audience</li><li>Effective <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_4.php">introduction</a>: think of a statement that your audience will agree with, sincere request for help, rhetorical questions, list what has been done or undone to solve the problem</li></ol> <h3>Interest and Desire</h3> <ol><li> When delivering your message, make sure you let the readers know why you are writing <ul><li>State the benefits that the audience will receive</li><li>Explain in detail why you ask them to do something</li></ul> </li><li>Describe the action or the object in question in its entirety</li><li>Include all facts necessary to convince your audience that participation will be easy, important, enjoyable, benefitial</li><li>In your request for contribution, make sure you explain the facts, problems, suggestions, as well as roles of all participants, including the audience</li><li>Describe the possible direct and indirect benefits thoroughly</li><li>Anticipate and provide counter arguments for possible objections <ul><li>Acknowledge objections, and calmly show more important factors</li><li>If possible, state counter arguments that denounce the possible objections</li><li>Do not focus much on this part; do not devote more than one-third of your message (however, in some cases this section must be extended)</li><li>Try looking at objections from an alternate standpoint and turn them into advantages</li></ul> </li><li>Introduce any enclosures after you have delivered the message, and explain what to do with them or what information they offer</li></ol> <h3>Action</h3> <ol><li>Confidently ask for audience’s cooperation</li><li>Emphasize the positive results of their action</li><li>Make the desired action clear and easy</li><li>If applicable, include a due date for a response</li><li>Avoid negative or tentative statements and only include positive and confident ones (”If you can do anything about it..” vs. “To make your contribution, …”)</li><li>Link the <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_4.php">final sentence</a> of the message with a statement from the introduction</li></ol> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-20764897670967990672009-06-22T04:20:00.000-07:002009-06-22T04:24:12.142-07:00Journal exercises for writers<p>Choose three of the exercises below and <strong>write for ten minutes</strong> on each. Date and number each entry.</p><ol><li>Make an "authority" list of activities, subjects, ideas, places, people, or events you already know something about. List as many topics as you can. If your reaction is, "I'm not really anauthority on anything," then imagine you've met someone from another school, state, country, or historical period. Relative to that audience, what are you an "authority" on? </li><li>Choose one activity, sport, or hobby that you do well and that others might admire you for. In the form of a letter to a friend, describe the steps or stages of the process through which you acquired that skill or ability.</li><li>In two or three sentences, answer the following question: "<em>I have trouble writing because...</em>"</li><li>In a few sentences, answer the following question: "<em>In my previous classes and from my own writing experience, I've learned that the three most important rules about writing are...</em>"</li><li>Describe your own writing rituals. When, where, and how do you write best?</li><li>Write an open journal entry. Describe events from your day, images, impressions, bits of conversation — anything that catches your interest. Read the following essay by Roy Hoffman for possible ideas for open journal entries.</li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-72477373161289264162009-06-12T23:04:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.855-07:00Writing about observations<p><strong>Observing</strong> is essential to good writing. Whether you are writing in a journal, doing a laboratory report for a science class, dashing off a memo at work, or writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper, keen observation is essential. Writing or verbalizing what you see helps you discover and learn more about your environment. Sometimes your purpose is limited to yourself: <em>You observe and record to help you understand your world or yourself better</em>. At other times, your purpose extends to a wider audience: <em>You want to share what you have learned with others, to help them learn as well</em>. No matter who your audience is or what your subject may be, however, your task is to <strong>see and to help your readers see</strong>.</p><p>Of course, <strong>observing involves more than just "seeing."</strong> Good writers draw on all their senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing. In addition, however, experienced writers also notice what is absent, or not there. The smell of food that should be coming from the kitchen but isn't. A friend who usually is present but now is absent. The absolute quiet in the air that precedes an impending storm. Writers should also look for changes in their subject — from light to dark, from rough to smooth, from bitter to sweet, or from noise to sudden silence. Good writers learn to use their previous experience and their imagination to draw comparisons and create images. Does a sea urchin look and feel like a pincushion with the pins stuck in the wrong way? Does the room feel as cramped and airless as the inside of a microwave oven? Finally, good writers write from a specific point of view or role: a student describing basic laws of physics or an experienced worker in a mental health clinic describing the clientele.</p><p>Depending on the purpose and the audience, <strong>writing from observation can be relatively objective</strong>, as when you record what is actually, demonstrably there; or it can be more subjective, as when you suggest how you feel, think, or react to a subject. A writer might describe a bicycle objectively as "<em>a secondhand 1984 blue 10-speed Trek, with a 23-inch frame, 27-inch wheels, a Sun Tour DL deranleur, SR crank, and Dia Compe brakes</em>." A writer might need to communicate that objective information to a prospective buyer or an employee in a cycle repair shop. On the other hand, the writer may wish to communicate the bicycle's subjective feel — how easily it pedals or how it flows like water down the street. In most situations, however, good writers describe their subject both objectively and subjectively. They use some objectivity for accuracy and specific detail and some subjectivity to suggest the value or relevance of the subject in a human environment.</p><p>The key to <strong>effective observing</strong> is to <em>show your reader the person, place, event, or object through specific detail</em>. Good description allows the reader to draw general conclusions based on specific detail. Rather than just telling a reader, "<em>This bicycle has good technical components</em>," the writer should show or describe how it feels as she rides it. If your reader is going to learn from your observations, you need to give the exact details that you learned from, not just your conclusions or generalizations. Even in writing, experience is the best teacher, so use specific details to communicate the feel, the data, the sights and sounds and smells. Whether you are a tourist describing the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, a salesperson analyzing consumer preferences for your boss, a physicist presenting data on a new supercon¬ducting material to other physicists, or a social worker putting together the details of a child abuse case, your first task is to recreate the experience, to show your readers, to <strong>make them see</strong>. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-49196251175890115632009-05-22T14:20:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.855-07:00Explaining "Why": cause and effect writing<p>"<strong>Why?</strong>" may be the question most commonly asked by human beings. We are fascinated by the reasons for everything we experience in life. We ask questions about natural phenomena: <em>Why</em> is the sky blue? <em>Why</em> does a teakettle whistle? <em>Why</em> do some materials act as superconductors? We also find human attitudes and behavior intriguing: <em>Why</em> is chocolate so popular? <em>Why</em> do some people hit small leather balls with big sticks and then run around a field stomping on little white pillows? <em>Why</em> are America's farms economically depressed? <em>Why</em> did the United States go to war in Vietnam?</p><p><strong>Explaining why</strong> something occurs can be the most fascinating — and difficult — kind of <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/expository-essay/">expository writing</a>. Answering the question "why" usually requires analyzing cause-and-effect relationships, but the causes maybe too complex or intangible to identify precisely. We are on comparatively secure ground when we ask why about physical phenomena than can be weighed, measured, and replicated under laboratory conditions. Under those conditions, we can determine cause and effect with precision. Fire, for example, has three necessary and sufficient causes: combustible material, oxygen, and ignition temperature. Without each of these causes, fire will not occur (each cause is "necessary"); these three causes are, taken together, enough to cause fire (all three are "sufficient"). The <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/cause-effect-essay/">cause-and-effect</a> relationship, in this case, can be <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/illustration-essay/">illustrated</a> by an equation:</p><ul><li>cause 1: combustible substance</li><li>cause 2: oxygen</li><li>cause 3: ignition temperature</li><li>effect: fire</li></ul><p> Analyzing both necessary and sufficient causes is essential to explaining an effect. You may say, for example, that wind shear (an abrupt downdraft in a storm) "caused" an airplane crash. In fact, wind shear may have helped cause the crash (been necessary), but by itself wind shear was not the total (sufficient) cause of the crash: An airplane with enough power may be able to overcome wind shear forces in certain circumstances. An explanation of the crash is not complete until you analyze the full range of necessary and sufficient causes, which may include wind shear, lack of power, mechanical failure, and even pilot error.</p><p>Sometimes, explanations for physical phenomena are beyond our analytical powers. Astrophysicists, for example, have good theoretical reasons for believing that black holes cause gigantic gravitational whirlpools in outer space, but they have difficulty explaining why black holes exist — or whether they exist at all.</p><p>In the realm of human cause and effect, <b>determining causes and effects can be as tricky</b> as explaining why black holes exist. Why do some children learn math easily, while others fail? What effect does failing at math have on a child? What are necessary and sufficient causes for divorce? What are the effects of divorce on parents and children? You may not be able to explain all the causes or effects of something, but you should not be satisfied until you have considered a wide range of possible causes and effects. Even then, you need to qualify or modify your statements, using such words as might," "Usually," "often," "seldom," "many," or "most," and then giving as much support and evidence as you can. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-57977753223180041022009-05-17T14:13:00.000-07:002009-05-17T14:19:52.636-07:00Writing about investigations<p><strong>Investigating</strong> begins with questions. What causes the greenhouse effect? How does illiteracy affect a person's life? How does rape affect the lives of women in America? How is AIDS transmitted? How do TV rating systems work? How do colleges recruit applicants? What can you find out about a famous person's personality, background, and achievements? At what age do children first acquire simple mathematical abilities? What kind of employee is most likely to be promoted? Why are sunsets yellow, then orange, red, and finally purple?</p><p><em>Investigating</em> also carries an assumption that probing for answers to such questions — by observing and remembering, reading <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/bibliography-formats/">sources</a>, interviewing key people, or conducting surveys — will uncover truths not generally known or accepted. As you dig for information, you learn who, what, where, and when. You may even learn how and why.</p><p> The <strong>purpose of investigating</strong> is to uncover or discover facts, opinions, and reactions for yourself and then to report that information to other people who want to know. A report strives to be as objective and informative as possible. It may summarize other people's judgments, but it does not editorialize. It may represent opposing viewpoints or <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/argumentative-essay/">arguments</a>, but it does not argue for one side or the other. A report is a window on the world, allowing readers to see the information for themselves.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-47945504215378389302009-05-13T15:51:00.000-07:002009-05-13T16:07:22.500-07:00Keep a journal (blog): practice your writing<p>Many <strong>writers keep some kind of notebook or journ<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></strong><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7394999689978813096"></a><strong>al</strong> in which they write down their thoughts for later use. Some writers call it a <em>journal</em>, a place for their day-to-day thoughts. Other writers call it a <em>daybook</em>, a place to record ideas, collected information, possible outlines, titles, questions — anything related to the process of writing, thinking, and learning. </p><p>Scientists <strong>keep daily logs</strong> in which they record data or describe behavior. The word "<em>journal</em>" is the general term referring to "<em>a place for daily writing</em>." Whatever you call it, it should become part of your writing ritual. In it should go all kinds of anting. Bits and pieces of experience or memory that might come in handy later. Reactions to what you're reading. A log of the problems you face as you write. Memorable sayings or <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/advanced-writing-tips/dialogues-punctuation/">quotations</a>. Short summaries of what you're reading in your classes. Your <strong>journal is a place to practice</strong>, a closet where all your "fish paintings" go. </p><p>For maximum flexibility, your <strong>journal should be a loose-leaf notebook</strong>, so you can add, take out, or rearrange materials. Some writers, though, prefer a spiral notebook, a manila folder with pockets, or a computer disk. Whatever format you choose, make sure that you feel comfortable with it. As the following list indicates, there are <em>many kinds of journal entries</em>.</p><ul><li><strong>Warm-up writing</strong>. <a href="http://newavessays.com/news/2009/05/p-44/">Writing</a>, like any other kind of activity, improves when you loosen up, stretch, get the kinks out, practice a few lines. Any daybook or <em>journal entry gives you a chance towarm up</em>. </li><li><strong>Collecting and shaping exercises</strong>. Some journal entries will help youcollect information by observing, remembering or investigating people, places, events, or objects. You can also record quotationsor startling statistics for a future writing topic. Other entries will give you a chance to practice organizing your information. Strategies of development, such as <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/compare-contrast-essay/">comparison/contrast</a>, <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/definition-essay/">definition</a>, <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/classification-essay/">classification</a>, process analysis, and casual analysis will help you discover and shape ideas.</li><li><strong>Practice in writing for a specified audience</strong>. In some entries, you need to play a role, to imagine you are in a specific situation and writing for a defined audience. For example, you might write a letter of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/2009/05/academic-essays-dos-donts.html">application to a college</a> admissions officer or a letter to your employer asking for a week's vacation.</li><li><strong>Identifying and solving writing problems</strong>. Your journal is also the place to keep a log, a running account of your writing plans and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/2009/03/problem-solving-essay-writing.html">problems</a>. The log helps you record your progress and identify and solve problems as they occur.</li><li><strong>Summarizing, responding, and recording vocabulary entries</strong>. A journal is an excellent place to summarize articles for other courses, respond to class discussions, or record definitions of words you look up in the dictionary.</li></ul><p> For most journal entries, try to let your ideas flow easily. Don't stop to fix spelling or punctuation. Focus on your train of thought.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-62171673195871354302009-05-10T01:50:00.000-07:002009-05-10T01:53:57.473-07:00Cover letter writing tips<p>Understanding the importance of an effective resume is crucial for every job seeker. However they should not underestimate the significance of a <strong>cover letter</strong> as well. A <em>cover letter usually complements every resume</em>, and it is the cover letter that strikes a manager’s eyes first.</p> <p>The <strong>objective of every cover letter</strong> is to provide to the reader the reasons why you choose this specific company, present your relevant skills and abilities, and as a result get you an interview or some other response from potential employer. Please remember that just like with a resume, a <em>cover letter must be unique for every recipient</em>.</p> <h3>Contents of a cover letter</h3> <p>The <strong>first paragraph of a cover letter</strong> should precisely state the position you want to apply to, provide the source (where you learned about the vacancy), and concisely explain why you fit this particular position.</p> <p>The <strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">next paragraph</span> of a cover letter</strong> clearly explains how your skills, experience, and educational background relate to the company’s needs. Emphasize the points, work experience, achievements which prove you are an ideal candidate for the position. This way, you will show that you have examined the company, and you possess the required skills, knowledge, and experience.</p> <p>To <strong>finalize a cover letter</strong>, you should request an interview or some other response (a telephone call, etc.). Be sure to leave you contact information. And finally thank a reader for his/her time.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-59957743070060953532009-05-07T12:07:00.000-07:002009-05-07T12:17:37.040-07:00Academic essays do's & dont's<p>The key to success lies in focusing in each <span style="font-weight: bold;">academic</span><strong> essay</strong> on a few illustrative incidents as opposed to giving a superficial overview. Remember that detail, specificity, and concrete examples will <strong>make your academic essay distinctive and interesting</strong>. Generalities and platitudes that could apply to every other business school applicant will bore. If you use the latter, you will just blend into the crowd.</p> <p>Following <em>Ten Do's and Don'ts for your academic essay</em> will help you write compelling, focused academic essays that will transform you from a collection of numbers and classes into an interesting human being.</p> <h3>The do's of academic essays</h3> <ul><li>Unite your essay and give it direction with a <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_2.php">theme or thesis</a>. The thesis is the main point you want to communicate. Make sure in answers the question.</li><li>Before you begin writing, choose what you want to discuss and the order in which you want to discuss it.</li><li>Use concrete examples from your life experience to support your thesis and distinguish yourself from other applicants.</li><li>Write about what interests you, excites you. That's what the admissions staff wants to read.</li><li>Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead: an <a href="http://newavessays.com/intro_a.php">anecdote</a>, <a href="http://newavessays.com/intro_f.php">quote</a>, <a href="http://newavessays.com/intro_s.php">surprising statement</a>, question, or engaging description of a scene.</li><li>End your essay with a <a href="http://newavessays.com/help_4.php">conclusion</a> that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis.</li><li>Revise your essay at least three times.</li><li>In addition to your editing, ask someone else to critique your personal statement for you.</li><li>Proofread your essays by reading them out loud or reading it into a tape recorder and playing back the tape.</li><li>Write clearly, succinctly.</li></ul> <h3>The don'ts of academic essays</h3> <ul><li>Don't include information that doesn't support your thesis.</li><li>Don't start your academic <a href="http://newavessays.com/">essay</a> with "I was born in...," or "My parents came from..."</li><li>Don't write an autobiography, itinerary, or resume in prose.</li><li>Don't try to be a clown (but gentle humor is OK).</li><li>Don't be afraid to start over if the essay just isn't working or doesn't answer the essay question.</li><li>Don't try to impress your reader with your vocabulary.</li><li>Don't rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling.</li><li>Don't provide a collection of generic statements and platitudes.</li><li>Don't give mealy-mouthed, weak excuses for your GPA or test scores.</li><li>Don't make things up.</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-61385434586181434352009-05-05T23:29:00.000-07:002009-05-05T23:38:28.772-07:00Sales letters writing mistakes<p><em>Sales letters</em> are an effective marketing tool, and the ability to <a href="http://newavessays.com/order.php">write sales letters effectively</a> can have a dramatic influence on the degree of response and the ultimate profit. However, there are several general <strong>mistakes and dangers sales letter writers often make</strong>. In this article we will focus on the legal dangers; remembering these simple rules will help you avoid problems with the law. So here are the …</p> <h3>Frequent sales letters mistakes</h3> <h4>Frauds</h4><p>Providing false information about the product (or service) price, performance, or quality are examples of fraud. False testimonies from people misrepresented as specialists in the field is also considered fraud. To be more precise, <strong>any statement in a sales letter is considered fraud</strong> if the recipient can prove that:</p> <ul><li>it was made regarding a fact, rather than an opinion</li><li>he or she was demanded by it</li><li>he or she relied on it and was justified in doing so</li><li>the statement was made with the attempt to deceive</li></ul> <p>Thousands of <strong>fraudulent sales letters hurtle around the United States</strong> every year. They range from self-improvement and get-rich-quick to charity appeals and business opportunities. Do not join trash, and only write true facts in your sales letters.</p> <h4>Promises</h4><p>Remember that in many states, <strong>sales letters are considered legal contracts</strong>. In these states, any promise made in a sales letter must be fulfilled regardless of whether the recipient responded or not. Therefore, avoid making any promises or even implications about promises when <a href="http://newavessays.com/">writing sales letters</a>.</p> <h4>Privacy </h4><p>Avoid using someone’s private data in sales letters, including photos, names, and any personal background data might be considered invasion of privacy. <strong>Putting someone's photo in sales letters is a mistake</strong>, unless the person is a model or permitted placing the picture. You <em>can't use anything you want in a sales letter</em>; putting a photo or mentioning someone’s background (e.g. confinement, drunk driving, drug use) might also be considered invasion of privacy. Thus, be neutral; write or use information about others with care and vigilance to avoid lawsuit.</p> <p>To sum up, know the laws of your area, and <strong>avoid these frequent dangers and mistakes in writing sales letters</strong>. Any of these mistakes could result in a problem with the law. Always <em>be ethical when writing your sales letters</em>. Ethics, care, candor, and quality product or idea are those things that would make your sales letter effective!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-29477868250520621652009-05-03T11:30:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.855-07:00Writing about memories: effective techniques<p><strong>Writing vividly about memories</strong> includes all the skills of careful observing, but it adds additional techniques that are described below. <em>Not all writing about memories uses all five techniques</em>, but often one or two of them will transform a lifeless or boring account into an effective narrative.</p><ol><li><strong>Using detailed observation</strong> of people, places, and events. <em>Writing vividly about memories requires many of the skills of careful observation</em>. Give actual dialogue where appropriate.</li><li><strong>Creating specific scenes</strong> set in time and space. Show your reader the actual events, don't just tell about events. <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/different-essay-types/narrative-essay/">Narrate</a> specific incidents as they actually happened. Avoid monotonously summarizing events or presenting just the conclusions (for instance, "<em>those experiences really changed my life</em>").</li><li><strong>Noting changes, contrasts, or conflicts</strong>. Changes in people or places, contrasts between two different memories or between memories of expectations and the reality, or conflicts between people or ideas will often lead to the meaning or importance of a remembered person, place, or event.</li><li><strong>Making connections</strong> between past events, people, or places and the present. The main idea of a narrative often grows out of the changes and conflicts or arises from the connections you make between past and present.</li><li><strong>Discovering and focusing on a main idea</strong>. A <a href="http://newavessays.com">remembering essay</a> is not a random narrative of the writer's favorite memories. A narrative should have a clear main point, focus on a main idea, or make a discovery. The essay should clearly show why the memories are important. </li></ol><p>Using details, creating scenes, noting conflicts, making connections between past and present, and focusing on a main idea are all important techniques, but you should also keep several other points in mind. Normally, you should <strong>write in the first person</strong>, using "I" or "we" throughout the narrative. Usually, you will <strong>write in past tense</strong>, but sometimes you may wish to lend immediacy to the events by retelling them in the present tense, as though they are happening now. Finally, you may stick with a straightforward chronological order, or you may begin near the end and use a flashback to tell the beginning of the story.</p><p> The key to effective remembering, though, is to <strong>get beyond generalities</strong> and conclusions about your experiences ("<em>I had a lot of fun — those days really changed my life</em>") to specific incidents set in time and place which show how and why those days changed your life. The specific incidents should show your main point or dominant idea.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-13254863881496212502009-04-28T02:24:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.855-07:00Problem solving writing exercises<p>The following exercises will help you <b>practice problem solving writing</b>. Read all of the following writing exercises and then write on the three that interest you most. If another idea occurs to you, <a href="http://newavessays.com/order.php">write</a> a free entry about it.</p><ol><li>As a student assistant for a campus residence hall, you have just listened to the twenty-third student this week complain about noise in the hall. You decide to create a policy that will solve the problem, but before you can implement it, you must present your idea at a student resident-assistant meeting. Write out the proposal you will present to the other student assistants at that meeting. </li><li>Read Frank Trippett's <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/course/problem-solving/problem-solving-techniques/problem-exists/">analysis of the scofflaw problem</a>. Write a letter to the city council recommending a solution to one of the problems Trippett identifies — a solution that the city council has the power to implement.</li><li>Eldridge Cleaver once said, "You're either part of the solution or part of the problem." Examine one of your activities or pastimes — sports, shopping, cruising, eating, drinking, or even studying. How does what you do possibly create a problem, from someone else's point of view? Explain.</li><li>After being away from your high school for a while, you can see more clearly its specific problems. Brainstorm or freewrite about the most important problems students faced in your high school. Write a letter to the school principal, explaining one specific problem that could and should be solved. Then propose your solution.</li><li>"Let the buyer beware" is a time-honored maxim for all consumers. Unless you are vigilant, you can easily be ripped off. Write a letter to the Better Business Bureau explaining some consumer problem or rip-off you've recently experienced and suggest a solution that will prevent others from being exploited.</li><li>Changing the rules of some sports might make them more enjoyable, less violent, or fairer: introducing the 30-second clock in NCAA basketball, using TV instant replays in professional and college football and basketball, imposing stiffer fines for brawls in hockey games, requiring boxers to wear padded helmets, giving equal pay and media coverage for</li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-6399150830817330452009-04-26T14:30:00.000-07:002009-04-26T14:35:42.779-07:00Revision: importance in academic writing<p>When writers <strong>revise</strong> a rough draft, they literally "resee" their subject — and then modify the draft to fit the new vision. <em>Revision is more than just tinkering</em> with a word here and there; revision leads to larger changes — new examples or details, a different organization, or a new perspective. You accomplish these changes by adding, deleting, substituting, or reordering <a href="http://newavessays.com/tutorials/basic-writing-tips/words-sentences-paragraphs/">words, sentences, and paragraphs</a>. </p><p>Although revision begins the moment you get your first idea, <strong>most revisions are based on the reactions</strong> or anticipated reactions of the audience to your draft. You often play the role of audience yourself by putting the draft aside and rereading it later when you have some distance from your <a href="http://newavessays.com">writing</a>. Wherever you feel readers might not get your point, you <strong>revise to make it clearer</strong>. You may also get feedback from readers in a class workshop, suggesting that you collect more or different information, alter the shape of your draft to improve the flow of ideas, or clarify your terminology. </p><p>As a result of your rereading and your readers' suggestions, you may change your <a href="/2009/03/thesis-statement.html">thesis</a> or write for an entirely different <a href="/2009/04/audience-analysis-before-writing.html">audience</a>. Revising also includes editing to improve word choice, grammar, usage, or punctuation and proofreading for typos and other surface errors.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-41470549946376065242009-04-25T12:36:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.856-07:00Recommendation letter writing tips<p>Any <strong>recommendation letter</strong> has a clear objective which is to persuade the reader that the recommended candidate possesses the qualifications and experiences required for the job. To be effective, a recommendation letter should include the following:</p> <ul><li>candidate’s full name</li><li>name of the position, that a candidate wants to get</li><li>whether a recommendation letter is written upon request or by initiative</li><li>the nature of relationship between the writer and a candidate</li><li>facts that directly relate to the position</li><li>a writer’s general opinion on whether the candidate fits this particular position</li></ul> <p> Mostly, <strong>recommendation letters are confidential</strong>, that is, they are sent directly to a person or department who requested them, and are not shown to the candidate. Thus, the writer whose confidentiality is guaranteed tends to be more open and frank, expressing the important negative features along with the positive ones.</p> <p>A <em>recommendation letter</em> writer should be aware that the presented information should be true and just. Any reader would hesitate relying upon continuous praise for someone’s achievements and strong points. Therefore, a good writer often provides a <strong>specific example in arecommendation letter</strong> to any general statement to support the candidate’s abilities. </p> <h3>Weaknesses in a recommendation letter</h3> <p>Sooner or later a <strong>recommendation letter</strong> writer has to deal with a delicate issue, namely, how to present candidate’s weaknesses. A <a href="http://newavessays.com/news/">writer</a> may not include candidate’s weak points if they are not related to job requirements. However the writer should realize that providing a recommendation, he/she becomes responsible to some extent for the candidate. Covering serious candidate’s weaknesses may lead to very unpleasant consequences (a candidate may reveal not enough qualifications, or a better-qualified candidate may get a refusal due to a false recommendation of a rival). </p><p>Some managers consider it unethical to omit the information that is not in favor of a candidate in a recommendation letter, especially if it is relevant and true. But at the same time, there is a danger of making false judgments that harm candidate’s reputation. The best way to present possible weaknesses is to balance criticism with favorable points and to present only relevant information. </p> <p>A <em>good recommendation letter</em> usually ends with a supportive personal summery of the writer’s evaluation. Be sure to leave your contact information (telephone, e-mail, etc.) to provide more credibility. </p> <p>To sum up, a good <strong>recommendation letter should provide frank and personal information</strong> related to the job and avoid overstating candidate’s abilities or mislead the reader in any other way.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-62906858989865864442009-04-16T02:11:00.000-07:002009-04-16T02:12:12.313-07:00Resume writing tricks<p>The objective of a <a href="http://newavessays.com/resume_writing_tips.php">resume</a> is to get the reader’s attraction to your strong points and to minimize your disadvantage without misrepresenting the facts. But in order to provide the best impression on the reader, you might want to omit some questionable points or information that may not be in your favor. Recruiters claim that around 40 percent of all resumes either exaggerate the candidate’s abilities and skills or do not include potentially damaging information, which means that <strong>many people turn to resume tricks</strong>, which are actually mistakes. </p><h3>List of most frequent resume tricks
</h3><p>The <strong>most frequent resume tricks</strong> that candidates turn to are:</p> <ul><li>claiming <strong>nonexistent educational credits</strong>. Sometimes candidates state that they earned a degree when they just attended a school but, actually, did not complete the required courses</li><li>claiming to be <strong>engaged in his/her own business</strong>. This trick is used to cover the periods of unemployment. Very often a candidate asserts that he/she runs own business from a home office</li><li><strong>stretching periods of employment</strong> to cover gaps. This is another technique to conceal the true reasons for unemployment periods. Unemployment gaps raise many questions, and potential employees are not always willing to answer fully</li><li><strong>concealing reference to jobs that may cause embarrassment</strong>. A candidate would prefer to hide the fact of being fired from several jobs in a quick succession, as it will characterize him/her as a bad employee. To eliminate the gap, a candidate will stretch the dates of previous employments</li><li><strong>exaggerating experience</strong> and accomplishments. Sometimes candidates appropriate group project achievements to their own results</li><li><strong>stating to have worked for the companies that are out of business</strong>. Usually candidates with lack of working experience turn to this method to fill in a blank work experience section</li></ul> <p>Thus, when <a href="http://newavessays.com/resume_writing_tips.php">composing your resume</a>, remember that experienced recruiters and <strong>human resource managers are aware of these frequent resume tricks</strong>, so be careful not to get into your own trap. It is very effective to present your strongest and most impressive points and to minimize shortcomings. But do not exaggerate or claim to have skills or expertise you do not have.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-292032947239491292009-04-07T01:31:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.856-07:00Time reference in writingWhenever mentioning dates or time in your writing, be sure to refer to these absolutely, not relatively. Always remember that the moment of writing passes away as the writer stops writing, and the written piece enters the domain of readers. When the readers see reference to time in the absolute form (e.g. in 1990), he or she accepts it fine. However, whenever the reader encounters a relative date or time (e.g. yesterday), he or she might get confused. So be sure to <strong>refer to time correctly</strong>, using absolute points of reference. <p>Here are comparative lists of examples of relative vs. absolute date and time references:</p> <ul><li>Absolute: on May 5, 2000; first saturday of August, 1709; 1-1-01; 21:20, 13-02-2006; in 1999.</li><li>Relative: yesterday; several years ago; on May 5; last year.</li></ul> <p>Note that the main difference between the two types is that relative time reference has to have some origin, or point where to start. For the writer, that origin is the moment of <a href="http://newavessays.com/about/">writing</a>, but for the readers this is very inconvenient. Readers have to either find out when the text was written or have to guess. Careful writers would provide the origin for the readers’ convenience, if they opt for relative time/date reference. However, it is much better to <strong>use absolute timing</strong>. The main reason for this necessity is the dynamic nature of time; the “now” changes every moment. Thus, the writer’s “now” is far earlier than the readers’ “nows”. Even more, the reader’s “nows” are very different. The authors must be careful and think in advance about the readers, addressing to <em>time and date in the absolute form</em>, but not relative to the perpetually-changing “now.”</p> <p>Even more, careful writers never address to the “now” of writing as present; they address is as it is past, regardless of the writer’s present.</p> <blockquote>Consider: “<em>As I write this, … </em>” vs. “<em>When the author was writing this</em>.”</blockquote> <p>The first example is egoistic, while the second one shows care for the reader, considering the person and the time of access.</p> <p>Of course, these are only general rules, which are applicable to most cases. However, there are exceptions, when this relative use of time would, for example, project the reader into some event purposefully, to create the feeling of presence, and so on. These cases, however, are rare and must be used only by experienced writers. In 99.6% of cases, however, <strong>use absolute time and date reference</strong>!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-5911706193307524002009-04-03T12:55:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.856-07:00Audience analysis before writing<p>If you are writing to communicate to other readers, <strong>analyzing your probable audience</strong> will help you answer some basic questions:</p><ul><li>How much information or evidence is enough? What should I assume my audience already knows? What should I not tell them? What do they believe? Will they readily agree with me or will they be antagonistic? </li><li>How should I organize my writing? How can I get my reader's attention? Can I just describe my subject and tell a story or should I analyze everything in a logical order? Should I put my best examples or arguments first or last?</li><li>Should I write informally, with simple sentences and easy vocabulary, or should I write in a more elaborate or specialized style, with technical vocabulary?</li></ul><p><em> Analyze your audience</em> by considering the following questions. As you learn more about your audience, the possibilities for your own role as a <a href="http://newavessays.com/">writer</a> will become clearer.</p><ol><li><strong>Audience profile</strong>. How narrow or broad is your audience? Is it a narrow and defined audience — a single person, such as your Aunt Mary, or a group with clear common interests, such as the zoning board in your city or the readers of Organic Gardening? Is it a broad and diverse audience: educated readers who wish to be informed on current events, American voters as a whole, or residents of your state? Do your readers have identifiable roles? Can you determine their age, sex, economic status, ethnic background, or occupational category? </li><li><strong>Audience-subject relationship</strong>. Consider what your readers know about your subject. If they know very little about it, you'll need to explain the basics; if they already know quite a bit, you can get right to more difficult or complex issues. Also estimate their probable attitude toward this subject. Are they likely to be sympathetic or hostile?</li><li><strong>Audience-writer relationship</strong>. What is your relationship with the readers? Do you know each other personally? Do you have anything in common? Will your audience be likely to trust what you say or will they be skeptical about your judgments? Are you the expert on this particular subject and the reader a novice? Or are you a novice and your reader the expert? (If you're a novice writing to an expert, absolute honesty and careful reliance on evidence will help win you a hearing.)</li><li><strong>Writer's role</strong>. To communicate effectively with your audience, you should also consider your own role or perspective. Of the many roles that you could play (friend, big sister or brother, student of psychology, music fan, employee of a fast-food restaurant, and so on), choose one that will be effective for your purpose and audience. If, for example, you are writing to sixth-graders about nutrition, you could choose the perspective of a concerned older brother or sister, but your writing might be more effective if you assume the role of a person who has worked in fast-food restaurants for three years and knows what goes into hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes.</li></ol><p> Writers may write to a <em>real audience</em>, or they may <em>create an audience</em>. Sometimes the relationship between writer and reader is real (sister writing to brother), and so the writer starts with a known audience and writes accordingly. Sometimes, however, writers begin writing and gradually discover or create an audience in the process of writing. Knowing the audience guides the writing, but the <strong>writing may create an audience as well</strong>.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-39631122289979304382009-03-31T13:53:00.000-07:002009-03-31T13:55:46.687-07:00Thesis statement<p><strong>Thesis statement</strong> is that sentence (maximum two sentences) that tells the readers exactly what the essay is about. It contains the focus of your essay, therefore the entire text should be neither narrower nor broader than what is stated in the <em>thesis statement</em>. It is also sometimes refferred to as the "umbrella" of the essay, and the essay itself represents things under it. So the text should fill all the space under the umbrella, but watch not to get too big so that nothing gets wet.</p> <h3>Where to put the thesis statement</h3> <p>Thesis statement should be somewhere in the first paragraph of the <a href="http://newavessays.com/order.php">essay</a>, or somewhere close to the beginning. The classic spot to <em>put thesis statement into is the last sentence of the first paragraph</em>.</p> <ul><li>Example of poor thesis statement: <em>A town is a populated area with buildings and cars.</em></li><li>Example of strong thesis statement: <em>A town is a settlement with population of minimum 12 thousand dwellers, in which industry outweights agriculture.</em></li></ul> <p>It is very simple; just ask yourself, "what is the main idea I want to tell my readers about?" </p> <p>It is believed that every essay <strong>must have a thesis statement</strong>, however the truth is that there are several types of compositions that do not need thesis statements. For example, a lot of narrative essays do not contain a thesis statement at all. Biographies and fiction do not have thesis statements either.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394999689978813096.post-18191963932130378492009-03-30T15:28:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:29:58.856-07:00Problem solving essay writing techniques<div class="storycontent"> <p><strong>Problem solving essays</strong> require all your skills as a writer. You need to observe carefully to see if the problem exists. You many need to remember experiences that <a href="http://newavessays.com/essay_illustration.php">illustrate</a> the seriousness of the problem. You need to investigate which solutions have worked or have not worked. You often have to explain what the problem is, and why or how your proposal would solve the problem. You might need to evaluate both the problem and the alternative solutions. To help you identify the problem and convince your readers of the soundness of your solution, <em>keep the following problem solving techniques in mind</em>.</p> <h3>Techniques for problem solving essays</h3> <ul><li>Identifying and understanding your <strong>audience</strong>. If you want something done, changed, fixed, improved, or whatsoever, make sure you are writing to an <a href="http://newavessays.com/blog/?p=22">approproate audience</a>.</li><li>Demonstrating that the <strong>problem exists</strong>. Some problems are so obvious that your readers will readily acknowledge them (e.g. “war in the Middle East” or “alcohol abuse”). However, often you might first need to convince your audience that the problem exists (e.g. “food presertatives are a serious problem”).</li><li>Proposing a <strong>solution</strong> that will solve the problem. After convincing your audience that a serious problem truly exists, you must then prepare a plan, remedy, a course of action, the solution that will reduce or solve the problem.</li><li>Convicing your audience that <strong>your solution will work,</strong> and is better than alternative solutions. You have to <a href="http://newavessays.com/essay_argumentative.php">convince your readers</a> by supporting your proposal with sound reasons and evidence.</li></ul> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com