6 Traits of Good WritingIdeas

Personal Statement

Try this…

Directions: Get a blank sheet of lined paper. Every time you read a description or

characteristic that applies to you, write down its number on the blank sheet of paper.

1. I constantly look at a clock or wear a watch 2. I keep a journal or diary of my thoughts 3. I believe there is a either right and wrong way to do everything 4. I find it hard to follow directions precisely 5. The expression "Life is just a bowl of cherries" makes no sense to me 6. I frequently change my plans and find that sticking to a schedule is boring 7. I think it's easier to draw a map than tell someone how to get somewhere 8. To find a lost item, I try to picture it in my head where I last saw it 9. I frequently let my emotions guide me 10. I learn math with ease 11. I'd read the directions before assembling something 12. People tell me I am always late getting places 13. People have told me that I'm psychic 14. I need to set goals for myself to keep me on track

15. When somebody asks me a question, I turn my head to the left 16. If I have a tough decision to make, I write down the pros and the cons 17. I'd probably make a good detective 18. I learn music with ease 19. To solve a problem, I think of similar problems I have solved in the past 20. I use a lot of gestures 21. If someone asks me a question, I turn my head to the right 22. I believe there are two ways to look at almost everything 23. I have the ability to tell if people are lying or guilty of something, just by looking at them 24. I keep a "to do" list 25. I am able to thoroughly explain my opinions in words 26. In a debate, I am objective and look at the facts before forming an opinion 27. I've considered becoming a poet, a politician, an architect, or a dancer 28. I always lose track of time 29. When trying to remember a name I forgot, I'd recite the alphabet until I remembered it 30. I like to draw 31. When I'm confused, I usually go with my gut instinct 32. I have considered becoming a lawyer, journalist, or doctor

Next to every number on your paper, write whether it was an L or an R.

1. L 2. L 3. L 4. R 5. L 6. R 7. R 8. L

9. R 10. L 11. L 12. R 13. R 14. L 15. R 16. L

17. L 18. R 19. R 20. R 21. L 22. R 23. R 24. L

25. L 26. L 27. R 28. R 29. L 30. R 31. R 32. L

If you have…•More R’s (Right Brained)•More L’s (Left Brained)•Equal R’s and L’s (Neither Left or Right Brained)

Whether you’re right or left brained may affect how you come up with ideas. That is why there are multiple ways of brainstorming.

RIGHT BRAINED: Like lists because they’re short, respond to visually-oriented organizers, see the big picture (topic) first and then the details, jumps from one idea to another

LEFT BRAINED: proceeds logically through a problem (step-by-step), likes ordered tasks, may prefer journaling because they can articulate their thoughts, makes lists because they’re organized, work through details and arrive at a conclusion

Today we will be brainstorming ideas for our Personal Statement (or college/scholarship essay).

Getting Started: Brainstorming

• Clustering—starts with a word in a bubble. From that bubble spring related words, and so on, and so on. This helps you see how topics are related, as well as follow your thoughts to a potential topic.

Journaling/Free Writing—start writing about memories, current experiences, topics you’re interested in, thoughts you’ve been struggling with. Try not to censor yourself—get as much as you can on paper, then go back and reread. Your writing (or previous writing) may contain a potential topic.

List—begin with a key word and start listing words and ideas.

Timeline—create a timeline of significant moments in your life. When you have large gaps between moments, try to fill in the gaps. Your ideas that aren’t immediately obvious may turn in to a more meaningful topic.

Brainstorming

• Divide your paper into two columns• On the left side, list as many personality

traits as you can think of that apply to you

Brainstorming

• On the right side, list as many significant events, experiences, etc. as you can think of

Brainstorming

• How can you connect the columns? Start on either side and draw corresponding lines. For example, maybe the trait of being resilient connects to your softball career, your struggles with your GPA, an event on your recent family vacation, and your job.

Brainstorming

• Pick one event/experience. Spend time writing down as much as you can.– Details about the event—who, what, where,

when, why, how you were feeling, etc.– Explanations of how the personality traits

connect to your chosen moment.

Brainstorming

• Connect your chosen moment to your current situation/your future.– Why is it so meaningful? How can we see

evidence of its impact in what you currently do or what you want for your future? Think about how your attitudes have changed, how your goals have changed, etc.

Tangents v. Pertinent Details• When writing, always consider what NEEDS to be

told and what is OFF TOPIC. It is easy to become attached to a sentence or paragraph and to not want to delete it (hey! You invested TIME typing that!). But, always ask yourself, – Does the audience need to know this?– Is this distracting from my main message?– What does this contribute to my writing?

• Going on a tangent ultimately distracts from your purpose.

Your assignment…

• Keep brainstorming. Choose a method. Use this method to generate ideas for your personal statement. Don’t just settle on the idea you explored today—you never know what could become a meaningful topic.

• Come with potential ideas WRITTEN DOWN on Friday—we will talk about organization of your personal statement. Then, while you are working, I will meet with each of you briefly to discuss what you think you want to write about.

6 Traits of Good WritingIdeas

Argumentative Essays

Getting Started: Brainstorming

• Clustering—starts with a word in a bubble. From that bubble spring related words, and so on, and so on. This helps you see how topics are related, as well as follow your thoughts to a potential topic.

Journal—start writing about problems you see in society, topics you’re interested in, thoughts you’ve been struggling with. Your writing (or previous writing) may contain a potential topic.

List—begin with a key word and start listing words and ideas.

Consider basics of life—clothing, communication, exercise, housing, food, arts, education, machines, religion, family, mondy, agriculture, energy, laws, science/technology, land, work, entertainment, health, literature/media, rights

EX: I am interested in literature. I am interested in how females are portrayed in literature. I am interested in how females are portrayed in Pride and Prejudice. I am interested in how Jane Austin used/broke feminine stereotypes n P.&P. Although many of Jane Austin’s female characters displayed stereotypical female traits, her novel P&P was ultimately a feminist text, as demonstrated through the main character Elizabeth Bennet.

Decide on a topic and argumentTOPIC•The topic is broad. •It is what most papers start with.EX: I am interested in ___censorship___. I have to write about ___censorship___.

ARGUMENT•A specific, arguable idea.•Scope of the argument should match length of the paper.EX: Censorship violates First Amendment rights. Books should not be banned in school libraries.

Mapping Ideas

Choose your topic

Determine audience

• Read your topic, then try to identify who can make the changes you want to see? Who’s change of opinion will make a difference in the overall status of your topic?

That is your audience!

Choose your topic

Add SupportAsk yourself: •Why is my argument true?•What reasons could I give my audience to believe my argument? What would persuade them?

These are your supports. Your supports should be significant enough to write an entire paragraph about.

Make sure your support addresses your AUDIENCE’S concerns, not just things you care about.

Add Support

Order your supports

• Generally, your supports go from weakest to strongest.

• Think about which of your supports would be most convincing to your stated audience.

Order Supports…

Background Info

Look at the ideas you’ve outlined, as well as your stated audience.– What information might your audience not

understand? – What holes does your audience have in their

knowledge?

Background InfoBackground Info: Parents might not know…•First Amendment•Why they care (what damage does book banning do)•What becoming a certified librarian requires

Another type of paperBackground Info: Audience won’t know…•Why I was so excited•What this moment’s significance was to the rest of my life•Why they care (what does this have to do with them)

Tangents v. Pertinent Details• When writing, always consider what NEEDS to be

told and what is OFF TOPIC. It is easy to become attached to a sentence or paragraph and to not want to delete it (hey! You invested TIME typing that!). But, always ask yourself, – Does the audience need to know this?– What does this contribute to my writing?

• Going on a tangent ultimately distracts from your purpose.

• Peer editing can really help locate tangents.

Your assignment…

• Choose a brainstorming method. Use this method to generate ideas for your personal statement.

• Identify a topic, audience, and supports for your personal statement. (May choose to format however makes sense to you)