Writing:  A  Broad  Overview

Aslam  KakarPh.D.  Student

Global  Affairs  ProgramRutgers  University-­‐Newark  

St.  Peter’s  University,  July  13,  2018

outline  

• Part  I:  writing  

• Part  II:  tips  and  tricks  

• Part  III:  writing  tools  

part  I:

writing

Sources:  https://www.copyblogger.com/10-­‐steps-­‐to-­‐better-­‐writing/

write…  

…to  edit  is  divine

why  write?

7"REASONS!(there!could!be!more)!!

Orwell’s"four"desires,!1.!Sheer"egoism:"Desire!to!seem!clever,!to!be!talked!about,!to!be!

remembered!after!death!2.!Aesthetic"enthusiasm:"Desire!to!share!an!experience!which!one!

feels!is!valuable!and!ought!not!to!be!missed.!!3.!Historical"impulse:"Desire!to!see!things!as!they!are,!to!find!out!

true!facts!and!store!them!up!for!the!use!of!posterity!4.!Political"purpose:"Desire!to!push!the!world!in!a!certain!direction!!"

I"think,!!

5.!Desire"to"stand"for"a"principle/vision:"In!writing,!you!affirm!your!position!on!issues!

6.!Uniqueness"of"your"voice:"Others!may!not!see!and!describe!the!world!the!way!you!do!

"

Mundane"purpose"7.!Work,"education,"commerce,"communications,"etc.""

!

types  of  writing

Type Aim Based  in Language Target

Academic Results,  facts and  critical  analyses

Research, data  analysis  and  synthesis Formal Specialized  

audience

Creative Tell  a  factual  or  fictitious story

Imaginative or  creative  work Informal Broad audience  

of  non-­‐specialists

Journalistic

Tell a  factual  story  or  opinion   about  recent/current  

events

Research, data  analysis  and  synthesis

In between  formal  and  informal

Broad audience  and  specialists

part  II:

tips  and  tricks  

useful  do’s  and  don’ts  of  writing  

• Don’ts⎼ Long  sentences  ⎼Verbosity  ⎼Poor  punctuation  ⎼Repetitiveness⎼ Lack  of  specificity⎼Copy/paste  ⎼Personal  language⎼Clunky  paragraphs

• Do’s⎼Attribute  (don’t  editorialize)⎼Use  active  voice⎼Keep  direct  quotes  minimal⎼Clear  and  short  titles⎼ Take  a  walk  if  you  are  stuck⎼ Meditate  for  5-­‐10  minutes⎼Write  down  your  ideas⎼Ask  a  friend  to  proofread

6 essential  tips  for  beginners

1. Read  every  day2. Master  basic  grammar  skills3. Start  with  a  sentence4. After  a  sentence,  write  another5. Write  a  paragraph6. Learn  the  correct  use  of  words  

3  common  myths  about  writing  

1. Writing  is  a  natural  gift  

2. It  is  a  privilege  of  the  rich

3. You  need  to  be  well-­‐educated  to  be  a  writer

e-­‐mail  writing  etiquette  

• Start  with  a  formal  salutation• Keep  it  short• End  with  a  respectful  closing• Didn’t  get  an  immediate  reply?  Wait!

• Ask  your  professors  how  you  should  address  them

how  to  write  an  essay?

• Read  and  understand  the  question

• Introduction⎼ State  your  thesis  right  away.  Synthesize  diverse  sources  to  develop  your  independent  position⎼ Briefly  touch  upon  the  anti-­‐thesis⎼ Discuss  your  thesis  in  light  of  the  anti-­‐thesis  to  present  a  new  proposition

• Body  paragraphs⎼ Topic  sentences  to  substantiate  your  thesis

• Conclusion⎼ Restate  your  argument  in  different  words  in  light  of  the  developments  presented  in  the  body⎼ If  necessary  introduce  a  new  idea  or  propose  an  opinion  

part  III  :

writing  tools  

grammarly

• Spell  check• Words• Active/passive  voice• Punctuations• Capitalization• Type  of  writing• Audience• Etc.

app.grammarly.com

plagiarism  

• Plagiarism:  “the  practice  of  taking  someone  else's  work  or  ideas  and  passing  them  off  as  one's  own.”• It  is  against  the  code  of  academic  conduct  and,  therefore,  illegal  • If  you  practice  plagiarism,  intentionally  or  unintentionally,  expect  punitive  grades  to  other  extreme  penalties…• Paraphrase  in  your  own  wordsHere  is  where  you  can  check  if  you  are  copying  or  notLink:  https://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-­‐checker/

recommended  books• The  Elements  of  Style,  by  William  Strunk• Letters  to  a  Young  Writer:  Some  Practical  and  Philosophical  Advice,  by  Colum  McCann• Writing  Science  in  Plain  English,  by  Anne  Greene• On  Writing:  A  Memoir  of  the  Craft,  by  Stephen  King• Writing  Down  the  Bones:  Freeing  the  Writer  Within,  Natalie  Golberg• Why  I  Write?  By  George  Orwell• The  Storytelling  Edge,  by  Joe  Lazauskas and  Shane  Snow  • On  Writing  Well:  The  Classic  Guide  to  Writing  Nonfiction,  William  Zinsser• Bird  by  Bird:  Some  Instructions  on  Writing  and  Life,  by  Anne  Lamott• The  Writing  Life,  by  Annie  Dillard  

other  advice

• If  you  need  help,  ask  for  it:  visit  writing  centers  in  your  University

• Look  for  workshops,  usually  in  the  library

• Don’t  do  things  at  the  last  minute,  give  yourself  plenty  of  time  to  proofread  and  edit

• For  more  details,  visit  my  blog  at  https://aslamkakar.com

thank  you!

any  questions?

questions  writers  should  ask  

• Are  you  constantly  seeking  ways  to  master  the  art  of  writing?  Do  you  read  widely  and  non-­‐stop?  And  do  you  study  the  top  writers  and  bloggers?• Are  you  trying  to  fit  in  with  the  crowd?  Or  are  you  intentionally  challenging  the  status  quo?  Are  you  looking  for  ways  to  stand  out?  To  confront?  To  appear  slightly  off  your  rocker?  And  does  it  come  natural?• Do  you  have  the  capacity  for  solitude?• Do  you  have  a  personal  stake  in  your  writing?  Do  you  imprint  your  personality  on  your  work?

cont…

• Look  deep  down  inside  yourself  and  ask,  “What  do  I  want  people  to  say  about  me  when  I  die?”  And  is  it  big  enough  to  make  a  dent  in  the  universe?  Is  it  big  enough  to  attract  the  attention  of  a  thousand  people?• Do  you  push  yourself  to  find  topics  that  demand  attention  regardless  of  the  negative  response  they  could  represent?  Do  you  discipline  yourself  to  search  for  ideas  that  confront  and  challenge  others?  Do  you  lose  sleep  over  your  legacy  or  your  sense  of  its  inadequacies?• Would  you  still  write  if  no  one  cared?

Source:  Copyblogger