Writing Project 3

Theory of writing
Writing is a medium of human communication that represents language and

emotion through the inscription or recording of signs and symbols. In most
languages, writing is a complement to speech or spoken language. Writing is not a
language but a form of technology that developed as tools developed with human
society. Within a language system, writing relies on many of the same structures as
speech, such as vocabulary, grammar and semantics, with the added dependency of
a system of signs or symbols. The result of writing is generally called text, and the
recipient of text is called a reader. Motivations for writing
include publication, storytelling, correspondence and diary. Writing has been
instrumental in keeping history, maintaining culture, dissemination of knowledge
through the media and the formation of legal systems. It is also an important
medium of expressing oneself by way of written words as do authors, poets and the
like.
If you want to get better at something, you have to practice and writing
is no exception. Unfortunately, there are few shortcuts that can transform you
into an amazing writer overnight, and even the most talented writers had to learn
their craft over a period of many years.
If you want to improve your writing skills, writing on a regular basis will
not only diminish your fear of the blank page (or blinking cursor), it will also
help you develop a unique style. So, even if nobody reads it, keep writing.
Practice makes perfect.
The best writers are also keen readers, and reading on a regular basis is an
easy way to start developing your writing skills. I dont just mean blog posts,
either diversify your reading material. Expand your horizons to more
challenging material than you typically read, and pay attention to sentence
structure, word choice, and how the material flows.
The blinking cursor of a blank page is a considerable foe, even for the
most experienced writers. Before putting pen to proverbial paper, sketch out an
outline of what you plan to write. This will be your battle plan, and it will help
you win the war. Very few and I do mean very few writers sit down to write
anything without a solid plan in mind. An outline doesnt have to be complex. A
simple framework of which sections should appear in a particular order, along
with a few sentences about what each section contains, may be enough. If the
topic youre tackling is a little more complex, your outline might have to be, too
but having an outline before you write is like having a roadmap in the glove
box of your car before a road trip. If you start to feel lost, refer back to your
outline and get back to kicking ass and taking names.
Editing is a tough skill to learn for beginner writers, because they place
immense value on the time and effort they put into writing in the first place.
However, a lot of writing is actually rewriting, and this is where the cold, hard
eye of an editor will serve you well.
Develop the discipline it takes to eliminate extraneous words (more on this
shortly). Resist the temptation to wax lyrically and get to the point. Not sure if a
paragraph works? It probably isnt. Be tough on yourself, and know when to
delete or rework something. Your work will be much stronger as a result.
First drafts are almost always crap, and thats okay. Dont beat yourself up if you
dont create a masterpiece on your first attempt chances are, you probably
wont, and thats okay, too. Just get your ideas down on paper first, then go back
and start cleaning up. Writing is an iterative process, and even the best writers
have to spend a lot of time reworking material they were probably too
embarrassed to show anybody.
Science is often hard to read. Most people assume that its difficulties are
born out of necessity, out of the extreme complexity of scientific concepts, data
and analysis. We argue here that complexity of thought need not lead to
impenetrability of expression; we demonstrate a number of rhetorical principles
that can produce clarity in communication without oversimplifying scientific
issues. The results are substantive, not merely cosmetic: Improving the quality of
writing actually improves the quality of thought.
The fundamental purpose of scientific discourse is not the mere presentation
of information and thought, but rather its actual communication. It does not matter
how pleased an author might be to have converted all the right data into sentences
and paragraphs; it matters only whether a large majority of the reading audience
accurately perceives what the author had in mind. Therefore, in order to understand
how best to improve writing, we would do well to understand better how readers
go about reading. Such an understanding has recently become available through
work done in the fields of rhetoric, linguistics and cognitive psychology. It has
helped to produce a methodology based on the concept of reader expectations.
Using the English language to successfully communicate scientific findings does
not come easily to most people. Choosing the correct words and using correct
grammar are skills now rarely taught in schools, so many University students are at
some disadvantage.
The importance of good writing cannot be over-emphasised. In many cases
the written word is the only means by which scientists communicate and it is the
main way in which students communicate with and are assessed by their teachers.
In writing, it is always important to focus on a purpose. This is something
we practiced on every project in this class. In particular, my personal argument is
an example of how I focused on a purpose. The purpose of my personal argument
was to inform. In keeping to that purpose, I kept a matter-of-fact tone and backed
up my claims with outside sources. I rarely incorporated my own opinion, and
made sure to make it clear when I did. By focusing on a purpose, your arguments
become more effective, as they have a target, a goal that is in mind the entire time.
When the purpose is clear, the audience will know how to evaluate the argument.
There is an expected format for every situation, and it is important not to diverge
too much from the expected format, or else the audience may be confused. A good
example of how I used conventions of structure is on my rhetorical analysis. The
rhetorical analysis was an academic paper, and as such, it was written in the
traditional format, 12pt font, double spaced, title at the top, heading with my name,
and all that. This is different from the term/concept presentation, where the
expected format was usually some sort of slideshow presentation, or something
else using visuals.
Critical thinking is the process of independently analyzing, synthesizing, and
evaluating information as a guide to behavior and beliefs. Critical thinking skills
include the ability to interpret, verify, and reason, all of which involve applying the
principles of logic. The process of using critical thinking to guide writing is
called critical writing.
I have inquired a lot of knowledge over rhetorical contexts through

composing my own writing. It gave me the chance to use and understand each
approach and tie it into my paper. I was able to see what methods worked and how
to effectively use rhetorical analysis in my essays/profiles. Reading articles,
excerpts of essays, and peer editing were some ways that helped me compose my
own papers. This demonstrated examples of how to incorporate analysis into my
writing and also how to help my essay flow. Critical thinking played a role in how
I viewed each assignment. I went further in depth about each paper's thesis and
what the author was conveying to further my own knowledge and understanding of
rhetorical appeals.
The term "writing process" refers to a suite of attitudes about composition
and literacy practices. Based on this body of work, faculty assume writing
processes may differ from person to person and that different projects may affect
which composing strategies are employed. Writing, thinking, creating these acts
are bounded by two contrary processes: believing and doubting. For many student
writers for many people, in fact being critical and judgmental can come
easily. Hence, the truism its easier to critique them to create" (Alcott). Yet it is
especially important, especially in the early stages of a writing project, for writers
to put doubt and criticism aside. Just about everyone has moments of despair and
doubt about their writing. After countless hours and the feeling that your work has
been futile, that you have not clearly expressed an important concept or
relationship, you may feel the urge to give up, to abandon the project.
But you can't give up. To be a successful writer (or really, to be a successful
person) you need to emphasize believing. Especially in the beginning of a writing
project, you need to set aside doubt, self-criticism, and despair. You need to
emphasize the positive. After all, down the line, when your work is graded or
critiqued by readers, you'll have plenty of time for self-criticism and doubt.
There are so many things that you can get advantage of from writing an
essay. Actually, it is not only a requirement in school to make your life hard but it
also has some good benefits that will increase your personality development.
It is also possible for an essay writing task to harness your critical thinking
abilities. Writing about argumentative essay topics will definitely require that you
have a good sense of criticizing subjects and issues that you think are important to
talk about.
It is also possible that essay writing will let you discover more knowledge by doing
some sorts of researching. Any student essays that relate to science topics will
probably require you to do researches so it is possible that you will discover new
information about seemingly innocent topic ideas.
Lastly, essay writing gives you the chance to improve your writing skills in
general. The aspect of writing in perfect spelling and grammar conditions will help
you realize that you really deserve to learn how to properly write articles. A school
essay will always demand that you write in technical ways that are of high
standards.

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Theory of writing

Writing is a medium of human communication that represents language and

I have inquired a lot of knowledge over rhetorical contexts through

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