This document discusses several essential elements of writing, including thesis statements, open and closed form writing, audience, tone, style, and support.
[1] Thesis statements should be interesting, significant, and problematic; indicate what questions are being answered; and imply "because." [2] Open form writing uses descriptions, scenes, dialogue and character development while closed form uses a single declarative sentence. [3] Writers must know their audience by considering factors like age, education, and reactions. [4] Tone and style contribute to voice and consistency. [5] Essays require contextual support through history, culture and building empathy.
6. Example:
That rates of skin cancer have increased
steadily since the 1920s reveals the
danger of the American obsession with
getting a „healthy‟ tan.
7. A thesis statement should
indicate what questions are
being answered in the
essay.
8. For example…
How can this… …help
these?
MS
Lupus
Crohn‟s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Sjogren‟s Disease
Asthma/Allergies
9. Thesis: Hookworms are proven to
have a beneficial effect on a
number of autoimmune diseases
and may be considered a viable
treatment protocol in the near
future.
22. Ask personal questions about your
audience…
Age?
Religion?
Sense of humor?
Money?
Formal education?
23. What do they want and how will
they react to what you’ve
written?
24. In-class activity
Write a text message
to a friend telling
him/her that you‟re
too sick to go out.
Also write a short
email to an employer
or professor
explaining an
absence from work or
school.
How are these
different?
29. STYLE
…is your
voice
coming
through
How you dress your essay
up
30. Sentence variety
use of
figurative
active verb
language
choice
(similes and
metaphors)
use of
punctuation use of voice
(dashes, (1st person or
semicolons, 3rd)
parenthesis)