Writing Skill Development

If you wish to be a writer, write.

Epictetus,
Roman, 50-120

WRITING
PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS
GUIDES

a genre of writing that informs,

describes, or explains with text types
EXPOSITORY that include: autobiography, biography,
descriptive, essay, informational report,
and media article

a genre of writing that entertains or tells

a story with text types that include:
NARRATIVE adventure, fairy tale, fantasy, historical
fiction, mystery, personal narrative,
realistic fiction, and science fiction

a genre of writing that attempts to

convince readers to embrace a
particular point of view with text types
PERSUASIVE
that include: advertisement, editorial,
essay, political cartoon, pro/con, and
review

a genre of writing that explains the

instructions or directions for completing
PROCEDURAL
a task with text types that include:
experiment, how to, and recipes

a genre of writing that serves as a

communication of ideas and information
TRANSACTIO between individuals with text types that
NAL include: blog, business letter, friendly
email, friendly letter, interview,
invitation, and postcard
How to write a good five-paragraph essay

The five paragraph essay follows a defined format. The first

paragraph introduces us to the thesis [also calles thesis
statement] of the essay and directs us to the three main
supporting subtopics. The second through fourth
paragraphs are all similar in format. They individually
restate the subtopics, and are developed by giving
supporting information. The fifth and last paragraph
restates the main thesis idea and reminds the reader of the
three main supporting ideas that were developed. All of
these paragraphs are important.

The introductory paragraph is the place in which the

writer introduces the reader to the topic. It is important to
make this a clear and limited statement. This is where the
writer grabs the reader's attention. Because of its purpose,
it is often the first sentence of the paragraph. It is followed
by three subtopics that develop the thesis. Between this
paragraph and all paragraphs of the essay, there needs to
be some kind of a transition word, phrase, or sentence.

Next, the body of the essay contains paragraphs two

through four. They are all similarly constructed. Their topic
sentences are restatements, often in original form, of the
three supporting ideas presented in the first paragraph. The
subtopic of each of the body paragraphs is again supported
by three or more supporting sentences. These cement, in
the reader's mind, the relevancy and relationship of each of
the subtopics to the thesis statement.

Finally, the fifth paragraph is the summary paragraph.

It is important to restate the thesis and three supporting
ideas in an original and powerful manner as this is the last
chance the writer has to convince the reader of the validity
of the information presented. Because the purposes of the
first and fifth paragraph are so similar that some writers
construct them at the same time. They will edit them, as
necessary, as they do with each and every part of the
essay.

It is important to reiterate that each of the paragraphs

is joined together by a transition word, phrase or sentence.
Transitions help the reader to follow the flow of the logic
and sequencing. All of the essay types follow this basic
transition format. However, there is more latitude with the
narrative essay because of its nature.

• How to write a good expository essay

Expository essays require that the the writer give

information, explain the topic or define something. To
accomplish that, they are best developed by the use of
facts and statistical information, cause and effect
relationships, or examples. Since they are factual, they are
written without emotion and usually written in the third
person [more reliable because it is impartial, objective. The
third person is the point of view of the witness]. That means
that the use of the pronoun "I" is not usually found [first
person point of view is subjective, partial and can be
misleading] within the essay.

Expository essays also have a distinct format.

• The thesis statement must be defined and narrow

enough to be supported within the essay.

• Each supporting paragraph must have a distinct

controlling topic and all other sentences must factually
relate directly to it. The transition words or phrases
[linking devices such as however, therefore, thus,
as a matter of fact, first, second, third, finally,
summarizing, as a result, because of that,
despite that] are important as they help the reader
follow along and reinforce the logic.

• Finally, the conclusion paragraph should originally

restate the thesis and the main supporting ideas.
Finish with the a statement that reinforces your
position in a meaningful and memorable way.
 • Never introduce new material in the conclusion.

• How to write a convincing narrative

When you write a narrative essay, you are telling a

story. Narrative essays are told from from a defined point
of view, often the author's, so there is feeling as well as
specific and often sensory details provided to get the reader
involved in the elements and sequence of the story. The
verbs are vivid and precise.

The narrative essay makes a point and that point is

often defined in the opening sentence, but can also be
found as the last sentence in the opening paragraph. (For
test taking purposes, it can be wise to put if first so that the
person grading does not miss it.

Since a narrative relies on personal experiences, it

often is in the form of a story. When the writer uses this
technique, he or she must be sure to include all the
conventions of storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax,
and ending.

It is usually filled with details that are carefully

selected to explain, support, or embellish the story. All of
the details relate to the main point the writer is attempting
to make.

To summarize, the narrative essay

• is told from a particular point of view

• makes and supports a point
• is filled with precise detail
• uses vivid verbs and modifiers
• uses conflict and sequence as does any story
• may use dialogue

• How to write good Persuasive Paragraphs

Persuasive writing attempts to convince the reader

that the point of view or course of action recommended
by the writer is valid. To accomplish this, the writer must
develop a limited topic which is well defined and debatable,
that is has more than one side. It is important that the
author understand other sides of the position so that the
strongest information to counter the others can be
presented. In the essay, only one side of the issue is
presented.

Like all kinds of five paragraph essays, there is a

specific format to be followed.

1. The topic sentence cannot be a fact as facts cannot be

debated. It should be a statement of position. That position
must be clear and direct. This statement directs the readers
to follow along with your logic towards the specific stated
conclusion that you want them to support. Do not make it
personal so do not use personal pronouns. Make it
definitive.

2. Then, in the same introductory paragraph, state the

three best reasons that you have to support your position
as the remainder of the opening paragraph. These reasons
become the topics of each of the three supporting
paragraphs. Again, be sure they are able to be supported
with additional separate facts.

3. In the body of the essay, the writer uses specific

evidence, examples, and statistics and not broad
generalizations or personal opinions to persuade the reader
that the stated position is a valid one. Each topic sentence
for the support paragraphs have been introduced in the
beginning paragraph. Each additional sentence must closely
relate to the topic and the sentence that came before it.
This way, the logic of the argument is easy to follow.

4. Be sure to use adequate transitions between paragraphs

as they make it easy for the reader to follow the logic of the
presentation.

5. As one closes the essay, it is most important to to clearly

redefine the topic and restate the most compelling
evidence cited in original form. Remember, this is the last
chance to remind the reader and convince him/her to
accept the writer's position.

Do not introduce new material in the conclusion.

• Transition Words

Using transitional words and phrases helps papers

read more smoothly.
They provide logical organization and understandability and
improve the connections and transitions between thoughts.

A coherent paper allows the reader to flow from the

first supporting point to the last.

Transitions indicate relations, whether within a

sentence, paragraph, or paper. This list illustrates
"relationships" between ideas, followed by words and
phrases that can connect them.
Addition:
also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore,
in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly

Consequence:
accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for
this purpose,
hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus,
thereupon, wherefore

Generalizing:
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally
speaking, ordinarily, usually

Exemplifying:
chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly,
namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as

Illustration:
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration,
illustrated with, as an example, in this case
Emphasis
above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly,
singularly

Similarity:
comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically,
likewise, similar, moreover, together with

Exception:
aside from, barring, besides, except, excepting, excluding,
exclusive of, other than, outside of, save

Restatement:
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in
short, in brief, to put it differently

Contrast and Comparison:

contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise,
on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather,
similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast

Sequence:
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the
same time,
for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn,
later on,
meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while,
earlier,
simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,

Summarizing:
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and
large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on
the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the
long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

Diversion:
by the way, incidentally

Direction:
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under,
above,
to the left, to the right, in the distance