Grammar Boot Camp

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The Writing Process

• When writing, follow these steps
• A. Analyze the Assignment
• B. Brainstorm
• C. Construct a Plan
• D. Write Draft
• E. Edit for Content, Grammar Mechanics

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This workshop will teach you to

• A. Analyze the Assignment
• Understand what to write about
• B. Brainstorm
• Capture your first thoughts about the topic
• C. Construct a Plan
• Organize your ideas

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Analyze the Assignment

• Ask Yourself Three Questions
• 1. What is the topic?
• Your answer will keep you focused.
• 2. What is the purpose?
• Your answer will give you direction.
• 3. Who is the reader?
• Your answer will help you choose your style.
• Jot down your answers and keep them in mind as
  you write.

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Practice Pause

• In a letter to prospective students, describe the
  effects of attending college.
• 1. What is the topic?
• 2. What is the purpose?
• 3. Who is the reader?

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Brainstorm Capture Your First Thoughts

• Four Ways to Put Thoughts on Paper
• 1. Free Write
• 2. List
• 3. Cluster
• 4. Journalist Questions

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Capture Your First Thoughts 1. Free Write

• How to free write
• Freely write your thoughts in sentence form.
• Write your thoughts as they come to mind.
• Do not stop to correct errors or to edit.
• Works well for
• those who prefer to be uninhibited by structure.

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Capture Your First Thoughts 1. Free Write

• Example of a Free Write
• Topic effects of attending college

The effects of going to collegewhere do i start?
Tons of things come to mind. Like now I have a
career goal. And confidents that I can do it.
Made lots of new friends. The food is pretty bad
though. There isnt much free time either because
of all of the homework. But I know it will all be
worth it!
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Capture Your First Thoughts 1. Free Write

• Characteristics of a Free Write

Informal language style
Informal language style
Sentence Fragments
The effects of going to collegewhere do i start?
Tons of things come to mind. Like now I have a
career goal. And confidents that I can do it.
Made lots of new friends. The food is pretty bad
though. There isnt much free time either because
of all of the homework. But I know it will all be
worth it!
Misspelling
Let your first thoughts flow without stopping to
edit.
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Practice Pause

• Practice Prompt
• In an essay to your teacher, explain the benefits
  of your favorite hobby.
• Free Write on this prompt for 2 minutes.

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Capture Your First Thoughts 2. List

• How to list
• Jot down your thoughts in short words and
  phrases.
• Write your thoughts down quickly.
• Draw line down middle of paper when writing about
  two aspects of your topic.
• Works well for
• those who prefer structure and organization.

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Capture Your First Thoughts 2. List

• Example of a List
• Topic the effects of attending college

Good Effects Bad
Effects - Get an education - Give up some
personal time - Training for a career - Stress
of doing - Build confidence
assignments on time - Meet new friends - Cost
of classes/books
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Capture Your First Thoughts 2. List

• Characteristics of a List
• Topic the effects of attending college

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Capture Your First Thoughts 3. Cluster

• How to cluster
• Write topic in middle of page
• Jot words/phrases that come to mind about topic
• Connect ideas in groups using circles and lines
• Works well for
• those who prefer to visualize ideas.

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Capture Your First Thoughts 3. Cluster

• Example of a cluster
• Topic the effects of attending college

financial burden
get an education
give up personal time
good effects
going to college
bad effects
training for a career
build confidence
stress of assignments
meet new friends
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Capture Your First Thoughts 3. Cluster

• Characteristics of a cluster

financial burden
get an education
two aspects of topic
give up personal time
good effects
going to college
bad effects
training for a career
build confidence
stress of assignments
meet new friends
topic in middle of page
various supporting ideas
Group ideas and connect with circles and lines.
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Practice Pause

• Practice Prompt
• In an essay to your teacher, explain the benefits
  of your favorite hobby.
• Create a cluster for this prompt.

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Capture Your First Thoughts 4. Journalist
Questions

• How to use the Journalist Approach
• Write Journalist Questions on paper
• who, what, when, where, why, how
• Write questions on separate lines
• Jot down your answers in short words and phrases
• Works well for
• those who prefer to analyze all aspects of a
  topic

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Capture Your First Thoughts 4. Journalist
Questions

• Example of the Journalist Approach
• Topic the effects of attending college

Who? College students, friends family of
student What? Benefitseducation, job,
friends. Drawbackstime, money,
stress When? School year, spring
break Where? Community college, university,
library Why? To get education and better
job How? Fill out application, entrance
exams, financial aid, select schedule
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Capture Your First Thoughts 4. Journalist
Questions

• Characteristics of the Journalist Approach

Who? College students, friends family of
student What? Benefitseducation, job,
friends. Drawbackstime, money,
stress When? School year, spring
break Where? Community college, university,
library Why? To get education and better
job How? Fill out application, entrance
exams, financial aid, select schedule
Brief responses to questions
List of journalist questions
Analyze all aspects of topic by answering
questions.
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Keep These Tips in Mind

• 1. Leave your essay alone for a while
• Distance yourself for a fresh perspective by
  taking a walk, taking a nap, etc.
• 2. Be flexible
• Experiment with different ways to capture your
  thoughts, like audio or video taping yourself.
• 3. Be prepared
• Carry a notebook so that you can jot your ideas
  down as they come to you.
• 4. Talk to someone about it
• Meet with a tutor, your teacher or a classmate.
•  

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Construct a PlanOrganize Your Thoughts

• Three Ways to Organize Thoughts
• 1. Make an Idea Map
• 2. Develop a Topic Sheet System
• 3. Sketch an Outline

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Organize Your thoughts1. Idea Map

• How to make an Idea Map
• Use note cards, sticky notes or other small,
  moveable writing papers.
• Jot only one idea per card.
• Move cards to group similar ideas.

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Organize Your Thoughts3. Make an Idea Map
How many feet long should it be? How many feet
wide?
Need to buy lumber, nails, wood glue and stain.
How many seats should there be? It depends on
the length.
Need to have hammer, saw and level.
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Organize Your Thoughts3. Make an Idea Map
Need to buy lumber, nails, wood glue and stain.
How many feet long should it be? How many feet
wide?
Need to have hammer, saw and level.
How many seats should there be? It depends on
the length.

• Jot one or two ideas for each note
• Move notes to categorize ideas

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Organize Your thoughts2. Topic Sheet System

• How to use the Topic Sheet System
• Use note cards, sticky notes or other small,
  moveable writing papers.
• Jot only one idea per card.
• Move cards to group similar ideas.

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Organize Your Thoughts2. Develop a Topic Sheet
System
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Organize Your Thoughts2. Develop a Topic Sheet
System

• Write topic at top of sheet
• One sheet per topic
• List support for each topic

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Organize Your thoughts3. Informal Outline

• How to create an Informal Outline
• Write a sentence that best states your answer to
  the prompt working thesis
• Use a letter/number system to sequentially
  categorize ideas
• Break main points into subheadings
• Break subheadings into minor subheadings
• Break minor subheadings into details
• Use short words/phrases
• Aim to have at least two points per topic

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Organize Your Thoughts1. Sketch an Outline
Thesis To build a picnic table, one must design
the table, gather the materials and equipment,
and then assemble the pieces. I. Design the
table A. Style of table 1. Traditional
Design 2. Family-Style B. Size of table 1.
9-feet long 2. 3-feet high II. Gather materials
and equipment A. Materials 1. Lumber 2.
Nails B. Equipment 1. Saw 2. Hammer
Thesis
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Organize Your Thoughts1. Sketch an Outline
Thesis To build a picnic table, one must design
the table, gather the materials and equipment,
and then assemble the pieces. I. Design the
table A. Style of table 1. Traditional
Design 2. Family-Style B. Size of table 1.
9-feet long 2. 3-feet high II. Gather materials
and equipment A. Materials 1. Lumber 2.
Nails B. Equipment 1. Saw 2. Hammer
Write thesis statement at top of page
Topic of 1st body paragraph
1st Main Support of body paragraph
Minor Support for Main Point A
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Practice Pause

• Write a third tier to this outline
• Thesis To build a picnic table, one must design
  the table, gather the materials and equipment,
  and then assemble the pieces.
• I. Design the table
• A. Style of table
• 1. Traditional Design
• 2. Family-Style
• B. Size of table
• 1. 9-feet long
• 2. 3-feet high
• II. Gather materials and equipment
• A. Materials
• 1. Lumber
• 2. Nails
• B. Equipment
• 1. Saw
• 2. Hammer
• III. Assemble the pieces

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Congratulations!

• You have successfully completed Session One of
  Essay Boot Camp!
• For more information on how to start your essay,
  visit a friendly, professional tutor at the Stone
  Writing Center.
• SW 104, East Campus 698-1364
  www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtctr