The document provides guidance on developing effective writing skills for college. It emphasizes that writing is an important part of most college courses and is key to success. It then offers tips for different stages of the writing process, including prewriting, outlining, revising, and getting feedback on written work. Additional guidance is provided on developing a clear thesis, choosing a topic, understanding audience and purpose, and adapting writing style for different contexts.

2.  In almost every course you
will take in college, you are
going to be asked to
present your
understanding of the
course using the written
word in tests, essays etc.
 It is important to your
success in college that you
master the skill of effective
writing.

3.  allows you to get ideas on paper,
even if you don’t think you know
the concepts.
 enables you to see relationships
between ideas.
 requires you to organize your
thoughts.
 inspires creativity.
 enables you to share your ideas.

4. 1. Pre-write to generate ideas
 Fill your mind with information from other
sources.
 Brainstorm, listing, free-writing
1. Organize your ideas in an outline
or essay map
 Try beginning with a thesis statement
1. Rewrite or revise to polish your work.
 Read, correct, add, remove.

5.  Know & clarify your goal
 Define your purpose
 Know your audience
 Select a topic
 Narrow your topic
 Develop a working thesis
 Support your thesis

6.  It reduces the topic to a  It creates interest in the
single idea, opinion, or topic.
key message.  It establishes the
 It presents your position purpose of the paper.
clearly and concisely.  It establishes the
 It’s a statement that can approach or pattern of
be supported by organization.
statistics, examples,  Each paragraph should
quotes, and references. develop a point that
supports your thesis.

8.  Read feedback from your instructor carefully so you can
learn things that will help you in future assignments.
 If you’re faced with lots of red ink
 take some time to recover before trying to learn
 allow yourself to be disappointed
 return to it with the intention of learning
 If you only receive a grade, ask for more feedback on
the strengths and weaknesses of your paper.
 If you don’t understand something, ask questions.

9.  Beware of the differences in formal and
informal writing.
 How would you word an email to a friend?
 To a professor?
 Be sure to consider the reader’s point of
view.

10. Now that you have that timeless writing on
paper, it’s time to give it to the world (or your
class) as the spoken word…
 Right! It’s time to stand up forth-rightly in
front of your fellow human beings (gulp!) and
give an oral presentation!

11.  Clarify your objective
 Persuade or inform?
 Analyze your audience
 What do they know? What do they want to know? Who
are they? What are their attitudes?
 Collect and organize your information
 Choose your visual aids
 Easyto follow, allow listeners time to process, maintain
eye contact with audience – don’t address the screen.
 Prepare your notes
 Practice your delivery
 Rehearse aloud

12.  Make eye contact as often as
possible
 Smile, but not excessively or
inappropriately
 Pay attention to volume, pitch
and speed of your voice
 Pronunciation and word choice
are important
 Consider your appearance

13.  G – Get your audience’s attention
 U – “You” – don’t forget yourself
 I – Ideas, ideas, ideas
 D – Develop an organizational structure
 E – Exit gracefully and memorably

14. Use PREParation
 [P] Point of view.
 [R] Reasons.
 [E] Evidence of examples.
 [P] Point of view restated.

15.  The number one reason for writing and
speaking is:
 So make your work:
 Clear
 Concise
 Understandable
 Interesting

16.  Location: AUDB 105
 940.565.2563
 http://www.unt.edu/writinglab/