The Winsome Scholar

Here is a link to the previous post, How to Write an Article.  If you ever have trouble finding a post, use the calendar on the side, the "Tags" section, or the search box at the top of the screen.

Here are some (legible) notes from our discussion in class.  While we are going to be using these steps to create newspaper/magazine articles, the process is the same for coming up with a topic for just about any type of nonfiction writing.

• Choose your topic.  It should be something you’re interested in, something you have a question about.
• Research your topic. As you go, make sure you have a solid understanding of your topic. If you don’t understand your topic, you are likely to confuse or put off your audience.
  • Take notes, mark up your book, look up other sources, mark them up.  This step is important.  You’ll thank yourself later if you do this.
  • As you consume, ask questions of the work:
    • Am I a cockroach?  Does the author’s comparison work?
    • Is radio really irrelevant?  Does music really make commercials better?
    • Where are video games headed?
    • Why do people go to Disney World?
    • Where can I buy one? [Okay, that last one would be a short article.
  • These questions will become the "prompt" for your essay.  The great thing about it is that you can change your question if the answer seems obvious or the answer would take too long to come up with.  [Avoid "What is the meaning of life," for example.  (Unless your answer is "42."  Wait, that's too short.)]
  • After you find your question, begin thinking about a possible answer.  Read through your notes, look for other sources, and talk with friends that know something about your topic, and some that don’t.  The first group can help clarify and help with ideas, while the second can ask questions and check your understanding.
  • Begin writing your article.

  We’ll talk about the last steps tomorrow.

[This post was WinsomeWiki'd on 5 Jul. 2009.]

Jargon, slang, colloquialisms are all interesting parts of diction (To sum up the previous section: interesting writers choose interesting words over boring ones in order to infuse their writing with more information). Jargon is a word for any set of words devoted to a particular task usually used by a particular group or organization. For example, there can be sailing jargon (“aft,” “starboard,” “boom,” etc.), as well as sailing slang and colloquialisms (“avast matey,” “shiver me timbers”). I assume you are all familiar with the slang of previous generations: “cool,” “gnarly,” “far out,” etc. (For this, [i.e. your] generation, I use UrbanDictionary.com.) So, slang is used in everyday conversation, but never in academic or professional writing.

Colloquialisms are similar. Droppin’ the “g” after words ending in “-ing” is a Southern colloquialism. These words are usually defined by a geographical location (a good dictionary will tell you the location in which these words are used), but as you can see, slang and colloquialisms are very similar. The second word is just longer. Jargon, however, is quite different from the other two. Jargon is used amongst people that are familiar with the topic being discussed. For English students, “gerund,” “apostrophe,” “synecdoche,” and “metonymy” are jargon words. Those who have never studied the language would not understand the technical terms. I am sure you can come up with a few for computer programming, gaming, sports, auto repair, astrophysics, or any other hobby or study.

When an author uses jargon (without defining it), he or she is speaking to a specific audience. So, if you find your author using several words that you are unfamiliar with, grab a dictionary and look them up. If, for example, you look up “humor” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, you will find ^“hu·mor noun . . . 2 a in medieval physiology” below the standard definitions. “In medieval physiology” applies to the word when it is used as jargon.

[This post was WinsomeWiki'd on 5 Jul. 2009.]

I have received several messages from you guys about the essay we are currently writing. Here is a quick overview of what we went over in class:

An essay has three parts:
An Introduction
A Body
and a Conclusion

The introduction should be one paragraph long and contain several elements:
An introductory sentence containing the author’s name and the name of the work you are discussing.
Your thesis statement, or the point you are trying to make with your essay. This is the most vital part of your writing. Present a solid thesis statement and back it with the body paragraphs and you will have an amazing essay. This should be the final sentence of your opening paragraph.
Example thesis: Hornby’s characters explore what it means to be “cool” by adopting the actions of one another, though they soon realize that they are looking for connections, not cool in their lives.

The body of your essay is made up of all the paragraphs between the introduction and the conclusion.
Each paragraph of the body should contain:
A topic sentence. What is this paragraph going to be about? As you did with your thesis statement, sum up the point of this paragraph in the first sentence, then include your ideas/explanations. Your ideas and explanations should be backed with examples or quotations from the text.
Example topic sentence: The bullying Marcus endures at school highlights his outsider status.

Example quotation: Marcus’s relationship with Ellie was a matter of surprise for everyone. “Just about every kid in the room stopped . . . and turned around” when Ellie called to Marcus in the busy cafeteria (Hornby 170).

If you find yourself writing about several different topics in the same paragraph, break it into several pieces, making sure each new paragraph applies to your thesis. If it does not apply, chuck it or change your thesis. (This is why the outline is an important step; it is easier to throw out a bullet than a paragraph.)

The conclusion wraps up your essay. Briefly describe the points you made (without adding new information), and reflect on the point you’ve made.

Keep in mind the basic rules of academic writing:
Keep a formal tone (no slang, text jargon, personal anecdotes)
No personal pronouns
No contractions
12 point Times New Roman font
One inch margins all around
Header on the left
Page number top right

That’s it! Well done.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please email me.

[This page was WinsomeWiki'd on 4 Jul. 2009]