Writing Presentations

Writing is a way of interacting with others. It is a social activity. (SF pp. 6-13)

• Establish the purpose: To persuade? To inform? To entertain?

• The purpose should help you define your audience and how to present

• Consider the impression you will make: Are you credible? Honest? Fair?

• Use an appropriate tone. How well do you know the audience?

Stages of writing: (SF p. 6)

• Preparing

• Researching

• Planning

• Drafting

• Simmering/incubating

• Revising

• Editing

• Proofreading

In college classes, you may encounter more abstract ideas and unfamiliar words, so you should cultivate an attitude of inquiry, for example: (1) read as a believer and as a doubter; (2) assess the writer's qualifications; (3) look carefully at the evidence; (4) assess whether the evidence supports the writer's claims; (5) look for unstated assumptions; (6) take notice of contradictions; (7) look for biases; (8) be skeptical of simple solutions; (9) don't be a "black and white" thinker – be open-minded; (10) be suspicious of obvious bias; and, (11) look for what is missing. (SF "Critical Thinking")

Six questions journalists ask: (SF p. 24)

• Who?

• What?

• Where?

• When?

• Why?

• How?

DEFINITIONS:

Thesis – "A sentence (or two or three) that identifies the point of a paper." (SF p.30); sometimes called a "problem" statement; a declarative statement that clarifies your topic and presents your opinion; also incorporates qualifications or limitations (APA pp. 2-3).

Hypothesis – "A sentence that guides an argument or investigation" and can be proved or disproved by further examination (APA p. 3).

Objective – "A brief, well-focused statement that clearly defines the topic" (APA p. 3)

Ten Parts of the Manuscript

1.Title Page – fewer than 12 words, usually fits on one line

2.