(this a
student's writing in response to an assignment to write a
paper on the best or worst job he ever had. Notice that
there are problems with spelling, grammar, and punctuation
in his freewriting. This student was not worried about such
matters. At this stage, he just wanted to do some thinking
on paper and get some material down on the page. He knew
that this was a good first step, a good way of getting
started, and that he would then be able to go on and shape
that material.)
Technique 2:
Questioning
In question, you generate ideas and details by
asking as many questions as you can think of abut your
subject. Such questions include Why? When? Where? Who ?
How ? In What ways?
If you write
about bad job that you had, here are question:
Questions Answer
What did I hate about the
job? Very hard work; poor pay; mean bosses.
How was the work hard? Nonstop
cartons of apple juice .
Why was
pay poor? $3.65 an hour (minimum wage at
the time)
Only a quarter more
for working the second
shift. Only good money
was in overtime-where
you got time-a -half.
No double time.
How
were the bosses Yelled at some workers.
Showed no appreciation,
Created bad working
conditions.
In what
ways were working Unheated truck in zero-degree
weather. Floor
conditions bad? of tractor trailer was
cold steel.
Breaks were limited-only
two of them. Lonely job.
Technique 3:
Making a list
In making a list, also
known as brainstorming. you create a list of ideas and
details that relate to your subject.
In what
ways were working Unheated truck in zero-degree
weather. Floor
conditions bad? of tractor trailer was
cold steel.
Breaks were limited-only
two of them. Lonely job.
Apple factory--worst
one I ever had
Bosses were mean
Working conditions were poor
When to work at 5 P.M, Got back at 7A.M.
Lifted Cartons of apple juice for ten hours
Cartons were heavy
Only two ten-minute breaks a night
Pay was only $3.65 an hour
Just quarter extra for night shift
Cost of gas money to and from work
No pay for lunch break
Had to work 60 hours for good take-home pay
Loaded onto wooden skids in a truck
Bosses yelled at some workers
Temperature zero outside
Floors of trucks ice-cold metal
Nonstop pace
Had to clean apple vats after work
Slept, ate, and worked-no social life
NO real friends at work
Apple factory--worst
one I ever had
Bosses
were mean
3. Working conditions were poor
When to work at 5 P.M, Got back at 7 A.M.
1. Lifted Cartons of apple juice for ten hours
1. Cartons were heavy
3. Only two ten-minute breaks a night
2. Pay was only $3.65 an hour
2. Just quarter extra for night shift
Cost of gas money to and from work
2. Had to work 60 hours for good take-home pay
1. Loaded onto wooden skids in a truck
Bosses yelled at some workers
3. Temperature zero outside
Floors of trucks ice-cold metal
1. Nonstop pace
3. No pay for lunch break
3. Had to clean apple vats after work
Slept, ate, and worked-no social life
3. NO real friends at work
Technique
4:Preparing a Scratch Outline
A scratch outline can be the single most helpful
technique for writing a good paper. A scratch outline often
follows freewriting, questioning, making a list, but it may
also gradually emerge in the midst of these strategies. in
fact, trying to make a scratch outline is a good way to see
if you need to do more prewriting. If you cannot come up
with a solid outline, then you know you need to do more
prewriting to clarify your main point and its several kinds
of support.
In a scratch outline, you think carefully about the point
you are making, the supporting items for that point, and the
order in which you will arrange those items.
Under the list, the student
was now able to prepare his scratch outline:
The apple plant was my
worst job.
1. Hard work. 2 Poor
pay 3. Poor working conditions.
Next
