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CMPT 105W – Lecture on Writing
Introduction to Writing Process
Dr. Felix Lo
Learning Objectives
§ Rule vs. strategy-based writing
§ Writing Process
o Everyone is unique
o Iterative process of writing
§ Key differences between expert and
novice writers
Rule vs. Strategy-based Writing
Rules vs Strategies
§ Rules: Offside, Goal or no goal, out of
bound
§ Strategies: Possession, Counterattack,
Different Formations
§ Problem: Treating Strategies as Rules
Rules vs Strategies
§ Basic rules in writing (verb, noun,
adjective, sentence)
§ Some recommended ways of writing
are treated as “rules” E.g.
o Never end a sentence with a preposition.
o Never use the passive voice.
o Never start a sentence with because.
The Case of Prepositional Endings
§ Never end a sentence with a preposition?
That is the sort of errant effrontery up with
which I shall not put.
-- Winston Churchill
§ Which sentence is easier to understand?
Why?
That is the sort of behaviour up
with which I will not put.
That is the sort of behaviour I
will not put up with.
The Case for Passive Voice
Many exceptions to the “Passive Voice”
rule:
§ Does knowing the actor matter?
§ Can it make two sentences be more
cohesive (flows better)?
Many astrophysicists have studied black holes
in space. The collapse of a dead star into a point
creates a black hole.
Many astrophysicists have studied black holes
in space. A black hole is created by the collapse
of a dead star into a point.
The Case of Because
Test Question:
Why did Spot chase Fluff in
the story?
§ What the student wrote:
Answer: Because Fluff is a cat and Spot is
a dog.
§ What the teacher wanted
Answer: Spot chased Fluff because Fluff
is a cat and Spot is a dog.
Alternatives to Because
As the truck was in gear, the load of boxes slid
off the tailgate.
Could mean:
While the truck was in
gear, the load of boxes
slid off the tailgate.
or
Because the truck was in
gear, the load of boxes
slid off the tailgate.
Rules vs Strategies
§ How can we distinguish these “grey”
areas?
§ In soccer: “Practice! Practice! Practice!”
§ In language: Read and write a lot
§ Final Goal: communication to readers
§ Need to view writing as strategy based
Writing Processes
Unique Writing Processes
§ Usual or preferred practices
Ø Noise vs Quiet
Ø Orderly vs Chaotic environment
Ø Well scheduled vs Pressure
§ Attitudes
Ø Prefer writing certain types of documents
or genres
Ø Prefer writing for particular audiences
Writing Environment
Where do you like to write?
§ In a quiet or a noisy place?
§ In a messy or neat environment?
§ At a computer or using pen and paper?
§ Is your workspace ergonomic?
§ Can you control your environment?
§ Can you write with interruptions?
How do you compose?
Like Mozart?
§ Planned in your head and then
drafted with little revision?
Like Beethoven?
§ Revised over and over again
Or somewhere
in between?
3 Subprocesses of
Writing Processes
§ Inventing – creative phase,
brainstorming of ideas
§ Drafting – getting ideas into
sentences and paragraphs
§ Revising – editing, grammar
corrections, improving coherence
and conciseness
Writing Process
1. Writing as a Linear Process
INVENTING DRAFTING REVISING
2. Writing as an Iterative Process
INVENTING
R G
EV IN
IS FT
IN A
G R
D
Four Approaches
1. Combining inventing, I D Less Efficient
(Better for
drafting, and revising R Shorter Docs)
2. Combining inventing
I D+ R
and drafting
3. Combining drafting and
I +D R
revising
4. Separating inventing, More Efficient
I + D + R (Better for
drafting, and revising Longer Docs)
Four Approaches
1. Combining inventing, drafting, I D
and revising in an organic fashion R
o Think and write freely
o Much may get deleted or added
o Advantage: High creative, best
for short documents
o Disadvantage: Not efficient for
long documents
Four Approaches
4. Separating inventing,
I + D + R
drafting, and revising
o Best for lengthy documents like
textbooks or user manuals
o A lot of effort put into planning
o Extensive planning is very important
in team-written docs
o Not commonly used approach
Four Approaches
2. Combining inventing I D+ R
and drafting
o Very common before the advent of
word processing software.
o Advantage: writing as a way to think
through your problem.
o This allows you to write a second
draft with much more mature ideas.
Four Approaches
3. Combining drafting I +D R
and revising
o Possible with Word Processor
o Best when word choices must be very
precise: legal docs, requirement specs
o Major Drawback: slows down the drafting
process in perfecting wording and style
o Key: sufficient planning and organizing
Expert vs Novice in Writing
Where do you spend your time?
In your opinion, what should be the
proportion of time devoted to:
Ø Inventing _______%
Ø Drafting _______%
Ø Revising _______%
Where do you spend your time?
Inventing Drafting Revising
Inexperienced
50% 45% 5%
Writer
Experienced
25% 35% 40%
Writer
§ Less than 40% of your time is spent on
revising? Consider spending more time.
§ The ability to read your words as a reader.
§ Revising right after you write ≠
Revising a day later ≠
Revising a few months later
Tips to Improve Writing
Effectiveness
Improvements to writing environment:
§ Provide a quiet interruption-free
environment
§ Organize the writing environment
§ Improve the lighting and physical comfort
Improvements to computer skills:
§ Master using the word processor
§ Use citation tools (e.g., Zotero)