Page 299 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

ACTIVITY 11.1

Applying the Writing Methodology

Learning skills: defining purpose, outlining, prioritizing

WHY

By working through the first several steps in the Writing Methodology, you are learning and practicing the
steps to effective written communication. Writing requires critical thinking, and these steps will help you
focus that thinking. As you shape your ideas into sentences and paragraphs during the drafting stage, you
will be trying out the most accurate and effective ways to present your ideas in writing. To keep writing
at this stage, do not let your internal questions about a specific word or sentence become roadblocks to
the draft of your essay. At this stage, follow the advice of American humorist and writer James Thurber
(1894-1961): “Don’t get it right, just get it written.”

Being able to rely on the Writing Methodology will assist you in developing strong writing skills. Strong
and consistent writing skills are valuable in college and in the workplace. We write more and more publicly
than ever before.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Practice using the Writing Methodology and increase your confidence when writing in college or
professional contexts.

2. Apply the following stages of the Writing Methodology to a specific writing assignment:
Exploratory writing
Identifying a topic, purpose, and audience
Composing a thesis statement
Planning a draft
Creating a draft

3. Compose an initial thesis statement and a clear plan to compose a solid first draft of your essay

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Criterion #1: the exploratory thesis statement you develop
Attributes:
a. reflects a high level of critical thinking
b. reflects a degree of creativity

Chapter 11 — Writing in College continued on following page
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