ELEMENTS OF

EFFECTIVE WRITING

Writing is an essential skill that students need if they are to participate meaningfully and successfully in the modern world.

Five Elements of Effective Writing1.Central idea2.Organization3.Supporting Material4.Expression, word choice, and

point of view 5.Spelling, Grammar, and

Punctuation

Excellent Writing Dr. Stephen Wilbers

Central Idea

This element of good writing involves focusing on a clear, manageable idea, argument, or thesis around which to organize your material. It includes selecting subordinate ideas that support and reinforce your central idea.

Checkpoints: • Purpose or central idea is sufficiently limited for meaningful discussion. • Central idea is clearly stated, normally in the opening. • All subordinate ideas relate clearly to the central idea.

This element of writing has to do with coherent arrangement of material. It involves keeping the reader oriented to the central and subordinate ideas. Good organization is logical and sequential. It guides the reader between divisions of the material.

ORGANIZATION

Checkpoints: • Introduction orients the reader to the central idea and the line of reasoning. • Material is arranged in a logical and coherent sequence; subordinate ideas are effectively identified. • Transitions are clear and helpful. • Conclusion or closing summarizes the argument, emphasizes the central idea, and leaves the reader with a sense of completion.

SUPPORTING MATERIAL Explanations, examples, statistics, and quotations make the ideas and information presented meaningful and memorable for the reader. In exposition, the role of supporting material is to clarify; in argument, to persuade.

Checkpoints: • Examples are relevant, specific, detailed,

sufficient, and persuasive. • Quotations support the argument.

EXPRESSION, WORD CHOICE, AND POINT OF VIEW Language is clear, specific, accurate, and appropriate to the audience, purpose, and material. Variety in sentence structure and length creates emphasis.

Checkpoints: • Word choice is clear, specific, accurate,

unassuming, and free of clichés and misused jargon. • Sentences are free of wordiness and ambiguity.

SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND PUNCTUATION

This element of good writing counts only when it’s wrong. Fair or not, your reader will notice your spelling, grammar, or punctuation only when you make a mistake.

Checkpoints: • Spelling, including technical terms and proper

names, is correct. • Correct words are used to convey the intended

meaning.• Generally accepted rules of grammar and syntax

are followed, including pronoun/noun agreement, subject/verb agreement, appropriate verb tense, pronoun case, possessive forms, parallel construction, etc.

• Punctuation, particularly comma placement, reflects standard usage.

• Copy is free of mechanical errors and mistakes in proofreading.

CHARACTERISTICS OF

GOOD WRITING

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

1. Clarity and focus: in good writing, everything makes sense and readers don’t get lost or have to reread passages to figure out what’s going on. Focused writing sticks with the plot or core idea without running off on too many tangents.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

2. Organization: a well organized piece of writing is not only clear, it’s presented in a way that is logical and aesthetically pleasing.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

3. Ideas and themes: Is the topic of your paper relevant? Does your story come complete with themes? Can the reader visualize your poem? For a piece of writing to be considered well crafted, it has to contain clearly identifiable ideas and themes.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

4. Voice: this is what sets you apart from all other writers. It’s your unique way of stringing words together, formulating ideas, and relating scenes or images to the reader. In any piece of writing, the voice should be consistent and identifiable.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

5. Language (word choice): we writers can never underestimate or fail to appreciate our most valuable tools: words. Good writing includes smart and appropriate word choices and well crafted sentences.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

6. Grammar and style: many writers would wish this one away, but for a piece of writing to be considered good, it has to follow the rules of grammar (and break those rules only when there’s a good reason). Style is also important in ensuring that a piece of writing is clear and consistent. Make sure you keep a grammar book and style guide handy.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

7. Credibility or believability: nothing says bad writing like getting the facts wrong or misrepresenting oneself. In fiction, the story must be believable (even if it’s impossible), and in nonfiction, accurate research can make or break a writer.

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A general list of the characteristics of good writing (in no particular order):

8. Thought-provoking or emotionally inspiring: perhaps the most important quality of good writing is how the reader responds to it. Does she come away with a fresh perspective and new ideas? Does he close the cover with tears in his eyes or a sense of victory? How readers react to your work will fully determine your success as a writer.

W R I T I N G