Writing Workshop

FORMAL WRITING For school For college For business In applications This is a different tone than informal, and it has different rules. Writing Workshop

Take Notes! • Do NOT use the word “I” in any way. • Do NOT address your reader as “you.” • This includes I, we, me, my, mine, us, ours, you, yours, etc. • Do NOT use contractions: it’s, can’t, doesn’t, etc. Write them out: it is, cannot, does not. • Do NOT use slang.

What does this mean for my paper? • Edit your paper and replace all contractions with the full wording. • Take out any instances of “I” or “you.” • Edit your paper for slang, and replace with more formal wording.

Slang • Idekgoes ballistic once she is privately alone in her room. • Everyone is waiting for Elieto bail on helping his father. • If Cholmo does not march correctly during practice, Franz will spaz out. • Elie is just a kid; no way would he survive Holocaust.

What is wrong with this? • “In this paper I am going to tell you how Elieis a round and dynamic character. I will show how his fatherhelps him keep his humanity.”

This is better! • In the novel Night, Elie is portrayed as an extremely religious youth who is changed by exceedingly brutal violence, harsh working conditions and inhuman cruelty.

Remember! • When writing about a novel, you MUST mention the author’s name and the title of the book in your FIRST paragraph! • Go back and add it to your Night.

Present tense verbs • When one is writing about literature, one writes in the present tense. Like this: Katniss feels panicked when Prim’s name is drawn. She immediately volunteers to take Prim’s place. Of course the audience loves this; it makes the Games more dramatic.

More Present Tense • Elieis the son of a baker. He knows the Rabbi’s sonfrom school, and even gives himbread once when she is starving. However, they are not friends before the Holocaust. They never even have a conversation. • READ your paper OUT LOUD!! This is THE BEST way to proofread your verbs.

Speaking of quotes…. • When writing about a novel, one uses quotes from that novel for support. Here is an instance of quote use: • Even though she knows she looks beautiful, Katniss is nervous before her first interview with CeasarFlickerman. She tells us, “My palms are sweating like crazy” (126).

Katniss is both confused and irritated by the way people from the Captiol speak. In Chapter 5 she asks herself, “Why do these people speak in such high pitch? Why do their jaws barely open when they talk? Odd vowels, clipped words, and always a hiss on the letter s…no wonder it’s impossible not to mimic them” (61). * In a paper referring to more than one work, it would be (Collins 61).

Parenthetical Documentation • When you use a quote in your paper, you must cite the page number. • Because this paper is about a single book, you may assume the reader knows you are referencing Night. • The page number goes in parenthesis, after the last word, after the quotation marks, and before the period.

Book Titles • Book titles are always, always, always in italics • The Hunger Games • Never in quotes! • Underlining is for handwriting - italics

Rubric and Peer Edits • USE your rubric! Look at the different requirements, and make sure you are doing everything correctly. • USE your peer edits. Your classmates spent valuable time trying to give you helpful feedback.

Plot Summary • Plot summary means retelling the story. Giving too much plot summary is like a “book report” from elementary school. • Stick to your topic. Do not get sidetracked into the retelling or summarizing of the novel.

Use the correct word! • there, their, they’re • to, too, two • your, you’re • do, due, dew • hear, here • where, wear

Reminders • Project is due Monday, October 25th • Paper is due Wednesday, October 27th

Writing Workshop