Guidelines and Expectations---
(1)your blog post should be 250-500 words (do not exceed 500 words).
(2)your blog post should engage in conversation with the other bloggers. This means if you are NOT the first one to post you need to mention at least one or two of your peers’ responses in your entry i.e. you may agree or disagree with what someone else’s ideas of what good writing is. You need to cite this person in your response and note why you are citing this person (for example, Kara mentioned that good writing has three components, but I’m not sure I agree. I believe...). Don't forget to do this as it is part of the assignment.
(3) your blog post should respond to the following prompt:
(a) what is writing--the definitions, ideas, thoughts, expressions, etc--you associate w/ writing. What makes writing good to you? When you think of arguments and writing--what comes to mind? How do you believe you create an argument? What type of writer do you see yourself as? (b) create a list of 5-8 key terms you believe define good writing and/or good argumentation. By the end of this first blog post, I want you to come up with a definition of writing and argumentation that includes a list of key terms.
(4) your blog post is due by classtime on Thursday, September 12, 2013.
Posted for Josh:
ReplyDeleteWriting, defined by Merriam Webster, is defined as, "the act or practice of literary or musical composition." (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writing) This definition suits all forms of writing, however, I believe it lacks personality. I believe writing is the expression of someone's inner being. Writing lets us express our innermost thoughts and emotions with other people of the present and future. Our thoughts can come and go with the wind, but once we write them down, a piece of ourselves is immortalized forever.
When I thing of arguments and writing, skill comes to mind. Whether an argument is on paper or or in person, it must be fought with incredible finesse. There are two types of arguments, the University of Maryland defines them as, "Aristotelian or adversarial, and Rogerian or consensus-building." (http://www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/onlineguide/chapter8-03.cfm) Aristotelian arguments can be created fighting for or against a hypothesis while a Rogerian argument is created by fighting for an agreement among all parties, creating a win-win scenario.
I see myself as a verbal writer. I prefer to write the same way I talk. This manner of writing is extremely easy for me because I find it easy to talk. Of course there are many mistakes in my writing after I finish a rough draft, but after a couple revisions my writing polishes and glistens. I also love this type of writing because It improves my speaking ability at the same time as I write.
My list of 6 Key Terms that define good, argumentative writing are: be
1) Succinct
2) Engaging
3) Essentially Perfect (the grammatical essentials are perfect)
4) Informative
5) Organized
6) Persuasive
A good, argumentative writing is an engaging literary work that is essentially perfect (no grammatical errors). It is also an engaging piece that makes the reader want to revisit the work and read it again pleasurably. The work must be organized in a logical fashion as to be optimally persuasive to the reader; a messy writing piece is a messy argument. Above all else, a good, argumentative piece is succinct and too the point; the reader should be on his/her toes for the entire reading period.
If you want to reply to Josh, you just hit "reply" and respond back to him.
DeleteWriting, for many if not all students, is an endeavor in which one challenges the body and mind. Writing (or typing) for hours on end feeling as if though the walls are closing in on you, watching the clock tick as the due date--or time in the case of the hyper-procrastinator--draw closer and closer. The thought of writing makes you cringe as you take a break and smoke a cigarette; inhaling the sweet nicotine and exhaling, the only thing that will keep you sane at this point. However, I do agree with Kara in that writing is one of the most personal and pure forms of expression. It is literally your thoughts turned to records in the annals of your history. You become a creator of sorts; and when you finally finish that dreadful paper, it is yours and no one else's. It is a small piece of your mind that you are handing in, and that is what I enjoy so much about writing. True, unfiltered expression of thoughts.
DeleteArgument and writing. These two words have been engrained into my skull by my eleventh grade English teacher, Ms.Teresa Duarte. My junior year of high school was my first exposure to argumentative writing; I was confused and perplexed by the topic at hand (like many of my peers) but she put it so simply, "Write whatever the hell you want, but convince me your right." So when i hear those two words, I think conviction. In order for an argument to be great it must be convincing, because if I can get you to agree that the murder of unicorns is ethical, I can do anything.
I enjoy writing my thoughts because sometimes a thought may be so complex the words can not leave your mouth. Sometimes when speaking, the speaker must filter their words so as to not sound stupid or offend their audience. My thoughts just flow and flow until I stop thinking. Though in doing so sometimes one may drift off into the imaginative part of the mind and write some really weird material, which is okay if that's what your going for; but I don't think a professor of quantum physics would very much enjoy an anecdote about the spider in the corner of your room.
Good writing should be:
Vivid
Personal (being able to write your thoughts, that is)
Captivating
Expressive
Articulate
A good piece of writing is a work that captivates the reader and takes him out of the real world, in order to do so the piece must be vivid and articulate. The author must describe and organize his thoughts in such a way that the reader will not want to stop reading, and in doing so the author is able to express himself and convey whatever message it is they are trying to convey.
I agree with Josh’s definition of writing. Writing must come from the heart. Personally, I find that a piece of writing that has no emotion in it is dry and boring. Even if it is just a paper that is written to inform the reader of facts, there should be at least a touch of emotion in it. For if the writer is not passionate about the subject, why should the reader be passionate about reading it?
ReplyDeleteI have always associated good writing with emotion. Any paper that has ever wowed me has always had an author that was clearly passionate about the subject. Whether it is passionate love or passionate hate, either way there is always great emotion involved in the writing. I have often found that scathing reviews are fascinating to read. And while I also agree with Josh on the fact that an argument needs finesse to work, I also think that if an argument is to be a truly great argument, emotion is needed. It makes the reader respond. Any person that reads a review that is shooting down a favorite book or movie of theirs is inevitably going to respond with just as much fervor defending their choice. However, I do concede that there cannot be so much emotion that logic is then discarded. Logic is needed for the argument, or any writing really, to stay coherent and organized. But to argue with all logic and no emotion would be to argue with a robot.
I think that I am a bit of a spontaneous writer. How I write often depends on my mood, as well as how interested I am in a subject. If I have any feeling about the subject, whether it is a blatant dislike or a tremendous love for it, I will write much better and the paper will come to me much faster. If I am indifferent to the subject, then I have a hard time finding the words to put down.
My 6 key terms to a good argument:
1. Emotional
2. Persuasive
3. Logical
4. Organized
5. Appealing (to the targeted audience)
6. Engaging
Writing is undefined because it is whatever you make it to be. Writing can be filled with an infinite amount of emotion, or no emotion at all. To me, good writing is a piece of literature that the audience can relate to in any way. As Josh said, writing allows us to express our innermost thoughts with others in the present and future. I agree with him because I believe writing should be filled with our true emotions so the audience can really relate to them and want to read more.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of arguments and writing, I think of a stimulated mind. Described by UNC, an argument is “expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence.” (http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/argument/). I believe that in order to create a good argument, the author must be writing about something he or she is truly passionate about. The only way a piece of literature is going to have a convincing argument is if the author fully believes in what he or she is arguing for or against.
I see myself as a freethinking writer. I like the write down all of my thoughts and then organize them once they are all down on paper. Sometimes my writing after the first draft is a little ramble-y, but after reviewing a view times I can usually get most of my thoughts in order and eliminate the repetitious ones.
My list of key terms that define good writing and good argumentation are:
1. Drafts. Many, many drafts.
2. Patience and belief in your argument.
3. Always keep the audience in mind.
4. True expression of emotion.
5. Concise and always paying attention to details.
6. Imaginative and thinking outside of the box.
Good writing always takes awhile to perfect. Draft after draft helps the author see his or her mistakes and gives him or her another chance to tweak anything that he or she may have overlook the first time reading through. Belief in your argument and expression of emotions always helps the argument become stronger. If the author is very behind his or her argument, the piece of writing will be much more convincing and stimulating. Always paying attention to detail is what makes the literature appear “perfect”. A good piece of writing holds little to no mistakes and being concise is the only things that catches these mistakes. Thinking outside of the box helps with creating an argument. I believe authors should write about things that have not been argued before or something that is new and enticing. Lastly, keeping the audience in mind is the most important thing to me. By writing towards a certain audience, it helps them relate more to the writing and become more engaged throughout the entire piece.
I feel like the a good writing require more than just "the act or practice of literary or musical composition." The author must put his energy and his soul into his work. What type of writer am I? This is very hard question. I would say that It depends on my mood. My focus of writing is that I want to make sure that the reader understand my thought process.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to argument, I think that argument will occur whenever two or more people have a disagreement (which later can lead into a fight.) However, an "educate conversation" is very difference because we have to respect the others. Many times in our history that the argument between small group of people can lead in to the big change or evolution. For example: Isaac and Leibniz calculus controversy led our nation to a next step.
Here is what I think about a good writing:
The most important thing to a good writing is that the writer has to respond to the question that is asked. Not only does the writer have to respond to the topic, the writer must also be able to bring the topic to the spotlight. It has to be interesting and grab others’ attention. Just like a great speech, a good writing can hold a very special place in people’s hearts. I love Walt Disney. Most of Walt Disney’s movies or animations were once cartoons. They once were flown in the paper before being adopted by television. These cartoons all share a common success, in each of them the topic and the plots of the stories outshine other cartoons.
Along with a good response to the topic, the writer must be able to show the thought process. It has to follow logic. Not everyone has the same logical thinking. It is the writer’s job to persuade the audience. There were countless times that very little details verified an out come of the writing. The Lion King’s author, my personal favorite movie, along with the production team has done a great job creating characters that hold a special place in many people’s heart. Scar is a great example of “great thought process.” He got a scar on his eye, dark hair (every other male lion has red hair), and his unreliable personality made him become a classic antagonist. All these little details encourage all of the spectators and readers to become part of The Lion King fan club.
Not only does a character can bring out the best of a writer’s mind, the character can also bring out the author’s voice. Looking at Timon and Pumbaa, from the Lion King, it was clear that these two characters were trying to approach a utopia society of love, peace, and harmlessness. The writer did a great job presenting this in his very own unique way. More importantly, these two characters are also a selling point of the story.
My key terms to a good writing:
1) Ideas (Wow factor, interesting)
2) Logical
3) Voice
4) Step outside the box
5) Great plan and thought process
6) Clearly explained
Good writing is an impressively broad topic. It's precise definition will always vary from person to person, which is why defining writing is such a difficult exercise. It is clear that Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Robert Heinlein, and J. K. Rowling are all excellent and successful authors, but their writing styles are extremely different, and about widely ranging topics.
ReplyDeleteEarlier, Marcelo mentioned that good writing should be personal. Not only do I agree that this is the case, but I also believe that it is impossible for writing not to be personal to some extent or another. It is a common adage to write what you know, and this will certainly improve your writing. At the same time it is doubtful that any of the aforementioned authors experienced everything they wrote about. Therefore, it is key to connect what you are writing to something similar in your daily life. You must have some basic knowledge of what you wish to describe to or persuade your readers of to be at all convincing.
Francoise also mentioned that emotion is important in her estimation of good writing. While it is possible to write about something which neither excites nor interests you (I would know, I've written far to many boring school paper,) your writing will be much improved if you are truly enamored of that which you write about. Conveying your emotions and beliefs through the written word can be a challenge, but doing so will make your writing immensely more engaging and interesting to your audience.
For me, I enjoy writing how I speak. Just like Dr. Taczak, I feel that I can more efficiently convey my ideas and concepts when I am writing in the same manner as I would think. This is how my thoughts naturally flow, and trying to write them in a different manner would be counter-productive and inefficient.
For me, the five keys to good writing would be:
1. Make it personal, so that you can write about what you know best.
2. Make it emotional, to convey your beliefs to your readers
3. Keep it simple, so that it is easily understandable.
4. Keep it brief, as people will be more likely to read it all the way through if it is shorter
5. Try to make it fun.
To get literal I would agree with Professor T’s definition defined by Merriam Webster. I also agree that it is lacking personality. I say this because writing to me is more than spewing words onto a paper. My father passed away several years back, I am a very open person, and recently my mom found an entry he posted a couple of months before his death on his high school reunion webpage. In his post he talked about his family and life and that brought me to my knees because somehow he was still able to connect with me. You truly leave a piece of yourself behind when you write something on paper. If you are going to leave a piece of yourself on “the trail of history”, make sure that it’s going to be worth “picking up”. I believe great writing illustrates how you are feeling and what mood you are in when you write the work; just how Francoise was saying, “How I write often depends on my mood”. If you are writing a paper for physics, really dive into the subject and get excited, therefore you will create a better paper. At least that’s what I believe.
ReplyDeleteIf I am actually writing an argument down I am going to be invested in that argument making every point perfect. The written argument has to flawless because that is my only time to argue, unless I am face to face. I believe the argument can only be perfect if the author is passionate about the matter. A passionate author will go the extra seven miles to stand behind his belief, where as, an author with no care about the argument will do what is average just to get their point across. People create arguments everyday, in the household, in public, and, surprisingly, in congress. Arguments arise when there are two or opposing sides for a decision, mistake, etc. A great argument consists of organization, facts, and passion. These lead to your persuasion to win over an audience.
Key Terms:
Motivation
Passion
Persuasion
Perfection
Organization
Depiction
I see myself a passionate, motivational author. Without passion for a subject, there is no reason for an author to waste their time or the time for the reader. Stephenie Meyer had a passion for love and vampires and decided to throw both of them into a blender and sell millions of Twilight books. I’m a motivational writer because I think no matter what I write, at least one reader might feel more inspired about the matter I am writing. If you are not trying to motivate yourself, as well as, others about interests and passions I believe you’re wasting a life worth living.
Writing is easy and hard to define. For example, writing is simply putting words on paper. That is the easy definition. However, this does not take into account the motivation for actually pressing graphite into that first line and pouring your ideas out for whoever wants to read it. People write to inform. Persuade. Tell a story. Remember. Forget. Some people will even write letters to contact their relatives in faraway places, imagine that! The point is, writing is not a field where there is any wrong. Recognizing that itself is the secret formula to beautiful writing. Writing is expressing your innermost thoughts and worries and your outermost joys and jubilations. It is a game with no rules, a pasture with no fences, a vast, open sea. It sounds amazing, but I did tell a few small lies. In the academic world, writing does have to conform to a few rules. It is probably wise to capitalize the first letter of every sentence and use punctuation marks if you desire anything above an F on your first college paper. Hell even your first grade papers needed periods! While writing is a pristine form of art, it is also an effective way to communicate and discuss important issues.
ReplyDeleteArguments are key to writing an impressive academic paper. I agree with a point Francoise made earlier about emotion being the driving force behind an argument. I believe if you want the reader to be interested, you have to take a side. This is how an argument starts. I see myself as a passionate writer; I love to write because it is such an emotional sensation that is difficult to fully express in words. That is the irony of it. My list of key terms for good, argumentative writing would include the following:
1. Passionate
2. Assertive
3. Captivating
4. Supported
5. Unique
6. Organized
You have to show you care. Many times rough writing can still be great due to the raw emotion propelling it. Sometimes though, it is easy to drift and make the argument unclear if you do not keep the emotions completely in check. There must be a clear, assertive argument so the reader knows what to look for throughout your writing. The point of disputing a claim is to have the reader engaged and side with the points you are presenting. It therefore must be clear and captivating. The only way that the reader is going to agree with you however is if your arguments are logically supported. Disproving a counterargument to your thesis is also essential. To make your argument stand out it must be unique. Your personal experiences can still be the highlights of an academic paper. Lastly, for the reader to make any sense of it all, it must flow logically and be organized.
I define writing as the best way to express ideas, thoughts and feelings at a given time. Indeed, writing allows to get more time to be pertinent and to choose the exact words which best describe a situation or thoughts. I agree with Josh who says that when we are writing, “a piece of ourselves is immortalized forever”. A speech is so ephemeral and our only chance to share our thoughts and ideas with other people in the future is writing.
DeleteMoreover I agree with the concept to describe writing as personal like Marcelo did. I will probably feel pleasure at the end of this paper because it will be only mine and my first one in English as well.
I identify a paper as a good writing when it is well shaped, with punctuation and especially when the audience feels involved and can’t stop reading before the end of the paper.
When I think of arguments and writing, almost the same description as Daisy’s one comes to mind. To express a point of view, I think of an organized writing of ideas, supported by evidences in order to convince the audience. The passion of the topic defended seems essential to create good arguments and be persuasive.
Contrary to Josh and Richard, I am not a verbal writer. Speaking and writing are distinct disciplines and I enjoy writing in a different way than I speak. I see myself as a passionate writer and like Sam says, I like writing “because it is such an emotional sensation that is difficult to fully express in words”.
I have some basics in writing that I am not able to obey yet but usually I try to be:
1- Captivating
2- Accurate
3- Clear
4- Concise
5- Organized
6- Personal
Writing is an art but writing has also a specific goal to reach. Especially in a rhetorical paper, the audience does not have time to lose so the text has to be clear and concise as well as the accuracy of the information given is very important. In order to keep the attention of the audience and to convince her, the organization of words and arguments are keys to success.
The personal aspect of writing takes part inevitably all along the paper because it is the nature of writing if you do not plagiarize.
Google defines writing as “the activity or occupation of composing text for publication.” This definition, however, solely defines the act of writing. Writing is much more than that.
ReplyDeleteWriting is a complex art form. It is an outlet that allows individuals to express themselves; be imaginative; be inventive. It is a process. One does not simply scramble an array of random words onto a piece of paper and call it “writing”. It is much more than that. Good writing takes rewrite after rewrite. Decisions have to be made after spending much time thinking and planning out what one will write. It is a trial and error procedure to form the perfect product. When done correctly, one is able to connect to their audience and convey their inner thoughts through choice of vocabulary, tone, and arrangement.
I believe good writing is very logistical. Sentences must flow into one another, moving from idea to idea in a smooth fashion. There should be no abrupt changes in the voice of the writer either. Fluency is key. Basic grammar, punctuation, and spelling should also be done correctly. The reader should not question a writer’s elementary skills for then they will not be credible and their works will not be taken seriously, which is what a writer desires in the first place.
I agree with Francoise. My writing skill depends on how interested I am in the subject. For example, when forced to write about historic references, I am not a very strong writer. It takes me a long time to begin the writing process and an even longer to complete it. When it comes to writing, I enjoy writing about things I am passionate about. In fact, I love writing about things I am passionate about. Ernest Hemingway states, “There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. However, if I had to come up with a list of requirements for good writing, I would pick:
1. Passion. The reader is not going care about the topic unless you care about the topic.
2. Grammar. Don’t distract the reader from what you have to say by misspellings.
3. Convince the reader what you have to say is important. Keep them interested.
4. Focus on the process rather than the product.
5. Express yourself completely. Take risks.
Writing is more than just an organization of choice words on paper. You must create an argument and prove to the reader that your viewpoint is the correct viewpoint. Leave no holes in your argument. By the end of the paper, the reader should think exactly what you want them to think… almost like being hypnotized by the perfect quality of one’s writing.
So, if I were to define writing, I would define it as: the skill of expressing oneself on paper and being able to engage the reader without any distractions.
Why do we write? Writing is a way of self-expression and communication. It connects people to on another with words on paper. Writing is important for a number of reasons, one being that it helps people understand humanity on a deeper level by offering insight into millions of peoples minds. When you read someone’s writing you are being shown a glimpse into who that person is and what he or she thinks. If someone is writing and argument essay or a poem, they are expressing their most inner thoughts to the world.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main characteristics of good writing to me is clarity. Anyone can write but if what they are writing doesn’t make sense to anyone than the purpose of writing is lost. It’s difficult to convey what one wants to say to others in a way that makes sense to everyone else, but once writing is clear it is effective at communicating it’s message. It is easy to see the sun if the clouds aren’t out.
I also agree with Francoise and Josh that when writing, it must come from the heart. If you don’t put heart and passion into what you’re writing then your piece will be bone dry. When there is heart put into a piece, there is life and purpose that’s conveyed to the reader, further engaging them in the piece.
Writing and arguments for me go hand in hand. Much of the writing done today is argumentative writing because everyone is always trying to convince someone else of something they believe. Arguments and writing both are complex and take a lot of work to fine tune, which makes both difficult to master.
To form an argument you need an opinion and evidence. If you don’t have an opinion then you wouldn’t care to argue. And if you don’t have evidence then the argument you are writing about are simply words. Along with evidence and opinion there must be organization to an argument. There should be a clear introduction to the argument, explicit evidence, and a well-constructed conclusion that has convinced the reader.
The five key terms that define a good writer are:
1. Organized
2. Persuasive
3. Clarity
4. Passionate
5. Engaging
Good writing and argumentation need to both be engaging and persuasive. Argumentation should be precise, convincing and to the point so that the reader can understand the argument. If the argument isn’t convincing than the purpose of an argument diminishes and remains ineffective. Writing should be filled with passion and captivating in order to engage the reader. Both should be organized in a logical fashion so the readers are able to navigate themselves through the piece.
Wikipedia defines writing is a medium of communication that represents language through the inscription of signs and symbols. I agree with this definition. However, I think writing is more than just a medium of communication. In my opinion, writing is also a way to record thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of arguments and writing, logical thinking comes to mind. Argument and writing need people to be logical. People need to be thoughtful and conceder as more aspects as possible，including both side. Since argument require people to support their point, hey need provide potent information to persuade others.
I think I am the same type of writer with Josh. I am a verbal writer. When I was writing, I always like narrate a story or a incident to someone. I pursue my writing is understandable and smoothly.
My list of good writing/argument are:
Precise
Persuasive
Informative
Logical
Concise
Attractive
Writing is a communicate medium, but it is precise than other communicate approach, like verbal communicate. When people are talking, they can get more information from body language or intonation. However, character cannot deliver any extra emotion but what people can read. Therefore, it requires we must be precise, logical and concise to make readers accurately understand you. Additionally, good writing has to be informative. It should be worth readers spend time to read it, and readers can get advantages from it. Furthermore, good writing should be attractive that readers are willing to read it. If an informative paper is dull, people may not absorb the information well even though it is valuable. Interests always can facilitate people to receive or learn things.
Defining Writing is something difficult, it is like defining art. There is no exact way to classify it since it is so vast. As Francoise says writing has to do with emotion. Every piece of writing is unique, in the way that peoples passion for something varies. Writing has to be like an experience that will influence you to want new things. Like being at a music concert or sporting event that you know nothing about, still feeling so passionate for it. Letting yourself get involved because of the ambiance.
ReplyDeleteWords that may define good writing to me may be.
-Passionate -Original -Compelling -knowledgable -Structured
I believe I am not a writer at all, more like a person who not for a lack of trying has to write.
My writing contains many ideas and may be very passionate but with lack of organization and structure, going off track and losing the original train of thought.
Writing is an expression of ones self, Whether it be factual or fictional.
For Riley:
ReplyDeleteI am not blog-fluent. They are not at the moment a subject of great interest for me, as such I do not know what I am doing with this.
(a) what is writing--the definitions, ideas, thoughts, expressions, etc--you associate w/ writing. What makes writing good to you? When you think of arguments and writing--what comes to mind? How do you believe you create an argument? What type of writer do you see yourself as? (b) create a list of 5-8 key terms you believe define good writing and/or good argumentation. By the end of this first blog post, I want you to come up with a definition of writing and argumentation that includes a list of key terms.
Writing is to me the act of putting words together in a textual medium to the purpose of communicating some idea to the reader. Writing to me is good when it is well put together, thought out, clever, and thought provoking. The word argument is to suggestive of being argumentative for me to associate it with good writing. It has become an angry thing, a political thing, an ugly thing. I write in explanations, settings, passages that tell what I have found.
Writing is the means by which we humans share and preserve ideas. A society cannot function without a populous that can read and write. That is why it is important to form a singular theory on what aspects a work of writing needs in order to be considered great.
ReplyDeleteA writer must first consider his audience when planning a piece of writing and then structure it accordingly. One cannot argue a point in the same voice that one uses when writing to a friend if the audience is an English professor.
Next, the argument must be supported by evidence to be valid. For an idea to be well argued it should have at least two pieces of hard evidence to support it. The evidence should be accompanied by analyses that illustrates why the evidence that is being presented is relevant to the argument that the paper is making.
A piece of writing cannot have an effect on its audience if the audience losses interest and stops reading half way through, there for a great piece of writing must be engaging as well as informative. A truly great writer does not only inform the audience but also challenges them to question how they feel about the subject of the piece and inspires them to seek out more information and continue the debate. For a piece of writing that does not inspire debate has wasted the time of both the audience and the writer.
Good writing is writing that conveys its intended message to its intended audience in an effective and engaging manner. It is articulate, yet does not stray too far from brevity in explanation of its ideas. Writing is good when it is clearly understandable, and communicates something worth reading to its intended audience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marcelo in as much as to say that writing, being a challenging and time-taking action, is frequently the time at which distractions, including and especially the addictive variety, can seem more alluring than they usually do. I also find it to be true that sometimes oral speaking is easier than directly recorded writing, perhaps because one is not so concerned with the recording of the ideas as with the direct communication of them at the time.
I also find Pete to be correct in saying that in good writing the writer must attend to the topic or issue at hand.
In writing, an argument is simply a position or perspective on a topic or issue, to be communicated to the reader. One creates an argument by making a statement, and providing reason to consider that statement factual or correct. To be an effective argument, the reasoning provided in favor of the given argument must be logically superior, or in some other way preferable to that rationale presented against the argument.
I see myself as a descriptive writer, and one somewhat prone to description instead of dialogue. The keywords that come to mind for me about writing are Articulation, Logic, Explanation, Consideration, Communication, Rationality, and Civility.