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
Writing
1.Central idea
2.Organization
3.Supporting Material
4.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

:
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.

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

:
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.

:
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.

:
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.

:
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.

:
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.

:
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.

Elements of Effective writing

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (11)

Similar to Elements of Effective writing (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Elements of Effective writing