Ideas & Content
5 Paper - Focused, Clear, and Specific
My writing is full of the kinds of details that keep the reader's attention and show what is really important about my topic.
- I know a lot about this topic, and when someone else reads it, they'll find out some new or little-known information.
- I made sure to show what was happening (The wildly spiraling tornado aimed straight for our barn.) rather than telling about what happened (It was scary.).
- I filled my paper with interesting tidbits that make reading it fun and lively.
- I made sure my topic was small enough to handle. "All About Baseball" was too big - I changed it to "How to Steal a Base."
- I could easily answer the question, "What is the point of this paper/story?"
3 Paper - Some Really Good Parts, Some Not There Yet
The reader usually knows what I mean. Some parts will be better when I tell just a little more about what is important.
- Some of the things I said are new, but other things everyone knows already.
- Some details I have used are pretty general, like: "Her hat was nice." or "It was a sunny day."
- I think my topic might be too big, and I got bogged down trying to tell a little about a lot instead of a lot about a little.
- Sometimes I was very clear about what I meant, but at other times, it was still fuzzy.
1 Paper - Just Beginning to Figure Out What I Want to Say
When someone else reads my paper, it will be hard for them to understand what I mean, or what it is all about.
- I haven't shared much information. I guess I don't know enough yet about this topic to write about it.
- My details are so vague that it is hard to picture anything.
- I'm still thinking aloud on paper. I'm looking for a good idea.
- Maybe I'll write about this, but then, maybe I'll write about that.
From The Student Friendly Guide to Writing with Traits by Vicki Spandel and Ruth Culham (503) 275-9500.