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Section
I. WRITING FOR MAJORS & PROFESSIONS
Chapter 55.
Process Description or Set of Instructions
Prewriting & Writing Activities
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Group Exercises
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Computer Process: As a group, describe how a
particular process for a computer or computer program works. You may do so in a serious or humorous
manner; you may also describe a process that does work or one that people do
that is wrong. Start by brainstorming a series of steps. Then, as you write,
remember to avoid using command sentences or the pronoun
"you." Instead, describe how the computer/program itself works, step
by step, in a typical operation of some kind: e.g., "First, the
computer boots up. This means.... Second, the computer decides
to...."
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Instructions on Getting a Grade: As a group or
individually, give instructions to someone on how to get a good (or a bad)
grade. Write your instructions as a series of commands, step by step:
e.g., "1. Attend each class. 2. In class, listen carefully
and take notes...."
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Product or Service: Make up a strange, silly, or
serious company and the main product it makes or service it provides. Then
write the steps of how that product or service is completed as if you are
explaining it to either customers or to someone interested in buying the
company.
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Saturday Night: Describe, step by step, how people can have a good time on Saturday
nights. Use a general descriptive way of writing: keep it general, use
pronouns like "a person" or "someone," and use present-tense
verbs: e.g., "Here is how to have a good time on Saturday nights.
First, a person calls up several friends. Next, everyone
gets in a car...."
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Dating: Develop a list or set of instructions for dating. Your instructions
should give commands: e.g., "1. Imagine what you want to do and decide who
to call. 2. Call the person. 3. Use your charm to convince them you
are the right person for a date. 4. Before the date starts, shower, shave,
and dress in something cool...."
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How to Sharpen a Pencil: A
classic method of teaching the writing of instructions is to ask a group or
class to give you instructions in how to sharpen a pencil. You start by
standing at the front holding the pencil and looking at the group. Here
is an example of how it might go. There are, of course, many variations:
some groups manage the correct instructions relatively quickly; others become
so lost that no one knows what to do, in which case they may need a little
prompting or help.
Start the
activity by telling your group that they are to give you very specific,
step-by-step instructions for sharpening your pencil. They are not
allowed to be too general. You then hold up the pencil and point to the
pencil sharpener in the classroom. Next, before they can tell you what
to do, you face away from the sharpener on the opposite side of the classroom
and stick the pencil in your pocket. Each time the group tell you what
to do next to sharpen the pencil, you purposely try to misinterpret what they
mean--while still doing what they say. Here is an example:
GROUP: "Walk forward."
YOU: You're turned away from the
pencil sharpener, so walk forward until you run into the wall; then stop.
GROUP: "No, turn around."
YOU: You turn in a complete circle.
GROUP: "No, no, turn in a half
circle!"
YOU: You turn in a half circle and
stop.
GROUP: "Now walk forward."
YOU: You walk forward until you run
into desks or another wall and stop.
GROUP: "No! Go ten feet
forward, turn right, then walk past the last row, turn left, and stop at the
sharpener!"
YOU: You do what they say and stop
with the pencil sharpener to your side.
GROUP: "Now sharpen the pencil."
YOU: You shrug and lift your arms
questioningly. "Too general," you say.
"Give me step-by-step directions."
GROUP: "Okay, lift your hand."
YOU: You lift your hand. It is
empty.
GROUP: Everybody groans. "Reach
in your pocket and take out the pencil!"
YOU: You take the pencil of our your
pocket holding onto the wrong end.
GROUP: "Now put the pencil in
the sharpener."
YOU: You put it in, eraser
first.
GROUP: "No, no! Take it
out! Now put the eraser end in your hand. Now put the other end
in!"
Etc., etc. The
group keep giving you instructions until you finally sharpen the
pencil correctly. The object of this game, of course, is to show people
that it is not always that easy to create good directions. It takes very
careful attention to who your audience is and exactly what it needs
to know. You might want to try this activity with each other in small writing
groups in your classroom: each person in turn can choose what the others in the
group should instruct him in doing, while the person taking the instructions
purposely misunderstands whenever possible, while still doing what people say.
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Practice the divisions of a this type of paper
with circle sentencing. Do this as a whole class.
(a) First, everyone should get
out a sheet of lined paper, write "1. The main point of this paper is to ____," and fill in the blank with an interesting,
unusual, silly, or strong word or phrase.
(b) Next, everyone should pass this paper to the next
person clockwise or in his/her row, read the new paper in front of her, then
write "2. The first section of this paper will ____," and fill
in the blank with a sentence summarizing what the first main section is supposed
to do, and then write another sentence or two using the subject chosen just
above to describe more details for this section.
(c) Then everyone should pass the paper to the next
person again, read the new paper before him or her, and then write "3. The
second section of this paper will ____," and fill
in the blank with a sentence summarizing what the second main section is
supposed to do, and then write another sentence or two using the subject chosen
just above to describe more details for this section.
(d) The papers should continue to be passed around so
that one sentence at a time is added. #4 will be "3. The fourth section of this
paper will ____," and 1-2 sentences giving details for the chosen subject. #5 will
describe the fifth section, etc. Once there are no more sections, the
final sentence should be, "This paper concludes by saying that "____."
Then start a new cycle by continuing to pass papers, but starting over with a
new idea. Go through at least three such cycles.
(e) When you stop, ask each writert to "grade" the paper before them with stars
or points. Then read several of the very best papers.
(f) Alternative: If you want each cycle to last longer and/or include
more complex practice, then consider each of the sentences above just a topic
sentence with brief details. Then have one or two turns in which people
add imaginary supporting details such as quotations, paraphrases, charts,
statistics, lists, or illustrations.
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Make up
an imaginary or real situation or event--serious or silly--to which you can
apply this type of paper. Break into small groups. Each group
may have a facilitator, writer, reader, and/or secretary. Your facilitator
should ask you, as a group, to develop ideas of situations, choose one, and have
your writer write it down. Then, while your secretary takes notes on your
actions in the group, your group should continue to develop the situation by
having the writer write down your group's 50+ words for each main section of
your group paper. Then have your writer write down your group's brief
conclusion in a few sentences. Your secretary should then either turn in
the notes on your group's actions to the instructor or read them to the class;
your group's reader should then read to the class what your group writer wrote.
Individual Exercises
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Journaling/prewriting about this textbook
chapter: Keeping a journal about your reading of this chapter is an
excellent method of thinking about it and preparing to write the paper it
describes. Here are some journaling techniques you can try individually or
together:
a. What information in this chapter is new to you,
what is old, and what information helps you make connections to other classes
or to people, work, or personal experience? In your opinion, what were the
points most helpful to you, and what ones were the least helpful? What points
might be most and/or least helpful to others in the class or in other classes?
b. If you had this chapter to read over again,
what would you change, and why? How would you continue or add to it, if you
were the author?
c. Who are some people—roommates, friends, family,
or coworkers—with whom you might share this chapter? Why? What would you
discuss with them after having shared it? What might be their responses and
yours in return?
d. What are one or more ways in which you think
you might be able to write the type of paper described in this chapter? In
what ways might you have difficulty doing so? How could you resolve some of
those difficulties?
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Journaling/prewriting about a situation, event,
person, action, or professional/disciplinary idea: Respond to one or more of these suggestions:
a. Explain and/or list and briefly describe one or
more possible subjects or topics you might be able to use for writing this kind
of paper.
b. Which are best and which worst? Why?
Which ones do you feel most strongly about? Where do your two lists--"are
the best" and "feel most strongly about"--intersect?
c. Make a third list: what can you most easily write
about--or can do so after reading, studying, or observing as needed? On
what subject or topic do all three of your lists intersect?
d. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of
this particular topic or subject? Why? How will you deal with these
strengths and weaknesses?
e. When you are done with your rough draft, how will
you evaluate it? What will be your criteria for evaluating it? Do
you understand the grading or work requirements thoroughly? Who can read
it for you and make an unbiased judgment of what may still need to be done?
What is your timeline for showing it to others, revising, and editing it?
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Where can you find samples of this type of paper?
Look them over not for content but rather for organization and style. How
can you borrow elements of these sample papers' organization and style so that
you can practice building them into your own organization and style?
(Note: Some online examples of papers are available through
OnlineGrammar.org's "20.
Major/Work Writing.")
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Writing a Paper from This Chapter:
Write a rough-draft paper using the instructions in
the chapter, and use the major
subtitles suggested in the directions (500-1000 w. or as assigned).
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Links in Grammar
Book
16. Research
Writing
17. Citation
& Documentation
18.
References
& Resources
19.
Visual/Multimodal
Design
20.
Major/Work Writing
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