Jason Jacks

 

Outline of Chapter 8: Writing to Be Read

 

A good story told well is important no matter what medium you write for.

 

I. Good writing begins with good reporting

 

            A. Good stories require precise details.

            B. “Reporters who smell and write it down are doing their jobs.”

                        1. Gather specific details by observing and questioning.

 

II. Elements of good writing

 

            A. Be Precise

                        1. Words should mean what they intend to mean. Know the meaning of                                the word before you use it.

                        2. Avoiding Biased Language

                                    a. Doctors aren’t “he.” Nurses aren’t “she.”

                                    b. Words are powerful weapons. They define culture.

                        3. Avoiding carelessness in word choice

                                    a. Precision - know meaning of word and exactly how to use it.

                                    b. Know what you want to say; use conditional mood (could,                                        would); choose correct sentence structure.

                        4. Achieving precision in the use of numbers

                                    a. Know the size of your community, city, town.

                                    b. Write numbers in plain english.

            B. Be Clear

                        1. Keep it simple.

                                    a. Keep sentences short, subject-verb-object, one idea per sentence,                                  no more than three prepositional phrases in one sentence, no more                                        than three numbers in one sentence, use plain words.

                        2. Use correct grammar and punctuation

                                    a. Know rules of grammar.

                        3. Be coherent

                                    a. Story must have beginning, middle, end.

                                    b. Use chronology.

                                    c. Know sentence types (simple, compound, complex).

                                    d. Use transition words to maintain slow.

            C. Use Concrete Examples

                        1. Clarity is in the details.

                        2. Be specific.           

                                    a. Don’t use “big,” “loud.” etc.

                                    b. Give an exact number instead of “some.”

            D. Show, Don’t Just Tell

                        1. Good writing appeals to at least one of the five senses.

                        2. Use show sentences that paint picture of story.

            E. Use Figures of Speech

                        1. They show similarities and contrasts.

                        2. Similes -- show similarities by using “like” and “as.”

                        3. Metaphors -- stronger analogy than simile. (says one thing is another)

                        4. Analogy makes dimensions and numbers meaningful.