1) Write your comments in paragraphs, particularly if your comments are longer than 3-4 lines. You want people to read your ideas. With the kind of screens your classmates (and you) most likely use, reading is much easier if copy is broken down into chunks.
2) For the same reason: don't ramble on. Focus on one idea BEFORE you start writing. This is not the place for stream of consciousness. To the contrary.
You want your messages to be clear and crisp. Short sentences (+ paragraph organization) help.
3) In your COMMENTS, do not address me (your prof.) directly. More brutally, don't talk to me. Talk to your classmates. AVOID at all cost using "YOU" (often used as an impersonal form: it's lazy and gives the impression of random thoughts.)
4) In REPLY of course you can use YOU, as long as you are talking directly to the comment's author. Avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: the use of impersonal YOU in your assignments is strictly prohibited. (You don't know what "impersonal you" means? Hmmm, where could you find an answer?)
COMMENT
Which of the suggestions above hit the spot with you? How are you going to change your approach to writing?
REPLY to a comment that can help you improve your clarity.
One of the suggestions that I struggle with the most, that was listed above is, when I am writing often times I have the need to say "you" when I am explaining a concept. I try as much as possible to stop myself because it sounds silly. I was taught to think to myself when I write you who I am addressing this to. I find that as a helpful tip to anyone who struggles with the word you.
ReplyDeleteRecently I found myself including the word "you" in my writing so a way that I think I am going to use is to say the sentence out loud that includes the word you and try to swap "you" for a substitute, more formal word.
I find that I also use the "informal you" all the time because it gets my point across faster. It's also completely standard in the english language right now.
DeleteI also found myself having trouble with the informal "you" and I like your strategy in that last paragraph of saying what I mean to write out loud and if I'm misusing the term I could substitute it with something more formal.
DeleteThe suggestion I like the most is breaking copy into chunks. I think it's useful universally because people don't want to read a mass of copy.
ReplyDeleteI have also tried breaking my thoughts into little chunks so I don't get too caught up with all my ideas and throw it into one long paragraph that's everywhere.
Deletei do write in bullet point, so i don't over write. it helped me get my point across.
DeleteI also struggle with breaking up my writing into chunks. Sometimes I'm not sure what points I should separate. I found that what works for me is understanding what the broader topic is and then creating subtopics. I would then create bullet points of the information that i have for each of those subtopics.
DeleteIvy, I totally agree with you. I like this idea of breaking up pieces of writing a lot.
DeleteThe suggestions that I struggle most with is that sometimes when I'm on topic I start rambling elsewhere. I often make my writings super long and repetitive mostly about nonsense.
ReplyDeleteTo change my approach on writing I will try to keep my ideas within a smaller circumstance and try not to throw my thoughts everywhere and end up getting nothing out of it.
Personally I like to get the point when I'm writing. I dint usually elaborate so much. Therefore I would try yo spend time adding detail when I proof read, or try to make sure I have enough content.
ReplyDeleteDouble checking your work is always helpful, and rereading the question to make sure you answered everything.
I find that double checking my work and rereading the question are always helpful and help elaborate the point I am trying to convey. Sometime a detail was not scene at first and rereading the question and your own work helps make sure each detail was met.
DeleteOne thing I would have to change in my writing is the impersonal “you”. I realized I do that and it’s not grammatically correct. I will steer away from doing that. Another thing I will check and see if I’m doing is just rambling random thoughts regarding the topic at hand. I will try to say my thoughts in an organized manner.
ReplyDeleteone thing that i would change is that "i write whatever comes out of my mouth". meaning that i do have a lot of error in my writing.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is something that would actually help my writing. I tend to spend too much time trying to figure out how to properly write out my thoughts onto a paper or screen, rather than writing my thoughts as they come to me.
DeleteOne of the suggestions that really stood out to me was the use of the "impersonal you." I find that I tend to do that quite a bit when I am trying to make a point. Ways in which I can improve my writing in order to avoid using the "impersonal you" is to find other ways or other words I can use in order to make my point in a more effective way. For example, instead of saying "While you are reading, you should wear glasses," I can say "While one is reading, one should wear glasses."
ReplyDeleteThe point regarding thoughts broken into chunks definitely hit the spot with me. I have very little trouble avoiding the use of impersonal "you" in my writing, but I have dealt with the issue of not dividing my writing into any kind of evenness. This especially happens when I have a strong argument for one part of an assignment, but a weaker argument for another.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest solution I can think of for this is following an outline before writing. That way, my thoughts are already divided and I can just focus on expanding on them.
I struggle with using the word "you" as well, I suggested using the word "one" instead of "you" but I also think providing an outline for before writing will help as well. That will be a great technique to try out.
DeleteThe technical writing directions that stand to me are keeping my ideas crisp and cohesive. My experience is predominantly in creative writing. I could certainly focus on keeping my ideas precise and to the point, as opposed to rambling on about my personal ideals about a certain topic discussed.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading over the guidelines I think the spot that hit the most is using the impersonal "you." I was unsure of whom I should address my comments to and what I should consider my audience to be. Now I understand it's more of a class discussion and we are expressing our thoughts on a topic rather than answering a direct question from the professor.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion that had the most impact on me was the suggestion to write comments in paragraph form. I personally find that it is easier to read items when they are in paragraphs rather then in one long paragraph.
ReplyDeleteParagraph format is easier on the eyes which therefore allows the reader to understand more efficiently. Having this preference, I can understand better how it would be more efficient for other students to read in this format as well. In order to change my writing approach, I will write all my comments in this form as it will give the other students a better understanding of my comment and can read my post easier.
I realize the imperfection in my writing comes from incorporating the word “you” within my responses. I understand I can eliminate the word “you” and instead paraphrasing with the word “one”; i.e. instead of saying “I see how you may feel/think….” I can state “I see how one may feel/think…” This approach will indeed help my writing.
ReplyDeleteThe first suggestion about breaking lines up into smaller paragraphs for other students to have an easier time reading makes a lot of sense to me. I will keep this in mind for future blog posts.
ReplyDelete