How do I define strong writing
Your essay should present your analysis and discussion of writing, and what makes strong
writing. Use the works you have read so far as part of a larger consideration of how these
writers extend, complicate, or challenge your ideas about writing. Please include all of the
steps in this project. There are FOUR tasks in this essay.
Use these guidelines to help you develop your essay. You will need to accomplish the following
(not necessarily in the order presented here):
1. Provide a coherent discussion of what you believe constitutes/creates/makes up strong
writing. (Not just a definition – a discussion, which is ongoing)
2. Present passages drawn from two essays and one writing concept that you found to be
the strongest and most effectively written as evidence to support your argument.
● Use these passages to help you show the reader what you believe makes up effective
writing. Please be sure to introduce and briefly summarize any essay or concept you
discuss in order to provide a context for the reader before presenting passages to
support your ideas. Please use at least two passages from each essay to support your
points.
● Be clear and specific in your explanation and description of how the writer you
analyze develops their argument. Discuss what makes the passage a great example of
your particular ideas regarding writing.
3. Present a discussion regarding how these passages fit into your ideas of or experiences
with writing as discussed in your Assignment #1.1.
● In what way do the passages and/or essay that you chose conform to your notions of
effective writing? In what ways do they not? Use the writing from your own essay
(Assignment 1.1) to show how your work with these texts challenged and/or
supported your definitions of writing.
● For example, if you are trying to explain that you believe first person (using “I”) is
an important part of strong writing, choose an essay that discusses this or uses first
person. Discuss how the essay changed your perspective on using the first person
voice in your writing or helped prove what you already think about using first person.
Quote from your essay to show the reader your initial perspective before you explain
how your position has shifted or is supported. This will give the reader a much more
detailed understanding of what you are trying to say. Always show the reader the
specific difference that you see instead of just telling the reader that something is
different. Then explain why this is all important to understand.
4. Reflect on how you might expand your techniques as a writer. Are there ideas and
concepts that you might use in your writing? Are there ideas that you want to consider
using? Which rhetorical strategies or concepts would you like to continue developing in
your writing over the rest of the semester? Why these specific strategies or concepts?
