"Writing is a dance--sometimes not all that pretty--between the big and small."
-Mark Tredinnick
-Mark Tredinnick
Clear and steady writing is built upon an appropriate scope for the topic or form. The breadth of writing is neither too large nor too small. The writing is a just-right slice, which allows room for appropriate depth, Whether called a main idea, a controlling idea, a central idea, or a thesis, it all comes down to this: What's your focus?
Activity One: Narrow Your Focus with a Watermelon Seed
Why is it important to narrow your focus? How does narrowing focus enhance writing? How does narrowing focus make the writer's job easier? |
Activity Two: Take Your Topic Down a Few Rungs
How can you take a big, fat idea and slenderize it? Take your big ideas down a ladder of abstraction!
- With a group, choose a word from the following list:
Inventions
Transportation
Music
Space
Literature - Look at the example to the left. (If you choose the same topic, you must generate your own ladder!) See if you and your group can narrow down the focus of the very broad words listed below.
- Discuss:
How can we use this strategy before we begin writing essays?
Why is a thesis important? What kind of promise do you make in writing a thesis?
Activity Three: Finding Your Focus with Looping
- Read the short story "All Summer in a Day."
- Write a reflection piece by free writing. You have five minutes to write as much as you can, as fast as you can, as well as you can.
- When the timer rings, reread what you've written, scouring for a word, phrase, or a sentence that tugs at you. Circle it.
- Skip a line, rewrite that phrase, and for another five minutes, write again, using this phrase as a focus.
- Repeat as often as necessary until you feel you've found a strong focus for your reflection. Then write your short paragraph to turn in to your teacher.
- Discuss:
Why might looping work?
How can you use this activity to brainstorm for future essays?