Abstract

Abstract No matter where you look around you, you will always find some sort of written document. But how could you decipher whether it is well written or whether it needs to be worked on? There are many different aspects that you need to use when written a piece of work in order to classify it as good writing. This paper will explore the thoughts of three different professors that have all agreed that you need certain qualities when scribing a well-written piece of work. Those three elements are style, a clear purpose and the basics; spelling, grammar and punctuation. From reading what these three professors have to say about writing, you will conclude with what you think a good piece of writing looks like to yourself. Tell me, is it possible to look around the environment that surrounds you and not find a single piece of writing to read? No – that is impossible. Written work is always in a five-foot range from where you stand. You cannot avoid writing and the chances of you going somewhere without having to read something is very slim, my friend. So from this, what does good writing even look like? You read written work everyday, so you would think that you could decipher good writing from bad writing. But what is even considered good writing now a day? Our language has evolved over time that what is considered good writing now was different than what it was a thousand years ago. But why do we even bother with writing? Why is it so relevant to everyday life? Writing is the base to the pyramid of life – it’s the stepping stool and starting grounds to becoming a successful person. Writing is the base to learning experiences that are found in your education, community and work. Writing does more than just that though. It defines you as a person by expressing who you are, allowing you to write your thoughts and ideas down on paper to be argued and explained to another at a later time. In addition, writing is an essential job skill in which it contributes to your communication and thinking skills to participate in a multi-person job area. Not everyone is a professional writer but everyone does write since it is a form of communication that a large majority of people use today. Good writing can be seen in many opposing views and aspects based on who is completing the writing and who is reading it. One main quality of good writing that three different authors all agree on is style. Professor Griffin of Austin Community College depicts that great writing style has two major elements, “ One is readability, meaning the use of words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs in such a way as to communicate facts and ideas clearly. The other is elegance, meaning the use of appropriate and interesting words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs to produce graceful, unobtrusive prose that will keep a reader’s attention and interest” (1999). Ways that you can follow through with this is by using short words, avoiding contractions, slang and personal pronouns. Professors from Calvin College agree in a more general sense by stating that, “ An effectively styled essay generates interest and even emphasis through its choice of diction; it demonstrates the ability to use punctuation rhetorically-for effect as well as clarity” (2013). Therefore, a well-styled essay should be well put together and keep its readers interested. Dr. Wilbers from the University of Minnesota has a different way of seeing style, which is based more on organization. The central idea should be placed in the introduction, the supporting facts arranged in a sequence that makes the most sense, clear transitions and finished off with a conclusion that summarizes all arguments and leaves food for thought. The style in which a piece of writing is written in is extremely important however there is more to it than that, you also need a clear purpose to your paper. If a written piece does not have a clear sense of purpose, the reader may be unsure of what they are reading about and what they will get out of the reading. Nonetheless, all three writers also agree that a clear purpose is needed in order to consider your writing good. “ Clarity demands that you identify important persons and terms in your paper” (1999), was said by Professor Griffin. What he means by this is that every piece of writing should have reasoning as to why it is in the work. If anything comes off as unclear, it is your duty to further explain yourself to make it understandable to your readers. Dr. Wilbers sees the sense of a clear purpose in the same light by continuing to describe it as the, “ Word choice is clear, specific, accurate, unassuming, and free of clichés and misused jargon” (2010). Professors from Calvin College see this topic in a slightly different view in saying that a clear sense of purpose “ is insightful and illuminating, and communicates a content that is unified and significant” (2013). This professor sees a clear sense of purpose through the context given where as the other two professors see it as how the context is written. Without having a purpose to your writing that is easily noticeable, the writing would be difficult to read and would run on with no sense of direction — there would be no point to it. Just as important, you cannot have a good piece of writing without the basic qualities; spelling, grammar and punctuation. All three writers agree with this element completely. Every good piece of writing cannot be well written without the basic building blocks of writing. Professor Griffin deeply suggest to “ Avoid repeating words and/or phrases in close proximity to one another” (1999). Repetition is extremely bland and boring for readers to read. Professors from Calvin College agree with that statement but goes on to further stress another basic quality that the “ basic errors of grammar and mechanics must be avoided” (2013). This means mistakes should not be found when using punctuation marks and word choices. Lastly, Dr. Wilbers strongly talks about grammar, “ including pronoun/noun agreement, subject/verb agreement, appropriate verb tense, pronoun case, possessive forms, parallel construction, etc” (2010). These three elements are huge subjects to consider when wanting to complete good writing and receive an A on your work. However, everyone sees an A+ work in a different view. From reading what these three professors judge what a well-written writing is, I was able to decipher on my own what good writing should look like. I agree with all the points the professors have talked about — style, purpose and the basics. You cannot write a piece without having a point to your writing, without ordering it in a well styled manner and you simple cannot write without the basic elements of writing. However, I additionally think that a piece of good writing should contain a clear point of view. This way you are not coming at your reader from all different directions, since there would not be multiple ideas and views on the subject you are writing about. But that what you agree is the most important, would be the only view talked about in the writing. Writing is seen everyday; whether it is in a classroom or job setting, walking down the street or even on an instruction manual. But what is good writing? We know now the main elements involved in good writing and that is style, a clear sense of purpose and the basic qualities. Without these your writing will not be as great as it can be. But even with these, your writing can still continue to grow and become ever better. As a writer you grow everyday and become more intelligent and smarter with every time you write. Works Cited Calvin College – English – Writing: Characteristics of Good Writing. (n. d.). (2013). Calvin College — Minds In The Making. Retrieved March 27, 2013, from http://www. calvin. edu/academic/engl/writing/good-writing. html Griffin, R. (n. d.). (1999). Using the Internet as a Resource for Historical Research and Writing. Austin Community College – Start Here. Get There. Retrieved March 27, 2013, from http://www. austincc. edu/history/inres00title. html Wilbers, D. S. (n. d.). (2010). Five Elements of Effective Writing. Sass. Retrieved March 27, 2013, from www. sass. umn. edu/pdfs/III%20Study%20Skills/Writing/Writ ing%20Strategies/Wilbers’%205%20elements. pdf