Recipe for Writing:

How to write concisely and compellingly

A recipe has a process:

• Prewriting• Drafting: knowing how to:

– Follow your recipe. – Have your ingredients on hand.

• Editing: checking it over• Sharing: let a friend help you proofread BEFORE the teacher sees it.

Visualize the end product:• Generate ideas• Effective pre-writing with graphic

organizers!

»Save time and energy»Avoid brain-fry»Help to keep on task»Get creative juices flowing

Graphic organizers: How they help

• Stop worrying about producing “perfect” English.

• Organize vocabulary: write a list of words to use.

• Increase fluency.• Stay on task.• Know what you are going to write

about before you write it.Packets of graph. org.s

Examples of Graphic Organizers

• Story maps• Flow charts• Mind maps• Venn diagrams• Question List Matrix

Play matching game

Essay Structure

• Introduction• Paragraph one• Paragraph two• Paragraph three• Conclusion, with a twist

Proper Essay Structure• 1 Intro: Tell them what you are

going to say.

• 2 Body: Tell them details, in three paragraphs.

• 3. Conclusion: Tell them what you told them.

Introduction

Have an attention grabbing sentence, or hook, to get the reader interested.

List the general points you will discuss in the body. This is the thesis sentence.

Tell them what you are going to say.

Example of an introduction hook

Imagine a country where small gardens are maintained in the subway station. Imagine ancient customs and the most modern conveniences existing side by side in harmony. With its mountains, varying climate, and spectacular urbanscapes, Japan offers many unique experiences for the Western tourist.

Example of thesis statement

Imagine a country where small gardens are maintained in the subway station. Imagine ancient customs and the most modern conveniences existing side by side in harmony. With its mountains, varying climate, and spectacular urbanscapes, Japan offers many unique experiences for the Western tourist.

Body

• Three points, ideas or experiences related to your main topic contained in 3 paragraphs.

• Each paragraph explains in detail one idea. The idea is in the topic sentence.– Helps you stay on task– Interest for the reader

Example of a topic sentence

Japan is a small country with a great variety of geographical features. It has four main islands and more than 6,800 smaller islands. The total land area of Japan is 377,719 square kilometers. Seventy-three percent of this land is mountainous. The tallest mountain is Mt. Fuji, which is 3,776 meters high.

Conclusion

• The last sentence in your intro becomes the first sentence in your conclusion paragraph.

• Next: state your three ideas or points again.

• Finally, wrap it up with a thought.

Conclusion

From spectacular Mount Fuji to modern bustling Tokyo, the Western tourist can find many fascinating places to visit in Japan. Hotel prices have never been more accessible. Visiting Japan should be on the top of everyone’s “want-to-tour” list.

Follow the recipe

• By following this guideline, your essays will be– Focused– Well-written– Less time-consuming to write– More concise and to the point.

– Good luck!