writeup manual - florida jaycees

8/4/2019 WriteUp Manual - Florida Jaycees

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Trlcla OraluckState Chairman

Fellow Jaycees:

Has your mind ever gone blank when faced with a blank sheet ofpaper? Or maybe you couldn't find the words for a complaintletter or a letter of nomination. You are not alone. ManyJaycees experience writer's block.

writer's block is a symptom of rusty writing skills. Manypeople don't have the opportunity to write on a regular basis.This may lead to a lack of confidence. And a lack of confidence will lead to writer's block every time. The JayceesWRITE-UP program offers members the opportunity to overcomecommon writer's block, to practice and polish writing skills,and to gain confidence in writing.

Jaycees are required to write more frequently as they climb

the ladder of success both in and out of the chapter. Theirneed to communicate effectively in written form increasesas their responsibilities grow. The WRITE-UP program isdesigned to provide guidance, practice and challenge to thesuccess-bound Jaycee.

Use this Write-Up manual as a guide to better writing. Practice writing at every opportunity. And accept the challengeto compete.

Feel free to call me if you have any questions orsuggestions. This is going to be a great year for theFlorida Jaycees and the Write-Up program - BELIEVE IT!

Yours in Jaycees,

Tricia Draluck1985-86 State write-Up Chairman

12076 185 ST. N.,JUPITER, FL 33458 (305)746-6611


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WRITE-UP IN THE LOCAL CHAPTER

The write-Up program begins at home in your local chapter. Give yourmembers the opportunity to practice and improve their writing skills ona regular basis. They will benefit from their increased skills and sowill your chapter. CPG writing will be easier, Brownfield and Armbruster

resumes will be more professional, and the quality of your newsletterwill improve. How do you get a chapter Write-Up program started? Hereare some ideas.

1. Appoint a standing write-Up Chairman. This Chairman will reportto the chapter I.D.V.P. and will be responsibile for promotingthe write-Up program at the local level.

2. Invite a local newspaper reporter or editor to speak to yourchapter on how to write press releases. (You'll also makepoints with the newspaper and, hopefully, get more coverage!)

3. Conduct a resume writing workshop. Invite a representative froma local job placement service to take part.

4. Hold an article contest in your chapter newsletter.(The pr"izeshould make the effort worthwhile.)

5. Encourage members to compete at District, Regional and Statecompetitions. Practice makes perfect.

WRITE-UP AT THE STATE LEVEL

The Florida Jaycees were the "pioneers" of the write-Up prograffi.In 1983, Write-Up was added to the state Individual Development portfolio. Since that time competitions have been held quarterly at stateconferences and conventions. In 1985, competition in ~rite-Up was heldfor the first time at National Convention.

STATE COMPETITION

~lhomay compete?All regular members except chapter presidents, Write-Up judges, stateofficers or the state chairman. Participants must be registered at theconference/convention where they are competing. Each chapter may haveup to three competitors.

What does the competition consist of?\~riting an essay with the topic to be announced at the beginning of the

one hour competition.

What is the topic?Topics will be general in nature to allow each competitor theopportunity to show hiS/her talents for originality and interpretation.Keep in mind that an essay is an opinion and there is no right or wrongapproach to the subject. Also, keep in mind that the judges will be

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looking for the essay to tie in with Jaycees in some way.

When does competition take place?

At state conferences and convention on Saturday morning, usually around9:00 a.m.

How is the competition judged?A panel of 3 or more judges will evaluate essays using these criteria:

1) Content 40%2 )

Grammar 30%3 )

Neatness 20%4 )

Spelling 5~5 )

Format 5%

All essays will be returned to the competitors with the judging sheet.

Why should Jaycees compete in write-Up?For personal satisfaction, experience, comradery and AWARDS!Every competitor will receive a Certificate and the first place winnerwill receive a beautiful plaque. The year-end first place winnergets a plaque AND a ticket to National Convention.

DISTRICT AND REGIONAL COMPETITION

Quarterly competitions should also be held at the District and Regionlevels. It's important to give members every opportunity to practicetheir writing skills. District and Regional Write-up competitions canbe run by any 0 nee x c e p t a com pet i tor. Use the ju d gin g for 1i1a t s h 0 'nabove. Keep the topic general such as "l~y Jlost me;norable Jaycee experience". Encourage the competitors to go on to state competition.

COMPETITION TIPS

1. Write about what you know best - yourself! Your su~ject should besomething the judges can identify with. They are interested in yourfeelings, reactions and experiences as a Jaycee.

2. Use your time wisely. Take the first 10-15 minutes to organize yourthoughts, make some notes or an outline. Decide what your opening andclosing lines will be. (see Winning Plan of Development)

3. Include a specific personal experience, focus on one idea, incident,or anecdote. Include a quote or an example.

4. Practice is the key to winning Write-Up. Write an article for yourchapter newsletter, write a letter to your Senator or local editor,

write a CPG, an article for Sunshine, a press release, etc. Use opportunities every day to practice writing.

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WRITING A WINNING ESSAY

There are 4 general sytles of writing. You may use one or all of themin your essay.

1. Descriptive - describes things

This form always involves the senses and what they do tostimulate the reader.

2. Narrative - tells a story, reports on events

This form is what all newspaper writers use because they need totell the "how, what, where, when and why" of the story.Narration is storytelling.

3. Expositive - explains facts

This form is used largely in the non-fiction field, as in

classroom lectures, biographies and blueprints. It is usuallyinstructive and interpretive. The reader learns sOmething.

4. Argument - agrues or debates the facts

This form is used to persuade.

There are three parts to an essay: introduction, body and conclusion.

A. Introductory paragraph - should contain 2 things

l..9ackground for the subject, an anecdote, analogy, reference,

quotation, question, or a startling remark. In short, sOmethingwhich identifies the subject and interests the reader.

2. A thesis statement contains the central ideas which you plan todevelop in the subsequent paragraphs.

B. The subsequent paragraphs - should develop and prove the thesis

Some methods of paragraph development that can be used include:example, detail, contrast, cause, reason, and definition. Eachparagraph should contain a topic sentence which should relateback to the thesis statement. Transition should be used betweenand within the paragraphs.

C. The concluding paragraph -

Some methods of concluding are: restating the central idea, orusing a reference, anecdote or quotation, or something to show thesignificance of the topic.

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based on

~AKINC EVERY WORD COUNTBY G/\RY PROVOST

USE SIMPLE WORDS - Don't confuse simple with dull!

If "walk" is dull try "stroll". (perambulate is wordy!)If "talk" is getting wearisolne then try chat or discuss.

DON'T BE REDUNDANT - baby puppies, little midget, red in color

Lenore picked up a weekly paycheck every Friday.(if it happens every Friday we know it's weekly)

WEA~ vlORDS - One of the best ways to improve what you have written isto throw out 2 or 3 weak words and replace thejl1',.;ithne strongword that conveys the same message.

"Lee was a mean woman" becomes "Lee was a shrew."

"He passed away early in the morning, and people alloverAmerica wept" becomes "He died at dawn and the nation wept."

:'1 hen you can c h a nget en',.; rd s t 0 s eve n, 0 r two VI 0 r d s too n e, thewriting almost always will work better. Remember, "writing getsmore interesting as it acquires precision, not length".

BE SPECIFIC - Show your reader a well-focused image, something he canreally see and you will hold his interest.

I know a girl who was attacked by a dog yesterday.I know another girl who was attacked by a Doberman Pinscher.Which dog do you see more clearly?

A car or a red corvette. A woman or a nun.rose. Which created a picture in your mind?

A flower or a red

SHOW - DON'T TELL - Showing means creating a picture your reader cansee. Paint a picture with your words.

"The girl had bright blue eyes" or"Her eyes sparkled like distant lakes in the sunshine."

APPEAL TO THE SENSES - Through the senses of sight, sound, taste,s 111 e 11 and to u c h we rea c h 0 u t tot hew 0 rId; wee x per i en c e . Goo dwriting appeals to the senses. And while you can't load everyparagraph you write with sights, sounds and smells, you shouldreturn frequently to the senses to reinind the reader that this\;1ritten world is the same one in which he lives.

INTENTION - Don't put anything in your writing without a reason. Thereader assumes intention on your part when you include a fact.Don't simply toss facts into your essay because they happenec;they have to Inean something and lead somewhere.

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It may seem impossible to accomplish the preceding within the 60minutes of write-Up competition, but it won't be if you PLAN TO WIN!The fOllowing is a sample Plan of Development. The times are just anestimate, work at your own spee~, but be sure to finish within 60minutes!

WINNING PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT

steps I [, IIo to 15 minutes

step III15 to 35 minutes

step IV35 to 45 minutes

step V45 to 60 minutes

T. Analyze SubjectA. Define purpose or central idea of essayB. Recallall you know of subject from

experience, etc.

II. Determine ReaderA. What does he know about subject?B. What does he need to know?C. How can information best be presented to

him?

III. Develop SubjectA. Make a scratch outline of essay.B. Set your ideas and information down

quickly.C. Check relationship of your ideas.D. Arrange ideas in their logical oreer.

IV. Revise Rough Draft:A. Read essay quickly.3. Evaluate contents, your approach to the

subject, and the readability of your writingstyle.

C. Make notes in the margins of needed changes

V. Final Copy:A. Make final copy.B. Proofread carefully.C. Subinit essay.

* * *

The Main Thing About writing

W r i tin 9 i sn 't jus t s p e 11 ing; i tis m u ch m 0 re t ha n s pe 11 in9 . \'j r i tin 9i s n 't jus t g ram Ina r; it's m u c h m 0 re t h a n 9 ram mar. ':J r i tin 9 i s 9 rasp in 9ideas, seeing images, harnessing words - giving shape and form tothoughts. What matters most in writing is not the rules and conventionsfor putting words on paper. ~hat matters most in writing is the\vriter's mind.

by -Rudolf Flesch, Ph.D. andA.H. Lass

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THE KEYHOLE

Use the keyhole format as a guide when writing your essay.

FIRST PARAGRAPH

Introduction

Get the reader's attention

l>.ska question, make a startling statea1ent, state a fact

Last sentence should state main idea or thewe

SUBSEQUENT PARAGRAPHS

Body

Elaborate on theme

One thought per paragraph

Illustrate with facts, examples, personal experiences,

Lead into conclusion

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

Conclusion

Reword your main idea or theffie

State the main purpose of the essay

Clincher: Relate last sentence to the topic

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When you finish your essay ask yourself these questions:

1. Is your introduction strong? Does it leave the reader askingfor more? Does it relate well to the rest of your essay?

2. Is the body of your essay in a logical pattern? - Do the ideasflow? Is there continuity?

3. Does your conclusion "sum up"?leave the reader satisfied?

Is it effective? Does it

4. Did you use examples, illustrations and supportive ideas inyour theme development?

5. Were you original? Did you approach the subject from adifferent angle? Will your reader remember your essay afterfinishing it?

6. HON is your sentence structure, grammar and punctuation?

Could you have made that one long sentence into tvlO or those tenshort ones into five?

7. Do you have any spelling errors? Were you neat?

If you can say yes to the majority of these questions, you have oneoutstanding essay!

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In.dividual Development

WRITE-UP

JUDGE'S NAME _ TOTAL PT!:;

CF


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The 1985-86 Florida Jaycees Write-Up Manualwas sponsored by:

S I.Mary'sHOSPITAL

We thank St. Mary's for supporting the Florida Jaycees.

writeup manual - florida jaycees

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