Mini Grammar Lesson:

Composition/Style
Lilian Chaboya
Los Angeles Pacific University
What is Composing and Revising?
 When a student is given a writing assignment, it is
important for them to master:
 Planning – What will the essay contain? Who will it
address? How will the essay convey the argument being
made?
 Drafting – This involves writing the introduction, body, and
conclusion of a paper
 Revising – Stepping back from the writing to come back
later and make necessary changes through the student’s
own perspective or through instructor or peer
recommendations.
Planning
When planning a writing assignment, it is important to remember the
following:
 Subject: What is the writing assignment about? Why is the subject
important?
 Purpose & Audience: Who is reading this writing assignment? What is
the purpose of the audience reading the writing?
 Resources: Where will the sources of information come from? What
style is required (MLA, APA)?
 Length & document type: How long does the writing have to be? Does
it have to be a report or an essay? Or possibly a reflection?
By having all these questions checked off and answered, it can help the
writer prepare by asking any unanswered questions and getting all the
required information prior to engaging in writing to save time and to be
organized (Hacker & Sommers, 2011).
Creating an Outline Creating an outline for
writing, such as a cluster
diagram can help organize
ideas and topics. Some
questions to ask yourself
when writing is:
 What is the topic?
 What is the main idea?
 What information is
relevant?
 What is my thesis
statement?
 What organization
method is best for me?
(University of Wisconsin,
n.d.)
Drafting  When drafting a piece
of writing, an
introduction usually
introduces the main
point. The thesis
statement is also
included in the
introduction, although
some people may
believe it goes in the
end. This diagram
shows how the
introduction ends
with a thesis
statement, to which
body paragraphs can
originate from, and
then the writing can
end with a conclusion
(Hacker & Sommers,
2011).
Thesis Statement
 Creating a strong thesis statement is vital for a proper and compelling
piece of writing. The University of North Carolina (n.d.) explain that a
thesis statement is a summary of the argument that the writer will
make throughout the rest of the paper. The thesis statement:
 Is the map of the paper and can tell the reader what to expect
throughout the paper.
 Makes a claim that others may dispute.
 Tells the reader how the writer interprets the subject matter
 Is usually one or two sentences in length
 Must be specific to prove the writer’s position

(The University of North Carolina, n.d.).

Revising
Revising is important because it gives the writer a chance to evaluate
their writing and look back to see:
 Is it worth saying?
 Is the writing conveying what they wanted to say?
 Will the reader understand what the writer is saying?

Some tips for revising:

 Take a step away from the writing and come back to it later to view
with fresh eyes and perspective
 Think honestly about the thesis
 Check organization
 Check all information and sources
 Check conclusion – does it tie the paper together clearly and
cohesively (University of North Carolina, n.d.)?
References
 Hacker, D., Sommers, N. (2011). A Writer’s Reference (Seventh Edition).
Boston, MA: Bedford/St.Martin’s.
 University of North Carolina. (n.d.). Thesis Statement. The Writing Center.
Retrieved from https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-
statements/
 University of North Carolina. (n.d.). Revising Drafts. The Writing Center.
Retrieved from https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-
statements/
 University of Wisconsin. (n.d.). Writing a research paper. The Writing Center.
Retrieved from
https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/planresearchpaper/