“They say”: starting with what others are saying

Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein talk about a method that helps you set a platform for what you will speak about in your passage. Responding to what “they say.” This gives your writing a point and helps the reader understand the passage better. Continue to refer back to what they say throughout the story, it lets the reader understand both sides of the argument and the end results. Another way to achieve this is by opening with a debate between views. This will help you understand the topic your are dealing with and how to better respond. It also leaves room for you to decide where you stand and what you want to talk about.

What I have learned: Something I took away from this passage is when starting off with what others are saying will help the reader understand what they are reading and makes the story have an actual outcome. Also, including multiple views in your writing can help develop the idea better especially when you refer to them throughout your text.

“Her point is”: the art of summarizing

In this passage Graff and Birkenstein speak about summarizing. Summarizing is a tool that you use to focus the attention on your ideas as the writer. When preparing a summary you want to gather enough information on the author to be able to actually summarize their work. Always focus on your ideas and use their summary to setup a base for your topic so it could be better understood. Do not allow this to take up most of your writing. Also, when writing remember to expand on your “verbs” when speaking about different actions. For example, if you have already used the word “agree” in your passage you would want to pick a different word such as “concur” so it does not sound repetitive and get boring. Just remember when to use them.

What I have learned: A summary is useful but can also drain your writing if it starts to over power your ideas. Only write summaries to highlight what you the writer is saying. Also, use more suitable verbiage when using verbs so your writing does not become repetitive. A summary should emphasize a bigger idea.

“As he himself puts it” the art of quoting

Graff and Birkenstein talk about the different aspects that factor in with quoting. Quotations are needed in your text when writing but they are only useful if introduced and explained correctly. Not understanding how to pick a quotation can weaken your text. You have to consider the relevance of the quote you want to insert in your text and if you can explain it properly. Also, never forget to mention where the quote is coming from. By adding quotes, it gives your text an “amount of credibility” especially when dealing with other people’s ideas or thoughts. If you use to many quotes it will overpower your text and your ideas begin to get lost. If you do not use enough quotes you can leave the reader curious and wanting more information. Learn how to add a quote to your text and how to explain it further.

What I have learned: I understand that not knowing the proper way to explain a quote can make the quote useless. Some readers do not understand the quote without an explanation because not all readers think like the author. Your quotes might change from your rough draft to your final draft because you might find better quotes that are more suitable with your text and it is okay.

I am ready to get this semester started! I enjoy reading books but when it comes to writing it’s a love and hate relationship. This time around I plan on changing that relationship status. I have been out of school for some time now but I am back and on my way to becoming a nurse.(: This will be my second year and a very good semester.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.