How Writing Works : A Field Guide to Effective Writing

This is Roslyn Petelin's promise: whether you already write reasonably well or not, her book will exponentially improve your writing. It helps you to use the right words in the right order in the right places at the right time for the right reasons and the right readers. Distilling her 30 years of experience in teaching writin, this book is a practical introduction to the elements of grammar, syntax and style you need to write well. She covers social media and writing for online publication, and also digital document management. How Writing Works should be on the desk of everyone who needs to write: students, professionals in all fields, and creative writers. Cover Title page Copyright Dedication Contents Preface 1 How writing works Writing in our contemporary information society What is writing? Vocation or avocation? Writing in the workplace The writing-thinking-learning connection Keeping a journal Inspiration for journalling Writing as a problem-solving process Getting started Producing writing worth reading What characterises good writers? The last word Activities 2 How reading works Why read? How does reading help writing? Writing for your readers Reading in the workplace Structuring writing for reading Reading critically The last word Activities 3 How words work Using words well Taking words seriously: style, voice, and tone Choosing words wisely Spoken communication The last word Activities 4 How sentences and form-class words work Why study grammar and syntax? Descriptivism and prescriptivism Traditional grammar Syntax Form-class words The last word Activities 5 How structure-class words and paragraphs work Structure-class words, interjections, and paragraphs Structure-class words Interjections/exclamations Analysing sentences Paragraphs The last word Activities 6 How punctuation works Why punctuate? Categories of punctuation marks Punctuation patterns The last word Activities 7 How structure and design work Shaping the verbal and the visual Structuring What is structure? Design considerations The last word Activities 8 How genres and workplace documents work Understanding genre expectations Writing in a professional context: workplace genres The last word Activities 9 How genres and academic writing work Research-based writing: How academic writing works Academic research What is academic writing? Critical reasoning Getting started on research The last word Activities 10 How digital writing works The inexorable rise of digital media The early years Email: insistent and indelible Writing for social media in the workplace Organisational websites Blogs Twitter Texting The last word Activities 11 How revising, editing, and proofreading work Writing with the intention of revising Revising Editing Proofreading Using computers for writing and editing What happens in publishing? Five levels of edit: checklist Typographical errors The last word Activities Acknowledgements Answers to the activities Further reading References Index This Is Roslyn Petelin's Promise: Whether You Already Write Reasonably Well Or Not, This Book Will Exponentially Improve Your Writing. How Writing Works Is A Lively And Practical Introduction To The Elements Of Grammar, Sentence Structure, And Style That You Need To Write Well. The Book Covers Social Media And Writing For Online Publication, As Well As The Most Common Documents In The University And The Writing-reliant Workplace. How Writing Works Should Be On The Desk Of Everyone Who Needs To Write: Students, Professionals In All Fields, And Creative Writers. 'a Superb Guide To Great Writing In The Modern Media Era.' Phil Harding, Journalist And Broadcaster, London 'whether You're A Ceo Or An Intern, The Ability To Communicate Clearly Is Your Biggest Asset. Petelin's Expert Advice In This Book Will Accelerate Your Career'. Damian Kington, Global Head Of Marketing, Liquidnet, New York