Writing 440W/540: Resources

 

Levels of Writing:

Level 1:
o writing to remember, sort out thoughts, organize;
o note taking, freewrites, logs, journals, first drafts;
o used daily in a variety of forms, but not always collected or read and never evaluated except for content or use of process; instinctive spelling and punctuation, casual grammar

Level 2:
o informal but communicative need vocabulary, grammar, delivery that does not impede communication but need not be flawless;
o exams, homework, intermediate drafts;
o 1 2 times per week, usually read and often evaluated for clarity of thought, organization and knowledge, with some attention to common writing conventions

Level 3:
o formal and polished writing that has gone through all stages of the writing process, with emphasis on clarity for audience;
o letters, reports, research papers, final drafts;
o once every 4 6 weeks, correctness in writing conventions and editing skills important in addition to content and organization

Writing to communicate is reader based prose, transactional, aimed at a group audience which may be known or unknown, designed to convey ["show what you know"] information, opinions, etc. [Level 2 and Level 3]

Writing to learn is writer based prose, expressive, aimed at the self or close friends, "trying on" different concepts or poses, designed to explore and discover [Level 1]

MLA Style -- Covers electronic sources only; see MLA 4th edition printed guide for complete style models