R&W

• Mechanics in writing


  Conventions that have to be considered in writing
• Examples of mechanics in writing

  • Punctuation
  • Capitalizations
• Punctuation


  The act of using a system of symbols such as the comma, period, quotation marks, question marks, etc. that are used to give structure to and organize a text meaning of the statement
• Capitalization


  The act of writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while the rest of the letters are in lowercase
• Examples of words that require capitalization


  • Proper nouns - Alex, Manila
  • Proper adjectives - Canadian
  • Days of the week - Sunday
  • Months of the year - January
  • Specific course titles - Theater 101
• Critical thinking


  Technique for evaluating information and ideas for deciding what to accept and believe. It also involves reflecting on the validity of what you have read in light of our prior knowledge and understanding of the world
• Critical reading


  A technique used for discovering information and ideas within a text. It also refers to a careful, active, reflective, analytic reading
• Main idea


  Central idea being expressed or examined in a text
• Thesis statement


  A one-sentence summary that guides, controls, and unifies ideas when writing a paper
• Topic sentences


  It guides, controls, and unifies ideas in a paragraph. It develops one argument of the thesis statement
• Claims


  Backed by reasons that are supported by evidence are called arguments. To win an argument, you first have to make a claim that is more than just an assertion
• Fact claim


  A statement about how things were in the past, how they are in the present, or how they will be in the future. A fact claim is not a fact; it only claims to be a fact
• Value claim


  Arguable statements concerning the relative merits of something which is measured subjectively what makes a value claim arguable is that different people may disagree on the criteria used to evaluate something differing
• Policy claim


  A statement regarding the merits of one course of action as opposed to other courses of action. What makes a policy claim arguable is that, even though people and institutions may not be totally certain about the proper course of action to take, they still must act
• Argument claim


  Involves an arguable statement that the speaker asks the audience to accept
• Importance of referencing


  To provide context and credibility
• Primary purpose of quoting directly from a source

  To present verbatim text for accuracy
• Main purpose of paraphrasing

  To rephrase the original text
• Memorandum


  A written message in business or diplomacy
• Parts of a memorandum

  • Heading
  • Opening segment
  • Context
  • Task segment
  • Summary segment
  • Closing segment
  • Necessary attachments
• Heading


  Follows this general format: TO: (readers' names and job titles), FROM: (your name and job title), DATE: (complete and current date), SUBJECT: (what the memo is about, highlighted in some way)
• Opening segment


  The purpose of a memo is usually found in the opening paragraph and includes: the purpose of the memo, the context and problem, and the specific assignment or task
• Context


  The event, circumstance, or background of the problem you are solving
• Task segment


  One essential portion of a memo is the task statement where you should describe what you are doing to help solve the problem
• Summary segment


  Provides a brief statement of the key recommendations you have reached. These will help your reader understand the key points of the memo immediately
• Closing segment


  After the reader has absorbed all of your information, you want to close with a courteous ending that states what action you want your reader to take. Make sure you consider how the reader will benefit from the desired actions and how you can make those actions easier
• Necessary attachments


  You can do this by attaching lists, graphs, tables, etc. at the end of your memo. Be sure to refer to your attachments in your memo and add a notation about what is attached below your closing
• Enclosure attachment


  Indicated if there are additional documents attached to the memo