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The simplest and most informative set of writing rules ever combined into one document.
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The Math and Science of English:
Top 10 Writing Rules
Jamie Sue Reed
“I feel,” "I think," or “I believe ” statements
Qualifiers
Passive structure
The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
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Main idea per paragraph
Subject and Verb per clause
The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
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Clauses maximum in a sentence
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Paragraphs minimum in a letter
Blank Lines for the signature on a letter
Aspects of design: Variety, Unity, Utility
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Document design rules:
Do not trap white space in the middle of the page
Don’t use underlines
Make ALL key ideas prominent
Align the document left
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Rules about Audience:
1. Know what your audience cares about and focus your writing on that.
2. Tell your audience what you want from them and what you are offering them—in the introduction.
3. Don’t tell your audience what they already know.
4. Use the same language that your audience does.
5. Don’t waste your audience’s time with extra words and flowery language.
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Traits of writing:1. Ideas: Content is interesting, clear, and
focused. Ideas are developed and supported.
2. Organization: beginning, middle, and end (hook, details, next steps).
3. Voice: Credible.4. Word Choice: Professional and plain.5. Sentence fluency: stretchy, snappy, variety,
17-20 words on average6. Conventions: Mechanics polished
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Deadly sins:
1. Not getting to the point
2. Using passive voice
3. Stating the obvious
4. Repeating yourself
5. Forgetting transitions
6. Using subjective language
7. Having more than one main idea in a paragraph
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Stages of writing:
1. Analyze audience
2. Research
3. Organize
4. Draft/write
5. Review
6. Revise
7. Proofread
8. Publish
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Ways to organize writing:
1. Cause and effect
2. Order of importance
3. Chronological
4. Problem-solution
5. Spatial
6. Climactic
7. Process
8. Comparison/contrast
9. Classification
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Lines maximum per paragraph
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The Math and Science of English:Top 10 Writing Rules
Memorize these secrets and go out into the
world and write well!
