Everett Ofori - Guaranteed Formula for Writing Success

Guaranteed Formula for
Writing Success

by

Everett Ofori,MBA

Guaranteed Formula for Writing Success

Copyright 2011 by Everett Ofori
ISBN-13 978-1-926918-23-5
First Edition

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Ofori, Everett, 1963
Guaranteed formula for writing success [electronic resource] / written by Everett Ofori 1st ed.
Electronic monograph in PDF format.
ISBN 978-1-926918-23-5
Also available in print format.
1. English language--Rhetoric. I. Title.
PE1408.O42 2011a 808'.042 C2011-900417-8

Illustrations: Ahn Soo Kyoung

Author contact: everettofori@gmail.com

Extreme care has been taken to ensure that all information presented in this book is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Additionally, neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Publisher: CCB Publishing
British Columbia, Canada
www.ccbpublishing.com

Dedicated to all those who strive for clarity,
in word as in deed

Other books by Everett Ofori

Succeeding From the Margins of Canadian Society:

A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees

and International Students

Written by Francis Adu-Febiri and Everett Ofori

2009 ISBN 978-1-926585-27-7

Read Assure:

Guaranteed Formula for Reading Success with Phonics

Written by Everett Ofori

2010 ISBN 978-1-926585-83-3

IF YOU CAN THINK WELL,PLAN WELL,WRITE WELL,AND SPEAK WELL,
YOU HAVE ALL THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY,
OR AT LEAST YOUR OWN HISTORY.
-Everett Ofori

Contents

Chapter

Can the art of good writing be taught? The answer, in short, is yes.

Words come more easily to some people than to others, but that does not mean that only a talented few can learn to write well.

In practically every area of human endeavor, even those who have natural talent know the value of training. That is why Michael Jordan and David Beckham, both talented athletes, benefited from having coaches even while at the height of their careers.

Writing is no different. Like sports, there are basic principles that anyone, talented or not, can apply to improve his or her work, although making an earnest effort is also necessary.

Everyone can benefit from learning the art of good writing. Many highly educated people know how to string words together into sentences and paragraphs, but when readers are unable to understand what they mean, that is not good writing. Good writing is clear, coherent and concise.

To write to be understood, it is necessary to prepare before you write and to revise what you have written.

ANYONE WHO THINKS CLEARLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO
WRITE CLEARLY ABOUT ANY SUBJECT AT ALL.
- William Zinsser, Writing to Learn, 11

PREP

PREP is a formula for writing. Using PREP, you can write a paragraph that is coherent and concise. Paragraphs, of course, are the basic building blocks of longer compositions.

PREP stands for

P - Point

R - Reason

E - Example(s)

P - Point

Using PREP will help to make your writing more effective. Being able to write an effective paragraph is important because, after all, articles, stories, and even books are all made up of a succession of paragraphs.

Lets try using PREP.

Model 1

Lets say your topic is War.

First, make a Point about war. Do you think war is bad? Do you think war is exciting, or perhaps a terrible shame? Express that point.

P Point:

War is bad.

Next, give a Reason, or a couple of reasons, why you made that point.

R Reason:
Why do I say that war is bad? The reason is that war often results in the loss of thousands, if notmillions, of lives. War can also contribute to disease and famine.

To make your writing effective, get in the habit of giving examples. Examples make your point clearer to the reader.

E Example:
During World War II, for example, many innocent people died. In addition to the thousands ofsoldiers who lost their lives, millions of civilians were killed. In Germany, during that same war, sixmillion Jews lost their lives. In China, during the Nanjing Massacre, thousands of people were killed.

End the paragraph by tying everything together. This helps to keep the reader focused on your main idea the Point you made earlier. It is a good idea to use different words. Variety, as the saying goes, is the soul of pleasure.

P Point:
War brings misery and death. A world without war is an ideal that I fervently hope for.

Heres your paragraph on war without the PREP notes .

War
War is bad. Why do I say that war is bad? The reason is that war often results in the loss ofthousands, if not millions, of lives. War can also contribute to disease and famine. During WorldWar II, for example, many innocent people died. In addition to the thousands of soldiers who losttheir lives, millions of civilians were killed. In Germany, during that same war, six million Jews losttheir lives. In China, during the Nanjing Massacre, thousands of people were killed. War bringsmisery and death. A world without war is an ideal that I fervently hope for.

Model 2

Topic:The Japanese educational system