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Struggling with writing?, Excellence in Learning at DCU

ExL@DCU


Five writers : which one are you?*

Exercise 2
Think about the differences between your type of writing and each of the others. Choose from the qualities in the box below (or their ‘opposites’, given in [ ]) to complete the grid thereunder.
A unified ‘whole’ Missing key ideas
[In-] Coherence Irrelevant digression
Attention to detail Missed deadlines
[Lack of] fluency [Lack of] thoroughness
Scope/breadth    Seizing the ‘ready-made’
Flexibility [Rigidity] Distorted interpretations
Coping with bulk Excessive word-count

5 WRITERS: GRID Potential Strengths (i.e. seems good for..) Potential Weaknesses (i.e. may lead to..)
LEAPER       
CRAZY PAVER
RUMINATOR
BLUEPRINTER       
MAP READER

Five writers exercises: concluding remarks

The purpose of these exercises was to help you to explore and understand your method(s) of writing.  You should now have some insights about the way(s) in which you approach writing and how your approach compares to other ways of approaching writing.  Awareness of your automatic habits in writing, and openness to learning from other styles, are essential starting blocks in developing and improving your writing skills.

*This section uses exercises developed by Mario Petrucci (2005) for The Royal Literary Fund. (Last accessed, December 2007).