The main features of formal writing include the following:

•         Formal writing often utilizes longer sentences. However, this style is changing slightly with an increasing understanding that clarity is important. Here, one can generally see a more structured approach, with points clearly explained, introduced, and concluded. These writing pieces are often thoroughly planned and revised several times to ensure they’re as clear as possible and mention all the necessary points.
•         Here, the writer utilizes a more objective approach. Key points are generally mentioned and then supported with arguments. Formal pieces of writing are less likely to be emotional in style. Therefore, they avoid emotive punctuation like ellipsis or exclamation points unless they’re being cited from another source.
•         As a rule of thumb, the writer shouldn’t use contractions to simplify words in formal writing. However, there’re a few exceptions to this rule. For instance, where it’s part of the language (for instance, AIDS) or when the acronym is more popular than the full name (for instance, NATO and BBC).
•         Formal writing isn’t a personal writing style. The writer generally tries to sound dispassionate about the subject. It’s generally not appropriate to utilize the first person or second person. However, there’re some exceptions to this. For example, it was conventional to use the passive voice and third person in academic writing. However, this type of writing is quite difficult to read. Therefore, many academic journals now support the use of the first person and the active voice, but within a style that’s considered formal.

A formal writing style isn’t necessarily “worse” or “better” than an informal writing style. As they come with very different purposes, the writer should carefully choose the appropriate style to use. Two of the main factors defining the choice of a formal or informal approach are the writer’s audience and medium. Generally, writing for work or professional purposes is likely to require a formal approach. However, the writers may utilize a more informal approach if they’re writing to someone they know in person. If in doubt about how formal one’s writing should be, it’s generally better to err on the side of caution. Almost no one is offended by excessive formality. However, it’s certainly possible to offend by being excessively informal in one’s approach.

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One of the key aspects of rhetorical analysis is the use of metaphor. Metaphors can be used to communicate an idea more directly, without having to use explicit language. For example, the line “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” is a metaphor, which means that the author is not actually talking about a rose, but rather, about a type of love. This line is used to communicate the idea that a love that is not named after a particular flower will still be just as powerful.

Another key aspect of rhetorical analysis is the use of irony. Irony can be used to communicate the opposite of the intended message, which can be useful for masking the true meaning of a sentence. For example, the line “I am the king of the world” is an example of irony, which means that the speaker is asserting their own powerlessness.

Rhetorical analysis is an important tool for poets as it allows them to communicate their ideas in a more direct and effective way.

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Audience

It is important to understand your audience and what they want from your writing. What are their needs? What are their concerns? Once you have a good understanding of your audience, you can tailor your writing to meet their needs.

Purpose

Your writing should have a clear purpose. What is the message you want to communicate? What is your goal? Are you trying to persuade someone to your point of view? Are you providing information? Are you entertaining? Once you know your purpose, you can develop a plan to achieve it.

Mechanics

Your writing should be clear, concise, and easy to read. You should use clear, simple language that is easy to follow. You should also use effective mechanics, which are the techniques you use to create your writing.

Style

Your writing should be based on your personal style. What is your voice? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What is your audience likely to expect? Once you know your style, you can develop a plan for delivering your message in a way that is most effective.

Tone

Your tone should be positive, encouraging, and professional. You should use positive words and expressions to create a positive tone. You should also avoid using negative words and expressions, which can have a negative tone.

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Though the different stages of editing are often called by different names, they can be broadly classified under these four types:

·         Structural editing: Also called ‘developmental editing,’ it looks at the overall presentation of the copy. A structural edit involves paying attention to how the narrative is put together in terms of clarity of message and reader engagement. It also examines the content and analyzes its overall flow. Among other aspects, the editor focuses on the setting and voice, development of content, and consistency. Suggestions at this stage may be as large as adding and cutting entire chunks of content, and moving and reworking the material, or small and subtle changes like rewriting a section from the third person to the first person or changing the order of a few paragraphs to improve the flow of the content.

·         Copy editing: While structural editing looks at the content as a whole, copy editing focuses on the paragraphs and sentences. In other words, copy editing emphasizes grammatical correctness. Thus, it should ideally be done once the structural elements of a piece of content have been fixed. Copy editing dwells on the inconsistencies regarding the grammatical elements put forward in the text, wording and phrasing issues, and tonal errors that may negatively affect the sequence of events and decrease their readability.

·         Proofreading: The focus here is on grammar, spelling, typos, punctuation, and consistency. Once can call proofreading a more precise version of spell-check. An editor who conducts proofreading will correct all spellings, punctuations, and grammatical mistakes in the text. Proofreading also involves the correction of all typos and inconsistencies that may have been overlooked by the writer. 

·         Fact-checking: This involves checking the facts to ensure what’s written is true and has really happened. An editor will typically check the dates, times, names, titles, digits (especially phone numbers), and words with odd spellings. Ensuring the numbers used in the text are correct and logical (such as salaries, crowd estimates, etc.) and the calculations and other mathematical aspects are accurate are other things the editor will focus on.

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Students develop a more cohesive text during the drafting stage and investigate their topic, directed by the targeted audience, content, purpose, and genre. Drafting helps students clarify, expand upon, and modify their initial ideas and plans, and organize their content into a meaningful series or flow. However, students should remember that drafting is often an iterative process, as they’ll need to draft and redraft their texts repeatedly. But the process is helpful as it makes the students’ writing improve by becoming clearer, stronger, and better organized.

The following five steps can help students during their drafting stage:

·         Begin with freewriting: Freewriting lets the students follow the impulses of their own mind and allows inspirations and thoughts to pop up without premeditation. This strategy encourages the free flow of ideas and helps students brainstorm concepts to decide what will form the core of their write-up early on in the process of writing.

·         Decide on how to present the information: The content structure is important to decide upon when drafting. For example, students writing a personal essay should work on their thesis statement, followed by their introductory paragraph. Next, they should decide the narrative flow and plan to integrate the information they have gathered to logically connect the paragraphs while working their way down until the conclusion. 

·         Flesh out the ideas: For a detailed explanation of their views and opinions, students should use research and integrate relevant information in their drafts. They should plug the gaps, if any, in their draft to ensure the text backs their working thesis properly.

·         Complete the first draft: This is where the students write their complete first draft before any edit or revision is done. It shouldn’t take too long as the students just need to put down and organize their ideas quickly – from start to finish. Once it’s done, they’ll get a clearer picture of how the piece stands and if it’s as impactful as planned.

·         Avoid the urge to proofread and edit in-between: These are the final writing steps. During the drafting stage, perfect spelling, word count, and sentence structure aren’t crucial to focus upon. Instead, the focus should be on just organizing and detailing the relevant information for the intended audience.

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Different plagiarism detection software programs are available on the market, but the most popular and effective program is plagiarism software from Quirky. Quirky has been around since 2003 and has developed a number of plagiarism detection software programs that are used by colleges and universities worldwide.

The software is easy to use and can detect plagiarism in many different ways. It can detect plagiarism in text, images, and online sources. It can also detect plagiarism in documents that other people have created, and it can help to prevent plagiarism from happening in the first place.

Quirky has many other great products, too, including a plagiarism checker to help people check for plagiarism in documents, a text editor to create plagiarism-free documents, and a library of templates to help people create plagiarism-free documents.

All of the Quirky plagiarism detection software programs are free and can help prevent plagiarism from happening in any organization. Quirky is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to deal with plagiarism safely and effectively.

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Since college and high school students are often given assignments that need them to write argumentative essays, they should know how to take a stance on an issue and persuade readers to understand and support their writing. Typically, argumentative essay topics are related to politics, technology, science, and healthcare.

The structure of argumentative writing is held together by the following four points:

1.  A concise, clear, and defined thesis statement: This should appear in the first paragraph. The opening paragraph should set the context, talks about the topic’s importance and why readers should care about it, and present the thesis statement.

2.  Reasonable and clear transitions between the parts of the write-up: An argumentative write-up should have logical and clear transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion. Without them, its structure will collapse. Unless there’s a logical progression of thought, the readers won’t be able to follow the arguments presented in the write-up.

3.  Body paragraphs should include evidential support: A typical argumentative write-up consists of three or more paragraphs. In these, the students should explain why they support the thesis. Each body paragraph should focus on a different piece of evidence or idea and include a topic sentence that explains quickly and clearly why the readers should agree with the students’ position. 

By using statistical and/or factual research, examples, text citations, and studies, students can back their claims in the body paragraphs. It’s a good plan to set aside one or two paragraphs to address conflicting or opposing opinions on the topic and either disprove them or explain why they disagree with such views. By considering a topic from every angle and presenting facts, students can add credibility to their argumentative write-ups, which will help them gain their readers’ trust.

4.  Conclusion: In a single paragraph, students should restate their thesis and summarize all the arguments they have made in the previous body paragraphs. Instead of introducing additional arguments or new facts, a good conclusion that readdresses the thesis in light of the evidence provided will appeal more to the readers’ emotions. Writers may even use a personal anecdote to explain how the topic affects them personally.

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1. Play with chopsticks: Pick up small objects like cheerios, grapes, or beads using chopsticks. This will help children develop their pincer grasp skills while having fun.

2. Use tongs for picking up objects: Give children tongs and ask them to pick up small objects like cotton balls, pom-poms, or marbles. This will help them develop the muscles in their hands and fingers.

3. Play with playdough: Roll small balls of playdough with your fingers and then pinch them using your thumb and forefinger.

4. Play with tweezers: Use tweezers to pick up small objects like beads or buttons, or even tiny pieces of paper.

5. Practice with clothespins: Use clothespins to pick up small objects like pom-poms, cotton balls, or beads.

6. Play games with buttons: Play games like button sorting or button matching to help children develop their pincer grasp skills.

7. String beads: String beads onto a shoelace or piece of string. This activity will help children develop their hand-eye coordination and pincer grasp skills.

8. Finger painting: Use finger paints and have children practice making small dots and lines using their fingers.

9. Play with pegboards: Use a pegboard and small pegs to practice picking up and placing pegs in the board.

10. Make crafts with stickers: Have children peel off stickers and place them onto paper to develop their pincer grasp skills.

11. Play with small puzzles: Give children small puzzles with pieces that they can pick up and manipulate with their fingers.

12. Play with play food: Use small play food items like grapes or blueberries to help children practice their pincer grasp.

13. Make paper fans: Fold paper fans and have children practice holding the paper by the folds using their pincer grasp.

14. Use cookie cutters: Have children practice pressing cookie cutters onto playdough using their pincer grasp.

15. Cut and paste with scissors: Cut small shapes from paper and have children paste them onto a piece of paper.

16. Use pipettes: Use pipettes to transfer water from one container to another. This activity will help children develop their pincer grasp skills while also improving hand-eye coordination.

17. Make friendship bracelets: Use embroidery floss to make friendship bracelets, which require children to use their pincer grasp to manipulate the threads.

18. Play with fine motor toys: Use fine motor toys like lacing beads, nuts and bolts, or geometric shape puzzles to develop pincer grasp skills.

19. Play with coin banks: Have children drop coins into a coin bank to practice their pincer grasp.

20. Practice handwriting: Have children practice writing letters and numbers using a pencil or crayon to develop their pincer grasp.

Overall, these activities promote improved fine motor development and prepare children for a successful future. Consistent practice will improve pincer grasp, helping children become confident and capable individuals. So, let’s get started! 

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1. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Show your students a compelling picture and ask them to imagine what happened before and after the picture was taken. Encourage them to write a story based on their thoughts and observations.

2. Create a Comic Strip

Comic strips are a fun and simple way to teach narrative writing. Take inspiration from popular comic books and encourage your students to create their own characters, plot, and dialogue.

3. Write a Diary Entry
Ask your students to write a diary entry, either from their own lives or from the point of view of a fictional character. They can reflect on their emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

4. Retell a Classic Story

Ask your students to reimagine and retell a classic story, such as Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood, from a different perspective. This activity develops creative writing and critical thinking skills.

5. Write a Letter

Encourage your students to write a letter to a friend, family member, or even a fictional character. They can express their feelings, share their experiences, and explore various writing styles.

6. Current Event Story

Discuss a recent news story, and then ask your students to write their own story inspired by the events. This helps students to understand complex events while developing writing skills.

7. Interview a Character

Ask your students to interview the main character from a book they have read or a movie they have watched. It encourages students to interpret character development and explore their imaginative skills.

8. Write a Memoir

Students can write a memoir about their own life, reflecting on significant events from their childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. They can explore their emotions, memories, and reflect on their own experiences.

9. Write a Picture Book

A picture book allows students to write a story and create illustrations to engage young readers.

10. Write a Script

Encourage your students to write a script for a play, a movie, or a TV show. It helps students think about visual storytelling techniques and develop dialogues.

11. Write an Adventure Story

Adventure stories allow students to use their imagination to explore new worlds, characters, and conflicts.

12. Write a Book Review
Encourage your students to read and review books. This will engage them in reading and writing content that could improve their critical thinking skills and provide insight to their peers.

13. Write a News Article

Ask your students to write a news article about an event that has happened or one they have imagined. It will help them develop journalistic writing skills and keep them updated with current events.

14. Write a Short Story

Encourage students to write a short story, focusing on character development and narrative structure. It could be about anything – real life events, horror, romance, or any form of fiction.

15. Write a Poem

Ask students to write a poem, focusing on building creativity, using different literary techniques and word choices.

16. Describe a Scene

Encourage your students to describe a scene, such as a landscape or cityscape, using sensory details. It helps develop descriptive writing and evocative language.

17. Write a Recipe

Ask students to write a recipe for a dish they love, complete with the ingredients and cooking instructions. Writing a recipe requires careful instructions and step-by-step process, making it a great way to exercise their instructions writing.

18. Write an Autobiographical Essay

Ask your students about their goals, achievements, and interests, and then ask them to write an autobiographical essay. This helps them develop and structure their writing skills.

19. Write a Speech

Encourage your students to write a speech, addressing their peers, the school board, or a public audience. It helps them develop public speaking and persuasive writing skills.

20. Create a Narrative Board Game

Incorporate narrative writing in a fun way by creating a board game that involves developing stories from various prompts. It improves creative thinking and collaborative imagination.

In conclusion, these suggestions will be useful in creating an exceptional narrative writing experience for your students. Incorporating fun and creative aspects can be the motivation students need to improve their writing ability further.  

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1. Always be sure to cite your sources. This is the most important step to avoiding plagiarism. Always include your sources. Whether you are quoting a passage from a book or article, paraphrasing someone else’s words, or using information you found on the internet. If you do not provide a reference, your classmates, professors, and employers will be able to determine whether or not the information you are presenting is your own.

2. Be aware of the ethical implications of plagiarism. Plagiarism is unethical, and it can damage your reputation. If you are caught plagiarizing, you may face disciplinary action from your school, your employer, or the legal system.

3. Be aware of the difference between paraphrasing and plagiarizing. Paraphrasing is taking the ideas or words of others, but giving credit where credit is due. Plagiarizing, on the other hand, is taking the ideas or words of others, and presenting them as your own.

4. Do your research. When you are writing an essay, paper, or project, be sure to do your research. This means not only reading the articles or books you are citing, but also researching the topic yourself.

5. Be careful with your words. Use language that is clear, consistent, and free of errors. When you are paraphrasing or quoting someone, be sure to use their exact words, not your own. And when you are writing your own words, be sure to use proper grammar and syntax.

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