From persuasive memos to complaint letters, sales letters to executive summaries -- this exceedingly useful guide helps the business worker write clearly and in an appropriate format, style and tone. Numerous examples show how to overcome writer's block, organize messages for maximum impact, achieve an easy-to-read style, find an efficient writing system and much more.

In the early grades, talking and drawing can provide children with a natural pathway to writing, yet these components are often overlooked. In "Talking, Drawing, Writing: Lessons for Our Youngest Writers" Martha Horn and Mary Ellen Giacobbe invite readers to join them in classrooms where they listen, watch, and talk with children, then use what they learn to create lessons designed to meet children where they are and lead them into the world of writing. The authors make a case for a broader definition of writing, advocating for formal storytelling sessions, in which children tell about what they know, and for focused sketching sessions so that budding writers learn how to observe more carefully.

The book's lessons are organized by topic and include oral storytelling, drawing, writing words, assessment, introducing booklets, and moving writers forward. Based on the authors' work in urban kindergarten and first-grade classes, the essence and structure of many of the lessons lend themselves to adaptation through fifth grade. The lessons follow a consistent format: what's going on in the classroom;what children need to learn next;the materials needed;the actual language used in the lesson;when children's literature is used, reasons for choosing the books and suggestions for other books;suggestions for other lessons.

Martha and Mary Ellen show the thinking behind their teaching decisions and provide a way to look at and assess children's writing, giving us much more than a book of lessons; they present a vision of what beginning writing can look and sound like. Perhaps most powerfully, they give us examples of the language they use with children that reveal a genuine respect for and trust in children as learners.

In this original volume, eighteen researchers from different parts of the world reflect on their own research projects, providing insights into key methodological issues in research on second language writing. By offering a glimpse into the process of constructing and negotiating knowledge in the field--the messy space of situated practices of inquiry--it helps to demystify the research process, which can appear in published studies and in introductory methodology guides to be neater and more orderly than it actually is. Taking a broad conception of research as inquiry that emphasizes the situated and constructed nature of knowledge in the field, Second Language Writing Research: Perspectives on the Process of Knowledge Construction encourages multiple forms of inquiry, including philosophical, narrative, and historical modes. Empirical inquiry as presented in this book encompasses both quantitative and qualitative approaches as well as those that strategically combine them. A helpful discussion of the "nuts and bolts" of developing sustainable research programs is also provided. The volume as a whole facilitates a situated, issue-driven research practice. Its unique focus on second language writing research makes it an invaluable resource for both novice and experienced researchers in the field.

Original Writing:
* provides students with the practical skills they need to write confidently and effectively for different purposes and audiences
* examines the conventions and styles of different types of original writing, such as writing to entertain, writing to inform and writing to persuade
* looks at a wide range of examples of successful writing, including extracts from The Office, Health Education leaflets, Kerrang! and students' own work
* includes a guide to planning and writing commentaries
* explores problematic areas and includes advice from experts in a range of areas, from radio to song writing.

Written by an experienced teacher, author and AS and A2 Level examiner, Original Writing is an essential resource for students of AS and A2 Level.

For devotees of Bird by Bird and The Artist's Way, a memoir-driven guide to healing through the craft of writing A cinematic exploration of the writing life by Francesca Lia Block, the bestselling author of the Weetzie Bat series of magical-realism novels, The Thorn Necklace offers visceral insights and healing exercises for the writer who creates as a way to process pain and adversity. Gently guiding the reader down the write-to-heal path, Block offers guideposts of awareness for writers, such as how to find a muse, channeling agony into art, putting chaos into order, ignoring the inner critic, fostering personal perseverance, and thriving as an artist in a troubled world. The author also addresses the intrinsic value of channeling our experiences into the written word and provides compassionate support to the reader for his or her own write-to-heal process.

Now in its fourth edition, Television and Screen Writing: From Concept to Contract is a classic resource for students and professionals in screenwriting and television writing. This book will teach you how to become a creative and marketable writer in every professional arena - including major studios, production companies, networks, cable and pay TV, animation, and interactive programs. Specific techniques and script samples for writing high-quality and producible "spec" scripts for theatrical motion pictures, the sitcom series, one-hour dramatic series, longform television, soaps, talk show, variety, animation, interactive and new media are provided. Television and Screen Writing: From Concept to Contract, Fourth Edition also offers a fully detailed examination of the current marketplace, and distinct strategies for marketing your scripts, from registering and copyrighting the script to signing with an agent.

This new edition has been expanded to include the most up-to-date creative and professional script samples, marketing resources, and practical information possible. The companion website (www.focalpress.com/companions) offers a wide range of contacts and resources for you to explore, and Internet links to professional resources. There is also an Annotated and Selected Bibliography for your reference
Covers all aspects of scriptwriting, from visuilization to marketing
New information on competitions, festivals, and workshops
Now includes internet sources for screenwriters

A good research paper is more than just a clear, concise, scientific expose. It is a document that needs to go beyond the science to attract attention. There are both strict and less definable norms for doing this, but many authors are unaware as to what they are or their use. Publishing is rapidly changing, and needs to be explained with a fresh perspective. Simply writing good, clear, concise, science is no longer enough-there is a different mind-set now required that students need to adopt if they are to succeed. The purpose of this book is to provide the foundations of this new approach for both young scientists at the start of their careers, as well as for more experienced scientists to teach the younger generation. Most importantly, the book will make the reader think in a fresh, creative, and novel way about writing and publishing science. This is an introductory guide suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional researchers in both the life and physical sciences.

Anxious to write that Great American Novel but don't know where to begin? Help is on the way with our "Writer's Block" This guide to beating writer's block comes packaged in the shape of an actual block: 3" x 3" x 3," with 672 pages and more than 200 photographs throughout. Next time you're stuck, just flip open "The Writer's Block" to any page to find an idea or exercise that will jump-start your imagination. Many of these assignments come straight from the creative writing classes of celebrated novelists like Ethan Canin, Richard Price, Toni Morrison, and Kurt Vonnegut: Joyce Carol Oates explains how she uses running to destroy writer's block. Elmore Leonard describes how he often finds ideas just by reading the newspaper. E. Annie Proulx discusses finding inspiration at garage sales. Isabel Allende tells why she always begins a new novel on January 8th. John Irving explains why he prefers to write the last sentence first. Fresh, fun, and irreverent, "The Writer's Block" also features advice from contemporary editors and literary agents, lessons from the awful novels of Joan Collins and Robert James Waller, a filmography of movies concerning writer's block (e.g., "The Shining, Barton Fink"), and countless other surprises. With this chunky little book at your side, you may never experience writer's block again

This fully updated fifth edition is a hands-on, practical guide to writing style for PR students and practitioners. Offering advice on the basic principles of grammar as well as covering essential editing and presentation skills, "Writing Skills for Public Relations" includes guidance on:
-- developing and policing a house style
-- avoiding cliches and jargon
-- ensuring readability
-- writing press releases
-- using social media
-- public speaking and speech writing
-- proof correction marks
-- the legal issues facing writers
Informed by British expertise and practice, this new edition also includes information on developing your web presence, online newsletters, blogs and websites, and setting up an online media center.

Plot must be as much about the emotions of the characters as it is about the events of the story. That's the message in "The Art of Plotting", which teaches screenwriters how to integrate plot, characterisation and exposition to make stories compelling. Using examples from recent and classic movies, author Linda J. Cowgill demonstrates how the plot springs naturally from the characters - and how that technique makes audiences connect with the story on a more intimate level. Easy exercises reveal common plot problems and help writers overcome them.

Good writing engages as it informs and feature journalism offers writers the opportunity to tell deep, affecting stories that look beyond the immediate mechanics of who, what, where and when and explore the more difficult-and more rewarding- questions: how and why? Whether you're a blogger, a news journalist or an aspiring lifestyle reporter, a strong voice and a fresh, informed perspective remain in short supply and strong demand; this book will help you craft the kind of narratives people can't wait to share on their social media feeds. Writing Feature Stories established a reputation as a comprehensive, thought-provoking and engaging introduction to researching and writing feature stories. This second edition is completely overhauled to reflect the range of print and digital feature formats, and the variety of online, mobile and traditional media in which they appear. This hands-on guide explains how to generate fresh ideas; research online and offline; make the most of interviews; sift and sort raw material; structure and write the story; edit and proofread your work; find the best platform for your story; and pitch your work to editors. 'A wide-ranging, much-needed master class for anyone who tells true yarns in this fast-changing journalistic marketplace' - Bruce Shapiro, Columbia University 'Useful and thought provoking' - Margaret Simons, journalist and author 'A must read for any digital storyteller who wants to write emotive, engaging, believable content.' - Nidhi Dutt, foreign correspondent

* Written by a leading scholar in composition theory * Accessible and jargon-free, the book presents a new approach to writing instruction based in linguistic research and theory * Includes sample texts and guidelines ready for writing teachers to use

Professional Report Writing is probably the most thorough treatment of this subject available, covering every aspect of an area often taken for granted. The author provides not just helpful analysis but also practical guidance on such topics as: c deciding the format c structuring a report c stylistic pitfalls and how to avoid them c making the most of illustrations c ensuring a consistent layout. The theme throughout is fitness for purpose, and the text is enriched by a wide variety of examples drawn from the worlds of business, industry and government. The annotated bibliography includes a review of the leading dictionaries and reference books. Simon Mort's book is destined to become an indispensable reference work for managers, civil servants, local government officers, consultants and professionals of every kind.

This Companion provides an introduction to the craft of prose. It considers the technical aspects of style that contribute to the art of prose, examining the constituent parts of prose through a widening lens, from the smallest details of punctuation and wording to style more broadly conceived. The book is concerned not only with prose fiction but with creative non-fiction, a growing area of interest for readers and aspiring writers. Written by internationally-renowned critics, novelists and biographers, the essays provide readers and writers with ways of understanding the workings of prose. They are exemplary of good critical practice, pleasurable reading for their own sake, and both informative and inspirational for practising writers. The Cambridge Companion to Prose will serve as a key resource for students of English literature and of creative writing.

This Companion provides an introduction to the craft of prose. It considers the technical aspects of style that contribute to the art of prose, examining the constituent parts of prose through a widening lens, from the smallest details of punctuation and wording to style more broadly conceived. The book is concerned not only with prose fiction but with creative non-fiction, a growing area of interest for readers and aspiring writers. Written by internationally-renowned critics, novelists and biographers, the essays provide readers and writers with ways of understanding the workings of prose. They are exemplary of good critical practice, pleasurable reading for their own sake, and both informative and inspirational for practising writers. The Cambridge Companion to Prose will serve as a key resource for students of English literature and of creative writing.

Written entirely in Spanish by instructors with years of experience, this textbook is a comprehensive guide to essay writing in Spanish. It provides advanced students of Spanish with the necessary tools to write fluently and effectively, both developing their reading, writing and critical thinking skills, and teaching them to practically analyse the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar. It is organised into six chapters, progressing in level and complexity, which take students step-by-step through the writing process. Each chapter contains a number of features such as lists of new vocabulary, assessment checklists, questionnaires, and activities based on writing samples. It also includes an accompanying web resource, which features additional exercises for students, and a lesson plan and downloadable PowerPoint presentations for teachers. By drawing on the principles of grammar, this essential resource will help students become proficient writers, across a range of textual genres.

Five minutes a day is all it takes to begin learning Japanese! Beginning Japanese Phrases Writing Practice Pad is the perfect interactive resource for busy people who want to start learning Japanese or students looking for a fun way to review what they've learned. This interactive paper pad helps even those completely unfamiliar with the language learn and write 336 essential Japanese phrases--in just a few minutes a day! Each tear-out sheet introduces a common Japanese phrase in bold, easy-to-read type, along with the pronunciation and meaning in English. Plus, language learners can use the provided practice boxes to try writing the phrase themselves! Cultural notes are provided on the back along with etiquette tips on when and how to use the phrase. This language practice pad includes: Contains over 275 tear-off sheets--each presenting a new and useful Japanese phrase Each phrase is in Japanese script along with its pronunciation and English translation Practice boxes are provided for you to write the phrase several times while memorizing it Learn a new phrase each day and keep the practice sheets for easy review later Helpful cultural notes and etiquette tips on Japanese usage are provided Charts showing the 92 hiragana and katakana characters Whether you're planning a trip to Japan or just looking to expand your vocabulary, this practice pad offers a quick and fun way to learn, reference, and review popular Japanese phrases. Five minutes a day is all you need--and you're on your way to speaking and writing Japanese!

The professional’s quick-reference handbook for writing business and technical reports

Professionals in business, government, and technical fields often need help in organizing and writing reports for associates, clients, and managers. This simple tutorial handbook offers expert tips and useful ideas for organizing ideas, structuring reports, and adding spice to technical papers.

Writing Reports to Get Results offers in-depth guidance for writing:

• short, informal reports, such as job progress reports and inspection reports
• semiformal reports, such as laboratory and medium-length investigation and evaluation reports
• formal reports, such as analytical and feasibility studies and major investigations
• technical and business proposals of varying complexity

The authors use a simple pyramid method to help writers organize their information into the most convenient and simplest structure for any type of document–from single-page proposals to full-length presentations. Rounding out this easy, instructional handbook are helpful tips on a number of other topics, such as: constructing reference lists and bibliographies; the use of numbers, abbreviations, and metric symbols; preparing illustrations for insertion into a report; and working collaboratively as a member of a writing team.

Quantitative corpus research on written language development has expanded rapidly in recent years, assisted by the ever-increasing power and accessibility of software capable of reliably analysing huge collections of learner writing. For this work to reach its full potential, it is important that researchers have a strong understanding of its methodological foundations and of the existing empirical evidence base on which it can build. This book provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of research in this area. Covering both first and second language learning contexts, it sets out a coherent theoretical framework and systematically reviews studies published over the last seventy years in order to establish what such research has taught us about written language development, what it hasn't taught us, and what we should do next. Timely and original, this is an essential reference work for academic researchers and students of first and second language writing.

Traditionally, reading and writing are believed to be separate but related language processes and teachers follow the conventional wisdom of teaching in-depth reading, with writing as a tag-on issue. Therefore, there exists an increasingly urgent call for a well-rounded reading-writing curriculum and a theoretically-informed, empirically-based, student-centered advanced textbook that aims to develop the synergy between reading and writing. Reading to Write: A Textbook of Advanced Chinese is intended to fill this significant gap. It treats reading and writing as integrative parts and interactive skills in Chinese language teaching, putting them hand-in-hand, supplementing each other.

Learning to write starts with learning to do one big thing: pay attention to the world around you, even though just about everything in modern life makes this more difficult than it needs to be. Developing habits and practices of observing, and writing down what you notice, can be the first step away from the anxieties and doubts that can hold you back from your ultimate goal as a writer: discovering something to say and a voice to say it in. The Writer's Eye is an inspiring guide for writers at all stages of their writing lives. Drawing on new research into creative writers and their relationship with the physical world, Amy E. Weldon shows us how to become more attentive observers of the world and find inspiration in any environment. Including exercises, writing prompts and sample texts and spanning multiple genres from novels to nonfiction to poetry, this is the ideal starting point for anyone beginning to write seriously and offers refreshing perspectives for experienced writers seeking new inspiration.