The Style GuideTM | Presentation to language schools
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Master the Art of Writing styleguidetm.com TM
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Why should you use the Style Guide? If writing in English is not your strength, you'll find our tool quite powerful to help you write better essays, assignments, articles, blogs, novels.. The deck you're about to see has served to introduce the Style GuideTM to language schools. The large amount of positive feedback we're getting, from lecturers to students, suggest you will find it useful too. Enjoy, and for any questions/interest contact: [email protected]
Transcript of The Style GuideTM | Presentation to language schools
Master the Art of Writing
styleguidetm.com
TM
Overview
The Problem
Bad writing style leads students to:
• Give the wrong impression
• Get poor grades
• Lose interest in writing
• Lack confidence in writing
Overview
The Solution: Use the Style Guide™
For tutors
• Save marking time
• Group learning opportunities
For students
• Improve your writing on your own
• Communicate with your customers
• Gain confidence in writing – emails, website, reports
• Become more employable
TM
Product
Unique Technology
Simple, user-friendly writing style
check
The Style Guide™ is an interface to
assist writers relate their writing
style to their audience using prompts
to guide them.
“Fascinating & innovative automated feedback tool
for writers.” N. Gibson, Editor in Chief
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW
How it works
Example
Comparison of major NZ magazine articles
• Cut and paste the writing into the Style Guide™
• It compares the writing to proven pieces of writing
• Places the result on a grid comparing description (vert. axis) to action (hor. axis
• Explains how to shift if the style doesn’t match your intended reader
• Explains how to get onto the grid if you are outside it
What it looks like
This will help you
Words to help you move text
How it works
Example
Extract from Student’s text
• Passive, long sentences
“Early stage innovators and inventors are challenged by many strategic
questions such as validating market need, building a business model and
securing partners - daunting tasks for those with limited resources and
experience. NZIC was created to open the doors of economic opportunity for
new arrivals, students and by doing so, to enhance the economic development
in NZ”
What it looks like
Result
• Too many noun/adj highlighted in blue & green
• Writing landing outside the grid
YOUR WORK
What does it means?
Directly from the tool
• “Your sample has fallen to the left of the grid”
• Very little action. Static. Instructional. Bullet points. Technical.
• This indicates high proportion of noun and adjectives
• To move it into the grid reduce the amount of noun/adj and add verbs/adverbs
• This will add action and give your writing more warmth
Feedback
Getting on the grid
Writing well in 4 steps
1. Read the feedback under the submission box
2. Find alternatives from verbs/adverbs list beside the submit box
3. Replace passive – ‘are challenged’, ‘was created’, doors of
4. Read out loud
• Experiment: start sentences differently
• Write short sentences
• Use active words like aims, evaluate, validate
Re-write
Example
“Strategic questions challenging early stage innovators include; how to
evaluate market need, how to validate assumptions and how to build a
relevant business model. Securing partners is included in this phase. All are
extremely daunting tasks for those with limited resources and experience.
NZIC aims to present economic opportunities for new arrivals and students
while also enhancing economic development in NZ.”
On the grid
Result
• More balanced writing style
YOUR WORK
How it works
Example
Extract from Student’s text
• Long sentences/clause conflict, generalisations
“They face problems with work-life balance, low paid salary, professional
development opportunities, change in government rules, recognition from the
working place and as well as in the society.”
What it looks like
Result
• Too much blue
• Writing landing outside the grid
YOUR WORK
Getting on the grid
Writing well in 4 steps
1. Turn the clauses into sentences
2. Start each sentence with a new word
3. Decide on key information and start with that
4. Check the last clause relates to the first
• Give places a face - an employer
• Give examples – a low wage
Re-write
Example
“Achieving work-life balance is almost impossible as they generally receive
lower wages than locals. There are fewer opportunities for professional
development and employers fail to acknowledge their skills. Changes in
government rules also hinder their progress.”
“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact it is raining but the feeling of being rained upon”
E.L. Doctorow
On the grid
Result
• More descriptive writing style
YOUR WORK
How it works
Example
Extract from Student’s text
• Incomplete sentences
“The taste will be pure as it is for the dish. There will be no compromise with
the taste of desserts. Will use best products to make them. Customers will be
offered 40 different desserts from where they can select. As it is said that we
eat through eyes and nose as well. So are main focus will also be on the
presentation same as it is served in the traditional manner as it supposed to
be. Each dessert will give the description of it origin.”
What it looks like
Result
• Passive langauge/gives feeling of lack of energy to the text
• Almost as high in verb as it is for noun which is very unusual
• A lot of movements making the text restless YOUR WORK
Getting on the grid
Writing well in 4 steps
1. Avoid passive language – will be, will use
2. Make sure the object and subject relate – desserts can’t talk!
3. Short but complete sentences
4. Check definite/indefinite articles, pronouns
• Use “we” or “they” to relate action to a person
Re-write
Example
“We are aiming for a pure taste. To achieve this we will use the best products
to make the 40 different desserts on offer. There is a saying that we eat as
much with our taste buds as with our eyes so we will focus as much on flavour
as on presentation. The traditional way in which these desserts are served will
give us competitive advantage and we will supply a description of each
dessert’s origin.”
On the grid
Result
• More engage writing style
YOUR WORK
Get started
Log onto The Story Mint website
thestorymint .com
Use The Style Guide TM
How it works?
1. Click on Free Sign up
2. Write NZEI after your username & get 6 months for FREE
How to use it?
User-friendly interface
1. Copy & paste your text into the content box
2. Press SUBMIT
SUBMIT
