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by Terri L. White
Honing Your Composition Skills
GIVING THAT
DREADED SPEECH
Your knees are knocking and your
stomach is a churning mass. As sweat drips off your forehead, trembling hands grip the
chair. For weeks you have prepared for this moment, but now you would rather hide in the
nearest closet than stand in front of the audience and give this speech. The clock ticks
on as your turn approaches. Finally the M.C. introduces you, and you . . . wake up.
What? Read that again. Yes, it does say "wake up." Such are the
nightmares of most would-be orators. Their fear of facing a group of people even
encroaches their sleep.
Does this describe you or one of your
children? Alas, you are not alone. There are few natural speakers. Not only is the skill
acquired, but being "at home" in front of a crowd usually comes from experience.
And some never lose their fears; they do, however, force themselves to give those
speeches. Learn a lesson from the cowardly lion on The Wizard of Oz: "Courage
is doing what’s right even when you fear." But . . . no matter who you are --
timid or outgoing -- knowing a few speech-making techniques can polish your presentation
and instill some self-confidence. Check out the following seven tips:
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Keep it simple. Before you
prepare your speech, try expressing it in one sentence. If you cannot, it lacks focus.
Take the time to reevaluate your thoughts and adjust your topic accordingly. An audience
comes away with only one or two points of any speech or presentation. If you keep your
talk simple, they will remember what you have said. |
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Get organized. Every
presentation includes an opening, a few major points, and a closing. A strong closing is
critical because that is the last thing the audience hears and likely what they will
remember the most. |
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Keep it short. Nobody likes a
long-winded speech, sermon, or presentation. Get to the point and know when to stop.
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Be real. Robert Frost once
said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." That applies to
speakers, too. Use first person singular, and then make yourself vulnerable by sharing
your feelings. That will place the audience right in your shoes.
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Take charge. The first few
moments of your speech establishes your relationship with the audience. Smile. Don’t
start until you have everyone’s attention. Then, as you begin speaking, pick out
three people with which to make eye contact -- one from the left side of the audience,
another from the center, and one from the right. While you are giving your presentation,
you will take in the whole group by making eye contact with each of these three people.
This prevents you from ignoring parts of your audience. |
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Talk, don’t read. Notes
are great for keeping the speaker on track, but they are only short reminders. Reading a
speech lacks spontaneity and life; it rarely keeps the audience’s attention. Talk,
even if it is not as smooth a presentation. |
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Relax. Practice what all the
basketball players do before shooting that free throw. Take a deep breath from your
diaphragm and exhale slowly. This will help you control your nervousness.
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Not many folks have frequent
opportunities to practice giving a speech. The best place to start, however, is at home
with the people you love and trust. Choose a regular "speech night" and take
turns giving talks, practicing the seven techniques. The children can summarize something
they learn in school, or each one can talk about a current event. Review movies, books,
and music. Dress up as a historical character and give a short "autobiography"
while the rest of the family guesses who you are. Be imaginative and have fun! If you
critique each other, remember to be merciful! Practice will improve your skills.
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HONING YOUR COMPOSITION SKILLS
Paragraphs are a lot like
hamburgers. Once you get acquainted with all the parts, you can assemble your ingredients,
slap them together, and serve a tasty "sandwich." With a simple step-by-step
approach, the mystery of composition fades away.
A paragraph is a group of
sentences covering one topic. It includes a topic sentence (the top hamburger bun),
supporting sentences (the meat, lettuce, and tomatoes), and a concluding sentence (the
bottom bun). This orderly arrangement simplifies the art of composition.
The subject of the
paragraph should be narrow enough to include the necessary details without being too
lengthy. Once you have chosen the topic, list details that tell about your subject. You
don’t have to write whole sentences. Just jot down key words and phrases. If your
list is too long, try narrowing down your theme. For example, the subject of dogs is too
broad for only one paragraph. You can, however, talk about one aspect of dogs, such as why
their noses are wet. Choosing smaller time periods, narrower geographical areas, and more
specific words are helpful guides in confining the topic to fit a single paragraph.
The first sentence is
called the topic sentence, which introduces the subject of the paragraph. This is perhaps
the most important sentence in your paragraph. An interesting topic sentence captures the
reader’s attention and urges him to continue reading.
Inside your
"sandwich" includes the supporting sentences. These give whatever details are
necessary for the reader to understand the main idea. Examples, facts, reasons, or
descriptions are different ways to expand on the topic. If you are writing about "Why
Cantaloupe Is My Favorite Fruit", make a list of reasons why you like cantaloupe best.
Your list may include that it is sweet, juicy, and refreshing; those are three details
that can be written into three supporting sentences. You can also recall a pleasant memory
of eating cantaloupe. Arrange supporting sentences in an order that makes sense and that
is easily followed. This gives the paragraph unity. They are called supporting sentences
because they include only the information that develops the idea introduced in the topic
sentence.
The end of the paragraph
finishes with a concluding sentence. This restates the topic sentence in different words.
It should never leave the reader dangling, but instead give him a sense of satisfaction.
Compositions that include
several paragraphs, have the same basic structure as a single paragraph. A composition
begins with a topic paragraph, the following supporting paragraphs develop the theme
introduced in the first paragraph, and the final paragraph concludes the composition.
Developing writing skills
in a child can be enjoyable if approached in "bite-size" pieces. The first step
in training a writer is to produce a reader. Those who read well-written books cultivate a
taste for quality; while on the other hand, nonreaders seldom write or recognize
excellence in the written word. Another pre-writing skill is talking. Families that
encourage interchanges, require plenty of oral reports, and participate in storytelling
are preparing future writers. Understanding that a sentence is a complete thought follows
on the heels of "oral traditions". This includes practice, practice, and more
practice. When a sentence is mastered, paragraphs can be introduced. Concentration on
single paragraphs develops the necessary skills for writing longer papers. It takes
patience and perseverance to develop all the related skills involved in the art
composition. You may never write an article for a magazine, but everyone needs to be able
to write a good letter to family and friends, and even an occasional letter to the editor.
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PERSUASIVE WRITING
"With militant antiabortionists
threatening three days of disruptive protests, police Wednesday ordered an emergency
command post manned, and doubled the deployment of officers in some areas."
"Wednesday the police doubled
the deployment of officers in some areas because the local prolife community called for a
three-day protest against abortion clinics."
Masterfully used, words can change
the course of an entire community or nation. These two newspaper accounts report on the
same event, but each paints a different picture in the reader’s mind. The first
example used emotional words, assumptions, and strong bias to present the
"antiabortionists" as a violent threat to the community. The second example
simply states the information without using persuasive techniques. Persuasive writing,
however, is neither good nor evil. It is simply a tool designed to persuade the reader to
the writer’s opinion. This is the purpose for the editorial page of the newspaper,
religious tracts, political campaign fliers, and a host of books and magazines in your
neighborhood book store. Whether the information promotes good or evil, it is up to the
reader to discern the truth.
Effective persuasive writing begins
with some prewriting preparation. The following steps will keep you focused and help you
write with clarity:
1) What point do you want to make?
Write it in one sentence. If you cannot write it in one sentence, your idea is either too
vague or too broad. Redefine before proceeding.
2) Decide who you want to
persuade. Your audience decides the kind of supporting evidence you will use. For
example, you would approach businessmen differently than teen-agers. Once you have chosen
your audience, select the appropriate supporting evidence.
3) Make a list of your opinions.
Under each opinion, list the facts that support it. Base all opinions on facts. You can
use quotes from an expert on the topic, examples from real life, and information from
reliable sources. Reserve one opinion per paragraph.
Having armed yourself with a plan,
you are ready to begin writing. The first sentence of your introductory paragraph should
grab the reader’s attention. It could be a strong statement or a question that gets
him thinking. Then finish the introductory paragraph by briefly introducing your opinions.
Each of the following paragraphs should deal with only one opinion, using the supporting
evidence that you have already collected. Begin with your least important opinion and
finish with your strongest argument. When wrapping up your arguments in the concluding
paragraph, finish with a strong reason followed by a concluding statement, a suggestion of
what could happen if your arguments are not heeded, or a restatement of the topic
sentence. Keep in mind that this kind of writing usually appeals to the reader’s
emotions as well as his ability to reason.
To help you perfect your persuasive
writing skills, the following suggestions are great practice exercises:
1) Write an argument for or against a
topic. Conclude by mentioning what could happen if your words are ignored.
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Too much television is harmful. |
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Smoking in public places should be
prohibited. |
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Public schools should return to
dress codes. |
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All abortions should be illegal. |
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_______ should be elected
to _______. |
2) Write a critical review of a book,
movie, or record. As a reviewer you are to help a person decide whether or not something
is worth reading, watching, or listening to. Support your opinion with facts or
information from an authority on the subject.
3) Cut out reviews of books or movies
from a newspaper or magazine. Label three columns on a piece of paper -- Fact, Opinion,
Authority. Copy the sentences from the review under the correct label. If you agreed with
the critic, which type of information convinced you? If you did not agree, tell why.
4) Choose a proverb or theme from a
story. Write for or against it, giving reasons and examples. For example:
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A dog is man’s best friend. |
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He who laughs last, laughs best. |
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Look before you leap. |
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A gentle answer turns away wrath. |
Now you are ready for that letter to
the editor or to your Congressman. Keep practicing and have fun!
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PROOF READING YOUR COMPOSITION
The editor’s knife is legendary.
After the writer pours his heart into carefully chosen words, the editor meticulously
scrutinizes every facet of the work, bringing it to perfection. Temperamentally speaking,
this is the work of a "beaver," taking something good and producing excellence.
Part of composition skills, however,
is learning to be your own best critic. While an unbiased, second opinion is always
helpful (and often a necessity), proofreading begins with the writer. Once the rough draft
(first writing) is completed, you can go through your work with a "fine tooth
comb" by using a step-by-step approach. This enables the writer to critique his work
with thoroughness.
Your first step needs to look at
the work as a whole. Ask yourself these questions as you reread your composition: (1)
Does it have unity? Do all the parts contribute to the single idea of the whole?
(2) Does it have coherence? Are the ideas carefully distinguished from one another?
Are the ideas in good order? (3) Does it have proper emphasis? Has each part been
developed at a length proportional to its importance? With each question, take the time to
make adjustments in your composition until you are satisfied that the changes bring unity,
coherence, and proper emphasis.
Secondly, examine the structure of
each paragraph. Taking one paragraph at a time, decide whether each covers only one
subject. Then make sure that every paragraph includes a topic sentence,
supporting sentences, and a concluding (or transitional) sentence. Do
whatever rewriting necessary to make these structural changes.
The next step scrutinizes your sentence
structure. Are your sentences interesting? Is there variety in your styles? If you
have mostly simple sentences, create diversity by joining simple sentences together to
form complex sentences. Adding introductory phrases to simple sentences spices up your
composition, also. The following examples should help you understand how to vary your
sentence structure:
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Example #1: |
I went to the store. I bought milk.
(Two simple sentences)
When I went to the store, I bought
milk. (Beginning with a dependent clause, when I went to the store, adds
variety.)
These words often begin dependent
clauses: after, before, until, although, if, when, as, since, whenever, because, unless,
while
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Example #2: |
My pet is a soft and cuddly rabbit.
(Simple sentence)
My pet, a cuddly rabbit, is soft.
(Using an appositive, a cuddly rabbit, adds variety.)
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Example #3: |
The boys were wading in the creek.
The boys found an old, soggy shoe. (Two simple sentences)
Wading in the creek, the boys found
an old, soggy shoe. (Using an introductory phrase, wading in the creek, adds
variety.)
No matter how engaging or exciting
your topic, a composition that lacks diversity in its sentence structure will not hold the
reader’s interest. Learning this skill is well worth the effort.
Word choices
are also critical in
composition. It is easy to get in a rut and use the same handful of words repeatedly. This
is when you keep that thesaurus handy. Make it your friend and use it often! The following
examples illustrate varied word choices:
Use active verbs:
Race instead of went
Whisper instead of say
Savored instead of tasted
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Use exact nouns:
Waif instead of homeless child
Vigor instead of strength
Dude instead of overdressed man
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Use precise adjectives
and adverbs:
Lemon is more exact than yellow
Towering is more precise than tall
Obedient boy instead of good child
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Use words that appeal
to the senses:
Taste: bland, bitter, spicy
Smell: pungent, fragrant, sour
Texture: chewy, mushy, crunchy
Sound: klonk, whoosh, swish
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By using exact words, your
composition will paint specific pictures in the reader’s mind.
Finally, your proofreading includes a
grammar check. With a grammar handbook at your side, examine your punctuation and
spelling. If you are using a computer, do not solely rely on the grammar or spell check.
Use the computer’s tools first, and then go over your paper by hand. Proper
"mechanics" in your composition is the final touch that polishes your whole
presentation.
Just as a scientist places his
specimens under the microscope to examine its contents, so the writer must scrutinize his
work with the same precision. If you dissect your composition with this step-by-step
approach, your proofreading will effectively reveal weak areas and errors. Taking the time
to perfect your writing will enhance your skills and produce a composition you can proudly
share with family and friends.
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