January Boost

A four week writing motivation program brought to you by Defend&Publish

 Email risa@defendandpublish.com

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How did Week 2 go?
Raise your hand or drop in the chat

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January Boost at a Glance
Week 1 Week 2
Clarify your argument Uncover your structure

Focus on the paragraph Write to your audience

Week 3 Week 4

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How to get a January Boost
SCHEDULE WRITING TIME AND PLACE APPLY THE WRITING STRATEG(IES)
TAUGHT IN WRITING SESSIONS

Writing works when you make time for it.

Aim for one of these weekly goals: The weekly strategy and methods to apply
◦ 5 hours of total writing time during the it give you something to strive for each
week in your writing session that will move
week (Carve up any way you like)
your writing forward.
◦ At least 5 paragraphs of new writing
◦ Pay attention to where and when you are
getting writing done (any habits you can
replicate?)
◦ Bonus half hour or bonus 6th paragraph?
Go for it.
◦ REVISE 5 paragraphs

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Goal for Week 3:
Focus on the Paragraph
Paragraphs are mini-essays. Clear paragraphs,
one after another, will encourage readers (and
reviewers) to continue reading.
One Strategy: Follow the Formula
Patricia Goodsen describes paragraphs as a formula:

Transition + one key idea + development of a key idea

Patricia Goodsen – Becoming an Academic Writer: 50 Exercises

 Transition
Three types of transitions

Signal X/Y Lexical

Markers for sequence,
comparison, contrast, etc.
Examples: First of all, For
example, In contrast to,
First part (X) points back to
previous paragraph and
second part (Y) points to
new information
Example: Despite the
success of cognitive
rhetoric, by the 1990s, a
focus on social interactions
developed as a key trend.
Repeat key words through
the passage and use the
concept worded several
different ways to stay on
the key idea
Example: Rhetoric and
composition might be
called writing studies or
composition studies

Signal and X/Y transitions are featured in Academic Phrasebank from Manchester University 8
 Examples
◦ Scant research exists on faculty
+One key idea writing within the discipline of
◦ One key sentence in rhetoric and composition.
the paragraph shows ◦ Bilaterally symmetric faces generally
what the entire show superficial symmetry of
paragraph is about external structures but distinct
(remember key asymmetries in nasal tissue.
sentences from Week ◦ Unlike the gendered space of the
2?) US-based daycare, the French
crèche is purposely designed to be
gender neutral. (X/Y transition – the
first part of the sentence refers to
content in the previous paragraph)
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 +Development of One Key Idea

◦ Main topic of
entire project
◦ Key idea in this
paragraph
◦ Lexical
transitions
◦ Signal
transitions

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 Keep Going – Use
transitions to set
up the next “one
key idea”
Main thread of entire project
Key idea 1
Next key idea 2
Lexical transitions
Signal transitions
X/Y transitions

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Applying the
lesson in real life.

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Apply Week 1 and Week 2
Use your
◦ Identify your argument (Week 1) model
article
◦ Highlight key sentences (Week 2) paragraphs
as models!
◦ Look at key sentences as an outline after the fact
(Week 2)
◦ Look at the paragraphs surrounding key sentences
◦ Is there…
◦ A transition (signal, X/Y, or lexical)
◦ Just one key idea in the paragraph?
◦ Evidence to support the key idea (from
sources, your data, etc.)?
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Questions and
Problem Solving
Raise your hand or drop in the chat

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Upcoming events from Defend&Publish (all will be recorded)

January 26 FREE webinar “Choosing a Topic for Healthcare Scholarship” - https://bit.ly/3GApcpP

February 16 Workshop “Strategies for Supporting Dissertation Writers” - https://bit.ly/3A5Qn9x

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Closing Reminders
◦ Write today (and after this session if
possible)
◦ Write for at least 5 hours this week or
create at least 5 new paragraphs (try for
one more of each if you can)
◦ Revise 5 paragraphs
◦ Week 4 is at 9:30 EST on 1/31

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Need more help?
New to D&P? Free 30 minute initial
consultation at www.defendandpublish.com

Already know us? Schedule a half hour or hour

coaching session to make a semester writing
plan. Email christine@defendandpublish.com