1. Tense (Dominant)

Past: Present:

telling a story describing past occurrences, events, conditions giving information, relating facts describing regular occurrences making comments, giving opinions, drawing conclusions

Present progressive/continuous:

describing action in progress (now)

Choice of words depends on:
audience (Who are you writing to?)

self (What are you comfortable with?)

appropriateness (What are the best words to express your ideas?)

Simple Compound Complex

S V (O) S + V, and S + V Extra Word S V, S + V

John read a book. John read a book, and Mary wrote a letter. While John read a book, Mary wrote a letter.

4. Paragraph/Essay organization

Time order (chronological)

Spatial order

Order of importance

Steps

Point: Example

Topic: Support

A. Purpose
Why are you writing this?
to inform

to tell a story

to persuade

to instruct

to entertain

B. Audience
Whom are you writing to?
children

experts

your peers

educated people

laborers

the general public

You control the language you use.

It does not control you.