Frank Said:

What are some exercises to improve my writing?

We Answered:

I felt EXACTLY the same as you, when I started taking a writing class.

What's the first thing we were told to do? Write for 15 minutes straight. No stopping. No erasing. No topic. I started writing "I don't like this exercise. Writing needs to have a point and this has no point." But then, because I wasn't allowed to stop, I just kept writing. I wrote about how houses have gnomes inside and that when you have a rivalry with a neighbor, it's really just leftover emotions from the gnomes having rivalries with each other. It was silly, and I've never used the story idea, but it was the first time in a LONG time that I just let myself go and write without worrying about having direction.

You need to get over the "my writing needs to have a point" issue. Writing is writing. Getting words out of you is necessary.

Once you get over that, you can do writing exercises.

1) Take a book off your shelf and turn to the beginning of a chapter and write the first page out yourself. This is a good exercise because sometimes just writing good writing, even if it isn't yours, helps you "soak in" good writing structure.

2) Take a fairy tale or fable and change the characters around. Make the boys into girls. Make the bad guys into good guys.

3) Do a dialogue exercise. Set a scene, establish characters and introduce a conflict using only dialogue. Stop to describe only that which can't be described through dialogue.

Hope that helps!

Alfred Said:

When writing an essay, how do I write JUMPING JACKS? As Jumping Jacks or 'jumping jacks'?

We Answered:

lower case - jumping jacks - The jack in this instance isn't someone's name - You wouldn't capitalize Push Ups.

Richard Said:

IF I write once per week as an exercise will my writing get better?

We Answered:

Writing will definitely not hurt, but you will need more than that. You will need feedback on your writing so that you can identify your strengths and weaknesses. In my writing classes, I often have students do in-class writing. I take their work home, evaluate them and then spend time in the next class reviewing the most common errors. Over the course of a semester, I definitely saw improvement.

I imagine either a TA or even your professor would be glad to review your work. I know I would be quite happy to help a student who is taking the intiative to improve writing skills.

Additionally, there are many online writing labs such as http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ that could give you some good information.

Good luck!

Dwight Said:

I am writing an essay for school and i need help with the thesis and intro paragraph?

We Answered:

Well first off you need to know that a thesis is something that englobes your entire paper in one or more phrases. When you read your thesis statement it needs to basically sum up the point of what your paper is about.

Also for your intro paragraph, be sure that the first sentence hints the reader as to what the paragraph is going to talk about. For example : "Amory Blaine's struggle to become more than just the Fundamental Amory seems never ending." After this first sentence, I would go on explaining his struggle, with details, examples, etc etc.

That's all I can really say to help you out here, and it should be enough.

Lewis Said:

HELP NEEDED!! writing an essay please give me suggestions?

We Answered:

Benefits of Walking
Managing your weight
Controlling your blood pressure
Decreasing your risk of heart attack
Boosting "good" cholesterol
Lowering your risk of stroke.
Reducing your risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes
Avoiding your need for gallstone surgery
Protecting against hip fracture
http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/walki…
Walking is a good form of exercise why?
Almost everyone can do it
you don't have to take lessons to learn how to walk.
Probably all you need to do to become a serious walker is step up your pace and distance and walk more often.
You can do it almost anywhere.
All you have to do to find a place to walk is step outside your door. Almost any sidewalk, street, road, trail, park, field, or shopping mall will do. The variety of settings available is one of the things that makes walking such a practical and pleasurable activity.
You can do it almost anytime. You don't have to find a partner or get a team together to walk, so you can set your own schedule. Weather doesn't pose the same problems and uncertainties that it does in many sports. Walking is not a seasonal activity. and you can do it in extreme temperatures that would rule out other activities.
It doesn't cost anything. You don't have to pay fees or join a private club to become a walker. The only equipment required is a sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes.
http://www.senioryears.com/walking.html

Benjamin Said:

Navy OCS does it involve a lot of essay writing?

We Answered:

No, it involves getting kicked in the n*ts by Marine Corp drill instructors every waking minute of your life. There are some academics involved, but just multiple choice tests on basic sailor/officer tasks.

The real big tests are you inspection and your attention to detail. I went through in 2003. It's not much different than the move "Officer and a Gentlemen". They used the wrong location (WA instead of FL), but everything else is pretty accurate.

Just get ready to say "1, 2, 3 , 4 . . . I love the marine corps!"

Erika Said:

I'm writing an essay on couch potatoes and need help coming up with a thesis and a hook?

We Answered:

This isn't an answer to your question only a comment or my opinion. As an American living in Europe, I have realized that it is not only the greasy foods or the carbohydrates that are making American fatter and more unhealthy, it is the portion control. For instance, it is uncommon here to have free refills. Imagine if you drink three glasses of coke with your meal ( I am talking about a glass like at Outback or Ruby Tuesday's) that is alone about 500-600 calories without including your meal. Some people get their daily caloric intake just from soda alone.