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When you want to build or fix something, you pick just the right tool to use. For example, if you want to drive a nail, you use a hammer, not a saw. Likewise, for different kinds of writing goals, you use a different “tool.” In this case, a “tool” can be the writing style or format you use, word choice, etc. This blog post examines the Q&A format. This can be a helpful style to use if: – your audience does not have much knowledge or background on the subject Last winter I wanted to write about “Snow Days.” I was thinking, “How can I best approach this topic?” I realized that most of our online students live in Taiwan or South China, where they never see snow, so a “snow day” is an oddity. Plus, over the years, many students and their parents have asked me about it. As I thought over some common questions I had been asked, I decided to do the whole post with the Q&A format. You can read it here. I later asked my writing students to read the post and we discussed the essay’s structure in class. Later, as a recent assignment for that same DreyerCoaching.com writing class, I asked the students to write on any topic, but with the Q&A format, and they did well! Note how this format applies to a wide range of topics; in this case, to: Rubic’s cubes, hiking, and family travel. The essays are below; the students attend middle and high school in Taiwan. Essay 1: Speedcubing by Tim in Hsinchu, Taiwan Speedcubing is no doubt a popular activity. However, starting with the right speed cube is a daunting task without help from an adept cuber. The reason? The variety of cubes on the market makes it confusing for beginners. There are also frauds here and there, tricking you into buying rip-off products. So if you want to learn to choose the right cube, proceed! A: Most definitely not! Rubik’s brand products are not only poorly designed, but expensive. They follow the oldest mechanism, which is now considered extremely outdated. It might be an okay deal if you only want to collect cubes, but if you want to go into speedcubing, do not even think about buying it.
2. What brand of cubes should I buy? What kinds of cubes should I look for? A: I recommend Moyu, but there are other brands that are worth buying. For beginners, I recommend buying Chinese (brand) cubes that are from 6-12 dollars. If you can afford a more expensive cube, which won’t go over 16 dollars (except gans 356), feel free to spend this money. The reason that I do not recommend someone going for cheaper (Chinese) cubes are that you are going to advance to better cubes eventually, so you are actually better off buying a cube that you can play for a long time. At the same time, there is no great price gap between mediocre and cheap cubes, so buying mid-range or professional cubes are still better. 3.Why buy Chinese cubes? In what ways are they better? A: Well, to be honest, I don’t know why Chinese cubes developed better than western cubes. There is this stereotype about plastic toys in China: they are rip-offs. However, in the speed cubing market, Chinese cubes have generally lower prices and better performance. Even the plastic is of higher quality than other western brands of cubes. Obviously, we cannot generalize that Chinese cubes are definitely better than every single cube made by any western company, but it is fair to say that Chinese cubes are better choices to beginners. 4. Which (specific) cubes do you recommend for beginners? A: I recommend Chilong and the Yulong. Both cubes perform extremely well while costing much less than most cubes. On the other hand, if you want a fine mainstream speed cube that does not cost too much, Yuxin or Thunderclap is your choice. 5. How is the mechanism important? What determines if a cube is decent or not? A: Mechanisms are crucial to affect how your cubes feel (the friction between pieces, the smoothness of turning, if it lock ups* or not). It also determines the corner cutting**of the cube. The shape of the corners determines if it will corner twist*** or not. Compare the corners of these two cubes: one is squared while the other is rounded. Squared corners prevent corner twists better. *lock up- the state where the cube pieces jam, causing it to interrupt your turning **corner-cutting- the margin of error in terms or turning it can tolerate ***corner twist- case where a corner flips around.
McAfees Knob, the most- photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail Essay 2: Hiking in the mountains! by Aaron in Hsinchu, Taiwan 1. How should I pick the hiking spot best suited for me if I have little to no experience? If you are new to this activity, you should start out by choosing the easier trails where it would take less time and energy to complete (for example: a 1-2 hour hike). Once you have completed a few of the simpler trails, you can start trying the more difficult ones. 2. What are the necessities for a hiking trip? You will AT LEAST need a pack, water, first aid kit, food, map, compass, a knife, and a flashlight only if you’re staying overnight. 3. What types of clothing should I wear or bring to each hiking trip? You should wear long sleeves and pants to avoid mosquitoes or any parasites from sucking your blood and making your life miserable. A cap, hiking boots, and walking sticks are also recommended for hiking. You should definitely NOT wear dresses or suits because they are either very tight or very loose. As a result, if you do wear this to a trip, you will most likely get injured because there is a high chance that you will trip or get scratches on your hands or knees. 4. What is the cost for a hiking trip? The cost for hiking trip can vary. For the less demanding hiking trails, it would cost less than a hundred dollars. On the other hand, for challenging ones, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the cost is above US$4,000 since the essential equipment for each trip is very costly. 5. What should I look out for when hiking? First of all, signs. Before or during your trip, you should always look out for signs since they can tell you which precautions or road to take. You should also stay on the trail. This might seem obvious but sometimes the boundary between the trail and the forest might not be clear, which can lead to serious trouble of you get lost. Now you are good to go! Remember to always have fun, but safety first. Essay 3: Family Vacations by Justin in Hsinchu, Taiwan Family vacations make my days growing up very memorable. Taking these types of vacations are very fun and enjoyable. Why? Taking a vacation helps people relax, especially after months of working, or school. Taking a family vacation is extra special because people get to bond with their families. How? Taking a family trip is like taking a regular vacation. You can plan the trip yourself, or you can go with a tour. Taking a tour takes stress of planning for the vacation, but if you plan the trip out yourself, you have full control of the places visited, and the time of each visit. What do you mean by “bonding”? With school going on for kids and work for the parents, it is hard to squeeze out time for the family to go somewhere and do things together. Bonding with family can build better relationships, and help know each other better(if not already) What is the best time do this? Taking a vacation as a family means that everyone has to be available. Usually, it is best to go somewhere during longer breaks, like summer vacation, winter vacation, or holidays. (Christmas, Chinese New Year, etc.) Another way is to simply take a leave from school or work, and take a vacation. Where are some places to go? It is better to start out locally, because it does not take a long time to get there. For example, if I live in California, I would start by touring the state, then maybe travel to another state or country. Maybe the country I live in is relatively small, like Taiwan. In that case, I would travel to countries that are close, like Japan or Malaysia. What is next? Go and explore the world! ***************** Some observations: – Note how Tim and Aaron numbered their questions, but Justin did not. Either way is fine. – Note how Tim defines some terms at the end of his essay–nice touch for those unfamiliar with the topic.
– Each essay starts with a BRIEF introduction, limited to just a sentence or two. That sets the stage, then they move to the “meat” of their essays, the Q&A, and wrap up with a short conclusion. I like how they “end with a bang!” One is “Now you are good to go.” The other: “What is next? Go and explore the world!”
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