TAKING YOUR WRITING FROM GOOD TO GREAT Dr. W

What is style? ◦ Style consists of choices that a writer makes that involve words, phrases and sentences. ◦ It is not the “extra” part of writing, not the decoration that a writer adds to a composition. ◦ Effective style is appropriate to the meaning, purpose, and context of the test. ◦ Form follows function. ◦ Style and substance support one another.

To analyze style, consider ◦ Diction ◦ Syntax ◦ Paragraphs ◦ Figures of speech

Diction ◦ General or specific ◦ Abstract or concrete ◦ Formal or informal ◦ Common words or jargon

Syntax ◦ Length (in words) ◦ Type of sentence (simple, compound, etc) ◦ Statement, question, command, explanation ◦ Inversions (verb precedes subject) ◦ Kinds of sentence openers ◦ Method and location of expansion

Paragraphs ◦ Length ◦ Kind of development in paragraph ◦ Transitional devices

Figures of Speech ◦ Metaphors ◦ Similes ◦ Personification ◦ Other “literary devices” (and there are many)

Avoid these empty expressions: ◦ this is ◦ there is ◦ that is ◦ I think ◦ which is ◦ I feel ◦ who is ◦ I believe ◦ it is

Never use any of the following words or expressions in a formal essay: ◦ is whenbecause of the fact thatThis paper will explain ◦ during the month ofThe reason is becauseas will be shown ◦ due to the fact thatLast but not leastThis quote shows ◦ as a result ofFirst of allThis quote means ◦ it seems as ifas has been clearly shownIn this essay/paper I will ◦ at the present timeas anyone can see____ proves to be ◦ always there for mefor the reasons statedThe book I read was ◦ being asAs these examples showIn conclusion

The following are examples of empty modifiers. Avoid using them. ◦ interesting ◦ many ◦ really ◦ awesome ◦ a lot ◦ hopefully ◦ very

Redundancies are the needless repetition of words. Avoid them. ◦ continue furthervisible to the eyenecessary requirement ◦ combine togetherrebound backten in number ◦ cooperate togetherdescend downeach separate thing ◦ revert backpretty in appearancerefer back ◦ exact samecenter aroundsufficiently enough

Judgmental Statements. Avoid using these or anything similar: ◦ the best book ◦ this great novel ◦ a brilliant study ◦ the best writer ◦ a brilliant play ◦ the most famous writer ◦ a brilliant short story

Avoid “Yoga Pose” sentences: ◦ Use ACTIVE not passive voice! NO HELPING VERBS (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) ◦ Use the SIMPLE PRESENT—say, “This helps her” not “This is helping her”. Really, just get rid of all those helping verbs and forms of the verb TO BE. ◦ In English, our sentences tend to be SUBJECT-VERB-DIRECT OBJECT, sprinkled with clauses for clarification, etc. DON’T DEVIATE FROM THAT ORDER UNLESS YOU HAVE A REASON FOR DOING SO, OR YOUR NAME IS YODA.

COMMAS MATTER. MRS. WIELAND NEEDS TO BREATHE

8 Words to Seek and Destroy ◦

NO PARTIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SENTENCE. ◦ USE CORRECT PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT ◦ Say, “When one is in DC English class, one must use the language correctly.” NOT “When one is in DC English class, they must use the language correctly.” ◦ Say, “When a student takes DC English, her writing will go from good to great.” NOT “When a student takes DC English, their writing will go from good to great.” ◦ And DON’T USE “YOU”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST … ◦ WATCH YOUR VERB TENSE. ◦ USE SIMPLE PAST OR SIMPLE PRESENT OR EVEN SIMPLE FUTURE WHENEVER POSSIBLE ◦ MAKE SURE IT IS CONSISTENT... OTHERWISE YOUR READER TIME TRAVELS, AND THAT IS EXHAUSTING.