MAKE IT FUN, CLEAR AND INTERESTING!!! CHOOSE A STYLE FOR YOUR WRITING!!!

What is style???

HOW DO I DEVELOP STYLE??? Know your audience. Have a key sense of what category your targeted readers fall under. The category may be age, sex, peers, faculty, religion, culture and race. Ask yourself whether your writing should be formal or informal. For example, a letter to a friend should not be written in the same tone as one to your boss or teacher. Consider this, when going on a job interview, do you dress in the same way as when going to a party? There is a time for everything and that rule should apply in the way you write. there are five general steps called “the five C’s of style” that you can use to develop a style.

THE FIVE C’S OF STYLE The first C is CUT Cut repetition and wordiness: The biggest mistake many students make is that they become so obsessed with meeting the assigned number of pages that they put down words just to fill in spaces. The biggest mistake many students make is that they become so obsessed with meeting the assigned number of pages that they put down words just to fill in spaces. Be brief, clear and precise in your expressions. Be brief, clear and precise in your expressions. An example of a Don’t: The CD resource room has many beneficial text books. The books are carefully preserved. The CD resource room also houses computers. The CD resource room has many beneficial text books. The books are carefully preserved. The CD resource room also houses computers. An example of a DO: An example of a DO: The CD resource room carefully preserves many beneficial text books and computers. The CD resource room carefully preserves many beneficial text books and computers.

FIRST C:CUT Cut formulaic phrases. Formulaic are ok in writing drafts or brainstorming but must be avoided in revised papers. Examples of formulaic phrases and words that they can be replaced with are: At the present time; at this point in time; in this day and age; in today’s society. Use NOW or PRESENTLY instead. Because of the fact that; due to the fact that. Use BECAUSE as an alternative. Have the ability to. Use CAN as a substitute. In spite of the fact that. Use ALTHOUGH or DESPITE instead. Last but not the least. Use FINALLY in its place. Prior to. Use BEFORE. as a replacement for concerning the matter of, use ABOUT. For example, don’t write: Few people realize the fact that writing is not a difficult task. Write: Few people realize that writing is not difficult.

CUT continued Cut references to your intentions. Your reader does not care about the thinking process used in writing your paper. All he or she cares about is the information you are conveying. For example, avoid the use of these reference phrases: in this essay, I intend to prove...or in this next few paragraphs, I hope to show…or in conclusion, I have demonstrated…or what I want to say here is… Don’t announce your thoughts, just do it. Cut redundant words and phrases. Steer clear of using words that repeat the same idea expressed by another word in the same phrase.

THE SECOND C: CHECK FOR ACTION Always ask “who’s doing what?” About subject and verb. Avoid the overuse of the verb BE (be, is are, am, was, were, being, been). Always let the subject in your sentence perform the action. As a general rule, write strong sentences with vivid, expressive verbs. For example: Cherub loves singing, unfortunately she has no talent. Who’s doing what? Cherub (subject) loves (verb) singing (object). She (subject) has (verb) no talent (object). Be extra careful when you begin a sentence with either THERE or IT, because either occupies the subject position as in (there is, there were, it is, it was) and usually serve little function. Let us consider the following sentences: Don’t write: There is a big gate guarding the entrance to the park. (who is doing what) Write: A big gates guards the entrance to the park. (who is doing what) Don’t write: It is a fact that Arnold is proudly driving a new car. Don’t write: Arnold is proudly driving a new car.

SECOND C: CHECK FOR ACTION part 2 Avoid Unnecessary Passive Voice Constructions Passive voice describes what is done to the grammatical subject in a clause (“The chicken was cooked too long”). However, extensive use of passive voice can make your style very boring, unattractive and wordy. Therefore, I urge you to use active voice, especially when you mention the doer of an action. e.g.: Passive Voice: The crisis will be discussed thoroughly by the committee. Active Voice: The committee will discuss the crisis thoroughly. However, This style of writing is preferred in the social sciences or the sciences, where the reader’s interest, primarily lies in procedures and results and not in the author or the applicator. For instance, “the cats were dissected” is preferred to “the researchers dissected the cats”.

THE THIRD C: CONNECT Make your sentences flow smoothly like a river not in a “grasshopper-like jumps” Use consistent subjects and topic chains to make your sentences logical. E.g. Jarring Shift: Memoirs are becoming increasingly popular. Readers of all ages are finding them appealing. Topic Chain : Memoirs are becoming increasingly popular. They appeal to readers of all ages. Put new information at the end of a sentence for emphasis: Always end your sentences on a strong and interesting note, especially the one you want to emphasize. Always options for connecting ideas: Coordination, Subordination and Transition. COORDINATION: To make sure two or more independent clauses with equal emphasis are well connected, use one of the following coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, so, for, or yet.

3 RD C: CONNECT SUBORDINATION: Use subordinating conjunctions such as when, if,or because to stress the importance of one independent clause over the other in a connected sentence. E.g. IC 1.We cannot now end our difference. IC2. At least we can help make the world safe for diversity. (Here, The two sentences have equal importance, to make it uneven we need a subordinate.) e.g.. 1.if We cannot now end our difference, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS: Use conjunctive adverbs such as however, therefore, and nevertheless to introduce new information. Phrases such as: as a result of, in addition, and on the other hand can be use to signal logical connection between two independent clauses. e.g. He made a lot of money: however, his humble roots were always were always were always evident. Can be written as He made a lot of money: his humble roots, however, were always evident.

3 RD C: CONNECT Avoid using excess coordination or subordination. Remember, TOO much of everything is BAD. Try starting a sentence with AND or BUT. e.g. You can have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, or democracy. But you can not have both. Connect Your Paragraphs: use this checklist: 1. Read your draft out loud so you can record the point you made in each paragraph. 2. Refer to the main idea of the previous paragraph as you begin a new paragraph. 3. Use adjectives like this and these to provide a link. 4. Transitions (e.g. also, too, in addition, however, therefore and as a result )are your friends guys, especially when you want to signal a logical connection between ideas.

THE FOURTH C: COMMIT Commit to including a personal presence: Although academic writing is not a personal account of feelings, events, and opinions, it does not mean that it should lack your personal engagement. Commit to a suitable and reliable tone: The topic under discussion should always fit the tone of your writing. For instance, you cannot describe a funeral the same way as you would a wedding. Commit to a confident stance: Pick a stand and stick with it. You can’t have it both ways.

THE FIFTH C: Choose Your Words Remember, your diction or word choice contributes greatly to the effect your writing has on your readers. Readers are not interested in PUZZLES or “fill in the blanks” so don’t. Dictionaries and thesaurus are your friends. A really good dictionary contains a wealth of information- spelling and meaning. Use exact words and connotations: use words that express the exact meaning you intend to give. E.g. Although the mob and crowd suggest similar ideas; they have, however, very different literal meanings. Monitor the language of speech, region, and workplace.

LET’S RECAP For the BEST writing STYLE, LEARN the FIVE C’S of STYLE and ADOPT them into your work. CUT ALL UNNECESSARY AND LENGTHY WRITING. CHECK FOR ACTION (Ask WHO is doing WHAT about the subject and the verb) CONNECT (use the right SUBORDINATION, TRANSITION AND CONJUNTCTIONAL PHRASES) COMMIT: (BE CONFIDENT AND STEADFAST IN YOUR THESIS) CHOOSE YOUR WORDS THOROUGHLY Remember, with the right diction, tone and grammatical construction, you are guaranteed to develop an excellent style and a grade A paper. WORD UP!!!!