So I opened the chapter randomly to pick an essay to blog about, and with gyspy-like accuracy, I give you 11 ways to help your writing, courtesy of John Leo “On Good Writing” Page 115 of the EL text.
Print this out and hang it above your computer. If you find it helpful tell one classmate about this blog.
1. Paragraph 16 “Candor, clarity, and sincerity are important keys…”
I live by these principles in life. I think they make a great addition to the list. I have often feared that learning to think critically would be a lesson in how to lie. It has been more of an education in how others try to make you “not” think critically.
2. Paragraph 17 “Work to avoid the dead idioms…”
Make your own catch phrases to let others see the world through your eyes. If you’ve heard it before, so has somebody else and it will shut down their thinking leaving them hypnotized not rationalized.
3. Paragraph 19 “Avoid the use of adjectives…”
This was the paragraph and phrase I opened to that started this blog. My eyes caught it the the word “Hemmingway”. I don’t recognize the adjective “Hemmingwayly” but it sounds pretty trumped up. Seems like it would make a much better noun.
4. Paragraph 22 “Write in your own voice…”
Sound like the speech you got as a child or at least what you retained through the filter of youthful bliss and fear.
5. Paragraph 23 “Write as though you are addressing each reader personally…”
This one is a gem. I can’t wait to use it. You won’t know what you have to give until you give it. Even if you never know how you are taken, you are giving the gift of tip #1.
6. Paragraph 24 “Find the subject you care about and feel in your heart others will care about...”
Always at the Eleventh hour, I find a subject I care about and a way to weave it into my literary constraints/opportunities. Find a way to not wait until the end and call me and tell me how you did it.
7. Paragraph 25 “Breaking every known rule of writing…”
This is an example of how every paragraph I’ve quoted is worth reading. I read in a completely unorthodox way. I sneak up on the paragraph and start pulling sentences out of it randomly like a deck of tumbling tarot cards. I will let the rule breaking in writing come naturally.
8. Paragraph 27 “Don’t try to sound like other people, learn all the big word you can, then strive mightily never to use them if a short word will do…”
This one is pretty much a no brainer.
9. Paragraph 28 “Don’t be afraid to rip up your essay…”
This is the only thing I’ve ever wrote that made it to post in one fluid motion without editing or changing topic midstream and that is DAMN scary…
10. Paragraph 30 “Don’t use the phrases “I believe” or “I feel”…”
This one comes out of our teachers play book as well. It would make a good essay topic. Then you’d have to use the word “I” Ha Ha!
11. Paragraph 31 “Don’t use the word “I”…”
I couldn’t help but add this one…Check out the text though, so you can make up your own mind…
I hope someone reads this…mabey I will start reading the blogs of those that don’t…And that is not a threat…it’s a promise!
Print this out and hang it above your computer. If you find it helpful tell one classmate about this blog.
1. Paragraph 16 “Candor, clarity, and sincerity are important keys…”
I live by these principles in life. I think they make a great addition to the list. I have often feared that learning to think critically would be a lesson in how to lie. It has been more of an education in how others try to make you “not” think critically.
2. Paragraph 17 “Work to avoid the dead idioms…”
Make your own catch phrases to let others see the world through your eyes. If you’ve heard it before, so has somebody else and it will shut down their thinking leaving them hypnotized not rationalized.
3. Paragraph 19 “Avoid the use of adjectives…”
This was the paragraph and phrase I opened to that started this blog. My eyes caught it the the word “Hemmingway”. I don’t recognize the adjective “Hemmingwayly” but it sounds pretty trumped up. Seems like it would make a much better noun.
4. Paragraph 22 “Write in your own voice…”
Sound like the speech you got as a child or at least what you retained through the filter of youthful bliss and fear.
5. Paragraph 23 “Write as though you are addressing each reader personally…”
This one is a gem. I can’t wait to use it. You won’t know what you have to give until you give it. Even if you never know how you are taken, you are giving the gift of tip #1.
6. Paragraph 24 “Find the subject you care about and feel in your heart others will care about...”
Always at the Eleventh hour, I find a subject I care about and a way to weave it into my literary constraints/opportunities. Find a way to not wait until the end and call me and tell me how you did it.
7. Paragraph 25 “Breaking every known rule of writing…”
This is an example of how every paragraph I’ve quoted is worth reading. I read in a completely unorthodox way. I sneak up on the paragraph and start pulling sentences out of it randomly like a deck of tumbling tarot cards. I will let the rule breaking in writing come naturally.
8. Paragraph 27 “Don’t try to sound like other people, learn all the big word you can, then strive mightily never to use them if a short word will do…”
This one is pretty much a no brainer.
9. Paragraph 28 “Don’t be afraid to rip up your essay…”
This is the only thing I’ve ever wrote that made it to post in one fluid motion without editing or changing topic midstream and that is DAMN scary…
10. Paragraph 30 “Don’t use the phrases “I believe” or “I feel”…”
This one comes out of our teachers play book as well. It would make a good essay topic. Then you’d have to use the word “I” Ha Ha!
11. Paragraph 31 “Don’t use the word “I”…”
I couldn’t help but add this one…Check out the text though, so you can make up your own mind…
I hope someone reads this…mabey I will start reading the blogs of those that don’t…And that is not a threat…it’s a promise!
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