First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words)which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls.This entry should be a long paragraph.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
WEEK ONE WRITING ABOUT WHAT YOU READ
What do you think of these writing rules? Does one stand out
to you? Why?
I think many of the rules listed in the reading topic are very important. I feel there are a handful points that are important to me as a writer and reader. When I am writing things someone else will read, I must think about the level of understand the reader has about what I am writing about. I think the hardest topics to write about are things the average person will read because I have to write in such a way to where virtually anyone will understand what I am trying to say. I have written several papers directly related to my field of work, and I have always found myself far more comfortable writing to a reader-base I can directly relate to and who understand the topic much like I do. Using words and phrases that are familiar to my readers is very important in allowing them to grasp my points and truly understand the meaning of what I am writing about. I try my best to present my writing in a clean and clear form, and I think any writer should do their best to present their work in the cleanest and simplest way possible. When a reader can understand what he or she is reading easily and in a timely manner, he or she stands a better chance of really holding on to the key points of the writing. I look at writing much like I do dancing because, like dancing, it’s give-and-take. Like two dancers doing a ballroom dance, I, the writer, must offer a lead such that the reader can follow seamlessly across the page without second guessing my next move.
Brandon, you followed the rules perfectly. Your writing was clear, well written, and I could relate to the give and take of a dance. I will strive to write as well as you have done.
First thought that came to my mind was, “Why are there so many rules for writing?” When I am writing an essay most of these rules do not come to mind as I am writing it, or revising it. I also noted that both sets of rules mention the same rules with completely different ways of saying them. The one rule that stood out to me from reading one was , “Never use the passive where you can use the active”. I have a hard time trying to make my writing completely passive or active. I often times switch between the two. I do feel like using these rules as a guideline while writing will make for a better and concise essay. It will give it some order, rather than writing with no rules at all. One rule that stood out to me in reading two was, “The author shall make the reader feel a deep interest in the personages of his tale and their fate; and that he shall make the reader love the good people in the tale and hate the bad ones.” This is very important to me as a reader, so I do find this to be a very important rule for writers. By following this rule, more readers will be engaged, and want to read more from that particular author. It makes the story more believable, and it helps the reader be more a part of the story. In future writings I will try to apply these rules to see if there will be a substantial change in my writing style.
When reading all these rules for writing, I kept thinking that there is a lot of serious thinking going into writing. That there is an actual method for writing. I was never a person who love to write and never focused on writing. I will admit that writing is important and is something that is done everyday; but there are all these specific rules to consider when writing. I just thought the rules of writing were simple, like use the correct grammar and spell the words correctly, but I obviously was mistaken. Writing is were we express a little about ourselves and it should be taken serious. I truly want to become a better writer. A rule that stood out to me was in reading two rule twelve. The rule states, "_Say_ what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it." The reason this rule stood out to me was because I do this a lot. Not just in my writing but in my talking as well. Instead of going straight to the point I go all around the block first and sometimes still will not get to the point. Now, I will always remember this specific rule and try to practice it everyday. I will practice it in my writing and when I talk to others. Hopefully I do not forget rule number twelve and any of the other rules when writing and can look back on them when needed. By doing this I hope to improve my writing skills and pass this course.
While reading all the rules of writing it seems as though there are so many rules to follow. By reading them, I also realize that some of these rules are necessary in order to write out your points and some of us use them naturally when preparing a paper or lesson. For example, deciding what I am trying to say or how I am going to express it. I enjoy structure therefore enjoy having rules that I can follow, but also attempting to share my personal thoughts is something I will definitely have to learn and practice. Many rules are difficult when one is writing and not really thinking of how or what is going to be written rather just putting the thoughts down before losing the idea or point that is to be made. As I struggle with definitions and proper English words, I find myself failing at rule number thirteen but always aware of my weakness. I carry a dictionary with me to look up things I do not understand or words I try to learn. I do not know what kind of writer I am but want to learn and improve my imperfections as a writer, which I am sure are plenty. While reviewing the rules I hope to follow a structure that will improve my writing abilities.
As I read the rules for writing, I realized that I rarely ask myself any of these questions. I am usually focused on page length, and if the grammar is correct. I hardly ever try to make my papers shorter, and I'm guilty of using larger words when daily words would work just as well (I liked Twain's rule 13. "Use the right word, not its second cousin"). I, like some others, also go back and forth between using passive and active phrases, I don't recall ever double checking for that when proof-reading. As for a rule that stuck out to me, I would say other than the rules mentioned above, Orwell's rule "Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly" is the most out there for me. I find that in past blogs, journals, essays, and scribbles, I always write the most ridiculous things that make no sense at all to what I am writing about and turns whatever I was trying to get across into a jumble of thoughts. I hope that I keep these rules in mind as I write in the future because I think they could help keep my thoughts organized.
I can relate to focusing on writing papers for page length to meet the requirements of the class. I would also use elements from the story to relate to the teacher that I had actually read the information. Additionally, I usually needed to quote or cite information in the paper that I write so I would use bigger, fluffier words instead of common straight forward English words. I like the idea or rule to write simply so many readers can comprehend. I too thought writing was about conveying a thought, checking grammar, and punctuation. I now have a different point of view.
When reading the first passage the first question what am I trying to say stood out to me because it is such a simple rule, but it is the rule that I seem to forget most times I write. Most times I begin writing and I am going in the right direction then out of nowhere I begin to go off topic. It is like my brain is all over the place. It is full of so many ideas that I just begin writing idea after idea and I don’t realize that I have gone off topic. Later when I reread my writing I don’t catch my mistake because to me what I have said sounds good. I guess to sum up what I am trying to say now is that I need to work on the question about what I want to say. Also another rule that stood out to me from the first passage was using short words instead of long words. When writing I sometimes try to use fancy words in order to sound sophisticated and I end up putting the wrong word and it messes up what I am trying to say. I was intrigued to read those rules of writing because now I feel I could ask myself these questions before starting my essay. I could begin my writing by first jotting down all ideas in my head and then grouping them into what I feel is relevant to my writing and which are not, this way when I begin to write my draft I will stay on topic. The second passage was a little more difficult for me to grasp because of the language but after reading it a few times I understood what Twain was trying to get through to the audience. Most of the rules that Twain wrote were similar to Orwell’s essay. Twain talks about making your writing interesting to the audience, which I felt was great advice because when your writing isn’t interesting it loses the interest of your reader and if you have lost the interest of your reader then you haven’t got your message through. Overall I enjoyed reading the passages I felt they were very useful.
While reading the writing rules, I have to admit that I never really ask myself these questions. I check for spelling errors, proper page length and I do use bigger words then I should. I didn’t know that there were such serious rules to writing. The question that stood out to me was, “what words will express it?” When I’m writing a paper, I always want to use the right words to make it sound college appropriate. On certain subjects, I can write a lengthy paper but on other subjects, I might struggle a little. I enjoy writing on topics that interests me and others so that I can get their feedback and maybe some pointers. Often times, I find me asking myself what am I trying to say? Am I going off topic too much? Are there too many run sentences? Did I provide useless information that could have been taken out? I always second guess my sentences which takes me longer to write. I need to stop putting so much emphasis on bigger words and just need to use something simpler. There are times when I have trouble trying to make it passive or active. I have been known to jumble my thoughts around and write something that makes no sense. As rule 1 states in reading 2, “A tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere.” When I write, to be able to get my point across with the right amount of information. These rules will help improve my writing in a big way.
I am having a much harder time relating to most of the rules in this reading compared to the first. I have never done much writing in the form that is described, so it is hard for me to relate. Rules one and two stand out the most to me because I think everything being written, regardless of the type of writing or style, should have a defined direction. I understand a reader does not always need to know where he or she is going when reading, depending on what is being read. I have not done much conversational writing, but I have read a fair amount of it. I feel it is very important that it is easy for the reader to pick out who is who in what he or she is reading. I have read too many stories where I have to read a particular section more than once to figure out who is doing what. I agree with rule ten, as well, because it is important the reader feels a strong connection to the story and the people in it. When a reader is pulled into a story as he or she reads, they will feel as if they are part of the story and the outcome and people it affects in the story become meaningful. Dealing with a type of writing which involves people, places, and a description of a world or place in time not familiar to the reader can be very hard to do because the writer is completely responsible for painting a picture with words for the reader. I would like to dabble in this type of writing because it seems more artful to me than some other types. Maybe when life slows down, I can experiment with my true inner-writer.
The rules that I read for very straight forward but also something that I felt was already known. It's always very important that the writer express exactly what they would like to say, but also write it clearly. So that falls under Mark Twain's rules 12 and 13. The rules that stood out to me were the one of the questions posed by Oswell and one of his rules. He asks "Could I put it more shortly?" and says one rule is to always cut out a word if possible. These stood out because, of all the essays that I have written, I have always been told to add more words and to be more descriptive and to not put it more shortly. But I believe what he is expressing is to not sell one's self short. It's important to express what we're trying to say without having too much of nothing in the context.
The rules that I read seemed like something that I already knew and something that I see everyday. I watch a lot of the disney kids movies because my daughter just loves them, and after seeing all of these movies the rules seem like plots from their stories. There is nothing that is to surprising and nothing that seems to odd. This also can be seen in books that I read. The characters all talk like humans and interact like humans. Their is very little that misplaces characters from humans. Rule ten of Twains rules of writing stands out to me very much.It stands out because when I read I like to feel for the characters and allow myself to feel like they are being the good person or the bad. I like to divulge myself into the novel and when a writer has done a good job with this rule I can relate to the characters and make myself feel what they feel. Especially in my favorite Nicholas Flamel novels I feel different emotions for every character and I love being torn from good and bad.
The first thing that I notice about the rules is that Mark Twain’s seem more geared toward the writing of fiction than writing in general. That said, however, several of these rules can be applied to the writing of essays. For example, rule 14, “Eschew surplusage” and rule 18, “Employ a simple, straightforward style” are good warnings to those writers who fluff their writings with unnecessary adverbs. I read somewhere that a good tip for writers is to search their works for words ending in -ly and remove as many as possible. This is supported by one of Orwell’s rules, “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” I will admit to some confusion about the first rule in Orwell’s third set, “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.” To me this says, “Use strange phrases in your writing as opposed to old familiar ones.” I feel that this might make one’s writings as difficult to understand as if one used a foreign sentence in the middle of their work. Finally, I am amused by the fact that Twain has a very long sentence forming rule 5, and then turns around and talks about keeping things simple, brief, and straight forward.
As I was reading the rules for writing, I thought to myself, “who actually thinks of all these things before writing anything?” The more I think about all the rules, the more that I realize that some of these rules are actually common sense for writing rather than something a person must think about while they are writing. In Orwell’s essay, he states that a writer must ask his/herself whether they could have put what they wrote into shorter words. I think that that rule is very vital. Professors are always claiming that even though they want a certain amount of writing in the essays they receive from students, they would prefer something short and straight to the point than to have something very wordy be turned in. I must admit that I have this problem of being too “wordy”. Another rule that I found vital was that it is better to replace a big word with a much simpler word if it means the same thing. We must remember that there are many people in our audience who could read what we write and some will not know certain vocabulary. Sometimes, the most simple word will explain what is needed in a better way. With Mark Twain’s rules, I also found things that were necessary. His rules applied more to writing a story. Basically, everything a person writes in the story must make sense and come together. To me, that makes a story worth reading. The reader has to actually feel that they are in the story.
I never realized that writing had so many rules, however, all of the writing rules listed are important. Although when I am writing a paper the only one I focus on is using proper grammar. After reading over these rules I realize that I need to follow these rules in order to write an effective paper. For example rule 14 of reading two says to avoid excessive details or words. Whenever I write a lengthy paper I begin to use excessive words and repeat myself in order to meet the length requirement. I now realize that instead of making my paper more effective it just confuses my reader and make my paper redundant. Another rule that stud out to me was rule 13 of reading two. Use the right word, not its second cousin. Whenever I write a paper I often use the thesaurus in order to make my paper sound smart. Now that I step back and look at it I realize that the average reader would probably understand an average word instead of an unnecessary long and confusing word, it would make my point clearer. These two rules stand out to me because they are simple to follow and when you think about it, they are things we should be doing in the first place. When we write we get caught up in making our paper long and making it sound smart. When really we should be concentrating on making our point come across clear to the reader.
The readings for the week explaining some writing rules were very interesting as well enlightening. When I write papers for classes or create reports on some of the data I have collected I am aware that there are writing conventions to follow and try to follow them as close as possible. However, the readings and the rules they spell out demonstrate how are writing can become dull as well as too flowery for its purpose. From my experience I find myself writing sentences in a way that I would not speak in person, similar to what Twain’s rule number 5 states, “When the personages of a tale deal in conversation, the talk shall sound like human talk, and be talk such as human beings would be likely to talk…” Also, as a student I tend to write a lot thinking the more I write the more I will be able to explaining my point, but my point isn’t clear at times. Twain, in regards to this issue, states in rule 12 to say exactly what one has to say and not just try to say it and to be straightforward as he says in rule 18. While all these rules are helpful, I find that Orwell’s rule stating, “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out,” to be very much applicable to me as I tend write unnecessary words in some of my writings. Overall, these two readings provide much easier rules of writing to keep in mind rather than trying to follow all the possible writing conventions in existence.
Jeorgina great post! I also understand when you say that as a student we sometime want to write too much without getting the point across, and I will agree that I have that same problem either I say too much or I omit necessary details. I guess the more we will write the more chances we have overcoming these challenges.
While reading the rules of writing I was evaluating the use of these rules in the books and 'tales' I am currently reading. The current tale I am reading is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. The author does follow the guidelines of what makes a good tale set by Mark Twain. I know how the characters are going to act and react to situations and I can distinct tell one from the other. The author's style is simple; however, includes grand made up terms to fit in with the fantasy of it all. One of the best aspects of this particular author's writing is making the reader feel included in the story. To do this Tolkien uses language that addresses and initiates thought in the reader about the situation. I applied the rules from Orwell's essay to my own writing. Several of these rules I think of, sometimes instinctually, as I write. When I read sometime, as most other people, I want to be able to understand it without having to re-read it several times. In my writing I try to apply several of Orwell's rules pertaining to clearness and simplicity of terms and style. I will be referring back to this blog in my writing ventures to come.
Abby great post! you're already being able to identify the rules of writing in others writing. I agree with you when you say that you don't like to re-read something because yes re-reading could be very boring and even though it could be a good journal or book, but still it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Yes, I will also try to use Orwell's rules in my own writings.
While reading the rules of writing, I realized that one of my difficulties in writing would be to get the message across; I feel that it is very important that my writing is to be concise because I don’t want to bore the reader. Another rule that is listed in Owens list was to limit the usage of foreign phrase or a scientific word etc., rather, the rules encourages writers to write in everyday English equivalent. I can totally relate to that because I do try to use fancy words and maybe most of time it even doesn’t sound right, so that rule was really a learning experience. I also agree with Twain's rules, and his rules also emphasized on the fact that a tale should be told, and there should be a starting point and a clear end point, and that statement is so true because sometimes writers just write to say something; rather, it should be in a way that it attracts readers’ full attention. I also thought that Twain’s rule number fifteen and seventeen was also very important because sometimes when I write I feel that I can’t say too much so I try to shorten it, and I realize that could omit necessary details. Also number seventeen is about usage of good grammar, and I think it is crucial to use good grammar in academic writings because I have seen that teachers even discounts a good paper just for not using the good grammar. These rules were really informative and I hope to incorporate them in my writing.
After reading both sets of writing rules, it seems there are a lot of rules for writing but many of them are common sense. For example, Orwell’s first two rules are about finding what you want to say and how to express it; these are two rules we have been taught since we first learned how to write a paper. These two rules are necessary to start any writing project because the point of writing is to express our ideas. Also Twain’s rule number seventeen is a common sense rule; English teachers have been telling their students to use good grammar for centuries. Orwell’s rule about putting a statement in the shortest way possible is one that I tend not to follow. Usually, when I am writing essays, I am trying to meet a page limit so I will expand as much as I can by using long words and phrase. My favorite Orwell rule is “break any of these rules sooner than say anything out right barbarous”; the rules of writing should be followed but sometimes they need to be broken to avoid sounding uneducated. For example, if I followed the rule about not using scientific words when I am writing a lab report I would not sound like I know what I am talking about. Mark Twain’s first eleven rules for writing are more aimed at novel writing than prose so I don’t typically use these rules, but they are good to keep in mind when I am reading books. Rules twelve through eighteen can be applied to all forms of writing. Twain’s writing rule number thirteen is the one that stood out most in his set of rules. Referring to the synonym of the right word as the word’s second cousin is a creative way to make this rule memorable.
After reading the sets of rules, the one that stuck out to me most was Twain's thirteenth rule; "Use the right word, not its second cousin." How many times have we looked at Thesaurus to find a better word, or in Twain's words "its second cousin." I am definitely guilty of this. Thesaurus is a great tool, but it can be abused. In Orwell's rules, number two states "never use a long word where a short one will do." I think throughout school, we often times feel like we need to use big fancy words in order to impress the teacher to get a good grade. Most times we do not even talk like that in real life, and it is completely out of our character to do so. I have reread some of my own essays and wondered what certain words even meant? You would think I would know, since I am the one who wrote them. Do not get me wrong. I think there are certain words that fit better, even if they are long. However, to choose a word for only means of coming off intelligible, they are probably only deceiving themselves.
In Orwell’s essay I believe he is trying to lay down the foundation, ethics, and rules for a sharp and witty written work. He explains this by using a well thought out format and basis for explaining the rules. When reading these rules it kind of reminds me of the APA manual’s guidelines. This becomes more apparent when the second set of rules is explained and the “Politics of English” become clearer when consideration becomes a key element. He basically wants to produce a concise work and avoid anecdotal fallacies. Twain’s rules are rules for a tale, rule that keep the reader engaged and focused to where the writer is going with the story. Mark Twain does this very well in his writing, especially when his characters are telling a story themselves. I like a short story by the name of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Each character is explained in detail and the story keeps the reader immersed in a scoundrels plot to deceive.
When reading the rules that Orwell stated I realized that many of these rules I have heard of from other professors. I have had many professors tell me not use a passive voice, and my Management professor told us to avoid using heavy jargon. I understood Orwell's rules of writing, but Twain's rules of writing were hard to comprehend for me. I do kind of get a tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere because many times as writers we tend to babble on and never get the point. I'm guilty of it and it's hard for me when I end up having to fill up 10 pages. I always end up asking myself what else should I write to satisfy the requirement? I assume Twain's rules of writing are geared more to storytelling then writing a research paper or other scholarly work.
This reading is not only very informative, but a life saver for some. Many people become uneasy when they hear an essay is due. To my surprise, many teachers that I have previously had in high school and in college had never actually taught the students how to write. I honestly feel that they assumed that we knew the rules or it would just come with time. The rules are straight forward which allows people very little room for confusion. These simple rules should be remembered when writing reason being many times people focus on unimportant matters such as page length. While reading the rules of writing, I found myself thinking of the questions I ask myself before I begin to write. The rule that stood out the most to me was, “Never use a long word where a short one will do” (Orwell). I have heard of this rule only once before in my four years of college from a previous English professor. When I was younger I always thought that using a big word instead of a small one was a plus. I was so puzzled when I heard this that I asked my teacher why is it important to use small words versus longer words. His response was straight to the point; he looked at me and said, “How do you feel when your reading something you cannot understand because the wording is confusing?” I now completely understand because it is hard to appreciate someone’s writing and comprehend what they are talking about when you are reading it next to a dictionary. Also, I need to practice on making sure that my readers are able to picture an image. I never do this as a matter of fact this rule never even crossed my mind. Having a mental image painted into the readers mind is a vital aspect of writing that I have been skipping. In the future I will practice about creating a mental image for my readers.
The rules discussed in “Politics and the English Language” provide a great foundation when developing an essay. Creating a clear point will eliminate any confusion or distractions that might otherwise arise. A particular rule that I found interesting and helpful was “Never use a long word where a short one will do.” I have thought before that when using a word, it is important to choose wisely. The word that best describes your point should be used. If the word is more articulate, but better captivates the feeling or point it is trying to portray then it should be used. A rule that I found interesting in “Twain's Rules of Writing” was “6. When the author describes the character of a personage in his tale, the conduct and conversation of that personage shall justify said description.” This rule clearly describes that it is important to stay consistent when developing a character. A deeper connection to the story and characters are important when engaging readers. In the future I plan on incorporating these rules to my writing.
While reading the two sets of rules of writing some of the rules are familar and rules that I follow when writing. For instance "what am I trying to say?" (Orwell) I repeat that question constantly because when I write I have a tedency to ramble. So I always tell myself to get straight to the point and "which words will express it the best?" (Orwell), which is the second rule. In my opinion the first and second rule go hand in hand and are rules that I have been taught in passed english classes. A teacher once told me when writing it is not about the quantity but the quality. There is no need to write an eight page paper when everything that needed to be said can be written in six pages if it is written well. Some of the other rules listed I never heard of or even thought about when writing. They are very interesting and will definitely change my approach on writing.
After reading all of the rules that were listed, I thought a lot of them were sort of common knowledge rules. They seem like rules that everyone should already be aware of when it comes to writing. But then I also realized that I never really go by those rules, or even necessarily follow them when writing. As a writer, I tend to struggle at first with what to say but then when I start, I can’t stop and usually start to go off topic. Having said that, I could apply a lot of the rules from readings 1 and 2. Also, another problem I come across when writing is the vocabulary I use. For some reason I’ve always had this notion that when I am writing an essay I need to use bigger and better words than the typical, everyday words that could be used. The rules “never use a long word where a short one will do”, and “never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent” in Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language”, are very helpful towards my issues with choosing words and vocabulary in my writings. Another rule that stood out to me was again in Orwell’s essay: “Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?”. It’s funny because whenever I write an essay, I usually just treat it like an assignment and try to address all the major points that are supposed to be addressed. I never really think of how the reader would feel while reading it, and whether or not the essay captures their attention. Orwell’s rule asks a question that I will start considering when writing an essay.
When reading all the rules from both sets of the reading, I feel as you can use a few and be a pretty good writer. I find myself using them, even though I have never read this before especially "what am I trying to say?" and "is this image fresh enough to have an effect?" I always find that my papers can get pretty long because I feel as I need to really give the reader a picture and to have them get what I am saying. It always seems as I have to go back and cut things out, I am some what unsure almost every time if I am making the right decision. After reading Orwell's rule of "if it is possible to cut out a word, always cut it out" I feel much better about my past decisions. I like all of his rules about metaphors, using scientific words and using a long word when you could use a shorter one. It makes writing so much more simpler. I also liked Twain's first rule "a tale shall accomplish something, and arrive somewhere," because that is a great way to think about your writing. Is my story in my paper accomplishing something, is the reader getting something out of it? All paper's will arrive at a conclusion and will that conclusion make the reader think, that is a great way to look at writing! I can definitely use these rules when writing my papers and plan too!
After reading the rules from both Orwell and Twain, I realized that many of the rules are common knowledge. They are rules a writer follows without even thinking about it. However, there are some rules that are not so common knowledge and have never even crossed my mind. For example, from Orwell's essay "Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent." In my writing, I have never thought twice about using a foreign phrase or scientific word as long as I define it in everyday english. I have read articles and books that defy this specific rule by using foreign phrases or scientific terms. I thought it was interesting to learn a new phrase or learn a scientific terms from readings. Now that I sit back and reflect on all of the rules I have read today I see why Orwell included this in his rules. An uncommon word in a book or article may not be the best way to get the point across because not everyone knows what it means. It can make the story as a whole more difficult to understand. Another rule that I thought was interesting was rule number 11 from Twain's Rules of Writing, "The characters in tale be so clearly defined that the reader can tell beforehand what each will do in a given emergency." I thought this rule was interesting because it is something I would never think of while defining characters in a story. The rule makes perfect sense, by defining a character so well that the reader will know the "fight or flight" response of the character gives the reader a better connection to the story. It helps to bring emotion and sympathy out of the reader. These rules can be very beneficial to me as I continue writing. I am sure I will refer to them plenty of times during this course.
After reading these rules a couple stood out to me. One was “What am I trying to Say?” Although I have never thought about, I always try to re-read my writings and then allow another person to read it. I then ask that person if my message was clear. I believe that although I understand it, I want to make sure someone that knows nothing or little about the topic will understand what I am trying to say. I believe that is the main point of writing, getting your message across. I tend to get off topic especially on subject that are familiar to me. I end up adding too much information and blurring the main topic. I would like to learn how to stay within my main points and supporting evidence. I also agree with the rule “Could I put it more shortly?” When I think about a powerful message it is usually brief and simple. Being able to pick words that come across clear and defined is a strong attribute. I hope that I can learn to leave out the excess in my writing. And of course, Twains rule “Good Grammar” is a no brainer. There is nothing worse than reading something with poor grammar. I know that I fall victim to this every once in a while. So it is a good rule to remember. I have never considered myself a good writer, and I hope to take these simple rules and create material that people actually like to read. I hope that my writing skills will improve greatly with this course and following the mentioned rules.
My understanding of the rules from both readings would be, write clearly, use clear simple words that the reader can understand, and get my message across. That would require me, as a writer, to gather my thoughts and have a clear objective. What do I want to accomplish in the writing and did I accomplish my goal in an interesting way? Will the reader enjoy reading my paper or could it have been more interesting? Many of you in the class have a talent to convey your thoughts clearly and simply. I must work at gathering my words and putting them together so they make sense.
Reading 1
ReplyDeleteI think many of the rules listed in the reading topic are very important. I feel there are a handful points that are important to me as a writer and reader. When I am writing things someone else will read, I must think about the level of understand the reader has about what I am writing about. I think the hardest topics to write about are things the average person will read because I have to write in such a way to where virtually anyone will understand what I am trying to say. I have written several papers directly related to my field of work, and I have always found myself far more comfortable writing to a reader-base I can directly relate to and who understand the topic much like I do. Using words and phrases that are familiar to my readers is very important in allowing them to grasp my points and truly understand the meaning of what I am writing about. I try my best to present my writing in a clean and clear form, and I think any writer should do their best to present their work in the cleanest and simplest way possible. When a reader can understand what he or she is reading easily and in a timely manner, he or she stands a better chance of really holding on to the key points of the writing. I look at writing much like I do dancing because, like dancing, it’s give-and-take. Like two dancers doing a ballroom dance, I, the writer, must offer a lead such that the reader can follow seamlessly across the page without second guessing my next move.
Brandon, you followed the rules perfectly. Your writing was clear, well written, and I could relate to the give and take of a dance. I will strive to write as well as you have done.
DeleteFirst thought that came to my mind was, “Why are there so many rules for writing?” When I am writing an essay most of these rules do not come to mind as I am writing it, or revising it. I also noted that both sets of rules mention the same rules with completely different ways of saying them. The one rule that stood out to me from reading one was , “Never use the passive where you can use the active”. I have a hard time trying to make my writing completely passive or active. I often times switch between the two. I do feel like using these rules as a guideline while writing will make for a better and concise essay. It will give it some order, rather than writing with no rules at all. One rule that stood out to me in reading two was, “The author shall make the reader feel a deep interest in the personages of his tale and their fate; and that he shall make the reader love the good people in the tale and hate the bad ones.” This is very important to me as a reader, so I do find this to be a very important rule for writers. By following this rule, more readers will be engaged, and want to read more from that particular author. It makes the story more believable, and it helps the reader be more a part of the story. In future writings I will try to apply these rules to see if there will be a substantial change in my writing style.
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ReplyDeleteWhen reading all these rules for writing, I kept thinking that there is a lot of serious thinking going into writing. That there is an actual method for writing. I was never a person who love to write and never focused on writing. I will admit that writing is important and is something that is done everyday; but there are all these specific rules to consider when writing. I just thought the rules of writing were simple, like use the correct grammar and spell the words correctly, but I obviously was mistaken. Writing is were we express a little about ourselves and it should be taken serious. I truly want to become a better writer. A rule that stood out to me was in reading two rule twelve. The rule states, "_Say_ what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it." The reason this rule stood out to me was because I do this a lot. Not just in my writing but in my talking as well. Instead of going straight to the point I go all around the block first and sometimes still will not get to the point. Now, I will always remember this specific rule and try to practice it everyday. I will practice it in my writing and when I talk to others. Hopefully I do not forget rule number twelve and any of the other rules when writing and can look back on them when needed. By doing this I hope to improve my writing skills and pass this course.
DeleteWhile reading all the rules of writing it seems as though there are so many rules to follow. By reading them, I also realize that some of these rules are necessary in order to write out your points and some of us use them naturally when preparing a paper or lesson. For example, deciding what I am trying to say or how I am going to express it. I enjoy structure therefore enjoy having rules that I can follow, but also attempting to share my personal thoughts is something I will definitely have to learn and practice. Many rules are difficult when one is writing and not really thinking of how or what is going to be written rather just putting the thoughts down before losing the idea or point that is to be made. As I struggle with definitions and proper English words, I find myself failing at rule number thirteen but always aware of my weakness. I carry a dictionary with me to look up things I do not understand or words I try to learn. I do not know what kind of writer I am but want to learn and improve my imperfections as a writer, which I am sure are plenty. While reviewing the rules I hope to follow a structure that will improve my writing abilities.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the rules for writing, I realized that I rarely ask myself any of these questions. I am usually focused on page length, and if the grammar is correct. I hardly ever try to make my papers shorter, and I'm guilty of using larger words when daily words would work just as well (I liked Twain's rule 13. "Use the right word, not its second cousin"). I, like some others, also go back and forth between using passive and active phrases, I don't recall ever double checking for that when proof-reading. As for a rule that stuck out to me, I would say other than the rules mentioned above, Orwell's rule "Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly" is the most out there for me.
ReplyDeleteI find that in past blogs, journals, essays, and scribbles, I always write the most ridiculous things that make no sense at all to what I am writing about and turns whatever I was trying to get across into a jumble of thoughts. I hope that I keep these rules in mind as I write in the future because I think they could help keep my thoughts organized.
I can relate to focusing on writing papers for page length to meet the requirements of the class. I would also use elements from the story to relate to the teacher that I had actually read the information. Additionally, I usually needed to quote or cite information in the paper that I write so I would use bigger, fluffier words instead of common straight forward English words. I like the idea or rule to write simply so many readers can comprehend. I too thought writing was about conveying a thought, checking grammar, and punctuation. I now have a different point of view.
DeleteWhen reading the first passage the first question what am I trying to say stood out to me because it is such a simple rule, but it is the rule that I seem to forget most times I write. Most times I begin writing and I am going in the right direction then out of nowhere I begin to go off topic. It is like my brain is all over the place. It is full of so many ideas that I just begin writing idea after idea and I don’t realize that I have gone off topic. Later when I reread my writing I don’t catch my mistake because to me what I have said sounds good. I guess to sum up what I am trying to say now is that I need to work on the question about what I want to say. Also another rule that stood out to me from the first passage was using short words instead of long words. When writing I sometimes try to use fancy words in order to sound sophisticated and I end up putting the wrong word and it messes up what I am trying to say. I was intrigued to read those rules of writing because now I feel I could ask myself these questions before starting my essay. I could begin my writing by first jotting down all ideas in my head and then grouping them into what I feel is relevant to my writing and which are not, this way when I begin to write my draft I will stay on topic. The second passage was a little more difficult for me to grasp because of the language but after reading it a few times I understood what Twain was trying to get through to the audience. Most of the rules that Twain wrote were similar to Orwell’s essay. Twain talks about making your writing interesting to the audience, which I felt was great advice because when your writing isn’t interesting it loses the interest of your reader and if you have lost the interest of your reader then you haven’t got your message through. Overall I enjoyed reading the passages I felt they were very useful.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the writing rules, I have to admit that I never really ask myself these questions. I check for spelling errors, proper page length and I do use bigger words then I should. I didn’t know that there were such serious rules to writing. The question that stood out to me was, “what words will express it?” When I’m writing a paper, I always want to use the right words to make it sound college appropriate. On certain subjects, I can write a lengthy paper but on other subjects, I might struggle a little. I enjoy writing on topics that interests me and others so that I can get their feedback and maybe some pointers. Often times, I find me asking myself what am I trying to say? Am I going off topic too much? Are there too many run sentences? Did I provide useless information that could have been taken out? I always second guess my sentences which takes me longer to write. I need to stop putting so much emphasis on bigger words and just need to use something simpler. There are times when I have trouble trying to make it passive or active. I have been known to jumble my thoughts around and write something that makes no sense. As rule 1 states in reading 2, “A tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere.” When I write, to be able to get my point across with the right amount of information. These rules will help improve my writing in a big way.
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ReplyDeleteI am having a much harder time relating to most of the rules in this reading compared to the first. I have never done much writing in the form that is described, so it is hard for me to relate. Rules one and two stand out the most to me because I think everything being written, regardless of the type of writing or style, should have a defined direction. I understand a reader does not always need to know where he or she is going when reading, depending on what is being read. I have not done much conversational writing, but I have read a fair amount of it. I feel it is very important that it is easy for the reader to pick out who is who in what he or she is reading. I have read too many stories where I have to read a particular section more than once to figure out who is doing what. I agree with rule ten, as well, because it is important the reader feels a strong connection to the story and the people in it. When a reader is pulled into a story as he or she reads, they will feel as if they are part of the story and the outcome and people it affects in the story become meaningful. Dealing with a type of writing which involves people, places, and a description of a world or place in time not familiar to the reader can be very hard to do because the writer is completely responsible for painting a picture with words for the reader. I would like to dabble in this type of writing because it seems more artful to me than some other types. Maybe when life slows down, I can experiment with my true inner-writer.
The rules that I read for very straight forward but also something that I felt was already known. It's always very important that the writer express exactly what they would like to say, but also write it clearly. So that falls under Mark Twain's rules 12 and 13. The rules that stood out to me were the one of the questions posed by Oswell and one of his rules. He asks "Could I put it more shortly?" and says one rule is to always cut out a word if possible. These stood out because, of all the essays that I have written, I have always been told to add more words and to be more descriptive and to not put it more shortly. But I believe what he is expressing is to not sell one's self short. It's important to express what we're trying to say without having too much of nothing in the context.
ReplyDeleteThe rules that I read seemed like something that I already knew and something that I see everyday. I watch a lot of the disney kids movies because my daughter just loves them, and after seeing all of these movies the rules seem like plots from their stories. There is nothing that is to surprising and nothing that seems to odd. This also can be seen in books that I read. The characters all talk like humans and interact like humans. Their is very little that misplaces characters from humans. Rule ten of Twains rules of writing stands out to me very much.It stands out because when I read I like to feel for the characters and allow myself to feel like they are being the good person or the bad. I like to divulge myself into the novel and when a writer has done a good job with this rule I can relate to the characters and make myself feel what they feel. Especially in my favorite Nicholas Flamel novels I feel different emotions for every character and I love being torn from good and bad.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that I notice about the rules is that Mark Twain’s seem more geared toward the writing of fiction than writing in general. That said, however, several of these rules can be applied to the writing of essays. For example, rule 14, “Eschew surplusage” and rule 18, “Employ a simple, straightforward style” are good warnings to those writers who fluff their writings with unnecessary adverbs. I read somewhere that a good tip for writers is to search their works for words ending in -ly and remove as many as possible. This is supported by one of Orwell’s rules, “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” I will admit to some confusion about the first rule in Orwell’s third set, “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.” To me this says, “Use strange phrases in your writing as opposed to old familiar ones.” I feel that this might make one’s writings as difficult to understand as if one used a foreign sentence in the middle of their work. Finally, I am amused by the fact that Twain has a very long sentence forming rule 5, and then turns around and talks about keeping things simple, brief, and straight forward.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the rules for writing, I thought to myself, “who actually thinks of all these things before writing anything?” The more I think about all the rules, the more that I realize that some of these rules are actually common sense for writing rather than something a person must think about while they are writing. In Orwell’s essay, he states that a writer must ask his/herself whether they could have put what they wrote into shorter words. I think that that rule is very vital. Professors are always claiming that even though they want a certain amount of writing in the essays they receive from students, they would prefer something short and straight to the point than to have something very wordy be turned in. I must admit that I have this problem of being too “wordy”. Another rule that I found vital was that it is better to replace a big word with a much simpler word if it means the same thing. We must remember that there are many people in our audience who could read what we write and some will not know certain vocabulary. Sometimes, the most simple word will explain what is needed in a better way. With Mark Twain’s rules, I also found things that were necessary. His rules applied more to writing a story. Basically, everything a person writes in the story must make sense and come together. To me, that makes a story worth reading. The reader has to actually feel that they are in the story.
ReplyDeleteI never realized that writing had so many rules, however, all of the writing rules listed are important. Although when I am writing a paper the only one I focus on is using proper grammar. After reading over these rules I realize that I need to follow these rules in order to write an effective paper. For example rule 14 of reading two says to avoid excessive details or words. Whenever I write a lengthy paper I begin to use excessive words and repeat myself in order to meet the length requirement. I now realize that instead of making my paper more effective it just confuses my reader and make my paper redundant. Another rule that stud out to me was rule 13 of reading two. Use the right word, not its second cousin. Whenever I write a paper I often use the thesaurus in order to make my paper sound smart. Now that I step back and look at it I realize that the average reader would probably understand an average word instead of an unnecessary long and confusing word, it would make my point clearer. These two rules stand out to me because they are simple to follow and when you think about it, they are things we should be doing in the first place. When we write we get caught up in making our paper long and making it sound smart. When really we should be concentrating on making our point come across clear to the reader.
ReplyDeleteThe readings for the week explaining some writing rules were very interesting as well enlightening. When I write papers for classes or create reports on some of the data I have collected I am aware that there are writing conventions to follow and try to follow them as close as possible. However, the readings and the rules they spell out demonstrate how are writing can become dull as well as too flowery for its purpose. From my experience I find myself writing sentences in a way that I would not speak in person, similar to what Twain’s rule number 5 states, “When the personages of a tale deal in conversation, the talk shall sound like human talk, and be talk such as human beings would be likely to talk…” Also, as a student I tend to write a lot thinking the more I write the more I will be able to explaining my point, but my point isn’t clear at times. Twain, in regards to this issue, states in rule 12 to say exactly what one has to say and not just try to say it and to be straightforward as he says in rule 18. While all these rules are helpful, I find that Orwell’s rule stating, “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out,” to be very much applicable to me as I tend write unnecessary words in some of my writings. Overall, these two readings provide much easier rules of writing to keep in mind rather than trying to follow all the possible writing conventions in existence.
ReplyDeleteJeorgina great post! I also understand when you say that as a student we sometime want to write too much without getting the point across, and I will agree that I have that same problem either I say too much or I omit necessary details. I guess the more we will write the more chances we have overcoming these challenges.
DeleteWhile reading the rules of writing I was evaluating the use of these rules in the books and 'tales' I am currently reading. The current tale I am reading is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. The author does follow the guidelines of what makes a good tale set by Mark Twain. I know how the characters are going to act and react to situations and I can distinct tell one from the other. The author's style is simple; however, includes grand made up terms to fit in with the fantasy of it all. One of the best aspects of this particular author's writing is making the reader feel included in the story. To do this Tolkien uses language that addresses and initiates thought in the reader about the situation. I applied the rules from Orwell's essay to my own writing. Several of these rules I think of, sometimes instinctually, as I write. When I read sometime, as most other people, I want to be able to understand it without having to re-read it several times. In my writing I try to apply several of Orwell's rules pertaining to clearness and simplicity of terms and style. I will be referring back to this blog in my writing ventures to come.
ReplyDeleteAbby great post! you're already being able to identify the rules of writing in others writing. I agree with you when you say that you don't like to re-read something because yes re-reading could be very boring and even though it could be a good journal or book, but still it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Yes, I will also try to use Orwell's rules in my own writings.
DeleteWhile reading the rules of writing, I realized that one of my difficulties in writing would be to get the message across; I feel that it is very important that my writing is to be concise because I don’t want to bore the reader. Another rule that is listed in Owens list was to limit the usage of foreign phrase or a scientific word etc., rather, the rules encourages writers to write in everyday English equivalent. I can totally relate to that because I do try to use fancy words and maybe most of time it even doesn’t sound right, so that rule was really a learning experience. I also agree with Twain's rules, and his rules also emphasized on the fact that a tale should be told, and there should be a starting point and a clear end point, and that statement is so true because sometimes writers just write to say something; rather, it should be in a way that it attracts readers’ full attention. I also thought that Twain’s rule number fifteen and seventeen was also very important because sometimes when I write I feel that I can’t say too much so I try to shorten it, and I realize that could omit necessary details. Also number seventeen is about usage of good grammar, and I think it is crucial to use good grammar in academic writings because I have seen that teachers even discounts a good paper just for not using the good grammar. These rules were really informative and I hope to incorporate them in my writing.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both sets of writing rules, it seems there are a lot of rules for writing but many of them are common sense. For example, Orwell’s first two rules are about finding what you want to say and how to express it; these are two rules we have been taught since we first learned how to write a paper. These two rules are necessary to start any writing project because the point of writing is to express our ideas. Also Twain’s rule number seventeen is a common sense rule; English teachers have been telling their students to use good grammar for centuries. Orwell’s rule about putting a statement in the shortest way possible is one that I tend not to follow. Usually, when I am writing essays, I am trying to meet a page limit so I will expand as much as I can by using long words and phrase. My favorite Orwell rule is “break any of these rules sooner than say anything out right barbarous”; the rules of writing should be followed but sometimes they need to be broken to avoid sounding uneducated. For example, if I followed the rule about not using scientific words when I am writing a lab report I would not sound like I know what I am talking about. Mark Twain’s first eleven rules for writing are more aimed at novel writing than prose so I don’t typically use these rules, but they are good to keep in mind when I am reading books. Rules twelve through eighteen can be applied to all forms of writing. Twain’s writing rule number thirteen is the one that stood out most in his set of rules. Referring to the synonym of the right word as the word’s second cousin is a creative way to make this rule memorable.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the sets of rules, the one that stuck out to me most was Twain's thirteenth rule; "Use the right word, not its second cousin." How many times have we looked at Thesaurus to find a better word, or in Twain's words "its second cousin." I am definitely guilty of this. Thesaurus is a great tool, but it can be abused. In Orwell's rules, number two states "never use a long word where a short one will do." I think throughout school, we often times feel like we need to use big fancy words in order to impress the teacher to get a good grade. Most times we do not even talk like that in real life, and it is completely out of our character to do so. I have reread some of my own essays and wondered what certain words even meant? You would think I would know, since I am the one who wrote them. Do not get me wrong. I think there are certain words that fit better, even if they are long. However, to choose a word for only means of coming off intelligible, they are probably only deceiving themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn Orwell’s essay I believe he is trying to lay down the foundation, ethics, and rules for a sharp and witty written work. He explains this by using a well thought out format and basis for explaining the rules. When reading these rules it kind of reminds me of the APA manual’s guidelines. This becomes more apparent when the second set of rules is explained and the “Politics of English” become clearer when consideration becomes a key element. He basically wants to produce a concise work and avoid anecdotal fallacies. Twain’s rules are rules for a tale, rule that keep the reader engaged and focused to where the writer is going with the story. Mark Twain does this very well in his writing, especially when his characters are telling a story themselves. I like a short story by the name of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Each character is explained in detail and the story keeps the reader immersed in a scoundrels plot to deceive.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the rules that Orwell stated I realized that many of these rules I have heard of from other professors. I have had many professors tell me not use a passive voice, and my Management professor told us to avoid using heavy jargon. I understood Orwell's rules of writing, but Twain's rules of writing were hard to comprehend for me. I do kind of get a tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere because many times as writers we tend to babble on and never get the point. I'm guilty of it and it's hard for me when I end up having to fill up 10 pages. I always end up asking myself what else should I write to satisfy the requirement? I assume Twain's rules of writing are geared more to storytelling then writing a research paper or other scholarly work.
ReplyDeleteThis reading is not only very informative, but a life saver for some. Many people become uneasy when they hear an essay is due. To my surprise, many teachers that I have previously had in high school and in college had never actually taught the students how to write. I honestly feel that they assumed that we knew the rules or it would just come with time. The rules are straight forward which allows people very little room for confusion. These simple rules should be remembered when writing reason being many times people focus on unimportant matters such as page length. While reading the rules of writing, I found myself thinking of the questions I ask myself before I begin to write. The rule that stood out the most to me was, “Never use a long word where a short one will do” (Orwell). I have heard of this rule only once before in my four years of college from a previous English professor. When I was younger I always thought that using a big word instead of a small one was a plus. I was so puzzled when I heard this that I asked my teacher why is it important to use small words versus longer words. His response was straight to the point; he looked at me and said, “How do you feel when your reading something you cannot understand because the wording is confusing?” I now completely understand because it is hard to appreciate someone’s writing and comprehend what they are talking about when you are reading it next to a dictionary. Also, I need to practice on making sure that my readers are able to picture an image. I never do this as a matter of fact this rule never even crossed my mind. Having a mental image painted into the readers mind is a vital aspect of writing that I have been skipping. In the future I will practice about creating a mental image for my readers.
ReplyDeleteThe rules discussed in “Politics and the English Language” provide a great foundation when developing an essay. Creating a clear point will eliminate any confusion or distractions that might otherwise arise. A particular rule that I found interesting and helpful was “Never use a long word where a short one will do.” I have thought before that when using a word, it is important to choose wisely. The word that best describes your point should be used. If the word is more articulate, but better captivates the feeling or point it is trying to portray then it should be used. A rule that I found interesting in “Twain's Rules of Writing” was “6. When the author describes the character of a personage in his tale, the conduct and conversation of that personage shall justify said description.” This rule clearly describes that it is important to stay consistent when developing a character. A deeper connection to the story and characters are important when engaging readers. In the future I plan on incorporating these rules to my writing.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the two sets of rules of writing some of the rules are familar and rules that I follow when writing. For instance "what am I trying to say?" (Orwell) I repeat that question constantly because when I write I have a tedency to ramble. So I always tell myself to get straight to the point and "which words will express it the best?" (Orwell), which is the second rule. In my opinion the first and second rule go hand in hand and are rules that I have been taught in passed english classes. A teacher once told me when writing it is not about the quantity but the quality. There is no need to write an eight page paper when everything that needed to be said can be written in six pages if it is written well. Some of the other rules listed I never heard of or even thought about when writing. They are very interesting and will definitely change my approach on writing.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all of the rules that were listed, I thought a lot of them were sort of common knowledge rules. They seem like rules that everyone should already be aware of when it comes to writing. But then I also realized that I never really go by those rules, or even necessarily follow them when writing. As a writer, I tend to struggle at first with what to say but then when I start, I can’t stop and usually start to go off topic. Having said that, I could apply a lot of the rules from readings 1 and 2. Also, another problem I come across when writing is the vocabulary I use. For some reason I’ve always had this notion that when I am writing an essay I need to use bigger and better words than the typical, everyday words that could be used. The rules “never use a long word where a short one will do”, and “never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent” in Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language”, are very helpful towards my issues with choosing words and vocabulary in my writings. Another rule that stood out to me was again in Orwell’s essay: “Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?”. It’s funny because whenever I write an essay, I usually just treat it like an assignment and try to address all the major points that are supposed to be addressed. I never really think of how the reader would feel while reading it, and whether or not the essay captures their attention. Orwell’s rule asks a question that I will start considering when writing an essay.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading all the rules from both sets of the reading, I feel as you can use a few and be a pretty good writer. I find myself using them, even though I have never read this before especially "what am I trying to say?" and "is this image fresh enough to have an effect?" I always find that my papers can get pretty long because I feel as I need to really give the reader a picture and to have them get what I am saying. It always seems as I have to go back and cut things out, I am some what unsure almost every time if I am making the right decision. After reading Orwell's rule of "if it is possible to cut out a word, always cut it out" I feel much better about my past decisions. I like all of his rules about metaphors, using scientific words and using a long word when you could use a shorter one. It makes writing so much more simpler. I also liked Twain's first rule "a tale shall accomplish something, and arrive somewhere," because that is a great way to think about your writing. Is my story in my paper accomplishing something, is the reader getting something out of it? All paper's will arrive at a conclusion and will that conclusion make the reader think, that is a great way to look at writing! I can definitely use these rules when writing my papers and plan too!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the rules from both Orwell and Twain, I realized that many of the rules are common knowledge. They are rules a writer follows without even thinking about it. However, there are some rules that are not so common knowledge and have never even crossed my mind. For example, from Orwell's essay "Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent." In my writing, I have never thought twice about using a foreign phrase or scientific word as long as I define it in everyday english. I have read articles and books that defy this specific rule by using foreign phrases or scientific terms. I thought it was interesting to learn a new phrase or learn a scientific terms from readings. Now that I sit back and reflect on all of the rules I have read today I see why Orwell included this in his rules. An uncommon word in a book or article may not be the best way to get the point across because not everyone knows what it means. It can make the story as a whole more difficult to understand. Another rule that I thought was interesting was rule number 11 from Twain's Rules of Writing, "The characters in tale be so clearly defined that the reader can tell beforehand what each will do in a given emergency." I thought this rule was interesting because it is something I would never think of while defining characters in a story. The rule makes perfect sense, by defining a character so well that the reader will know the "fight or flight" response of the character gives the reader a better connection to the story. It helps to bring emotion and sympathy out of the reader. These rules can be very beneficial to me as I continue writing. I am sure I will refer to them plenty of times during this course.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these rules a couple stood out to me. One was “What am I trying to Say?” Although I have never thought about, I always try to re-read my writings and then allow another person to read it. I then ask that person if my message was clear. I believe that although I understand it, I want to make sure someone that knows nothing or little about the topic will understand what I am trying to say. I believe that is the main point of writing, getting your message across. I tend to get off topic especially on subject that are familiar to me. I end up adding too much information and blurring the main topic. I would like to learn how to stay within my main points and supporting evidence. I also agree with the rule “Could I put it more shortly?” When I think about a powerful message it is usually brief and simple. Being able to pick words that come across clear and defined is a strong attribute. I hope that I can learn to leave out the excess in my writing. And of course, Twains rule “Good Grammar” is a no brainer. There is nothing worse than reading something with poor grammar. I know that I fall victim to this every once in a while. So it is a good rule to remember. I have never considered myself a good writer, and I hope to take these simple rules and create material that people actually like to read. I hope that my writing skills will improve greatly with this course and following the mentioned rules.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of the rules from both readings would be, write clearly, use clear simple words that the reader can understand, and get my message across. That would require me, as a writer, to gather my thoughts and have a clear objective. What do I want to accomplish in the writing and did I accomplish my goal in an interesting way? Will the reader enjoy reading my paper or could it have been more interesting? Many of you in the class have a talent to convey your thoughts clearly and simply. I must work at gathering my words and putting them together so they make sense.
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