LEC 1 Principles of effective writing.ppt

8/14/2019 LEC 1 Principles of effective writing.ppt

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Principles of Effective Writing


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"In science, the credit goes to the man

who convinces the world, not to the man

to whom the idea first occurs."--Sir William Osler


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"Writing is an art. But when it is writing to

inform it comes close to being a science

as well." --Robert Gunning,The Technique of Clear Writing


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Introduction

What makes good writing?

What does it take to be a good writer?


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What makes good writing?

1. Good writing communicates an idea clearly and effectively.

2. Good writing is elegant and stylish.

Takes time,

revision, and agood editor!

Takes having

something to say

and clear

thinking.


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What makes a good writer?

Inborn talent?

Years of English and humanities classes?

An artistic nature?

The influence of alcohol and drugs?

Divine inspiration?


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What makes a good writer (outside of poets,maybe):

Having something to say.

Logical and clear thinking.

A few simple, learnable rules of style (the tools welllearn in this class).

Take home message: Writing to inform is a craft,not an art. Clear, effective writing can be learned!


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Principles of Effective Writing In addition to attending this lecture, other things you

can do to become a better writer: Read, pay attention, and imitate.

Let go of academic writing habits (deprogramming step!)

Develop a thesaurus habit. Search for the right word rather than settlingfor any old word.

Respect your audiencetry not to bore them!

Stop waiting for inspiration.

Accept that writing is hard for everyone.

Revise. Nobody gets it perfect on the first try.

Learn how to cut ruthlessly. Never become too attached to your words. Make sure to edit your work or have someone else read your work


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1. Clear writing starts with clear thinking.


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Before you start writing, ask:

What am I trying to say?

When you finish writing, ask:

Have I said it?


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Once you know what youre trying to say,

then pay attention to your words!

Todays lesson: Strip your sentences to just

the words that tell.


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The secret of good writing is to strip everysentence to its cleanest components. Everyword that serves no function, every long word

that could be a short word, every adverb thatcarries the same meaning thats already in theverb, every passive construction that leaves thereader unsure of who is doing whatthese are

the thousand and one adulterants that weakenthe strength of a sentence. And they usuallyoccur in proportion to the education and rank.

-- William Zinsser in On Writing Well, 1976


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Overview of principles

Todays lessons:Words:

1. Reduce dead weight words and phrases

2. Cut, cut, cut; learn to part with your words

Sentences:

3. Follow: subject + verb + object (SVO)

4. Use strong verbs and avoid turning verbs into

nouns 5. Eliminate negatives; use positive

constructions instead

6. Use parallel Construction


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Words

1. Reduce dead weight words and

phrases Get rid of jargon and repetition

Verboseis not a synonym for literary.


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Examples:

I would like to assert that the author shouldbe considered to be a buffoon.

The author is a buffoon.


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The expected prevalence of mental retardation,

based on the assumption of a normaldistribution of intelligence in the population, isstated to be theoretically about 2.5%.

Examples:


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Examples:


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The expected prevalence of mental retardation, ifintelligence is normally distributed, is 2.5%.

Examples:


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Examples:

This paper provides a review of the basic tenets of cancer biology

study design, using as examples studies that illustrate themethodologic challenges or that demonstrate successful solutions

to the difficulties inherent in biological research.

s

and

This paper reviews cancer biology study design, usingexamples that illustrate specific challenges and solutions.


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Hunt down and cast out all unneeded

words that might slow your reader.


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Very, really, quite, basically,generally

These words seldom add anythinguseful. Try the sentence without

them and see if it improves.


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Watch out for the verb to be

Often there are is extra weight.

There are many students who likewriting.

Many students like writing.


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Dead weight phrases in the event that

in the nature of

it has been estimated that

it seems that

the point I am trying to make

what I mean to say is

it may be argued that


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All three of the the three

Fewer in number fewer Give rise to cause

In all cases always

In a position to can

In close proximity to near

In order to to

Clunky phrase Equivalent


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A majority of most

A number of manyAre of the same opinion agree

At the present moment now

Less frequently occurring rare

Clunky phrase Equivalent


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With the possible exception of except

Due to the fact that because For the purpose of for

Beware of Use instead


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Wordy Pointedin spite of the fact that although

in the event that if

new innovations innovations

one and the same the same

period of four days four days

personal opinion opinion

shorter/longer in length shorter/longer


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2. Cut, cut, cut; learn to part with your

words


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DON'T BE AFRAID TO CUT


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Be vigilant and ruthless

After investing much effort to put words on apage, we often find it hard to part with them.

But fight their seductive pull

Try the sentence without the extra words andsee how its betterconveys the same idea withmore power


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Parting with your words


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Example:

Brain injury incidence shows two peak

periods in almost all reports: rates are thehighest in young people, and the elderly.

More punch

Brain injury incidence peaks in the youngand the elderly.


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Sentences

3. Follow: subject + verb + object

(active voice!)


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Subject verb object

Subject verb object

Subject verb object

Subject verb object

or just

Subject verb


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The passive voice. In passive-voice sentences, the subject is acted

upon; the subject doesnt act.

Passive verb = a form of the verb to be +

the past participle of the main verb

The main verb must be a transitive verb (thatis, take an object).


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In the passive voice,

The agent is AWOL Sin and Syntax

e.g. Mistakes were made.

Nobody is responsible.

vs. The Presidentmade mistakes


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"Cigarette ads were designed to appeal especially to

children."

vs.

"We designed the cigarette ads to appeal especially to

children.

Responsible party!


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How do you recognize the passive voice?

Object-Verb-Subject

OR just

Object-Verb The agent is truly AWOL!


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MYTH: The passive voice is more objective.

Its not more objective, just more vague.


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4. Use strong verbs and avoid turning

verbs into nouns


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A sentence uses one main verb to convey itscentral action; without that verb the sentencewould collapse.

The verb is the engine that drives the sentence.Dull, lifeless verbs slow the sentence down.

Action verbs reflect the action they were chosen todescribe, and help bring the reader into thestory.


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Scientific Writing, HRP 214

Pick the right verb!

The WHO reports that approximately two-thirds of the worlds

diabetics are found in developing countries, and estimates

that the number of diabetics in these countries will double inthe next 25 year.

The WHO estimates that two-thirds of the worlds diabetics

are found in developing countries, and projects that the

number of diabetics in these countries will double in the next

25 years.


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STRONG VERBS carry the main idea of the

sentence and sweep the reader along

Put your sentences on a to be diet

Is are was were be been am


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There are many ways in which we canarrange the Petri dishes.

We can arrange the Petri dishes manyways.

There was a long line of bacteria on theplate.

Bacteria lined the plate.


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Dont kill verbs and adjectives by turning

them into nouns.


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5. Eliminate negatives; use positive

constructions instead


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He was not often on time He usually came late.

She did not think that studying writing

was a sensible use of ones time. She thought studying writing was a waste of time.


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Not honest dishonest

Not important trifling

Does not have lacks Did not remember forgot

Did not pay attention to ignored

Did not have much confidence distrusted Did not succeed failed


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Unparallel:

Locusts denuded fields in Utah, rural Iowa waswashed away by torrents, and in Arizona the

cotton was shriveled by the placing heat.

Vs.

Parallel:Locusts denuded fields in Utah, torrents washedaway rural Iowa, and blazing heat shriveledArizonas cotton.

From: Strunk and White


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Make a choice and abide by it!


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Pairs of ideastwo ideas joined by and, or,

or butshould be written in parallel form.

Cardiac input decreased by 40% but

blood pressure decreased by only 10%.

SVX but SVX


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Pairs of ideastwo ideas joined by and or

or butshould be written in parallel form.

We hoped to increase the response and

to improve survival.

Infinitive phrase and infinitive phrase.


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Lists of ideas (and number lists of ideas) should

be written in parallel form.


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ParallelismNot Parallel:If you want to be a good doctor, you must study hard,critically think about the medical literature, and youshould be a good listener.

Parallel:

If you want to be a good doctor you must study hard,listen well, and think critically about the medicalliterature. (imperative, imperative, imperative)

Parallel:If you want to be a good doctor, you must be a goodstudent, a good listener, and a critical thinker aboutthe medical literature. (noun, noun, noun)


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LEC 1 Principles of effective writing.ppt

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