|
Style: Introduction
Style in writing brings words across to your
readers. An effective writing style gives you the authority to make people
listen, to persuade them that you have good ideas. Without it, your writing
sounds flat and dull - not even you want to read the stuff.
Of course you will write better when you are
interested in the subject, and when your interest gives you energy. During
your time at Amherst you'll notice the difference between mechanical
performance and involvement: not every paper assignment will turn you on, nor,
probably, will you rise to every such occasion with bright eyes and bristling
energies.
Still, you might be able to summon brightness
and purpose if you assume that the flow of energy between you and an
assignment doesn't just go one way. By looking beneath the surface of a
subject for points of contrast, topics for argument, and gritty details, you
may find a meaning to enliven your method. Moreover, working on the style of a
paper often redirects energy back to its source, encouraging you to go deeper.
The following list of reminders helps you
distinguish between weak, flabby prose and strong, lean prose. Use it when you
rewrite a draft, marking trouble spots and making the rough places plain.
Passive
Voice
Intransitive
Verbs
Too
Many Little Words
Adverbitis
Hitchhikers,
Babblers, and Jaw-Flappers
Windy
and Pretentious Language
Balance
and Consistency
|
