1. Have you established a writing style? What does it involve? What are the challenges you encounter when writing? What do you anticipate encountering when writing longer research papers?
Personally, I cannot identify my exact writing style. I do write with clear, concise, fluidity; however, I have no sense of “personal style.” I construct each written assignment with the intention of being blunt and supporting my assertions with facts and details that will strengthen my argument. After reading Ch. 1 “The Transaction” I agree with that Zinsser proposes: my writing reflects who I am as a person (5). I am blunt and to the point. I get tasks done in the most efficient way. Maybe my personality does come through in my writing more than I thought.
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One challenge that I look forward to improving upon is organization. I have a copious amount of intriguing ideas, but putting them in order and connecting each idea to create an overall theme is a skill I struggle with. I have indeed written up to a 25 page research paper at least twice in college being an Honors Student. Once again, organization is key. I usually add sub headings to clarify the order of my thoughts, but not all types of research call for that. I am adept to the large amounts of research that must be done in order to construct such lengthy papers. I do look forward to learning how research is done and compiled in the field of conflict. 2. Do you agree with Zinsser's assertion that "Everyone who thinks clearly can write clearly?" Why or why not? I disagree with Zinsser’s assertion.
Not everyone can express themselves with such ease. He made a good point by encouraging authors of tougher subjects such as the sciences to use analogies and terms more relatable to the audience; however, Zinsser, an amazing writer himself, provided only examples of writers, such as Dr. Lewis Thomas who have already grasped this skill. Dr. Thomas is well recognized for his skill of providing clarity to such complicated scientific subjects, but what about the other scientific authors that leave audiences baffled (158)? When I have to read scientific work, I must often consult a dictionary or the glossary to grasps some sort of meaning regarding the matter regardless of the relatable explanations. I am just not a science person. Secondly, the expression of ideas does not only require clarity in thinking, but also the ability to transform the complex idea into a more relatable form that can be well received by an audience. This skill can only be developed over time for most writers. Zinsser’s assertion is possible, but only after many years of practice for those who struggle with the ideas of transformation and …show more content…
expression. 3. What lessons can you take away from science writing for the social sciences and Conflict? Conflict analysis and resolution can also be an intricate subject.
Conflicts themselves include multiple elements that often leave the analyzer dumbfounded. To present the parties within a conflict and explain their underlying grievances could take a lengthy explaination depending on what the area of conflict is. Writers in the I. E. E. E. Specturum, take a larger scientific idea and relate it to the human experience (159). In the same instance, one can take a complex conflict and relate it to a more interpersonal interaction. In many of the conflicts analysis I read, the major conflict is often explain through an interpersonal conflict of the same nature. Interpersonal conflicts are more relatable, which is one tip Zinsser gives to grasp and keep hold of an audience’s attention (152). Secondly, conflicts can also be too drawn out and the writer can lose the audience’s attention from the beginning. By exemplifying Roueché’s captivate language at the beginning of his piece, Zinsser makes it a point to employ a strong relatable attention grabber (154). In terms of conflict, one could give the complex dynamic of the conflict and the resolution at the beginning of the piece. Then, the readers will be intrigued to find out just how this seemingly unsolvable problem was resolved. Lastly, Stories are always fun to read and the reader most often wants to find out what happens in the end to the main characters or parties in the case of conflict. The idea that a conflict could be
portrayed as a story to create a logical, sequential style that will allow readers to understand the complex situation at hand (159).
First, the author uses conflict to show what the characters have to overcome throughout the course of the story, such as Mrs. Baker forcing Holling to do chores at school and
To engage the reader, authors use a lot of various conflicts. An example of this would be the book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S Lewis. One conflict that is external conflict used to engage the reader is person vs person. In the story, Lucy Pevensie - the youngest of the four Pevensie children - finds the wardrobe and the world inside it, which is called Narina first. She then tells her other siblings about the wardrobe and Narina. However, her siblings don’t believe her . On page 27, it says “‘A jolly good hoax, Lu,’ he said as he came out again; ‘you would have really taken us in, I must admit. We half believed you.’” This engages the reader by making them wanting to find out if her siblings really believe her at the end.
What are the best types of conflicts? Night by Elie Wiesel contains a lot of uses of conflict. This is a story told from the viewpoint of Elie. In the story he talks about his experiences as a Jew during the Holocaust. If not already obvious this is a true story. The conflict of character vs self develops throughout the story and effects Elie.
Ender’s Game is a story set in the near future, where an Alien race has attacked earth and is planning to attack again. A boy named Ender Wiggin is recruited to join the military and is sent to Battle School to train to be able to defeat the next alien attack. The author of Ender’s Game uses various styles of writing. In doing so the Author is able to convey a concise yet entertaining story. Some of the writing styles the he uses are that his writing is simple, he uses various types of POV and lastly he uses irony.
Moreover, this leads to what exactly is conflict. Conflict is considered to be the very essence of many literary works. Likewise, it is the momentum of happening and change and is very vital for delivering information and building characterization within the literary text. When conflict is conquered, it provides a greater sense of understanding and lessons to be learnt. Conflicts can be internal or external. Internal conflicts exist between the character and his/herself while external conflict exists between two characters or the environment.
What is the definition of style? Is there an exact way of interpreting style individuals create in their writing? What is the importance and function of style in the writing process? Does style really matter? Before encountering books such as William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s “The Elements of Style” and Joesph M. Williams “Style Toward Clarity and Grace” I had not put much thought into these questions. My main focus was to get my writing assignments completed, turned in, and out of my mind. However, these two books create a whole new outlook on the world of writing for any individual who can open the cover and their mind.
In order to create a story, there must be a decent conflict. The conflict helps shape the approach of which a story is going. A conflict can easily be defined as a clash of actions, ideas, desires, and wills. The conflicts of a story can help you differentiate the protagonist from the antagonist. They also help the reader get more involved with the story as they wonder how the problem will get resolved. Conflicts are important in any type of literary fiction. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” written by Richard Connell three conflicts are Rainsford against Zaroff, Rainsford against the environment, and General Zaroff against society.
The conflict is the main interest factor of a story line, and therefor must be engaging throughout the entirety of the book or film. In the novel, The Host looks at conflicts such
Conflict is apart of the model of society. It is a very common component of reality and also in stories and other forms literature. In stories, it adds sensation and stimulates the minds the people who are reading it. Characters can be in conflict with another character, an object, or themselves. When characters are having conflicts however it is more than just a mere disagreement but it is a situation in which the characters detect a threat to their physical, emotional, power and status well-being.
The Elements of Style written by William Strunk and E.B. White, and Style: Toward Clarity and Grace written by Jospeh Williams both offer suggestions for establishing the comprehensive application of literary techniques and style. Each book, constructed differently, focuses on various areas of writing through comprehensive basic rules and guidelines. These books specifically identify the basic foundation for writing rules of usage, principle composition and offer suggestions for different types of style approach. The information provided also compels the average writer toward the necessary elements of the writing process through various methods of grammar, punctuation, and style implications. Though they are presented completely different, some of the basic style suggestions found in Strunk and White are somewhat similar to those in Williams. Both books propose that good writing style must consist of: clarity, precision, length, revision, cohesion, and reader sensitivity_all with the application of basic writing rules and guidelines. Although each book can be very helpful to the average writer, the intense amount of instruction may, at first, seem overwhelming.
According to the Webster’s New World Dictionary, the definition of style is “a characteristic manner of expression”(612). Usually words such as personal, individual, and unique also come to mind when we think of writing style. I have always associated writing style with belonging uniquely to one individual, meaning that everyone had his or her own style. After reading, “Style Toward Clarity and Grace” by Joseph Williams and “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk and E.B. White, I realized that style is not as unique as I thought. In fact, as I stated in my blog space, “writing has certain rules and elements that must be incorporated in to our writing in order to make our points clear to those we want to read it. Since these elements and rules are common to all writing, then style and good writing bring forth new meanings.”
One must remember that writing style is not something that just happens, but rather something that is developed. With the help of guides like Elements of Style, or books like Style Toward Clarity and Grace, one can begin to develop one.
What is “style” in writing? After reading Strunk and White’s The elements of Style and Joseph William’s Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, I have come to understand what style is: I always thought of “style” as being your own, but through these books I learned that that’s not entirely true. “Style” is a mixture of many things and individualism only being one part, but for me the most important.
When truly considered, the expression “as plain as black and white” doesn’t make all that much sense. In a truly meaningful piece of writing, one can easily find much more than just the words on the page. Aside from the story being told directly, a part of the author can manifest between the lines of a story. Everyday delivers a reminder of this to me by my fellow creative writing students. Every person in the class varies immensely, from personal lives, to writing styles, to personality. The differences truly become obvious when fourteen unique variations of the same assignment are handed in.