Tuesday, March 02, 2004
BLOG 5
What have I learned from these books..
I have basically learned how to be more clear with my writing. Strunk and White gave me some helpful hints. Such as the comma splicing and facts about sentence structure. Williams was less clear to me, yet I see how it could be potentially helpful. To really get something out of that book I need to be able to apply it. The concepts were were very vague and not as straight forward as I needed them to be. I think that if i can take the time to really read it and use the tips to create a paper that i will learn more from the ideas. I need to reflect on the ideas for the paper more than i can do in this blog. Honestly, this is a last minute effort to get my blog done...oops
What have I learned from these books..
I have basically learned how to be more clear with my writing. Strunk and White gave me some helpful hints. Such as the comma splicing and facts about sentence structure. Williams was less clear to me, yet I see how it could be potentially helpful. To really get something out of that book I need to be able to apply it. The concepts were were very vague and not as straight forward as I needed them to be. I think that if i can take the time to really read it and use the tips to create a paper that i will learn more from the ideas. I need to reflect on the ideas for the paper more than i can do in this blog. Honestly, this is a last minute effort to get my blog done...oops
BLOG #4
Commenting on Matt, Kacey and Roshani
Matts third blog was similar to mine. He commented on how Elements of Style was easier for him to understand. I also could follow the Elements of Style much better than Style by Willaims. The straightforward instructions were easier for me to understand. Matt said that Style was more "conceptual", not every style could apply to every case.
Kacey also made a good point when comparing the two. She said "There are pros and cons for each approach. Williams is a great way to teach writing, and show how to become a better writer. Anyone in the writing profession, or one who will be teaching writing to students, should read his book. It is good for researching good writing. Strunk & White is a good text for quick reference". I am going to be a writing teacher in the future and i saw the uses of the two books as she did. Strunk and White can be used as a reference book, a quick look at technique. For me, I had to look back at writing that i had already done to see the pointes from Style. Williams tips are more effective through practice. Roshani also agreed by saying that Strunk and Whites can be used as a "tool box" for writers needing help to write a paper.
Commenting on Matt, Kacey and Roshani
Matts third blog was similar to mine. He commented on how Elements of Style was easier for him to understand. I also could follow the Elements of Style much better than Style by Willaims. The straightforward instructions were easier for me to understand. Matt said that Style was more "conceptual", not every style could apply to every case.
Kacey also made a good point when comparing the two. She said "There are pros and cons for each approach. Williams is a great way to teach writing, and show how to become a better writer. Anyone in the writing profession, or one who will be teaching writing to students, should read his book. It is good for researching good writing. Strunk & White is a good text for quick reference". I am going to be a writing teacher in the future and i saw the uses of the two books as she did. Strunk and White can be used as a reference book, a quick look at technique. For me, I had to look back at writing that i had already done to see the pointes from Style. Williams tips are more effective through practice. Roshani also agreed by saying that Strunk and Whites can be used as a "tool box" for writers needing help to write a paper.
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Blog 3 Prompt
I found the information provided by Strunk and White and Williams to be helpful, but in two very different ways. The information is Strunk and White was information that I will remember and use more often. Examples like I used in my first blog entry such as comma splicing and commonly misused words. These are tips that I can easily look back on. I found the approach of stating the rule and using examples to be effective. I found Williams a lot harder to understand because of the style it was written in. I wish that the ideas had been simpler. If seemed like at times Williams almost went off on tangents. I didn’t really think that the two books talked about the same ideas. I took Strunk and White to be more grammatical and Williams was based on the style to use in your writing.
I found the information provided by Strunk and White and Williams to be helpful, but in two very different ways. The information is Strunk and White was information that I will remember and use more often. Examples like I used in my first blog entry such as comma splicing and commonly misused words. These are tips that I can easily look back on. I found the approach of stating the rule and using examples to be effective. I found Williams a lot harder to understand because of the style it was written in. I wish that the ideas had been simpler. If seemed like at times Williams almost went off on tangents. I didn’t really think that the two books talked about the same ideas. I took Strunk and White to be more grammatical and Williams was based on the style to use in your writing.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Find three sentences in the Eastern Michigan Undergraduate Catalog and Revise uses rules set by Williams.
The first sentence that I found was in the portion about the EMU mission. The sentence is “Eastern Michigan University is committed to distinguishing itself as a comprehensive educational institution that prepares people and organizations to adapt readily to a changing world”. This is an example of nominalization. It’s like the examples that we used in class, using complicated words for no reason. To improve this sentence and make it easier to understand, they could say “Eastern Michigan University is committed to distinguishing itself as a complete university. Also striving to prepare people and organizations to be prepared for an ever-changing world.” I would break it into two sentences because it’s two thoughts and makes it much easier to understand the point. The second sentence I chose was from the Welcome section. “Prospective students desiring to visit the campus are greeted by EMU's University Ambassadors Society, which provides tours and arranges visits with faculty in fields of interest to high school or transfer students”. Using the rule to put the most important facts first, I would rewrite it to say “Tours and visits with faculty in fields of interest to high school or transfer students can be provided by EMU’s University Ambassadors Society”. The other way started very general, I think that my way would grab the attention of the people looking for those services better, it starts with the point. The third sentence is from the University Profile section. “Eastern is home to more than 200 student activities and organization, indicative of the University’s belief that valuable learning opportunities occur both inside and outside the classroom. I would turn this into two sentences. Eastern is home to more than 200 student activities and organizations. The university believes that valuable learning opportunities occur both inside and outside the classroom. I changed this into two sentences because it makes it easier to understand.
The first sentence that I found was in the portion about the EMU mission. The sentence is “Eastern Michigan University is committed to distinguishing itself as a comprehensive educational institution that prepares people and organizations to adapt readily to a changing world”. This is an example of nominalization. It’s like the examples that we used in class, using complicated words for no reason. To improve this sentence and make it easier to understand, they could say “Eastern Michigan University is committed to distinguishing itself as a complete university. Also striving to prepare people and organizations to be prepared for an ever-changing world.” I would break it into two sentences because it’s two thoughts and makes it much easier to understand the point. The second sentence I chose was from the Welcome section. “Prospective students desiring to visit the campus are greeted by EMU's University Ambassadors Society, which provides tours and arranges visits with faculty in fields of interest to high school or transfer students”. Using the rule to put the most important facts first, I would rewrite it to say “Tours and visits with faculty in fields of interest to high school or transfer students can be provided by EMU’s University Ambassadors Society”. The other way started very general, I think that my way would grab the attention of the people looking for those services better, it starts with the point. The third sentence is from the University Profile section. “Eastern is home to more than 200 student activities and organization, indicative of the University’s belief that valuable learning opportunities occur both inside and outside the classroom. I would turn this into two sentences. Eastern is home to more than 200 student activities and organizations. The university believes that valuable learning opportunities occur both inside and outside the classroom. I changed this into two sentences because it makes it easier to understand.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Style towards Clarity and Grace 1-5
I found the first part of chapter one that we talked about in class interesting. The section about three events that had influences on our language. The first was the Norman Conquest, which was something that I had never heard of before. basically, this led us to "acquire a vocabulary different from the Anglo-saxton wordhord we've inherited from Bede, Alfred, and Aelfric". The second event was the Renaissance. Scholars were translating into English large numbers of Greek and Latin text during the 16th century. This had an influence on our language. The third was cultural, i think that it was the part about what we've been taught allready that sticks in our head.
What we have read so far has been helpful to me, but a little hard to follow. The section that made the most sense to me was in chapter 2 when the author discussed the three sentences on page 18 and then points out whats wrong with them. For example, one was too abstract, one didn't flow, one was too technical.
I found the first part of chapter one that we talked about in class interesting. The section about three events that had influences on our language. The first was the Norman Conquest, which was something that I had never heard of before. basically, this led us to "acquire a vocabulary different from the Anglo-saxton wordhord we've inherited from Bede, Alfred, and Aelfric". The second event was the Renaissance. Scholars were translating into English large numbers of Greek and Latin text during the 16th century. This had an influence on our language. The third was cultural, i think that it was the part about what we've been taught allready that sticks in our head.
What we have read so far has been helpful to me, but a little hard to follow. The section that made the most sense to me was in chapter 2 when the author discussed the three sentences on page 18 and then points out whats wrong with them. For example, one was too abstract, one didn't flow, one was too technical.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Strunk and White
2 tips I found useful and 2 tips I did not
The tip that I found the most useful was the comma splicing tip. I wasn't aware that it was something that I do, but after reading the rule and understanding it, I realize that I break it all the time. I went back to look at the paper that we turned in and I was shocked at how many times it had happened. How knows, maybe I have just done it again and am not aware of it. Hopefully this is a rule that I will remember to use in my future writing. The second rule that was helpful was the first rule which said to "form the possessive singular of nouns by add-ings". This is another problem that I have had, I am always so confused by this, always! Now, I think I have it. One is to show possession...Nikkis' bedroom...and the other is a contraction, Nikki's tired. To see it in rule form made it easier to understand. There were also some rules that I didnt find extremely useful. One example was the second role which said that "In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. I already knew that, so it wasnt especially useful to me. The second rule that I was already aware of was the part about not breaking sentences in two. I still struggle with this sometimes, but I had a teacher way back to really pushed it.
2 tips I found useful and 2 tips I did not
The tip that I found the most useful was the comma splicing tip. I wasn't aware that it was something that I do, but after reading the rule and understanding it, I realize that I break it all the time. I went back to look at the paper that we turned in and I was shocked at how many times it had happened. How knows, maybe I have just done it again and am not aware of it. Hopefully this is a rule that I will remember to use in my future writing. The second rule that was helpful was the first rule which said to "form the possessive singular of nouns by add-ings". This is another problem that I have had, I am always so confused by this, always! Now, I think I have it. One is to show possession...Nikkis' bedroom...and the other is a contraction, Nikki's tired. To see it in rule form made it easier to understand. There were also some rules that I didnt find extremely useful. One example was the second role which said that "In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. I already knew that, so it wasnt especially useful to me. The second rule that I was already aware of was the part about not breaking sentences in two. I still struggle with this sometimes, but I had a teacher way back to really pushed it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
To write as an individual is something that would be very difficult for me to fo. I've taken numerous writing classes, always taking something about technique or style with me.
I think that to write as an individual is to do something different, to mix up the standard rules. Maybe the words you use, or the way that you use them would make your style individual.
Creative writing is the source for individual writing. It teaches you to let go a little, embrace the natural creativity that is sometimes halted by the standard style.
I think that to write as an individual is to do something different, to mix up the standard rules. Maybe the words you use, or the way that you use them would make your style individual.
Creative writing is the source for individual writing. It teaches you to let go a little, embrace the natural creativity that is sometimes halted by the standard style.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
This is what I wrote in class...
Composing via the computer is somewhat more overwhelming than sitting down with a pen and paper. Personally, wehn I'm typing anf I font like what I have just saod, I erase it. This is a problem because that may have been a good thought, just in the wrong place or under developed. Had it been hand written I would have a solid copy of that thought, I would be able to go back to it, or keep the thought for a different aspect of my paper
Computing something can also make it very formal and not as free. When composing by hand you are not as awars of how many pages you've developed or the words that you may have mispelled are not highlighted in red to stand out. Writing by hand takes longer for some, sure, but it allows for more creativity.
My after thoughts..........
This is very similar to the way that I normally write. I will think of an idea for a but then jump right in. I typically go back and edit many times since the computer makes it so easy to do so.
Composing via the computer is somewhat more overwhelming than sitting down with a pen and paper. Personally, wehn I'm typing anf I font like what I have just saod, I erase it. This is a problem because that may have been a good thought, just in the wrong place or under developed. Had it been hand written I would have a solid copy of that thought, I would be able to go back to it, or keep the thought for a different aspect of my paper
Computing something can also make it very formal and not as free. When composing by hand you are not as awars of how many pages you've developed or the words that you may have mispelled are not highlighted in red to stand out. Writing by hand takes longer for some, sure, but it allows for more creativity.
My after thoughts..........
This is very similar to the way that I normally write. I will think of an idea for a but then jump right in. I typically go back and edit many times since the computer makes it so easy to do so.
