Clear, Precise, Direct: Strategies for Writing

by Duncan Koerber, Guy Allen

Overview

Clear, Precise, Direct provides a concise set of strategies to help students improve their writing skills at the sentence level with a focus on application and revision. Students will learn the key principles of clear, effective writing and practice applying them to their own work through a series of lessons, exercises, and peer writing samples.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199006403
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/05/2015
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Duncan Koerber is Instructor in the Professional Writing Program at York University.

Guy Allen is Program Coordinator for the Professional Writing and Communication Program at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

From the PublisherPrefaceAcknowledgements1. Write Now: Start, Develop, ReviseWhere to StartExamples of FreewritingTwo Composition ApproachesBeginning with Storytelling- "The Stovepipe Hole" by Elizabeth Clark- "Cell Phone" by Peter PalladiniAcademic WritingRevisionTypes of EditingHow and Where to EditChapter SummaryFurther Readings2. EconomyThe Morality of WordinessForms of WordinessEditing Wordiness in Academic WritingPeer Models for Emulation- "My Mom and Bramalea" by Julie Michelangelo- "The Pet Owner's Burden" by Emilia Di LucaChapter SummaryFurther Readings3. Strong VerbsConcrete VerbsLess-than-Concrete VerbsAbstract VerbsThe Greater Consequences of Dead VerbsAcademic Writing and Strong VerbsFinal ThoughtsPeer Models for Emulation- "Going to Chinese School" by Jennifer Lee- "Stealing Spirituality: The Non-Native Use of Native American Spirit Guides" by Graeme ScallionChapter SummaryFurther Readings4. Active VoiceWord OrderActive VoicePassive VoiceThe Morality of Passive VoiceThe Permanence of Passive in Various FieldsIs it Ever Okay to Use Passive? Academic Writing and Active VoiceFinal Thoughts on Active and PassivePeer Models for Emulation- "Jafar Uncle's Chocolates" by Nabila Rizvi- "A Flourishing of Humans" by Sara MenuckChapter SummaryFurther Readings5. Strong NounsThe Problem of PronounsExamples of Unclear PronounsPronouns and RepetitionThe Morality of Unclear PronounsInclusive PronounsSubject-Verb AgreementAdjective-Pronoun AgreementAcademic Writing, Strong Nouns, and Vague PronounsFinal Thoughts on Nouns and PronounsPeer Models for Emulation- "Two Weeks at Notre Dame Hospital" by Eric Ramadi- "Tobacco Cigarettes as a Cause of Urinary Bladder Cancer" by Elizabeth DanceyChapter SummaryFurther Readings6. Original LanguageExamples of ClichesWhy Would Any Writer Use Cliches? Is it Ever Okay to Use a Cliche? Original PhrasingFresh Figurative LanguageAcademic Writing and Original LanguageFinal Thoughts on Figurative Language and OriginalityPeer Models for Examination- "Christine" by Adam Giles- "Financial Hardship among Former Professional Athletes and Its Contributing Factors" by Taylor LushChapter SummaryFurther Readings7. ParallelismThe Grammar Behind ParallelismSurface and Under-the-Surface ParallelismSingle-Element Parallelism: Part ISingle-Element Parallelism: Part IIMultiple-Element ParallelismAcademic Writing and ParallelismInterview-based ArticlesDoing the InterviewThe Questioner and the ListenerWriting InterviewsPeer Models for Emulation- "Two Hard Years" by Joyce Ong- "Solace in Obsolescence: Vinyl in the Age of Free Music" by Nicole BrewerChapter SummaryFurther Readings8. Sentence Variation and SoundSentence PatternsShort SentencesLong SentencesVariation of Long and Short for EffectAcademic Writing and Sentence VariationSoundPersonal EssaysThe Power of the Personal EssayWriter as Cultural ObserverWriter as ActivistPersonal Essays and the TruthThree Rhetorical ElementsPeer Model Writing for Emulation- "I Wear My Too-black Skin with Pride" by Petura Burrows- "Saints and Monsters: The Psychology of Altruism and Malice" by Nick ZabaraChapter SummaryFurther ReadingsAppendix: Research and CitationsGlossaryCreditsWorks CitedIndex