Features of good writing

Lecture 2Features of good writing

(Chinese vs English)

Writing course for non-English majors

江南大学外国语学院

谢竞贤

Features of good writing

Western literature of writing

Quotation 1There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it co

mes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.

—Ernest Hemingway

Features of good writing

Quotation 2

Writing is just work—there’s no secret. If you dictate or use a pen or type or write with your toes—it is still just work.

— Sinclair Lewis

Features of good writing

Quotation 3

I still remember what my writing teacher said in a composition class when I was a student. He told us to remember the word “KISS” when writing, i.e. Keep It Simple and Short. I think this piece of advice has some truth in it. We should remember to use clear and concise language to express our ideas. Like a good picture, good writing provides us with food for thought and it also enables us to enjoy reading.

— Andrew Wilson

Features of good writing

Chinese philosophy of writing

1) 文以载道成语出处： 宋 · 周敦颐《通书 · 文辞》：“文所

以载道也。轮辕饰而人弗庸，徒饰也，况虚车乎。” 成语示例： 古人说“～”，用现在的话说，写文章就是表达思想。

Features of good writing

2) 南宋陆游 : 文章本天成，妙手偶得之

Features of good writing

My understanding of writing:

Two Attitudes

Features of good writing

Attitude 1

Think of “I/ We” attitude. Ideas are the soul of writing. Writing should be a means by which we express and exchange our own ideas, feelings and viewpoints. Your own ideas outweigh those rules of rhetoric and essay structure. Therefore, we should write for a real purpose and make our opinions be heard.

Features of good writing

Attitude 2

Develop the “You” attitude. A clear and forceful way to express our ideas is based on the thought pattern. Different thought pattern requires the distinctive writing style and various writing techniques.

Features of good writing

Experiment:

How do you ask your teacher for a sick leave?

Features of good writing

Chinese vs English

Chinese students: This morning, when I got up, I felt dizzy. Now I run a fever and can’t attend your class. So, I want to ask for a sick leave, Miss/ Mr __. ( cause--result)

Features of good writing

English-speaking students: Miss/ Mr__, could you allow me to ask for a sick leave for I am under the weather this morning? This morning, when I got up, I felt dizzy. (result-- cause)

Features of good writing

Cause: Language is culture-specific.

For non-native English speaking students, organization of ideas within essays is problematic because different cultural backgrounds require different organizational patterns.

Features of good writing

Robert Kaplan

Robert Kaplan (Robert David Kaplan (born 6 June 1952 in New York, New York) is an American journalist, currently a National Correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly.

His writings have also been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The New Republic, The National Interest, and The Wall Street Journal, among other newspapers and publications, and his more controversial essays about the nature of U.S. power have spurred debate in academia, the media, and the highest levels of government.

Features of good writing

Features of good writing

Conclusion

"Tell your audience what you are going to tell them; then tell them; then tell them what you told them."

Features of good writing

Essential techniques for good writing

Speaking from your writing experience, what are the essential techniques for good writing?

Features of good writing

Use critical thinking in reading and writing Recognize the importance of style and word

choice Remember rules for good sentences and

paragraphs Use transition words and phrases Understand the “Building Blocks ” writing

types

Features of good writing

Have a strong thesis statement Select the internal structure of the

essay Follow the steps of the writing process Follow rules for document structure

---Diane M. Coffman

Features of good writing

Classroom activity

1) My vision for the new year…

Features of good writing

2) (What if …)

1.What would you do if you were invited to two parties on the same day? 2. What would you do if someone got in front of you when you were in line

at the movies? 3.What would you do if you woke up in another country and no one could u

nderstand you? 4. If there were no rules, what do you think would happen? 5. If you were five years older you would... 6. If you were principal of this school, what would you do?