Clarity, Part 1

In this blog post, I will choose four topics from the "Clarity" Section of Rules for Writers that I think I could benefit from knowing more about. I will discuss these topics and how I can use them to improve my writing skills.

1. Parallel Ideas (pg. 116)

• parallelism: balance of quantity and verb tense throughout a sentence
• I had always heard of parallelism, but I never knew the exact definition. I think I do this automatically, but when revising, I could double-check to see if my words and phrases match up in a sentence.
• ex. "Impressionist painters believed in focusing on ordinary subjects, capturing the effects of light on those subjects, and using short brushstrokes." (pg. 116)

2. Shifts (pg. 135)

• includes point of view, verb tense, mood or voice, indirect speech to direct
• making the point of view match in person and number
• consistent use of verb tenses (-ing, -ed, etc.)
• three moods: indicative (facts, opinions, questions), imperative (orders and advice), and subjunctive (wishes and desires)
• just like Spanish!!
• I did not know that there were actual names for these three modes of speech.
• I personally struggle with remembering to maintain the same verb tense throughout my writing. I often skip over from past to present tense, and then back again. 
• correct example: "The scarlet letter is a punishment sternly placed on Hester's breast by the community, and yet it is a fanciful and imaginative product of Hester's own needlework." (pg. 137)
• This section helped me identify the different kinds of shift that are present in writing, and how to stay consistent with each type. 

3. Emphasis (pg. 141)

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I have always struggled with emphasizing key words and phrases, mainly because I revert back to the three main conjunctions, 'but', 'yet' and 'however.'

• coordinate equal ideas
• appropriate use of semicolons and commas
• how to draw equal attention to two topics using grammar
• subordination
• how to make a comparison; two different types of emphasis
• stress certain ideas 
• words that express a contrast between two topics
• although, unless, while
• combining short and incomplete sentences
• using grammar, word choice and capitalization

This section helped me to brainstorm ideas on how to effectively compare and contrast two ideas, while also offered advice on how to introduce and explain topics that are equal in importance.

4. Variety

Over the years, my writing and word choice has been at a standstill. I mainly use the same vocabulary and sentence structures, and so I find the topic of variety very significant if I want to improve my writing skills.

• sentence openings
• change the beginning of a sentence to avoid monotony
• example: instead of 'a' use 'just'
• sentence structures
• variety of simple, compound  and compound-complex sentences
• occasional use of inversion

Hopefully, I will remember these words of advice whenever I write in the future, and refer back to them as needed when I am in need of a change in my writing. 

Overall, these four topics, parallelism, shifts, emphasis and variety, can benefit my writing skills. If I put the tips that I have just reviewed into practice, then it will probably make me become a more experienced and more advanced writer.

--Jenny Bello

REFLECTION:

While peer reviewing two other classmate's QRG drafts, I learned some new things regarding my four Clarity topics:

• Variety in sentence structure and transition words provide more than just style and voice, but more importantly can add strength to the argument. 
• In Anne Emilie's draft, she uses a different sentence structures throughout her paragraphs. This helped me as a reader to stay engaged, but I also found her statements to be more believable. 
• For example, she uses inversion, questions and other methods to evoke variety.

• Applying emphasis, using grammar, naturally makes the reader gravitate towards a topic. 
• Using semi-colons and commas are effective when trying to state a point.
• For example, Rachel writes, "Opponents of abortion can be supporters of ESC research; this is the controversy’s grey area." (Rachel's first draft)
• The use of the semicolon allows me to weigh the significance of the "grey area."

• Consistent use of verb tense gives off the sense of a well-organized paper.
• Anne Emilie did a really good job at staying consistent with her verb tenses, basically throughout her whole draft.
• As the reader, this made the paper not only much easier to follow, but also made it seem like it was developed properly. 
• Staying with present tense example: "To Levinson and others who believe strongly in film as an art, it is important to preserve one’s right to opinion and value every film based on skill, regardless of ethnicity." (Anne Emilie's First Draft)