Reacting to "How to Write With Style"
What is your personal reaction to what you learned about writing from
your peers and from Kurt Vonnegut? Did anything surprise or puzzle you? Do you
strongly agree or disagree with any rule or suggestion? Explain why (note that, although you can respond to more than one question, space does not allow you to answer all).
Answer in a single paragraph of about 100 words. Focus mostly on Vonnegut's suggestions in your response, although please do refer to any similarities or differences you notice between his advice and your and your group's thoughts. Quote Vonnegut at least once. Note: Bring your paragraph to class, double-spaced and word processed.
Find your rules for writing as the first comment to this post. My sample will follow.
28 comments:
No bias
Be honest
Be original (don’t plagiarize); give credit.
Keep it simple.
Stylish writing is done correctly.
Be aware of your audience; style depends on this.
Styles depends on circumstances.
Don’t be boring.
Be creative.
Use idiom.
Revise.
Since I am a teacher, I respond most strongly to Kurt Vonnegut’s comments related to teaching. He argues that students need to “write accurately, always selecting the most effective words.” It is a pleasure to read such writing. Like any other reader I “have a tough job to do.” Anything my students do to make my life easier by using simple language, by avoiding “Picasso-style or jazz-style writing,” by just being themselves, will make my reading tasks more enjoyable. For a teacher, Kurt Vonnegut provides advice that can both improve a student’s work and make a teacher’s job easier. —99 words
As I am a student, I strongly agree with Kurt Vonnegut’s “Keep it simple,” style of writing. In centuries, we have instinctive ways of describe a subject in different ways. The bottom line of the fundamental principle behind in this secret is “to simplify and clarify”. One of a best example of the simplicity representation is an Arabic digit we use today. Before this, numbers were represented in signs and pictures such as, Roman numerals: I, V, X, L, C, D, M. Kurt Vonnegut suggests that a simple line of sentence can be affecting the reader to motivate think critical; such as, “To be or not to be?” in Hamlet. --- 110 words
Kurt Vonnegut’s suggestions are valuable guidelines to everyone who faces a difficulty while writing. I strongly agree his ideas for successful writing. Even though the purposes of writing are a little different depending on writing styles, the basic purpose is to communicate to a particular audience. Thus, the audience requires writers to become understandable by using “the most effective words.” The more impressive comment to me is that if we don’t “simplify and clarify” our writing, readers wouldn’t be able to understand what we write. These are good tips for me. I wish I would become a better writer by following Kurt Vonnegut’s rules.
----104 words
Evelyn
February 20, 2013
Writing With Style
My reaction from writing with my peers was educational. For example, Sami said, “Where I’m from, we did not have the freedom to write what we want”. Unlike North America, people have the freedom of speech and expressing their opinion through writing. Moreover, Kurt Vonnegut’s standard of writing is helpful and I firmly agree with his “keep it simple” rule. Why? I believe that keeping it simple is the best way to convey our thoughts and ideas; therefore, being understood. I only hope that I can implement Kurt Vonnegut’s rule in my future writing.
97 words.
The suggestions from Kurt Vonnegut’s “How to Write With Style” look very simple, but they are very useful and important. I can’t agree more with “Pity the readers.” Types of audiences determine our writing style: a kindergarten child or a university professor. As a writer, we should be “sympathetic and patient readers” that “simplify and clarify” our writing. I’m not surprise to see “Keep it simple” on the list. From my first class (English 8) at PALC, teachers keep telling me the same rule. These rules become a reminder that I should follow and to improve my writing skills with them.
101 words
In group discussion, all participants strongly agreed with Kurt Vonnegut's idea of simple writing and say what you mean. In my opinion, we should try to write in simple English as Vonnegut says, " simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps only sacred." I believe, we can express our views in a better manner by writing in simple English. Similarly, if we follow the punctuation rules and select correct words, it would be easier for the readers to understood what we mean to say.I think, I can improve my writing skills by following these rules of Vonnegut.
100 words
Being a student, I have been tried to write fabulous paragraphs by using high-level vocabularies and complex sentences in order to achieve high marks. Consequently, I have ignored using simple words until “keep it simple” that Vonnegut mentioned hits me. It makes me re-recognize that “keeping simplicity” is powerful. An illustration is “To be or not to be” in Shakespear’s Hamlet, and it is very short but powerful; James Joice’s “Eveline” is another example, “She was tired” only consists simple words but is suitable unexpectedly. “Simplicity of language” is one of the significant writing skills that most of students may neglect easily.
--102 words (February, 2013)
To simplify and clarify are fundamental requirements in writing. However, they are hard to reach, so Kurt Vonnegut pointed out: “Simplicity language is not reputable, but even scared.” The text in “Dr. Zhivago” is excellent. “I’m not the Caliban. You’re not immaculate. We’re all made of the same clay.” All sentences are simple, words are plain, but the feeling is so strong. Keep simple is not easy. The sentences should be profound and the words exact. I must try my best “to simplify and clarity”. Like a lighthouse, the rule “keep it simple” is illuminating the way of my writing.
Words: 100
After reading Kurt Vonnegut’s article, his six suggestions instead of his words or eloquence have left a powerful impression in my mind. This fact directly verified his opinion that “your own winning style must begin with ideas in your head.” As a reader, my main purpose of reading is getting thought, information, and emotional experience, so I evaluated a writing that I followed or stopped that depends on whether it provided these qualities or not. Kurt’s suggestion strongly reminded me that as a writer, expressing my own views or emotions honestly and creatively is the soul of a good writing style.
-101words
I really enjoy reading Mr. Vonnegut's article because it makes me reflect on my own writing. I laughed when I read about "avoiding Picasso-style or Jazz-style writing, if you have something worth saying." I laughed because my teacher from last term told me my writing is hard to follow. I was so frustrated at that time; however, I think I got some inspirations from this article. The key point I learned is "selecting the most effective words." Effective words not only make our writing sound simple, but also easy to be understood. I think this is how Shakespeare became famous, by using simple words
The Features Of Kurt Vonnegut’s Style
Kurt Vonnegut’s style includes more efficient and professional techniques in comparison with the style we discussed in our group. He recommends the valuable methods which help us to write brilliant and creative. Kurt not only suggests choosing an appropriate subject as a “seductive element” for our writing, but also mentions this fact that “Simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even sacred.” I also quite agree with his emphasis on “Sound like yourself.” Although following Kurt’s style might not be so easy, it surely elevates noticeably the level of our writing.
99 words
I’d go along with “…better avoid Picasso-style…if you have something worth saying and wish to be understood” recommended by Kurt Vonnegut. I have learned many writing styles in Chinese, not all of them tally with being understood. I used to add amounts of personifications and figure of speech into my writing. However, some of the readers couldn’t understand the ideas. As now I’m writing in English, I wish to be understood well, “…write accurately, always selecting the most effective words…” is the essential element need to be handled. Readers always appreciate the writings that are clearly comprehendible or understandable.
-99 words
According 'How to Write With Style" by Kurt Vonnegut simple is good. I agree with this statement because "simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even sacred." It reminded me the story "Homework" by Helen Simpson which catches the reader with four simple words "I can't do it." It is "the point in the story." Furthermore, I am of the same mind with Vonnegut's suggestion about "ideas in your head" before writing. The writer has to choose a topic that he or she knows well. The thinking before the writing is the most "seductive element in your style."
- 100 words
I took pleasure in reading Kurt Vonnegut’s article. I chuckled while reading “And lucky indeed is the writer who has grown up in Ireland, for the English spoken there is so amusing and musical.” I myself am a first generation Canadian and having parents from Scotland would agree that the English spoken there is a assuming. If I was to start writing in that dialect however, even though a form of English, most readers would have trouble understanding what I had written. I strongly agree with Mr. Vonnegut’s suggestion to keep it simple. As Mr. Vonnegut writes “ever willing to simplify and clarify.” -104 words
Kurt Vonnegut's ideas are very important to improve people's writings.I agree with most of his thoughts.It is important for the reader to read something simple,so the writer should "keep it simple".The writer should also be direct.He should say what he means,and avoid "picasso-style or jazz-style".Therefore, the writer should sound like himself,so the reader could get an idea about him by reading his work. The writer should also "pity the readers",for they have a hard job to do;"they have to identify thousands of little marks on paper, and make sense of them immediately".Overall Vonnegut's ideas are very helpful to improve students' writing style,and make the teacher's job easier.
Though most students say that Kurt Vonnegut’s suggestions are very valuable and agreeable, I do not think so because his suggestions seem to be simple and plain, which ordinary persons can recommend. But among them, I agree to his idea of “Keep it simple” because readers would not fully understand what the writers mean if they wrote their works too complicated. communicating In a society also needs simplicity and clarity in order to deliver proper meaning to others. Our team agreed that simple writing is the most important element of style that the good writers should have. --- 97 words
During in-class discussion about stylish writing, I realized that good writing has to be clear, simple and firm to give message what you really carry to the readers who should be the first place to be considered when I write. I agree with what Kurt Vonnegut mentioned “simplify and clarify” which sounds simple, but most powerful. The most impressive thing he mentioned is that the most profound subjects are from the simplest sentences, such as “To be or not to be?” from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. After all, I learned that language is not always the biggest barrier to improve stylish writing.
-100
Kurt Vonnegut’s rule, “How to Write with Style” gave me a positive energy to use some words in my writing that I really like them, “Sound like yourself.” Vonnegut’s rule is the same rule as our rule but more accurate. Simplicity is obviously observed in these two rules, and it is explained more valuably in Vonnegut’s words, “Simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even scared.” I certainly agree with Kurt Vonnegut’s rule because it makes the writing more worth and touchable than hard and nonsense. I really enjoyed reading such a helpful piece of writing that makes the writing simple and powerful.
105 words
After reading the list we made in class and “How to Write With Style,” by Kurt Vonnegut, I realized that they were not completely the same. I was surprised that the rule “keep it simple” appeared on both lists. I always thought using a lot of complicated words made for a better paper, but William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in history, “wrote sentences which were almost childlike when [his] subjects were most profound.” One of Shakespeare’s famous quotes “to be or not to be?” includes merely six simple words. I believe everyone has a different perspective on what is an acceptable writing style, but Kurt Vonnegut provides helpful guidelines.
-111 words
Writing understandably in a hundred-word paragraph is tough, but it’s worthy to try. I used to write a hook and transition whenever I started a new journal in Korea as a student. However, I must “have guts to cut” to avoid readers’ boredom now. Also, Vonnegut comments that he was trained to relate “the words to one another unambiguously, rigidly, like parts of a machine.” In our group, we discussed that writing must be easy to understand, but we didn’t have details; in contrary, Vonnegut suggests The Elements of Style. In short, writing with a style is challenging; but, I’ll refine myself. (102 words)
The seven rules Kurt Vonnegut wrote are a necessity for every writer to know. All his advices about writing are really a given yet people always forget about them because most people think, that to have "style", you have to use different techniques which could confuse readers and make the writer look bad. In my opinion, the most important rule is "Pity the readers", there's nothing worst than reading anything and noticing yourself getting distracted because it's just not catching your interest. Writers needs to realize that writing is basically similar to making videos; no one's going to watch it, or enjoy it if it's too darn boring.
-108 words
How to Write With Style
As a student, I have to write essays or paragraphs; therefore, I am strongly agreed with Kurt Vonnegut’s writing styles. He argues that a writer needs to “keep it simple” by selecting exact and concrete words. Using a short and simple sentence can clearly show the origin meaning of the writing, and it also can emphasis the main point. Besides, Vonnegut also says that “pity the readers,” Some readers might have difficulty to understand a piece of writing if the writer overuses bombastic words. In brief, these writing styles are very useful for a student to write a piece of good writing.
102 words
After doing the group discussion, all members strongly agreed with Kurt Vonnegut's article. Personally, I was surprised when Mr. Vonnegut’s said to “Keep it simple” and “Sound like yourself” because When I went to school in Dubai, the teacher taught me to write like a professional and to use high quality of Vocabulary and large sentences. It made things difficult for me personally because it was harder to write and it was even harder for the teacher or the reader to understand. For a student, Kurt Vonnegut's article offers help for those students who want to perfect or improve their writing style.
After reading what Kurt Vonnegut rules were I have to say I strongly agree to these rules most “keep it simple” and “do not ramble” because a good writer can have something so simple written down, even without rambling about it and have it become something amazing. Kurt showed how Shakespeare’s famous “to be or not to be” was something simple, yet he didn’t ramble on about it and it became something memorable. Kurt said “your own winning style must begin with ideas in your head” I believe that finding our own rules of writing is what’s going to make us all become better writers.
It’s my first time seeing these seven steps of how to become a better writer. These rules don’t surprise me because they are logical. You should say what you mean. What you write should “be accurate” and credible. You have to “be honest.” The writing doesn’t have to be complicated as long as it’s factual. You have to write in simple language so that the reader can follow easily. After “finding a subject you care about” you should write something that keeps the reader interested. Kurt Vonnegut gives us good and practical tools to use so that we become better writers.
101 words
As a second language writer, I have many difficulties on writing a good novel or story. Fortunately, I discovered some fantastic ideas from “How to write with style” which was written by Kurt Vonnegut. I personally agreed with those winning styles because it is essential for us to knowledge them and use them in our writing. He mentioned about “Keep it simple” and caught my attention. As a student, we often forgot ourselves and just pity our teacher in order to get to a good mark. Overall, writing in style is a burden, but I will empower myself to cross it.
102 words
Kurt Vonnegut gives us several tips for writing with style; personally, I agree that they are all good suggestions. Among them, I think “Find a subject you care about” is the key point. The reason is in spite of all the excellent writing skills you have, if you couldn’t say something from your heart and just be compelled, it has little chance to be a good writing. It explains why students’ marks fluctuated when different topics were given. Sometimes if I am not interested in the topic, even to get started is a hard work for me. ---- 97 words
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