Directions: Post a comment (a paragraph or more) in response to the prompt. In your post, you are expected to respond to what other students have written on the subject (unless, of course, you are first), as well as providing your own thoughts. Sign your post with your first name, last initial, and class period. This is due by Sunday evening, October 30. Thank you.
Explain how the writing advice in The Elements of Style is compatible with the writing advice presented in They Say I Say.
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12 comments:
FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!
Jay Cawthon (period 6)
The ideas in the "little book" are mainly about grammar and word usage. TSIS gives templates about ways to present ideas. Combine them, and you become awesome. Automatically.
The Elements of Style was primarily a rule book about how to use the English language and how to develop a sense of style by removing deadwood from our paragraphs and letting our voice into our writing. They Say I Say is a book that explains how to compose academic writing, and provides templates to help present ideas effectively.
I agree with Jay's summary of the books in question, but his idea that combining the two books will automatically improve our writing is difficult for me to believe. The ideas and templates in these books definitely assist writing, but integrating these ideas did not come automatically to me. Combining the ideas in these books improved my writing, but not without reusing the templates in They Say I Say.
The Elements of Style helps us trim down our paragraphs and express our ideas clearly, while integrating the templates in They Say I Say gives an order and structure to our writing. Both books assist in expressing our ideas in an orderly fashion, and by using the ideas stated in these books we will be able to express our ideas clearly in our writing.
Joseph S. Period 6
Being a good writer is harder than I thought. It takes the perfect integration of grammar and imagination. The Elements of Style (TEOS) and They Say I Say (TSIS) are books that help improve one’s writing techniques. They teach two different writing skills, yet both correspond with each other. While TEOS teaches about grammatical rules, TSIS enlightens the writer about incorporating other’s words into one’s writing. Common sense seems to dictate that these two books are not related whatsoever, but TEOS and TSIS depend on each other.
TEOS gives a writer the necessary “do’s and don’ts” of writing. It teaches the writer how to be clear and concise. Without proper grammar and clear sentences, the reader loses confidence in the writer. If writers are not able to clearly convey their own ideas, then how can they possibly relay other's ideas? TSIS teaches how to clearly involve other’s words using the skills learned in TEOS.
Jay’s opinion on the matter is that combining the two books will make you automatically awesome. Jay is assuming that TEOS and TSIS will make you an excellent writer, however, a skill that both books lack to explain is creativity. A book cannot teach you how to make your writing come to life with your own style. My view is that TEOS and TSIS help make a good writer, but will not “automatically” make a perfect one.
opps forgot my period:
Lindsay Ryan
Period 6
Writing isn't simply about writing down words on a piece of paper. It is much more complex then that. In They Say I Say I learned about how to properly compose my ideas in thoughts into a paper. This book did a great job of explaining what is in a good paper. On the other hand The Elements of Style talked in more detail. Instead of talking about a broad subject like They Say I Say did, it talked about little rules to keep in mind while writing. I agree with Joe, both books do a good job of explaining how to well organise our writing. When working on taking away 10% of my essay that we have been working on They Say I Say help me figure out what i should have in my essay, and The Elements of Style helped me find uneeded words.
Elizabeth G. period 3
Both of the English writing guides we have read, The Elements of Style andThey Say I Say, discuss proper ways to write to best convey one's ideas to the reader. In The Elements of Style, we learned about grammatical usage: the words you use and the correct way to use them. They Say I Say, on the other hand, talks about forms of writing, or the proper and correct way to introduce and express and idea.
Obviously, both English guides work hand in hand to make the reader a better writer. While one book provides insight on what to say, the other provides insight on how to say it. When the reader uses both of these books to his or her advantage, he or she has the capability to become a better writer,
Like Lindsay said, writing also requires creativity. And, she affirms, no book or guide can teach a writer creativity. I agree with her; I believe the books can make a person a better writer, but even if he or she reads every English textbook on the face of the Earth and the writer don't have creativity, he or she still may not be a very good writer. So, unlike what Jay said, I believe that the two books we read can provide the reader with principles and grammatical help (and can thus make the reader a better writer), but the writer still needs to develop creativity to be a truly excellent writer.
Connor Morgan
Period 6
P.S.
Good job on being first, Jay.
Entering a conversation and being clear and concise about your view are the ingredients you need to be a good writer. The advice from They Say I Say and guidelines from The Elements of Style provide you with the tools necessary to utilize these to the fullest. I agree with what has been said so far about the relationship between these two writing books. Connor talks about how The Elements of Style tells you what to say, and They Say I Say directs you on how to say it. I believe this to be true. With rules about conventions, grammar, spelling and construction of your writing, The Elements of Style assist you to be the most accurate and concise writer you can be. They Say I Say helps you put style into your writing and present ideas in a way that is most beneficial for your writing. They practically fulfill each other, giving you a complete, interesting, and sound piece of writing.
Allison W.
PD 6
connor is my hero.
Erin M Period 4
"The Elements of Style" and "They Say I Say" are both ecxellent books on writing, and they both adress different aspects of it. "They Say I Say" is about how you go about stating what your opinion and other people's opinions as well as addressing what you think on other's opinions. In general "They Say I Say" is more to help you with the layouts in some of the basics of essay writing. Elizabeth said that "The Elements of Style" is more detailed and discusses rules to keep in mind writing, and is adressing the same, or a very similar topic as "They Say I Say". I feel that the book is not so much talking about essay writing but more about propper grammar and writing format. The books fit well together, becuase they both discuss writing, but different aspects of it, and do so in ways that don't contradict each other. Already I have found that reading both books has changed the way I think about writing, and at times phrases will pop into my head reminding me to change something or reword it.
Jay again here. I THOUGHT you would count my previous post, but...
The Elements of Style is a book about word usage, vocabulary, and basic grammar. It deals with words: how to use them, when to use them, and also their definitions. They Say I Say is about writing structure: how to quote, give your opinions, and such. TSIS gives templates for presenting ideas, while the "little book" grants a larger vocabulary.
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