ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION WebRing基本原则组成的联.pptVIP

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLESOF COMPOSITION The Elements of Style? William Strunk, Jr..?(1869–1946).?? 1. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic Things to be written in as single paragraph - a brief description, - a brief account of a single incident, - a narrative merely outlining an action, - the setting forth of a single idea The beginning of each paragraph is a signal to the reader that a new step in the development of the subject has been reached 2. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning. The reader will discover and retain the purpose of each paragraph as he reads, particularly in exposition and argument. topic sentence comes at the beginning; succeeding sentences explain or develop the statement made in the topic sentence; and final sentence emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states important consequence. Ending with a digression, or with an unimportant detail, is particularly to be avoided. ? 3. Use the active voice  The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive The passive sentence is less direct, less bold, and less concise. description or exposition can be made lively and emphatic X There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground. + Dead leaves covered the ground 4. Put statements in positive form.  Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language. Use the word not as a means of denial, never as a means of evasion. X He was not very often on time. + He usually came late X not honest + dishonest X did not remember + forgot 5. Omit needless words A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences. Vigorous writing is concise. Many expressions violate this principle: X he is a man who + he X owing to the fact that + since X the fact that I had arrived + my arrival 6. Avoid