Share your thoughts on the following statement about writing from William Strunk and E. B. White's little book The Elements of Style. Think of one or two ways the writing you have worked on and revised might be like a drawing or a piece of machinery as described here.

Compare your thoughts with one other classmate.

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.


help me please

The directions seem clear. What is your question?

Directions:

Think of one or two ways the writing you have worked on and revised might be like a drawing or a piece of machinery as described here.

So ... first you must choose a piece of writing that you've already submitted or are about to submit. Then use it to address these directions.

The statement from Strunk and White's book, The Elements of Style, emphasizes the importance of concise writing. According to the authors, just like a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine should have no unnecessary parts, a sentence should not contain unnecessary words and a paragraph should not have unnecessary sentences.

To explore how our own writing can be similar to a drawing or a piece of machinery, we can consider a few aspects:

1. Like a drawing: When we revise our writing, we can ensure that every word and sentence serves a purpose. Similar to how a drawing becomes more refined and powerful when unnecessary lines are removed, our writing can become more impactful and persuasive when we eliminate redundant or extraneous wording. Like an artist's intention to communicate a clear message with minimal strokes, concise writing can convey ideas with precision and clarity.

2. Like a piece of machinery: Writing, similar to a well-designed machine, should be streamlined and efficient. Just as a machine should not have any superfluous parts or components that do not contribute to its purpose or functionality, our writing can benefit from eliminating sentences or paragraphs that do not add value to the overall message. By removing unnecessary information, our writing becomes more focused and organized, allowing ideas to flow smoothly and engaging the reader effectively.

In discussing this topic with a classmate, it would be interesting to compare their thoughts on how their own writing aligns with the analogy of drawing or machinery. You could discuss specific examples or instances where you both have strived for conciseness in your writing and how it has improved the final outcome. Sharing perspectives can offer additional insights and promote a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in Strunk and White's book.