In the article The String Theory, by David Foster Wallace, there were three writing techniques that I noticed Wallace used. First, I think Wallace was informative and explanatory. He explained why there are some professional tennis players who are unknown and obscure to the public eye. He explained how some tennis players, based on their world rankings, have to participate in untelevised pre-tournaments called ‘qualiers,’ and this pre-tournaments determines who will compete in the televised tournaments. “Somebody playing the qualies in Montreal is an undeniably world-class tennis player, but he’s not quite at the level where serious TV and money are,” Wallace explained.
Another writing technique Wallace used was descriptive. He gives very detailed descriptions of the tennis players’ physical characteristics for example here Wallace writes, “With few exceptions, all the tennis players have similar builds—big muscular legs, shallow chests, skinny necks, and one normal-size arm and one monstrously huge and hypertrophic arm. The last technique I think Wallace used was first-person. Throughout the whole article, instead of just talking about Michael Joyce and the other world-class tennis players in third-person, Wallace also incorporated his own ideas in opinions into the article. One example where first-person technique was used, “If you’ve played tennis at least a little, you probably have some idea how hard a game it is to play really well. I submit to you that you really have no idea at all. I know I didn’t and television doesn’t really allow you to appreciate what real top-level players can do.”
Much better! :-)
qualies???
yes it's a pre-tournament tennis players play in before actual televised tournaments.. I double checked myself a couple times as I was reading.. LOL.
It seems like you have identified three writing techniques that David Foster Wallace used in the article "The String Theory." These techniques are informative and explanatory, descriptive, and first-person narrative. Let's take a closer look at each of these techniques and how Wallace employed them in his writing.
1. Informative and explanatory: Wallace provides explanations and information to help the reader understand certain aspects of professional tennis. For example, he explains why some tennis players are unknown to the public, discussing how the world rankings and participation in pre-tournaments called 'qualies' affect their visibility. He brings clarity to this topic by stating, "Somebody playing the qualies in Montreal is an undeniably world-class tennis player, but he’s not quite at the level where serious TV and money are."
2. Descriptive: Wallace's writing is characterized by detailed descriptions of physical characteristics. In this case, he describes the typical physique of tennis players, noting their muscular legs, shallow chests, skinny necks, and the asymmetry of their arms. By including these descriptions, Wallace helps paint a vivid picture of the players and their physical appearance for the reader.
3. First-person narrative: Throughout the article, Wallace incorporates his own ideas and opinions by using a first-person perspective. By sharing his personal experiences and thoughts, he engages the reader more directly and creates a sense of authenticity. For instance, when talking about the difficulty of playing tennis well, Wallace says, "If you’ve played tennis at least a little, you probably have some idea how hard a game it is to play really well. I submit to you that you really have no idea at all. I know I didn’t..." This use of first-person allows Wallace to connect with the reader on a more personal level and convey his own perspective on the matter.
By employing these techniques, Wallace enhances the overall impact of his writing, making it both informative and engaging for the reader.