Chapter 8 : Unity
Summary
Keeping your writing balanced and maintaining your view points can only be done by having unity in your work. Unity is the anchor of good writing. You should always stay on tract of what you are talking about and not stray away from the topic. There are many different forms of unity such as unity of pronouns, tense, and mood. Unity of tense would be not switching from past tense and then present tense continuously. You can use several tenses in your writing but what’s not acceptable is that you switch repeatedly throughout the text. Another form of unity was mood. When you decide what you mood you want your writing to be in, stick to it and do not mix 2 or 3 moods. Anyone you choose will depend on your style, but having several moods shows lack of unity in your work. Consistency throughout your writing will ensure understandable writing.
Reflection
When you decide in the middle of your writing that you should change the mood, that might not be such a great idea. Unity in your writing will prevent confusion and make your work completely better. You can’t continue to switch from past tense to present tense and expect your writing to be exemplary. It will be in fact sloppy and not well set up. With consistency your readers will grasp your concept easier and clearer. You work has to unites behind a certain topic and not several or else it will be disoriented and not only complicated but fully ineffective to the readers. At the end of the chapter, Zinsser says that your unity must fit together at the end of your work, and if it does not, then it will fail and you’ll have to start over again.
Chapter 9 : The Lead and the Ending
Summary
The most critical sentence in your writing is your first one, and the last one may just be as important.Your first sentence has to astound your readers and lure them in that’s why many people call it the hook because if it does not convince the readers, then your work is lifeless. But if your second sentence in the passage doesn’t make them want to continue reading, then again your work is still lifeless and meaningless for them to go on. Your hook doesn’t have to be a set length because your hook could be fast and convincing or steadily but surely captivating the readers. But the ending is just as important. It’s crucial for writers to understand when to end their work because you need to think strongly of your last sentence. The way to end your writing needs to be subtle and catch your readers slightly by surprise but still seem right.
Reflection
In school I was always taught that your first sentence must be perfect or else your readers will have no point to continue reading. They would tell me if you hook don’t catch their attention, then the rest is useless. So I would always make sure I began my writing with something so intriguing that they’s have to keep reading. But I wasn’t aware that ending your work was almost just as important. You can’t leave your readers hanging at the end, you have to give them something to satisfy them and give it an ending. What the ending does is gives the readers the last information they can remember and carry with them.
Chapter 10 : Bits and Pieces
Summary
This chapter goes into details and gives you suggestions of the usage of things such as verbs, adjectives, adverbs, punctuation,etc. None are more important than each other but it’s important you use them to help you get your ideas across to the audience. When writing make sure you try to eliminate simple mistakes you may have made by checking back on your work. This chapter explains many parts of writing and give you tips and advice to be the best writer you can be. Understand that writing is not a competition, it’s unique for every person. Don’t try to go as fast as you possibly can. Go at your own pace and don’t compare yourself to other writers. Write what you feel is right and you’ll notice ideas flowing out at you.
Reflection
The tips that Zinsser gives about parts of writing are very helpful. He says to keep your paragraphs short and your sentences simple as possible. I would never imagine a well-known writer saying that it’s better for your paragraphs to be shorter. I say this because I know how writers tend to have many ideas and short paragraphs might not be able to hold all the information they want the readers to read. he sees things in a perspective I would never have even thought of until I read this book. He also said to cut out the little words pertaining to how you think because all they do is cause clutter. Words like rather, a little, very, and so on are some words he said cause clutter.
Summary
Keeping your writing balanced and maintaining your view points can only be done by having unity in your work. Unity is the anchor of good writing. You should always stay on tract of what you are talking about and not stray away from the topic. There are many different forms of unity such as unity of pronouns, tense, and mood. Unity of tense would be not switching from past tense and then present tense continuously. You can use several tenses in your writing but what’s not acceptable is that you switch repeatedly throughout the text. Another form of unity was mood. When you decide what you mood you want your writing to be in, stick to it and do not mix 2 or 3 moods. Anyone you choose will depend on your style, but having several moods shows lack of unity in your work. Consistency throughout your writing will ensure understandable writing.
Reflection
When you decide in the middle of your writing that you should change the mood, that might not be such a great idea. Unity in your writing will prevent confusion and make your work completely better. You can’t continue to switch from past tense to present tense and expect your writing to be exemplary. It will be in fact sloppy and not well set up. With consistency your readers will grasp your concept easier and clearer. You work has to unites behind a certain topic and not several or else it will be disoriented and not only complicated but fully ineffective to the readers. At the end of the chapter, Zinsser says that your unity must fit together at the end of your work, and if it does not, then it will fail and you’ll have to start over again.
Chapter 9 : The Lead and the Ending
Summary
The most critical sentence in your writing is your first one, and the last one may just be as important.Your first sentence has to astound your readers and lure them in that’s why many people call it the hook because if it does not convince the readers, then your work is lifeless. But if your second sentence in the passage doesn’t make them want to continue reading, then again your work is still lifeless and meaningless for them to go on. Your hook doesn’t have to be a set length because your hook could be fast and convincing or steadily but surely captivating the readers. But the ending is just as important. It’s crucial for writers to understand when to end their work because you need to think strongly of your last sentence. The way to end your writing needs to be subtle and catch your readers slightly by surprise but still seem right.
Reflection
In school I was always taught that your first sentence must be perfect or else your readers will have no point to continue reading. They would tell me if you hook don’t catch their attention, then the rest is useless. So I would always make sure I began my writing with something so intriguing that they’s have to keep reading. But I wasn’t aware that ending your work was almost just as important. You can’t leave your readers hanging at the end, you have to give them something to satisfy them and give it an ending. What the ending does is gives the readers the last information they can remember and carry with them.
Chapter 10 : Bits and Pieces
Summary
This chapter goes into details and gives you suggestions of the usage of things such as verbs, adjectives, adverbs, punctuation,etc. None are more important than each other but it’s important you use them to help you get your ideas across to the audience. When writing make sure you try to eliminate simple mistakes you may have made by checking back on your work. This chapter explains many parts of writing and give you tips and advice to be the best writer you can be. Understand that writing is not a competition, it’s unique for every person. Don’t try to go as fast as you possibly can. Go at your own pace and don’t compare yourself to other writers. Write what you feel is right and you’ll notice ideas flowing out at you.
Reflection
The tips that Zinsser gives about parts of writing are very helpful. He says to keep your paragraphs short and your sentences simple as possible. I would never imagine a well-known writer saying that it’s better for your paragraphs to be shorter. I say this because I know how writers tend to have many ideas and short paragraphs might not be able to hold all the information they want the readers to read. he sees things in a perspective I would never have even thought of until I read this book. He also said to cut out the little words pertaining to how you think because all they do is cause clutter. Words like rather, a little, very, and so on are some words he said cause clutter.