What a Way to Make a Living
- About Shaarik Zafar, the State Department’s special representative to Muslims around the world.
Style:
Informal, relatable, topical
Author establishes relatibility through informal tone, descriptions of person, emphasis on tough job description
“Bank shot”
Drawn from interview, establishes relatibility through Americanization
Quoting Rule: if something unique is said, or if it’s said uniquely, quote it
It’s like sifting through coal dust; find the gold, find which is which
Neuman Story:
Golden quote: “Our folks are trained in this sort of thing”
Preferred attribution: “said”
Others imply slight editorial
Cloud Article:
Use of “insisted”
Stephen King Story:
Do not use passive tense.
Make things easy on the reader, and the reader must be your main concern
The adverb is not your friend.
- The road to hell is paved with adverbs
- Creates an uncertain author voice
- Do NOT use it in dialogue attribution:
“Put it down!” she shouted.
“Give it back,” he pleaded, “it’s mine.”
Don’t be such a fool, Jekyll,” Utterson said.
(Stronger sentences)
versus
“Put it down!” she shouted menacingly.
“Give it back,” he pleaded abjectly, “it’s mine.”
“Don’t be such a fool, Jekyll,” Utterson said contemptuously.
(Weaker sentences)
versus
“Put down the gun, Utterson!” Jekyll grated.
“Never stop kissing me!” Shayna gasped.
“You damn tease!” Bill jerked out.
(Pulp fiction novels, do NOT use)
- Do not let authorial fear of not being understood rule your writing.
- “To write adverbs is human, to write he said or she said is divine.”
Homework for Next Thursday:
1. Create five observations about this semester.
2. Read chapters 5-7
3. On page 12, do exercise 1.13, Brevity, 1.14, Wordiness
4. pg. 63, exercises 1-5
5. pg. 63, 4.1 (continues to pg 65) on AP Style
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