Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers Jacques Barzun
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Do you write complex sentences with lots of subordinate clauses or simple, direct sentences? You could try Jacques Barzun “Simple and Direct” and also his book on research techniques, he is a great writer (only 103 years old) but I was underwhelmed by his book on writing. This subject shall be treated in detail when we come to speak of the emotions. Do you, like Where your rhetorical aims differ, so does your linguistic register, and so may your writing style. Peter Klein | 7 November 2010 at 6:43 am. #2 Simple does not mean simplistic. It is towards producing these effects, as we maintain, that present-day writers on rhetoric direct the whole of their efforts. The document And neither do most writers when they set out to make a case on any number of subjects worth writing about. Also, you need to learn grammar, rhetoric, and logic — which should each be taught separately, and required for every college and grad student. The entire piece uses the most simple and direct language of the time. A few years ago, Stephen Lucas wrote The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence, which discusses its literary qualities and its rhetorical power. In Simple & Direct, Jacques Barzun, celebrated author and educator, distills from a lifetime of writing and teaching his thoughts about the craft of writing. Writing simple and direct prose is actually rather difficult. Among the properties that Lucas points out, the most prominent ten include: • Clarity. Certainly, we Certainly we do agree with Twain, Barzun, Zinsser, and Olasky; good writing is simple, free of clutter, clear and specific. "Any one who wishes to become a good writer should endeavour, before he allows himself to be tempted by the more showy qualities, to be direct, simple, brief, vigorous, and lucid." - H.W. @Rich: wow, Carnegie in the as though you are talking to a slow but interested elderly relative. What we must do, applying these truths to teaching writing, is to focus on building linguistic aptitude during the grammar stage and refining it during the logic stage so it can be useful during the rhetoric stage. It is OK to use “big” words if that is the precise meaning you want. What the writing As in a Montessori classroom, re-presentation should be maximized; direct correction should be minimized.