Cliff's Notes continued...
RULES OF COMPOSITION
Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic
As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.
1. the topic sentence comes at or near the beginning;
2. the succeeding sentences explain or establish or develop the statement made in the topic sentence; and
3. the final sentence either emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some important consequence. Use the active voice: I shall always remember my first visit to Boston. This is much better than: My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me. Put statements in positive form: He was not very often on time. He usually came late. He did not think that studying Latin was much use. He thought the study of Latin useless. The Taming of the Shrew is rather weak in spots. Shakespeare does not portray Katharine as a very admirable character, nor does Bianca remain long in memory as an important character in Shakespeare's works. The women in The Taming of the Shrew are unattractive. Katharine is disagreeable, Bianca insignificant.
Omit needless words!
The question as to whether = whether (the question whether) there is no doubt but that = no doubt (doubtless) used for fuel purposes = used for fuel he is a man who = he in a hasty manner = hastily this is a subject which = this subject His story is a strange one. = His story is strange.
Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form:
Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed = Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.
Keep related words together:
Wordsworth, in the fifth book of The Excursion, gives a minute description of this church = In the fifth book of The Excursion, Wordsworth gives a minute description of this church.
Cast iron, when treated in a Bessemer converter, is changed into steel = By treatment in a Bessemer converter, cast iron is changed into steel.
In summaries, keep to one tense:
"An unforeseen chance prevents Friar John from delivering Friar Lawrence's letter to Romeo. Juliet, meanwhile, owing to her father's arbitrary change of the day set for her wedding, has been compelled to drink the potion on Tuesday night, with the result that Balthasar informs Romeo of her supposed death before Friar Lawrence learns of the nondelivery of the letter."
Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end:
Humanity has hardly advanced in fortitude since that time, though it has advanced in many other ways = Humanity, since that time, has advanced in many other ways, but it has hardly advanced in fortitude.
.
This steel is principally used for making razors, because of its hardness. = Because of its hardness, this steel is principally used in making razors.
