Principles of Composition

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Principles of Composition

• CSE 6590

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Writing Rules

1. Use the active voice.
2. Avoid long sentences .
3. Use simple language.
4. Delete words, sentences, and phrases that do not
   add to your meaning.
5. Break your writing into short sections.
6. Use specific and concrete terms.
7. Keep ideas and structures parallel

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Rule 1 Use active voice.

• The active voice makes your writing more direct
  and vigorous, and your sentences more concise.
• When to use passive voice?
• When the doer of the action is either unknown or
  less important than the action itself
• Example The company was founded in 1953.
• To change the writing flow
• Example In Section 2, we present a survey of
  routing protocols in MANETs. We describe the
  proposed protocol in Section 3. Experimental
  results are discussed in Section 4.

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Rule 1 Examples

• The findings were analyzed by Smith et al..
• Fuel-cost savings were realized through the
  installation of thermal insulation.

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Rule 1 Examples (cont.)

• The findings were analyzed by Smith et al..
• Fuel-cost savings were realized through the
  installation of thermal insulation.

• Smith et al. analyzed the findings.
• The installation of thermal insulation cut fuel
  costs.

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Rule 2 Avoid long sentences

• Breaking a long sentence into two or more shorter
  sentences using transitions.
• Eliminating wordy phrases and redundancies.
• How long is too long?
• Read it out loud. If you run out of breadth
  before the sentence ends, it is probably too
  long.
• Read it out loud to some else. If the listener
  gets confused or starts forgetting ideas before
  the sentence ends, it is probably too long.

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Rule 2 Example

• I suggest that we change our service and supply
  more fast food to give employees what they seem
  to want so we can better compete with the Mendota
  Mall, our main source of competition in the area.

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Rule 2 Example (cont.)

• I suggest that we change our service and supply
  more fast food to give employees what they seem
  to want so we can better compete with the Mendota
  Mall, our main source of competition in the area.

• I suggest that we change our service and supply
  more fast food to give employees what they seem
  to want. That way, we can better compete with
  the Mendota Mall, our main source of competition
  in the area.

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Rule 3 Use simple language

• Examples
• We deem it advisable for you to wait.
• We are effective by virtue of our experience.

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Rule 3 Use simple language (cont.)

• Examples
• We deem it advisable for you to wait.
• We are effective by virtue of our experience.

• We suggest you wait.
• We are effective because of our experience.

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Rule 4 Delete redundant words, sentences, and
phrases

• Use the fewest words possible to communicate your
  meaning.
• Develop the habit of reading over the first draft
  of anything you write with a sharp eye for the
  flab (then the 2nd, 3rd drafts, etc.)

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Rule 4 Examples

• The designer shows a preference for track
  lighting.
• We should not prolong the duration of this
  meeting.
• in the majority of instances
• at this point in time

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Rule 4 Examples (cont.)

• The designer shows a preference for track
  lighting.
• We should not prolong the duration of this
  meeting.
• in the majority of instances
• at this point in time

• The designer prefers track lighting.
• We should not prolong this meeting.
• usually
• now

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Rule 5 Break your writing into short sections

• Divide a subject into topics cover each topic in
  a paragraph.
• Each new paragraph signals that a new topic has
  been reached.
• Make each paragraph relatively short (less than
  10 lines).
• Usually the first or the last sentence of a
  paragraph summarizes the main idea of the
  paragraph.

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Rule 6 Use specific and concrete terms

• Say exactly what you mean! Dont force your
  reader to guess your meaning.
• Example
• The new protocol offers better performance.

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Rule 6 (cont.)

• Say exactly what you mean! Dont force your
  reader to guess your meaning.
• Example
• The new protocol offers better performance.

• The new protocol offers higher throughput and
  lower end-to-end delay.

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Rule 7 Keep ideas and structures parallel

• Ideas that parallel one another in content should
  parallel one another in form.
• Parallelism requires that an article or
  preposition applying to items in a series be used
  either with the first item only or with each
  item it should be applied consistently.

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Rule 7 Examples

• Please complete this form, sign it, and then it
  should be sent to me.
• Now is the time not for caution but courage.
• It was both a long meeting and very disorganized.

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Rule 7 Examples (cont.)

• Please complete this form, sign it, and then it
  should be sent to me.
• Now is the time not for caution but courage.
• It was both a long meeting and very disorganized.

• Please complete this form, sign it, and send it
  to me.
• Now is the time not for caution but for courage.
• The meeting was long and very disorganized.

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Rule 7 More Examples

• The guide includes
• city maps
• a list of restaurants
• what to wear and pack
• when to go
• At the meeting, Mr. Smith
• reported on the budget
• was asked a question about training and he
  answered it
• explained the new filing system.

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Rule 7 More Examples (cont.)

• The guide includes
• city maps
• a list of restaurants
• what to pack
• when to go
• At the meeting, Mr. Smith
• reported on the budget
• was asked a question about training and he
  answered it
• explained the new filing system.

• The guide includes
• city maps
• a list of restaurants
• advice on what to pack
• suggestion on when to go
• At the meeting, Mr. Smith
• reported on the budget
• answered a question about training
• explained the new filing system.

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Rule 7 Even More Examples

• The manufacturing, the accounting, advertising,
  sales, and IT departments
• Blank CDs may be stored in the desk, parts room,
  or in the cabinet.

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Rule 7 Even More Examples (cont.)

• The manufacturing, the accounting, advertising,
  sales, and IT departments
• Blank CDs may be stored in the desk, parts room,
  or in the cabinet.

• The manufacturing, the accounting, the
  advertising, the sales, and the IT departments
• Blank CDs may be stored in the desk, parts room,
  or cabinet.