Have a look at these two sentences:
- I want to go out tonight, but I’m tired.
- I’m tired, but I want to go out tonight.
The sentences contain the same nine words, but their order and emphasis create very different impressions. The examples suggest, perhaps, that our most decisive, pivotal words ought to arrive at the end of a sentence.
This mini-course in writing will teach and ask you to practice a variety of strategies just like this—the little “special effects” that make your prose more memorable, efficient, and stylish.
This course is open to anyone hoping to sharpen their writing style. Regular short readings and collaborative in-class activities will let us identify, discuss, and practice a variety of techniques. Grades will be based on a midpoint and final portfolio of writing exercises, a short creative writing piece, and energetic in-class engagement.