How to Write a Paragraph: The Art of Substantive Writing

by Richard Paul

Skilled writers do not write blindly, but purposely. They have an agenda, goal, or objective. Their purpose, together with the nature of what they are writing (and their situation), determines how they write. They write in different ways in different situations for different purposes. There is also a nearly universal purpose for writing, and that is to say something worth saying about something worth saying something about.

In general, then, when we write, we translate inner meanings into public words. We put our ideas and experiences into written form. Accurately translating intended meanings into written words is an analytic, evaluative, and creative set of acts. Unfortunately, few people are skilled in this work of translation. Few are able to select and combine words that, so combined, convey an intended meaning to an audience of readers.

At present students are poor writers, not because they are incapable of learning to write well, but because they have never been taught the foundations of substantive writing. They lack intellectual discipline as well as strategies for improving their writing. This is true on the one hand because teachers often lack a clear theory of the relationship between writing and learning and, on the other, are concerned with the time involved in grading written work.

This guide provides techniques that enhance student learning and foster the ability to communicate clearly and logically what one is learning.

Genres: Writing, Philosophy

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

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Reviews

[Mohammad · Rating 1 out of 5]

احتمالا کتاب خوبیه، ولی به درد من نمی‌خورد.

[Essareh · Rating 2 out of 5]

دلیل امتیاز پایین بد بودنش نیست؛ انتظار زیادمه.
به‌هرحال پل و الدر از کله‌گنده‌های حوزهٔ تفکر نقادن و انتظار‌ می‌ره ازشون کلی یاد بگیری؛ ولی این تقریباً تکرار مطالب کتاب تفکر انتقادی بود.

اگه دنبال یه کتاب جمع‌وجور برای نکات اصلی نوشتن هستید، احتمالاً مناسبتون خواهد بود.
می‌شه مطالبش رو هم برای نوشتن (متن غیرداستانی/غیرادبی) و هم برای خوندن دقیق و نقادانه به‌کار برد.

کتاب دو بخش نظری و عملی داره. همون‌طوری که پیداست، بخش دوم تمرین‌هاییه برای تثبیت یادگیری. بخش نظری هم خیلی کوتاهه. تقریباً سی‌صفحه‌ست. (البته کل کتاب کمتر از صدصفحه‌ست.)

نکات کلیش اینه که مفاهیم اساسی رشته‌تون رو یادبگیرید؛ اگه توش نظرهای متضاد دارید، نقطه‌های اختلاف نظر رو پیدا کنید. به علوم دیگه ربطش بدید. موقع نوشتن به وضوح توجه کنید؛ دید خواننده رو فراموش نکنید و باهاش در گفتگو باشید. اون‌قدری به مطالب مسلط باشید که بتونید توی یه جملهٔ ساده خلاصه‌ش کنید و به‌شکل‌های دیگه بیانش کنید.

خلاصه برای منی که عشق نوشتن دارم و تفکر نقاد برام جالبه، خوندنش خوب بود؛ ولی چیزی هم دستمو نگرفت.

ممنون که خوندید.💙

۱۳ دی ۱۴۰۳، خونه.

[Christos Antonaros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying for what it tries to accomplish.

I really liked the exercises and the analysis in various subjects. I will keep it to read again in College!

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning. Another short 'book.' Further, the first ten pages are strong and useful. The remaining 34 pages provide writing exercises and examples. There were too many of these. While there were some teachable ideas in this book, the concepts and ideas are straight forward.

[Benjamin Anku · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good book. I would recommend it to my buddies.

[Scott Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has given me some great ideas to use with my students. My department head is reading it right now and we should be able to collaborate on new lesson plans which use this information.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

very clear and helpful!