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Sin Boldly!: Dr. Dave's Guide To Acing The College Paper
Cheeky, original, and decidedly practical, this guide to effective writing is perfect for anyone who wants to hone their communication skills -- college-bound or in the working world.
Jammed with sage advice, genuine encouragement, and surprising examples of how to write and how not to write, this book gives beginning writers and confident students alike an easy-to-follow roadmap for improving one of the most important skills for success.
En route to Sin Boldly! -induced, A+ paper bliss, readers encounter such topics
Fully revised and updated with new examples, quizzes, and tips, Sin Boldly! is not only a comprehensive guide, but also a fantastic, fun read for anyone who wants to write clearly and effectively.
Jammed with sage advice, genuine encouragement, and surprising examples of how to write and how not to write, this book gives beginning writers and confident students alike an easy-to-follow roadmap for improving one of the most important skills for success.
En route to Sin Boldly! -induced, A+ paper bliss, readers encounter such topics
Fully revised and updated with new examples, quizzes, and tips, Sin Boldly! is not only a comprehensive guide, but also a fantastic, fun read for anyone who wants to write clearly and effectively.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1994
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 13, 2010
I tutor English students and have found this to be the absolute best writing guide for beginning college students. The humor, which is something scarcely seen in writing guides, makes the book extremely approachable and fun for students who loath writing academic papers. Wish I could give it more than five stars.
December 18, 2021
This quickly became a favorite writing book. It's not the usual rule- or guideline-based style guide. It teaches more the general principles of a good essay, and the basics for having a knack at it.
I kept searching for a writing book that was more about the actual process of writing, and this book deals with that, along with the content you would find in other style guides (the dos and donts of good writing).
It's also quite funny and a quick and easy read.
I kept searching for a writing book that was more about the actual process of writing, and this book deals with that, along with the content you would find in other style guides (the dos and donts of good writing).
It's also quite funny and a quick and easy read.
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April 26, 2020Really liked the take on writing for academics. Take a stance, any stance!
June 15, 2023
As a writing teacher, David Williams' book was so refreshing. I felt so validated. I wish my students could read it so they could see it's not just me!
December 3, 2016
Not a game-changer, but time- and breath-saver. This is not a writing manual as we know it, but a good troubleshooting guide, a love child of expertise and frustration, perfected over a decade.
The focus is on the typical American college essay (counterarguments included & refuted), but large parts are useful if you write/ teach to write other types of essays. I skimmed some parts of it, but will copy most of this book and throw it in the general direction of my students, who usually, after two years' good performance, forget all about writing essays a month before their finals.
My notes on what parts to use in tags.
The focus is on the typical American college essay (counterarguments included & refuted), but large parts are useful if you write/ teach to write other types of essays. I skimmed some parts of it, but will copy most of this book and throw it in the general direction of my students, who usually, after two years' good performance, forget all about writing essays a month before their finals.
My notes on what parts to use in tags.
November 2, 2007
Don't let the title of this book scare you off; if you want to better your writing, read this book. The author of this book is actually my old college English professor, and he's awesome. I went into the class arrogantly thinking "I'm a great writer, this required class is just a waste of my time." Boy was I wrong. Both this book and his class made me laugh while learning, and I am a much better writer for it.
March 31, 2024
Professor David Williams echoed my assertions of collegiate confidence and argued “The only difference between Harvard students and community college students is that Harvard students think they are right even when they are wrong, and community college students think they are wrong even when they are right.” Excellent guidebook!
December 31, 2016
Really quick read, with concise information, delivered with wit and humor. If you've had a great English teacher in the past, some of this will already be fairly familiar, but Sin Boldly! might offer a different perspective, or way of explaining that really makes it click. I got this to reference when I am feeling "stuck" with a paper, and to eventually reference post-college.
July 3, 2015
Refreshing.
February 12, 2008
This book has helped me to verbalize my angst of teaching writing.
April 19, 2009
This book helped me write A papers in college!!! My teachers love my papers and I absolutely hate writing!!
May 25, 2012
If you are looking for an extra (or primary) gift for the high school graduate, this is it! "Sin Boldly" outlines the techniques for great college writing, and does so with wit and passion.
November 25, 2012
Best college writing guide ever written. gets behind the mechanics to the spirit.
February 27, 2015
Especially good on advising writers on how to find voice--if not their own, then someone's voice-- to make a paper readable.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews