Writing “Rules”

1. Writing “Rules”

2. Write for a few minutes… List as many writing rules as you can. Rule discrepancies

3. Real Writing Rules Word Order The dog brown my ate homework. • Make English English • Are foundational to the structure of language Tense formation The brown dog eated my homework. Complete Sentences Ate my homework.

4. Real Writing Rules Seeing real writing rules in action ‘Twasbrillig and the slithytobes Did gyre and gimble in the wabe All mimsy were the borogoves And the momerathsoutgrabe (Carroll 1-4) The first four lines of Carroll’s nonsense poem “Jabberwocky” make “sense” because they follow the rules.

5. Social Writing Rules Pretend you’re giving advice to a friend. Use as much slang as possible.

6. Social Writing Rules Slang An informal language considered appropriate for casual, friendly, and everyday use. Academic Discourse A formal language considered appropriate for academic and professional use.

7. Social Writing Rules Slang • It’s informal. • It associates you with a specific region or community. • It expresses your personality and background. Academic Discourse • It’s formal. • It’s easier for a diverse audience to understand. • It’s expected in college-level and formal writing.

8. Social Writing Rules When is it appropriate to use slang in formal writing/discourse?

9. Invented Writing Rules Look at the list of rules you made earlier. Mark any that seem arbitrary.

10. Invented Writing Rules • are unnecessary or irrelevant Don’t start a sentence with and or because Because I was cold, I put on a sweater. Don’t end with a preposition Turn the lights off. Don’t split infinitives You need to quickly finish your sandwich. A paragraph must be at least five sentences long. Paragraphs are as long as they need to be. What other invented rules can you think of?

11. Stylistic Rules Grammar • Subject/verb agreement • Pronoun/antecedent agreement • Tense • Word choice/order Punctuation • Commas • Apostrophes • Quotation marks • End marks • Colons • Semicolons The alternative to blind obedience is selective observance…If you want to avoid being accused of ‘lacking standards’…you have to know more about these invented rules than the rule-mongers do (Williams 16).

12. Stylistic Rules Break rules • When emphasizing • When tone requires it • When using artistic expression BUT • You must be able to explain the rule you are breaking • You must be able to justify the need