Even the most amateur poet can tell you how to write a haiku. The Japanese poetic form’s short, simple style invites poets from around the world to put pen to paper. However, the nuances of this most popular form of Japanese poetry are often lost on foreign audiences. While it’s certainly a valid argument that poetry is malleable, fans of the form should know how to write a haiku properly. Continue reading
If you write for long enough, you’ll eventually come to the conclusion that it’s impossible to completely avoid using passive voice. That isn’t to say your professors were wrong when they told you not to use it. Both are true: you shouldn’t use it, and you can’t help but use it. I’m sorry. English is a cruel language. Continue reading
We’ve all been there. You’re writing an essay, minding your own business, when suddenly MS Word pops up with the message: “Passive Voice (consider revising).” You turn in that essay, only to have it returned to you, with “Passive Voice” written all over it in red ink. Reading over the passages your instructor has marked, you can’t find anything wrong with them. So what gives?
Effective information organization is one of the most challenging problems non-writers encounter when tasked with a composition project. While the lowly 5-paragraph essay would be a poor format choice for your dissertation, it has proven to be very effective when used to write book reviews, cover letters, and pitches. This is a handy guide to writing a 5-paragraph essay for – almost – any situation. Continue reading
The thesis statement is the one sentence in academia that generates the most angst among students. It is the axis on which the entire essay revolves, and it must be in sync with the rest of the paper, or else the entire endeavor falls apart. This article addresses the most common mistakes made in crafting a thesis statement.
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