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Style in Research Writingi.e. how to make your writing awesome

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Argument Styles MIDDLE STYLE is the style of

most argumentsmiddle style

arguments are sturdy and well

composed but also accessible. Thisis how your research paper should

be written.

(For reals though, dont messaround with fonts too much

stick to simple seriffed classics(Times, Georgia, Cambria,Garamond, etc.) for your college

writing unless otherwisedirected. And NEVER EVER usePapyrusfor anything unless its a

joke or a new age spa.

HIGH STYLE arguments are

very formal and seriousthink

presidential speeches, or as

EaAsays, an argumentwearing its best tuxedo (418).

LOW STYLE arguments are

informal/casual.

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STYLE SECRETS Make sure your words match your tonefor the

arguments you make in your research paper that meansyou should adopt a professional but accessible tone

dont use slang terms or technical jargon that readersmay not recognize, but dont talk down to them either.

Connotation: Your word choices can betray your bias, somake sure to write objectively when you need to and savethe more powerful words for your argument.

Specificity: Be specific in your word choices as well as thesupport and examples you use. The more specific you arethe better your reader will understand your argument.

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Presidential Debate Word Choice

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STYLE SECRETS 2 Sentence variety: Readers are more apt to keep

reading when you vary your sentence structure.Basically all this means is that you should vary thelengths of your sentences.

Varying the structure of your sentences helps giveyour argument rhythmwhich propels the readeronward.

Well look at some examples next for the importanceof varying the actual structure of sentences. For somemore info, check out p. 422 ofEaA chapter 13.

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Varied beginningsThese sentences use different kinds of beginnings to keep the readerinterested.

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Same beginningsThis is the same passage as before but the sentences all start the same way.By no means is it unreadable, but the other passage was more dynamic andinteresting and clear--even though both deliver the same information. Inthis passage all sentences begin with the subject first and transitions areomitted.

For an extended look at sentence structure consult Writing Today ch. 16.

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Punctuation! Punctuation is what really

builds rhythm in an argument.

Since this is an academicresearch paper you want toconsider the use of what youmight think of as moreformal punctuation:semicolons, colons, dashes.

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SemicolonsUsing semicolons correctly in your writing is kind of like using asecret codeit proves you know what youre doing. But even better,they help you to combine sentences in a different wayso that youdont always have to break sentences up or use conjunctions whichcan get repetitive.

For more: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolonhttp://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolonhttp://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

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Figurative language/figures of speechaid understanding by drawing

parallels between a known and anunknown, and it helps make yourwriting more interesting andmemorable.

EaA classifies figurative language intwo categories: Tropes and Schemes.

SPECIAL EFFECTSAKA FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

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TROPES

Tropes represent a change in

the ordinary meaning ofwords/phrases.

Metaphor, simile, analogy,hyperbole, understatement,rhetorical questions, and irony

are tropes of language.

SCHEMES

Schemes represent a special

arrangement of words tocreate an effect.

Parallelism, antithesis,inverted word order,anaphora, and reversed

structures are schemes oflanguage.

Figurative Language

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Tropes are all pretty well-known to you. There are a fewschemes we should address though:

Antithesis is the use of parallel (similar or the same)structures to mark difference. (p. 437)

Inverted word order simply means that a sentence isout of its usual subject-verb-object order, drawingattention to itself.

Anaphora is repetition to achieve a desired effectusually good for driving a point home. (p. 438)

Reversed structures: best to look at examples (p. 439)

Schemes

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Keeping Your Voice In Your Research Paper

Avoid too many block quotes.

You can use I when you are

discussing your own opinion.

Find your thesis and let itdirect you.

Avoid using someone elses

quotation in your thesis.

Use signal phrase when youquote to identify whichthoughts are yours and whichare not.

Question the critics/experts,and respond to them.

Dont fool yourself with toomuch paraphrasing.