rhetoric

Presents tips and techniques for creative writing.

"A linguistic exploration of the speech habits we love to hate-and why our "um"s, "like"s, and "you know"s actually make us better communicators. Do you hate that you say "like" too much? Do you go over your email drafts to remove excess "so"s and "really"s? Do you wish your presentation at work wasn't so full of "um"s and "uh"s? Do you get tripped up by slang, overly familiar greetings, or new pronouns? What if these features of our speech weren't a sign of cultural and linguistic degeneration or newfangled trends that won't stick around, but rather, some of the most dynamic and revolutionary tools in our arsenal? In Like, Literally, Dude, linguist Valerie Fridland argues that our most hated or confusing speech habits shape our conception of the world and our place in it in remarkable ways. With a mix of laugh-out-loud anecdotes and expertise built over two decades of research, Fridland helps us understand the history, cultural significance, and impact of how we speak today. We are all the products of centuries of linguistic progress, and the innovation hasn't stopped in our lifetimes. Writing in an accessible style and focusing on real-life examples, Fridland explains how filled pauses benefit both speakers and listeners when they're discussing new or tough topics; how the use of "dude" can help people bond across social divides; why we're always trying to make our intensifiers ever more intense; as well as many other language tics, habits, and developments. Language change is natural, built into the language system itself, and we wouldn't be who we are without it. This book will speak to anyone who talks, empowering them to communicate dynamically and effectively in their daily lives"--.

"This handbook from Susan Wise Bauer (author of Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind) and . . . English teacher Jessica Otto illustrates every rule of diagramming, from the simplest sentences to the most complex constructions. [Includes] easy-to-understand example diagrams, color-coded for quick recognition"--Back cover.

"Flexible, easy to use, just enough detail--and the number-one best selling rhetoric. The Norton Field Guide to Writing's flexibility and ease of use have made it the leading rhetoric text on the market--and a perfect choice for committees representing varying teaching styles. With just enough detail -- and color-coded links that send the students to more detail if they need -- this is the rhetoric that tells students what they need to know but resists the temptation to tell them everything there is to know"--.

". . . [the author] presents [a] guide to writing persuasively for students, job applicants, and rookie authors looking to get published, [setting] out the core principles for connecting with readers"--Provided by publisher.

Offers tips and guidance to writing creative nonfiction, examining an approach to writing a memoir, researched essays, and investigative reporting, and providing writing exercises on memories, seeking material outside the self, ethical issues to consider when writing about other people, how to approach background research and avoid clich?s, and related topics.