What is Style? (pt II)

Though this has been a short semester, I feel as though I have been in this class for a LONG time. I have learned so much!

I think I have always had an idea on what writing style is, but I definitely got a better understanding of it in much more detail. Style involves much more than composition-- it involves every detail of writing (voice, diction, grammar, etc). There are many things to focus on while writing, which makes this one of the most difficult tasks on the planet.

Style involves a lot of preference. Even at EMU, when taking classes from different professors, I have gotten a lot of very different feedback. For example: this is the first class I have taken in college that I did not ace even one paper. Shocking, right? It really makes you question your ability to write! However, through the books that we read, I learned (in a more elevated tone) that you much be able to mold your writing to others preferences if you want to communicate well and receive good feedback. "Note your audience."

If someone were to ask me what I learned from this class, I would probably talk more about the Technology of writing aspect of it. Style seems pretty clear-cut, and I think it would take me an hour to discuss that. Technology of writing is interesting. People I have already talked to are shocked to hear that a pencil is in fact a technology of writing. We live in an era where technology has become so advanced that simplistic inventions like pens and pencils seem ancient!

This has been a very interesting class. All in all, I feel I learned exactly what I needed to, given the title of the course. Thanks to everyone who helped me throughout the semester!

The "Most" Important Web Style Rule

Hmmm. This is a difficult post. However, since I have to choose one rule, I am going to choose the one that particularly irritates me, and really intertwines with a lot of rules.

Make sure your website text is readable.

Spiderpro discusses that we should not use dark colored backgrounds, because it tends to make things less readable. I do not want to be blinded when I go to a website, and dark backgrounds require neon-like font colors, which hurts my little eyes. Also, it is important not to select two light colors, like pink and green, yellow and orange, etc. It is important to remember that though we want our websites to look cool, we are also attempting to communicate something. Let's try to do that legibly.

Connecting "Paper Style" with "Web Style"

Wow.
Web style and paper style actually have a lot in common according to Spiderpro's Styleguide and Lynch and Horton's Web Style Guide.
Firstly, and maybe most importantly, both sites discuss "knowing our audience". It is very important in writing to know who we are writing to. What diction/vocab do we choose? Are we talking to rocket scientists or fifth graders about moon rocks?
One major similarity I found even with our previous readings of Strunk and White and Williams is using appropriate language and grammar. It is important to use the standard to ensure wide-spread understanding. Punctuation is noted as important in Spiderpro, as well as using short-and-sweet sentences. "The web is not a book," as it is stated, but even Williams suggested using short and to-the-point sentences (but, he does say this is pretty difficult!)
Lynch and Horton's discussion on how to "plan" for your website reminds me a lot of how to make a "web" for a paper, or a rough draft. It is important to think about the content we want to communicate, organize it, and then figure out the best possible way to format it.
There are also many notable (and sometimes funny) differences. One that makes me chuckle is is Spiderpro's guide: "DO watch for robots"
Obviously, we don't really have to worry about font colors and sizes. There is a standard that is accepted (12 point font, Times New Roman) , but on websites we actually have to consider colors and readability. Websites definitely have curb appeal, and I can tell you that the Spiderpro website definitely was more "appealing" than Lynch and Horton's.
Writing professionally for "paper" style actually takes a lot less thought than "web" style, surprisingly. In websites, you have to consider absolutely everything, not just what you want to write. You have to "create" the entire thing. When writing on paper, we don't actually have to create the paper by hand like you do the website.

Comics ala McCloud, Part 2

Beth Shaum chose the comic entitled "Ninety-Five" where McCloud depicts a traveling father and his first night back home with his daughter. As they are reading a bedtime story together, the father asks the young girl to name what certain pictures are. When asked to identify one, she exclaims, "Daddy!", which is later revealed to be a telephone. Beth acknowledges that this must be a representation of the feelings and impact the traveling has done on this father's relationship with his family.

This is a very short comic, but it still is very loaded. McCloud creates a word specific comic, where it is necessary that we have the spoken dialog to understand what is happening. "The pictures illustrate, but don't add to a largely complete text." (McCloud 153) Beth talks about the amount of symbols in comics, and this one definitely is making a statement on families with traveling parents. This is hard on children, and even though in their childhood innocence seems fancy-free, they are hurting inside from their relationship deprivation.

This comic uses the same few colors, and I think it is making a statement on the simplicity of the child's complex feelings. It is in color, but the pink background allows us to feel comfortable and young again. The drawings are somewhat simple, and we are able to read this comic in a flowing manner without having to stop and think until the very end.

Good choice Beth, though this comic is actually very sad, it has a very good message very applicable to today's parents.

Reading and Writing about Comics ala McCloud, Part 1

I chose the comic entitled "But No One Ever Noticed the Walrus". I was drawn to this comic because for some reason, I feel like I always notice those who nobody pays attention to, and I end up feeling awful for them. So, I engage them in conversation, and try to "notice" them.
This comic takes place in a busy Law Firm, in which a lot of drama occurs within employee relations. In one day, two employees fight, make up, and make love, while someone participates in National Talk Like Pirate Day, an employee makes a huge financial mistake, and another is fired for the mistake. Meanwhile, a very sweet walrus is ignored for the whole day, while all of this drama occurs directly in front of him.
[McCloud states on page 36 of his book entitled, "Understanding Comics The Invisible Art" that we identify ourselves in the cartoons we see, and I couldn't agree more. When I was young, I felt as though no one paid any attention to me. I was always ignored, unless I was needed for something. I think this is why I notice the wall flowers in the room...I know those feelings. I always want to help those in need, and I am bothered with I do not/cannot. I was given a sense of sadness for the walrus because he is drawn to look unhappy.
Chapter 5 of McCloud's book is dedicated to how vital an "emotional or sensual response" is in the world of comics. We all know what it feels like to have a busy day at work, to fight with a fellow employee, and to experience loads of drama in the workplace. Perhaps some of us even know what it is like to have a romance at work. Whatever the case, McCloud plays upon this idea of crazy amounts of emotion at work, all while a walrus needs to be seen. We all pay too much attention to our own feelings, even in a place where we are supposed to take care of others. However, I think the setting of this comic also plays an important role. Being that it is in an important law firm, it is a little more understanding why the walrus would be ignored. Though he is different (heck, he is a walrus in a suit!), the "snobs" working there are far too egocentric to notice anything but themselves. If this comic were placed in a hospital setting, it would have been much more sad...what if the walrus was sick, or dying, and the nursing staff were behaving the way the secretaries were?
McCloud includes an "interlude". This makes us feel like we are watching a TV show, something like "Boston Legal" where sex, crime, and lunch are all included in a sixty-minute time period. The only person who actually notices the walrus and gives him the time of day is the person who is also treated as the walrus. She is only represented in two or three frames before the conclusion of the comic, as if she is unimportant to McCloud as well. We see the use of sequential art throughout this comic, as well as duo-specific panels, where the "words and pictures send essentially the same message." (153). In fact, in some frames, we don't even read any words and still know whats going on, i.e. the scene where Stephen and Cathy begin making love (or making hearts!) McCloud, through his Morning Improv, is telling us to lighten up, because not everything is simply about us and our feelings. Many times we do not see what is right beneath our noses, and it just may turn out to be the best thing (or in this case, friend) we've ever seen.

Comparing Strunk & White to Williams

Williams' book was very dry for me. He wrote an entire book on how to sound clear. Yes, I understand that it is important for me to communicate my ideas effectively. But all of his prompts aren't always appropriate, and this is something that Strunk and White recognized, which I really liked. They noted that most of the book contained preferences to how writing should be, not "rules". Williams seemed to think his writing was the best, and he didn't always follow grammar rules, something Strunk and White most certainly did, and stated was important.

Both books state that we must BE CLEAR. Do not use large words that have a simpler, more appropriate synonym. Do not use lengthy sentences. Where do we draw the line? We want to sound educated and intelligent, but we do not want to be confusing or unreadable. Neither book really touched upon this, and it is something I would like to hear from both authors.

I think Strunk and White present a clearer argument of how writing should be. Williams tends to be a little redundant. I think the rules and regulations Strunk and White list are in a much more effective format, with rule then explanation. Williams absolutely presented many good arguments when discussing how to write concisely, but I think Strunk and White blew him out of the water.

My previous blog discussed the things I didn’t like and liked about Strunk and White. I talked about not liking the fact that we are supposed to “avoid fancy words”. Well, Williams said that too. Most of the ideas that Strunk and White claimed about clarity are in Williams’ book as well.

Williams seems to have a different take on “orthodox” language use. He does not really support a socially acceptable and appropriate language; he is wishy-washy here. Strunk and White and I all believe that it is important to use correct spellings and words because it distracts the reader from the message. Williams seems to think that though we have grammar rules, they are not all necessary for us to communicate those messages.

I enjoyed Strunk and White much more. It’s funny, Williams tells us to be clear, and yet his ideas seem confusing and abstract as well. I found myself rereading a lot with this book, whereas Strunk and White was straight-forward. Perhaps Williams should take some of his own advice when writing.

Revising with Williams

Financial obligations must be met by students by the posted due dates in order for the student to be eligible for the next registration period (or graduation). Transcripts, diplomas or other statements of record will be withheld and students will be ineligible for further registration until obligations have been fulfilled.

Students must pay their tuition on time. Neglecting to pay tuition fees will result in an inability to register for the following semester, withholding of student records, or an exclusion from graduation.

(2003-2005 Student Catalog)

I chose this sentence because it was far too wordy. "Financial obligations" exactly means tuition fees, etc. This sentence is probably one of the most important in the entire catalog, and yet seem s to be one the lengthiest sentences. It is understood, but it takes far to long to read. As William states, we must be clear in our writing in order to write well, and there are so many better ways of wording this sentence. Students need to understand what the consequences will be for unpaid tuition fees in a very straightforward manner. This revision provides a much more clear-cut way of stating this very clear-cut idea.

Williams points out that often we attempt to sound more educated than we really need to. Obviously, the University wants to present a certain “pomp and circumstance” in their student catalog, but it should really keep in mind the audience. Yes, we are college students, and we are fairly bright. But mostly, we don’t pay attention to long words or sentences. We tend to skim through a lot of things. Something this important should not be skimmed, and this sentence’s previous form begs to be glanced at and then never seen again. My revision promotes a solid answer to what will happen to students with outstanding fines. That is the most important aspect of this sentence, not the ten-dollar word choice.