Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Weekly Post #3: Sentence structure
Few things tell me as much about an author as sentence structure. I'm not just talking about the ability to put a subject and a verb together; rather, I'm talking about being wowed by a simple variation or double wowed by a wild one. Maybe your author loves the fragment or the meandering thought or, god forbid, the interjection. Whatever it is, post a sentence that dazzles or bores you. A sentence that makes you want to steal it or one that makes you want to erase it. A sentence that reveals something about the author's style. Once you've posted your sentence, tell me briefly why you chose that sentence and what it tells you about the author.
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Article: "Iran Deal Players’ Report Cards" by Thomas Friedman, New York Times Op-Ed, published 9/16/15.
My sentence: "Khamenei is a bad guy."
One of the reasons I like Thomas Friedman's writing is his ability to write about complex foreign policy issues in a way that is simple enough for non-foreign policy geeks (i.e. me) to understand and take interest in current events. A large part of this is his use of sentence structure. Even though he is a prestigious writer, Friedman never shies away from using extremely simple sentences like "Khamenei is a bad guy." These simple sentences quickly and effectively establish the mood of a paragraph and put a bold idea in the reader's head that stays with him or her throughout the entire paragraph and the entire article. In addition, simple sentences such as this one give any reader something to latch onto and take away from the article no matter how complex the following words and ideas are. Friedman continues his use of ultra-simple sentences throughout this article, using sentences like "But he’s also a clever guy" (further describing Khamenei) and "This is a bad deal because Obama was a wimp" (summarizing the general Republican reaction to the Iran deal). Overall, I'm really warming to Friedman as a writer because of his obvious intention of writing about complicated issues to the masses, which is something very important for writers to do in the face of the complex problems we face today.
Article: "The Structure of Gratitude" by David Brooks, New York Times Op-Ed, 7-28-15
Sentence: "I’m sometimes grumpier when I stay at a nice hotel."
I find this particular sentence intriguing because of both its content and its noticeably simple structure. As this is the opening sentence of his article, David Brooks tries to attract readers with a simple yet attention-grabbing statement (which he tends to do in many of his articles). On the surface, this is just a simply structured sentence. No impenetrable vocabulary or convoluted grammatical components -- just a statement conveying a personal observation. I believe that this is part of its allure to readers. The simplicity of the sentence illustrates how Brooks can convey fascinatingly complex and abstract concepts (such as gratitude and its implications for people) in his articles while also retaining a simple, accessible element to his writing (which makes it that much more engaging for his readers). Throughout this piece, Brooks describes the nature of gratitude -- a topic which may seem nebulous and/or metaphysical to some readers. However, he continuously cycles back to insert the occasional brief, simple sentence to keep the pace and the content interesting and comprehensible. I appreciate Brooks' approach to sentence structure because it presents the perfect balance between complex and simple sentences, so as to reflect the elaborate nature of his ideas while also preserving his audience.
Article: "The Official GOP Debate Drinking Game Rules, Part 2" (Rolling Stone)
Sentence: "It was salacious, pathetic, vapid, undignified, degrading, uninformative and compelling, making it a model for how Americans will consume politics going forward in the reality TV era."
The sheer amount of adjectives in this sentence amazed me. Taibbi uses seven words as well as a comparison to describe the then-upcoming GOP debate. I had to look up two of the words (salacious and vapid) in order to really understand the description. This sentence conveys Taibbi's feelings of disgust and incredulousness towards the debate succinctly. I also happen to agree with him about the comparison to reality TV, so that made me like the sentence because I laughed.
Article: "Charlie Chaplin’s Scandalous Life and Boundless Artistry" by Richard Brody, The New Yorker, Sept. 18th, 2015
Sentence: "The most un-put-downable movie book of the season is also the most un-pick-uppable one."
What really gets me about this sentence (besides the fun use of repetition) is that, in its use of hyphenated non-words, it clearly communicates how Brody experiences art. He could have written "the best movie book of the season," or something of the sort, but instead he makes up a word, mixing and matching to capture the feeling. Even though the feeling of "un-put-downable-ness" might seem simple, it's clear that the author is experiencing this book in a way that transcends real words, that demands abstraction. What excites me about this idea is that Brody doesn't let convention get in the way of his emotional connections with art. This eliminates so many limits that I've seen in writing about art; it makes the writing seem closer to the art. I don't feel like I'm just reading an analytical review of this book; rather, I feel like I'm reading about a gut-feeling about this book (and other pieces of art that Brody has reviewed).
Article: "Italian spoils Serena Williams' Grand Slam tennis party in U.S. Open upset
Sentence: "Into this electric atmosphere walked Vinci, who herself had been No. 1 in the world for 110 weeks."
I am drawn to this sentence because it sets the stage nicely for the rest of the article. By using the phrase "electric atmosphere" Dwyre is placing the reader at the place of action. He is giving them a strong picture. This sentence also has a certain amount of build-up. By just reading this sentence I question where he is going next. To me this sentence draws me in and therefore it could be used as an opening line to the whole article or in the middle or end. By placing this sentence in the middle it urges the reader to keep reading. This sentence is the perfect length while not revealing to much or too little.
Article: The Google Art Heist (for some reason Maureen Dowd has not written another column yet)
Sentence: "The more playful Google gets, the more paranoid I get."
I like this sentence because it is simple and to the point, and it uses contrasting images to illustrate how the other feels. At the same time that it is counterintuitive, it also resonates with me because of the potential power that Google has. Google is something that is incredible and useful, but also something that is more worrying than any other company because of its sheer size and wealth of information.
Article: "Colin Kaepernick: Jarryd Hayne has come 'leaps and bounds'"
Sentence: "With Hyde rumbling for 168 yards on the ground, Kaepernick managing the offense cleanly, and the Niners' blitz-happy defense harassing Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with four sacks, Hayne's initial flub was a blip on the radar."
This article touches on the small, but crucial mistakes of Jarryd Hayne, the Forty-Niners' third string running back and punt returner. Hayne is an impressive athlete, transitioning from 9 years as an Australian rugby star to the NFL. I like this sentence because it states the recent success of the Niners as individuals and a team, in a playful manner. The writer, Paul Gutierrez is full of sentences similar to this one. Generally, Gutierrez writes small 300-400 word articles that hi-light recent plays or news surrounding the Niners. While his articles are concise and informative, he does so with wording in his sentence structure that draws in the reader. I like this sentence because he identifies Hayne's mistake in a manner that suggests it was a rookie mistake, without explicitly stating it.
Article: Why bad films aren't getting the respect they deserve (Joe Queenan)
Sentence: "A bad film that no one ever sees is like a beautiful sunset wasted on the blind, a gorgeous symphony wasted on the deaf, a fabulous meal wasted on someone who just joined Weight Watchers. "
I loved this sentence because it really captures Joe Queenan's biting humor that is present in all of his articles. He often employs the tactic of making interesting comparisons to emphasize the ridiculousness of a situation or make his point, and this sentence was a perfect example of that. The article overall is extremely funny, but this sentence is one of those sentences that make Joe Queenan funny in a unique manner. This sentence was extremely pleasing.
Article: The GOP’s busy, blusterous ‘Day One’
Sentence: OMG! What a day that will be.
This sentence perfectly reflects Cohen's sarcastic tone while discussing the Republican presidential candidates' plans for their first day in office. He is obviously opposed to many of their ideas, constantly finding faults in their arguments throughout the article. This sentence shows his opinion of the immaturity and lack of thought he believes the candidates brought to the debate last Friday. In the current age of texting and acronyms, we see LOLs and IDKs everywhere. When a well known political writer uses OMG to describe the events held in the first day of presidency, the tone is very clearly understood. This was a bold strategy, yet in the eyes of those watching the debate just to criticize, it probably fits the tone perfectly.
Article: Give our kids rights over their digital world. Let them be stupid and foolish
Sentence: "And please don’t go on about board games and Famous Five adventures."
This sentence seemed mediocre to me at first, but caught my attention with the conjunction start. The more I read it, the more I fell in love with it. Suzanne Moore breaks the fourth wall frequently, and this is a perfect example of that. The personal touches and sarcastic tone really give the reader insight into her tone while also making the article seem more directed at the reader themselves. She sounds exasperated here, as if she's writing a conversation. I think this style of writing humorous and easy to read. At first glance: mediocre-- at second glance: dazzling.
James Nolan, All the Reasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned
"We bring our children there and teach them to resent animals if they're not entertaining enough, then bring them home and feed them fish fingers and chicken nuggets – foods pulverised into indistinguishable mush – before wondering why the planet's in such rag order."
The use of hyphens in this sentence is great. Nolan's description of chicken nuggets and fish fingers is made so much more interesting when in between hyphens. I like how Nolan uses a very vivid and precise example of what "we" as humans do at zoos then compares it directly to "us" wondering why things aren't right in the world. He uses a really small piece of life to make a bigger point and this sentence is crucial in making that point.
Article: South Carolina
Sentence: "Controversial days in South Carolina — increasingly becoming known as the “Oh My God, What Did Those Prehistoric Bastards Do Now?” state, following the shooting of Walter Scott and new anti-abortion legislation to shut down its abortion clinics."
This sentence immediately captured my attention due to both the variety, and also, amount of punctuation. Using dashes alone is bold for me, however, Caitlin not only uses dashes, but also puts two questions inside of those dashes (capitalizing all the words within one of those questions). This instantly made me feel that Caitlin was an extremely confident -- and therefore, talented-- writer. It also immediately made me agree with what she was saying and made me feel as if I was in on the joke with her, even though I wasn't at some points (at most points.) I also felt that her tone was humorous and sarcastic at times without coming off as too negative or "ranty," which is impressive. I think that this was definitely an effective sentence.
Article: Vinyl countdown: How do three new subscription services stack up?
Lanre Bakare, 9/16/15
Sentence: Now there are a group of companies committed to reclaiming the vinyl collection as an honourable pursuit rather than an ephemeral fetish or a “lifestyle choice”.
I chose this sentence because I was dazzled by the structure. Although the sentence could be a little leaner, it is pretty admirable how well he uses a simple sentence to pack a lot of descriptions into one clause. Bakare is a big fan of run-ons and over utilizing the thesaurus. In this he (sort of) reigns in on his run-on- ness, but I think in this case he perfectly illustrates what he was trying to put forth in the article. This sentence also reveals a lot about his fondness of jam packing comparisons, descriptions, and various references in to one sentence, all to provoke a specific image in the reader’s mind.
Article: "Enough Is Enough" by Charles M. Blow, New York Times, August 27, 2015
"Maybe I should have been done the one and only time I ever met Trump and his first words to me were a soliloquy about how black people loved him, and he was the most popular white man among black people."
This sentence says it all for me, the idea of this sentence even though simple is so complex. I love how he uses the italics to mock trump in his assumption of his own "big headedness" in the idea that he has captivated the African American race. I'm infatuated with the one italicized word "black" because even knowing the correct terminology of a so called black male or female is African American, the characterizing word black is used by people in power to show how different people are. It is almost like a call to arms, what team will you be one the black, white, red, or brown? Even though he talks about how he is done with the idea of a man so foolish being in power and the center of all the attention he conveys the still lingering oppression among everyone.
Article: "Nationals vs. Orioles weather forecast: Showers likely, game in jeopardy" by Jason Samenow
"An area of rain is likely to move through the region during the game."
It's short. It's to the point. I would say that it's short and sweet, except it's not. I guess this is pretty subjective, but in comparison to the last article I read from Samenow, this is insanely boring. I haven't read enough of Samenow to make a great conclusion about him, but based on this sentence, it looks like Samenow was either in a rush to submit this article or something. Yet again, this is the weather, but he was able to make at least some of it interesting.
Article: The Man Who Toppled a President (9/15/15)
Sentence: Officials need to set aside their absurd nationalistic notions and legal excuses and allow international, independent experts to get to the bottom of these cases.
While this might not be the best sentence to represent Ramos’ style, I believe that it shows how he is very critical in his writing. Despite that he does not use a fancy sentence structure, the words he chooses are very reflective of his opinions. For instance, when he says “absurd nationalistic notions”, he is expressing how he feels about the Mexican Government’s controversial actions. I also like how he uses words like “need” and “allow” in this sentence because they help show Ramos’ serious and strong tone in the sentence. The different choices Ramos makes in his sentences show how he is really passionate about the different topics he talks about and uses his writing to show his views to the public.
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