Writing Smart, 3rd edition - Princeton Review 2018

Introduction

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is…the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

—Mark Twain

Why are writing skills so important?

The written word is a powerful tool. It can tell a story, inform, persuade, evoke emotion, and more——often more effectively than can be done verbally. The ability to write properly, effectively, and in a compelling manner can vastly improve your chances for success in almost any endeavor. People often form strong opinions about you based on your facility with the written word.

Unfortunately, however, the widespread use of modern technology has created the false impression that writing skills don’t matter much anymore. After all, when texting and email allow for nearly instantaneous written communication, how can we hold such casual exchanges to any meaningful standard? Moreover, in the age of spellcheck and autocorrect, who really needs knowledge that our phones, tablets, and computers can store and apply for us? The truth is that we all do. Technology cannot compensate for poor writing skills. The inability to express yourself clearly creates a negative impression—even in the 21st century.

In some ways, writing standards are as stringent as ever. For example, standardized tests like the SAT and various AP Exams are moving toward an emphasis on writing skills. The SAT now has a Writing and Language section as well as an optional essay, while several AP Exams have been redesigned to feature more free-response questions. Similarly, many undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs place great emphasis upon the personal statements required for admissions to ensure a minimum level of competency. Even in jobs that don’t require much formal education, people are now more likely to email or text one another instead of conversing face to face. More and more, communication to carry out personal business or simply socialize is handled in writing in the form of texts or email. Rest assured that you are being critically evaluated when you do so.

Perhaps this is why many people feel uncomfortable writing anything they know will be read by someone else, whether it is a research paper, a cover letter, or a project proposal. A central principle of this book is that clear, organized, and effective writing is highly achievable when you put in a little time, effort, and practice.

The key components of good writing are clarity and honesty. Clarity is for your reader. Unless you write clearly and coherently, your reader will wander from sentence to sentence, never fully grasping your point. Honesty is for you. You will write better when you understand what you are writing.

Why the princeton review?

We are the leader in test preparation. Each year we help more than two million students through our courses, online student services and products, and best-selling books. Whether you’re looking for help choosing the right college or trying to get a good score on a standardized test like the SAT, ACT, GRE, or MCAT, we’re here to make it happen.

Our approach is simple: we teach what you need to know and try to make it interesting and fun at the same time. In preparing students for various standardized tests, we spend much of our time helping students develop practical writing skills, including knowledge of key grammar rules and vocabulary. The ability to express your ideas clearly and succinctly in a written format is essential, regardless of your profession or discipline.

How to use this book

Writing Smart covers a variety of writing, from research papers to professional letters, breaking down the writing process into straightforward steps. In short, do what works for you. Here’s a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of this book so you know what to expect:

· Chapters 1 through 4 cover the building blocks of writing, beginning with some basic tips for getting ready to write, followed by brief lessons on basic grammar and punctuation rules, as well as words and how to put them together to make well-constructed sentences.

· Chapters 5 through 10 each focus on a different type of writing. Each chapter outlines a step-by-step process, provides you with editing drills as well as writing samples. At the end of each chapter is specific formatting information that you can use for your own writing projects, and a list of recommended reading.

· Finally, the Appendix contains helpful reference information, including a glossary of key terms covered in the book, a list of common grammar errors to avoid when writing, and frequently asked questions related to the subjects of writing and grammar.

With this said, there’s no right way to read this book. If you feel you already have a solid grasp of grammar and just want to focus on writing research papers, skip to that chapter. If you’re great at writing research papers but need help starting an essay, head over to the chapter on personal essays. And if you have no problem at all with academic assignments but are completely stumped when it comes to writing cover letters, focus on the chapter on professional writing. Do what works for you.

Note that this book covers nonfiction writing only. If you are interesting in learning about fiction writing, we recommend The Art of Fiction by John Gardner.

Writing means getting words on paper, and good writing means getting words on paper clearly. Once you understand this distinction, you are on your way to better prose. Working through this book will improve your writing, but your instruction should not end there. The other sure way to improve your writing is to read more! The more you read, the more you’ll understand how writing works, and you’ll notice certain patterns and rhythms in writing that you can learn to replicate with practice.

Now off we go!