How do I become better at literature?

[fyleow]

..

 

[brtspears2]

I just try to write what I think. I dont pay attention to guidelines or any standard essay format, as thats a bunch of crap. Your ideas go much farther than following some outline.

 

[WhiteWonder]

Originally posted by: brtspears2
I just try to write what I think. I dont pay attention to guidelines or any standard essay format, as thats a bunch of crap. Your ideas go much farther than following some outline.

I agree, and try not to think to much while writing it.

 

[Darien]

1. Write essay
2. Take break
3. Reread essay and correct initial mistakes
4. Have people (hopefully more than 1) read your essay -- this includes those in your class and those that aren't in your class
5. Edit
6. Back to step 2...continue until you are satisfied with the result



Reading aloud also works



Look for things that could potentially be flaws. I'm quite bad at this...when I don't get sleep. ( only one more final...then sleep... ) This includes diction, syntax, wording, use of rhetoric, etc...

 

[wolf papa]

be selective in what you read, the books or magazines that you read can influence what you write.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Always have a real point of view for any opinion essays, always understand the material for summary essays. A professor can easily tell whether you know what you're trying to say or are just spewing words to meet a page length requirement.

It also helps to do a lot of reading, in a variety of areas not just in some narrow dumbed-down genre like Star Trek novels or murder mysteries.

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you want to become better at writing essays and literature, the best way to learn is practice. Write more essays and increase your vocabulary. Once you gain a larger selection of words to choose from, your language will start becoming increasingly sophisticated. See how that b.s. I just wrote sounded? I would try to use plenty of transitional words and phrases. These work wonders for any literary works that you may be writing and can balance any writing you do to sound much better....they wow many professors too.

 

[StageLeft]

You need to practice, but you also need to read a LOT. That's how I became the lyrical Jesse James, a sight better than the Thames, and nobody can do the sames, baby!

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: fyleow
Practice with what though? What should I write about? I think my main problem is I don't do a proper outline before I write. There are times where I would get in the middle of an essay and I'll go "Crap this doesn't even make sense at all".

But it REALLY confuses me. The teacher keep saying "don't summarize the book, play etc" but how much is too much or too little. Yea I know you are supposed to assume that the reader has read and understand the works that you reference to. However you have to do some explanation to get your point across right?

I'm talking out my bunghole here, but I'm more than happy to share my opinions:

There are two major points to writing well: Knowing how to write, and knowing what to write. The first point is covered by Scarpozzi; focus on vocabulary, basic grammar, diction, transitions, and paragraph structure. I've seen many attempts at college-level essays look like they were written by highschool dropouts, with poor grammar and punctuation, and overly choppy sentence structure. Sadly, many of those piss-poor efforts end up with not only passing, but halfway respectable grades. The second point, knowing what to write, often depends on the instructor; in general you should avoid rehashing the basic plot and look deeper at themes and character development. What insights does xxxxx offer regarding the human condition?

Assume the reader has read the work that you're discussing, that they need your insight and opinion, not a plot synopsis.

 

[Scarpozzi]

that they need your insight and opinion, not a plot synopsis

That's the key. You want to develop a thought or feeling about the works that you're writing about. Try to figure out what the author was thinking and then come up with you own interpretation. The only reason literature is even a subject is because it teaches you to use your mind to figure out what the heck all those dead people who wrote the original works were writing about. They may be writing about waves crashing and it turns out that it's symbolism for sex or something. They did all kinds of weird things like that back in those days because it was the only way they could express those topics....through literary symbolism.

 

[TheVrolok]

What type of things do you read? Ever since I began high school I've made it my goal to read every novel I find on a "Classics" shelf at a bookstore, basically any novel deemed worthy to be considered a classic. I would say all that I've read has had an influence on my reading and writing skills.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: brtspears2
I just try to write what I think. I dont pay attention to guidelines or any standard essay format, as thats a bunch of crap. Your ideas go much farther than following some outline.

Exactly what I do.

Then go back over it and correct mistakes. Have a friend read it maybe.