Logic in Writing and Thinking: Speculation/Conjecture: D.O.N.’T. do it!
Do NOT use “if x would have happened, then…..”
Bad Example: If Little Red Riding Hood had just followed her mom’s advice, she wouldn’t have been attacked by the Big Bad Wolf.
Actually, we don’t know that this is true. He might have found her another way. (You know…..the whole FATE thing. What if their lockers were right next to each other in high school? (ummm. awkward.))
INSTEAD try: “Because x occurred, y was able to…..” or “When x (event/person) forced y’s hand, this caused z…..”
Good Example: Because LRRH fails to follow her Mom’s advice, she leaves that path, and that makes her ultimately responsible for opening herself up to attack by the BBW.
See? This way, we’re dealing with the evidence that we know to be true.
Also, avoid the construction: “This relates back to the theme of…..because…..” or “This connects back to the theme when….., because….”
This is often NOT ANALYSIS.
Bad Example: This relates to the main theme of staying on the path, because LRRH decides to ignore the advice of her parent, who knows better.
Actually, this is only re-hashing the same event. It does not contain an idea OR a theme.
INSTEAD: use an analysis verb.
Good Example: LRRH’s innocence and immaturity lead her into danger, and she makes a choice to leave the path, thus causing her own destruction.
Ahhhhh! Now you’ve said something new. LRRH is responsible for her own doom, not her parents, not the BBW.
Upgrade! in your analysis sentence, turn the event into a noun
For example: see where I used “innocence and immaturity” as the (compound) subject of the sentence? Those are her personality traits, which impelled her to make a choice, and that choice opened up opportunity for the Wolf.
Now you try!
Ms. Flinner
Do NOT use “if x would have happened, then…..”
Bad Example: If Little Red Riding Hood had just followed her mom’s advice, she wouldn’t have been attacked by the Big Bad Wolf.
Actually, we don’t know that this is true. He might have found her another way. (You know…..the whole FATE thing. What if their lockers were right next to each other in high school? (ummm. awkward.))
INSTEAD try: “Because x occurred, y was able to…..” or “When x (event/person) forced y’s hand, this caused z…..”
Good Example: Because LRRH fails to follow her Mom’s advice, she leaves that path, and that makes her ultimately responsible for opening herself up to attack by the BBW.
See? This way, we’re dealing with the evidence that we know to be true.
Also, avoid the construction: “This relates back to the theme of…..because…..” or “This connects back to the theme when….., because….”
This is often NOT ANALYSIS.
Bad Example: This relates to the main theme of staying on the path, because LRRH decides to ignore the advice of her parent, who knows better.
Actually, this is only re-hashing the same event. It does not contain an idea OR a theme.
INSTEAD: use an analysis verb.
Good Example: LRRH’s innocence and immaturity lead her into danger, and she makes a choice to leave the path, thus causing her own destruction.
Ahhhhh! Now you’ve said something new. LRRH is responsible for her own doom, not her parents, not the BBW.
Upgrade! in your analysis sentence, turn the event into a noun
For example: see where I used “innocence and immaturity” as the (compound) subject of the sentence? Those are her personality traits, which impelled her to make a choice, and that choice opened up opportunity for the Wolf.
Now you try!
Ms. Flinner