The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Literary Analysis:
Semester 1: Personal Writing Goals
1. I shall not use passive voice so that my writing is clear and understandable. An example of passive voice is: ....for laughing when Deacon makes a fuss about the way the class is being taught. Here is how this sentence would be rephrased: ...for laughing when Deacon makes a fuss about how the class is taught.
2. I shall streamline my sentences in order to get my point across in a clearer way. Here is an example of my original sentence: In the mid 1830s, Henry David Thoreau was teaching at a school. This is an example of my streamlined sentence: In the mid 1830s, Henry David Thoreau teach at a school. By streamlining this sentence, I make my point using less words.
3. I shall condense my quotes so that they only include the actual information. Here is part of an original quote: ...And if I have jotted down a note about a cloud-flame, or about sunlight on two bird-wings, don’t you write just because I am writing. Don’t ape me, or copy me. (Riffling through his notebook.) If you wish to merely to listen to the sky, or smell the sky, or feel the sky with your finger-tips, do that, too! (29). In the condensed version, only the main point of the quote is shown: “If you wish to merely to listen to the sky, or smell the sky, or feel the sky with your finger-tips, do that, too!” (29).
2. I shall streamline my sentences in order to get my point across in a clearer way. Here is an example of my original sentence: In the mid 1830s, Henry David Thoreau was teaching at a school. This is an example of my streamlined sentence: In the mid 1830s, Henry David Thoreau teach at a school. By streamlining this sentence, I make my point using less words.
3. I shall condense my quotes so that they only include the actual information. Here is part of an original quote: ...And if I have jotted down a note about a cloud-flame, or about sunlight on two bird-wings, don’t you write just because I am writing. Don’t ape me, or copy me. (Riffling through his notebook.) If you wish to merely to listen to the sky, or smell the sky, or feel the sky with your finger-tips, do that, too! (29). In the condensed version, only the main point of the quote is shown: “If you wish to merely to listen to the sky, or smell the sky, or feel the sky with your finger-tips, do that, too!” (29).