Definition and Examples of Overwriting

Overwriting is a wordy writing style characterized by excessive detail, needless repetition, overwrought figures of speech, and/or convoluted sentence structures. For writers striving for color, advises author and editor Sol Stein, try, fly, experiment, but if it shows strain, if it isnt accurate, cut it (Stein on Writing, 1995). Examples and Observations Overwriting is the failure to make choices. . . . Linguistic bric-a-brac is literatures Elvis on velvet.(Paula LaRocque, Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing. Marion Street, 2000)[Andrew] Davidsons approach is scattergun: for every lovely image (the unholy yoga of his crash), there is a horrible, almost parodic piece of overwriting (a cheese strand dangled from her mouth to the edge of her nipple, and I wanted to rappel it like a mozzarella commando).(James Smart, The Gargoyle. The Guardian, September 27, 2008)Even Great Writers Can OverwriteNote that some critics deeply admire the following passages by John Updike and Joan Didion. With uncommon perception, says Thomas L. Martin, Updike offers the beauty of these several figures which, lined up, converge in a significatory pattern as do these drops--in a single figurative mosaic (Poiesis and Possible Worlds, 2004). Likewise, the excerpt from On Self-Respect, one of Didions best-known essays, is frequently quoted appr ovingly. Other readers, however, argue that Updikes images and Didions figurative comparisons are self-conscious and distracting--in a word, overwritten. Decide for yourselves.- It was a window enchanted by the rarity with which I looked from it. Its panes were strewn with drops that as if by amoebic decision would abruptly merge and break and jerkily run downward, and the window screen, like a sampler half-stitched, or a crossword puzzle invisibly solved, was inlaid erratically with minute, translucent tesserae of rain.(John Updike, Of the Farm, 1965)- Although to be driven back upon oneself is an uneasy affair at best, rather like trying to cross a border with borrowed credentials, it seems to me now the one condition necessary to the beginnings of real self-respect. Most of our platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that very well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions. One shuffles flashily but in vain through ones marked cards--the kindness done for the wrong reason, the apparent triumph which involved no real effort, the seemingly heroic act into which one had been shamed.(Joan Didion, On Self-Respect. Slouching Towards Bethlehem, 1968)Weltys WordinessSometimes writers get so excited about specificity and description that they begin to confuse them with mere wordiness. This is called overwriting and is a common early malady in apprentice writers. . . .Heres one of Eudora Weltys early first sentences: Monsieur Boule inserted a delicate dagger in Mademoiselles left side and departed with a poised immediacy.The solution to overcoming overwriting . . . is simply to exercise restraint and to remember the notion of immediacy. Weltys sentence, short of its too-fancy verbs and its excess of adjectives, might simply have read, Monsieur Boule stabbed Mademoiselle with a dagger an d left the room in a hurry.(Julie Checkoway, Creating Fiction: Instruction and Insights From Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs. Writers Digest Books, 2001)Daniel Harris on OverwritingEven as my prose congealed into epic similes that grew more and more outlandish, I displayed absolute intolerance for the overwriting of others whose prose allowed me to study my own shortcomings at several removes, from a vantage point far above the vendetta I was waging as the self-appointed hatchet man of minority fiction. Often I was so blind to my tendency to write purple prose that I overwrote in the very act of criticizing overwriting, as . . . when I praised Patricia Highsmith, who, unlike other American writers, was so committed to telling her story that she never had any time to single out something for its own sake, to pluck it up from its context, and pet it from head to toe with long, voluptuous strokes of adjectives and metaphors. Far from being smug about my skills as a writer, I was bitterly frustrated, divided between my need to entertain my audience and my abhorrence of the prose that resulted from my acrobatic efforts to maintain my readers interest.(Daniel Harris, A Memoir Of No One In Particular. Basic Books, 2002)Do Not OverwriteRich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating. If the sickly sweet word, the overblown phrase are a writers natural form of expression, as is sometimes the case, he will have to compensate for it by a show of vigor, and by writing something as meritorious as the Song of Songs, which is Solomons.(William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1979)

Hip Hop An Evolving Youth Culture - 1461 Words

Hip-hop is influential on a family s relationship, the life, and education of the new generation. When talking about the culture of Hip-hop one should know about lifestyle influence and literary development. â€Å"Hip Hop is Now: An Evolving Youth Culture†, is about how hip-hop has been an influence on society, primarily the youth. Also, how the younger generation treats life differently compared to the older generation. The article is written by Carl Taylor and Virgil Taylor. â€Å"Promoting Academic Literacy with Urban Youth through Engaging Hip-Hop Culture† is written by, Ernest Morrell and Jeffrey M. R. Duncan-Andrade. The article is about how hip-hop can effectively become a part of school literacy. Both articles are centered around the influence on hip-hop. One tells how hip-hop has been an influence of life, the second article explains how hip-hop can be an academic influence. On August 11, 2015 hip-hop had developed to see 42 years of age. Though four point two decades seems like a large amount of time it is a minor amount compared to other genres such as gospel and classical, hip-hop is still young and developing. Hip-hip is still a youthful sprout, though it has been able to plant robust roots that have reached out around the world. With hip-hop set as one of the most powerful forms of music it is also a fundamental line to inspire lifestyle, character, and personal actions. For some youths it’s the only source of knowledge about what goes on in the street and governmentShow MoreRelatedYouth And The Hip Hop Youth Culture1695 Words   |  7 PagesAustralian Youth Culture Introduction Youth has various definitions. It can be considered as a state of mind, a life stage, or a stage of development. Youth can also be considered as a creation of marketing and a demographic category. Youth cultures as well as subcultures based on the theory or theories applied refer to cultures that in most part comprise of young people as the members. Youth cultures are determined by ways of living and they revolve around peer groups that stress a definitiveRead MoreWhat is Hip Hop?1057 Words   |  5 Pagescontroversy regarding the derogative nature of Hip-hop, One cannot downplay the cultural influences that hip-hop has impressed on the world. Merriam-Webster defines hip-hop as the stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rap (citation). Although the conventional definition of hip-hop is generally correct, it does not adequately portray the gravity of the movement. Coined by the urban youth, Hip-hop has forced its way to the pinnacle of mainstream America. Hip-hop’s massive influence on the EnglishRead MoreHip Hop And Hip Rap Music1144 Words   |  5 PagesHip hop music has delivered messages of freedom of expression, unity, peace, and protest against social injustices, for the past 30 years. But exactly when and where did it begin, and what impact has it had on our society? The hip hop beats created by DJs in the 70s actually sparked what is now known as hip hop culture. Hip hop culture originally included rapping, break dancing, graffiti, beat boxing, and looping and scratching, and has now includes urban clothing and cars, speech patterns and slangRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Music On The Youth Culture1316 Words   |  6 Pagessupport the reason how Hip-hop has such an impact on the youth culture, how Hip-hop is valued, and how the music and its lyrics are interpreted. Changing Images of Violence Rap music lyrics: 1979-1997 Hip- hop has both a negative and positive impact on African American lives. Over the past three decades, Hip-hop has arisen as a cultural and artistic aspect, influencing youth culture around the world. Hip-hop echo’s the social, economic, political, and culture matter and conditionsRead MoreRap Music : Influence On Violent Behavior1379 Words   |  6 PagesMUSIC’S INFLUENCE ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES: A REVIEW Kaland Farrow Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University  RAP MUSIC’S INFLUENCE ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES: A REVIEW Rap music is derived from Hip Hop culture which is deeply rooted in the African American community. The word, rap, has a Middle English origin. Originally, rap means to beat or strike. Beginning in the 1960s, African Americans gave the word another definition. In the black community,Read MoreHip Hop And Rap Music1505 Words   |  7 PagesSwiss Hip Hop and Rap According to Michael Dyson and Wikipedia, Hip hop music and Hip Hop culture formed during the 1970s when block parties became increasingly popular in New York City. The genre became home to and was developed by African American youth residing in the Bronx. Block parties involved DJs playing very percussive breaks of popular songs Then Rapping developed as the primary vocal style of the genre. Hip hop s early evolution occurred as sampling technology and drum-machines becameRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Hip Hop Planet By James Mcbride1383 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Writer James McBride, who wrote the essay Hip Hop Planet, spent most of his life disliking the culture of hip hop, but after some research and personal experience, he had a change of heart. The purpose of his essay is to shine a positive light on hip hop culture and move his audience-- people who think it is all bad-- to have a change of heart like him, and to achieve his purpose, he uses rhetorical strategies includi ng appeals, specific diction, and meticulous sentence structure. McBrideRead MoreHip Hop And Its Impact On American Culture933 Words   |  4 Pages Do you remember a time, during which hip hop music was a voice against African American oppression? Honestly, it is hard to tell nowadays. Even though hip hop was a concept coined my American artists, it is rooted in many cultures among different nations. It is one of the only nationalistic movements that have not lost its fundamental heritage throughout the test of time. Hip hop music has always been a voice for the voiceless, but in the past decade, the music genre has declined into commercialismRead MoreHip Hop Culture Then Vs. Now1548 Words   |  7 PagesHip-hop Culture Then Vs. Now Hip-hop is an underground urban movement which emerged in the South Bronx, NY during the early 1970s. Hip-hop is composed of four basic elements; DJ-ing, emceeing (rapping), graffiti and style, and break dancing. These elements are how most people recognize hip-hop culture. Many other people think of hip-hop as just a music genre, but it is more than just a music genre. It is cultivating way of living, and several people fail to understand its true meaningRead More Multiculturalism In Music Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pageselicit an aesthetic response in a listener† (Morris, 864). This country’s youth is unlike any others, we have much control over what we do, and music is something that evolves around all of us. In this essay, I will discuss the evolution of youth music ranging from early rock, to today’s hip hop stars, from a muliculturalistic point of view. Multiculturalism is â€Å" a term identifying the presence of several significant culturesâ⠂¬  (Stark, 434). Without the presence of multiculturalism, music may not be

Drunk Driving free essay sample

Issues discussed include State laws, deaths, incidence, views on alcoholism, focusing on weaknesses in the NJ law. Drunk driving results in a substantial number of injuries and deaths each year. In alone, people sustained injuries in alcohol-related accidents and in it is estimated that people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes, this amounts to an average of one every minutes. This figure represents of the total number of traffic fatalities for the year. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, (MADD) states that; On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every Drunk Driving free essay sample Know the Consequences At a young age, I encountered situations that forever altered my perspective on certain situations. Death is a part of life; we live, and we die. However I strongly believe if we make better choices, our lives can be prolonged. As I research how every day in America, 27 people die in an impaired driving fatality every 53 minutes it brings me back to the time I lost my role model. My cousin Heaths poor actions not only cost him to lose his life, but others lives were lost to. At the time, I never grasped how many people drink and drove. I had always thought it was common sense, everybody should know not to do it. As I got to High school I fully comprehended how much stupidity everybody had concerning the matter. I quickly learned the term Designated Driver really meant who could be belligerently drunk, but be able to keep in in between the lines the best. We will write a custom essay sample on Drunk Driving or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Car crashes are the leading cause of Deaths involving teenagers. At least one quarter of those deaths are due to drunk driving. Seeing the consequences of impaired driving first handedly has forever changed my life. I pray that people would research and see for themselves how absurd driving nder the influence is. How it not only can affect your life, but others lives to. Studies show that alcohol quickly and effectively manipulate and effect the human brain. Ones brain is referred to as an Intricate Maze made up of particular connections that run our physical and psychological processes. Disruptions of these connections (Alcohol) completely alters the way our brain functions. The consumption of too much alcohol hinders the pace of communication between neurotransmitters found in your brain. In other words you dont think logistically. Heres a few regions of he brain that are mostly effected when consumption of alcohol. Cerebellum- this area controls morot coordination. Damage to the cerebellum results in a loss of balance stubling, and also may affect cognitive functions such as temporary and emotional response. Limbic System- this complex brain system monitors a variety of tasks including memory and emotion. Damage to this area impairs each of these functions. Cerebral Cortex- Our abilities to think, plan, BEHAVE INTELLIGENTLY and interact socially stem from this brain region. In addition, this area connects the brain to the rest of the nervous system. Changes and damages to this area impair the ability to solve problems, remember, and learn. If we could better our education about the consequences of impaired driving, we could prevent the life changing situations that you are about to read about. May 14, 1998 is a date that will forever be remembered in Carrollton Kentucky. Unfortunately it is not a day to remember for good. It was a day of heartrending. Thirty-six year old Larry Mahoney drove his Toyota Tacoma down the opposite side of the road on Interstate 71 (People). He had a head on collision with a school bus full of verybody inside. Twenty-four children and three adults perished in the fire. Of those whom escaped, twelve suffered from severe burns. They were coming home from a church convention. All of those little children lost their innocence and they will never get it back. As I read what some of the survivors have to say about the accident, I find myself having to hold back tears. l couldnt breath. I knew my life was over and felt that frantic feeling that cant be described unless youVe gone through it. Someone on the outside grabbed my arm, put their foot on the bumper and iterally pulled me out I hit the asphalt and started running. Even though I couldnt see anything because my eyes were swollen shut I could hear the screams and the explosions (Harold Dennis). Id lost all of them. Words cant even begin to describe the loneliness, hurt and complete emptiness that I felt (Lee Williams). Williams lost his wife and his two daughters in the a ccident. Did Mahoney intend for that tragic accident to happen? No. However, it did due to his actions. The story that truly touched my heart as I was researching for this essay is a story bout a girl who was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela with the name of Jacqueline Saburito. Saburito took a break from college to live out the American Dream. She moved to Texas to learn English. She had been in Texas for a month, when an accident occurred that completely changed her life. She and five others were coming home from a birthday party in Austin, Texas Just after four in the morning on Sunday, September 19, 1999. In another car was an eighteen-year-old Reggie Stephie. Stephie was known as a stereotypical Joce, who had hopes of attending college on an athletic scholarship. He was out drinking with his friends, and attempted to drive home knowing he had too much to drink. His car drifted across the centerline and crashed into the car Jacqueline and her friends were in. Two of the five died immediately. Saburito encountered third-degree burns over sixty percent of her body after the car had caught on fire. As I was reading the story about this young girl it was as if I was paralyzed. I couldnt take my eyes off the computer screen because I truly couldnt comprehend how strong, and admirable Saburito is. She told the intoxicated driver she didnt loathe him for what he had done. That she had complete forgiveness in her heart for Stephie. As I said before, I have first handedly encountered the consequences of impaired driving. IVe seen lives ruined because of the foolish decisions we make by getting behind the wheel after one too many. Is it worth killing innocent children? Or to take the life of someone who was loved by so many. Someone who had ambitions and goals that are now thrown away because of something that can be one hundred percent prevented. Todays society needs to grow up; we need to put our foot down.