Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2007

If you're talking about my .sig it's done purposefully to try and
discourage people from replying to my posts.  Not that it matters much
since I always trim it from replies that I reply to, plus even in its
borked state it still conforms to thread continuity.  Now if I was TOP
POASTING my sig...yeah that would be stupid.  Although sometimes I use
the trick I'm using in this post if I REALLY want to discourage
followups.  ^_^

--

Onideus Mad Hatter
mhm ¹ x ¹
http://www.backwater-productions.net
http://www.backwater-productions.net/hatter-blog

Hatter Quotes
-------------
"You're only one of the best if you're striving to become one of the
best."

"I didn't make reality, Sunshine, I just verbally bitch slapped you
with it."

"I'm not a professional, I'm an artist."

"Your Usenet blinders are my best friend."

"Usenet Filters - Learn to shut yourself the f.ck up!"

"Drugs killed Jesus you know...oh wait, no, that was the Jews, my
bad."

"There are clingy things in the grass...burrs 'n such...mmmm..."

"The more I learn the more I'm killing my idols."

"Is it wrong to incur and then use the hate ridden, vengeful stupidity
of complete strangers in random Usenet froups to further my art?"

"Freedom is only a concept, like race it's merely a social construct
that doesn't really exist outside of your ability to convince others
of its relevancy."

"Next time slow up a lil, then maybe you won't jump the gun and start
creamin yer panties before it's time to pop the champagne proper."

"Reality is directly proportionate to how creative you are."

"People are pretty f.cking high on themselves if they think that
they're just born with a soul. *snicker*...yeah, like they're just
givin em out for free."

"Quible, quible said the Hare. Quite a lot of quibling...everywhere.
So the Hare took a long stare and decided at best, to leave the rest,
to their merry little mess."

"There's a difference between 'bad' and 'so earth shatteringly
horrible it makes the angels scream in terror as they violently rip
their heads off, their blood spraying into the faces of a thousand
sweet innocent horrified children, who will forever have the terrible
images burned into their tiny little minds'."

"How sad that you're such a poor judge of style that you can't even
properly gauge the artistic worth of your own efforts."

"Those who record history are those who control history."

"I am the living embodiment of hell itself in all its tormentive rage,
endless suffering, unfathomable pain and unending horror...but you
don't get sent to me...I come for you."

"Ideally in a fight I'd want a BGM-109A with a W80 250 kiloton
tactical thermonuclear fusion based war head."

"Tell me, would you describe yourself more as a process or a
function?"

"Apparently this group has got the market cornered on stupid.
Intelligence is down 137 points across the board and the forecast
indicates an increase in Webtv users."

"Is my .sig delimiter broken?  Really?  You're sure?  Awww,
gee...that's too bad...for YOU!"    `, )

Parts of speech

Conjunctions

Little words add up & fill space on a page.  The careful use of
conjunctions is important in critical thinking skills and logic, and
they effect correct punctuation, spelling, and choice of many other
words.

Verbs

Action words.  Verbs will rarely begin sentences, and individual verbs
will only ever be used in combination with a small set of relevant
nouns.

Adverbs

These are descriptive words that act on verbs.  They can easily
overcomplicate a paper, and will also exaggerate points and make them
read like broad generalizations.  But not all adverbs are as extreme,
and they can also be used to subject verbs to specific conditions.

Nouns

The second most common type of word, next to conjunctions.  Nouns can
be easily replaced by descriptive phrases using adjectives.

Adjectives

Adjectives are my favorite type of word.  They can replace nouns, and
be used to describe things without writing long overdrawn sentences.

Sentence(s)

    Beginning

Sentences should almost never begin with a conjunction.  Never take a
long sentence that doesn't read write, and divide it into pieces to
begin new sentences.  Each sentence should be fresh and original.
Sentences begin easily with abstract words like adjectives, and nouns
that don't necessarily imply something specific.  Personalize the
beginnings of sentences to move away from overextended writing.

    Subject

The subject of a sentence can be literally anything, but without the
rest of the pieces you are only describing a tired idea that countless
others have though about before.  Subjects are all too predictable.
It can be fun to bring up a subject that no one else would ever think
of, just to make a paper original.  But usually you should try to stay
in line with the subject of your paper or paragraph.

    Description

This is the fun part of sentences where you give them descriptive
flavor with phrases using adjectives or adverbs.  It is good to
naturally lead into any extensions in your sentence at this point, and
to think about how this description ties into the larger scope of a
paper.

    Extension

This is where you can use conjunctions to extend a sentence.  They
will sound natural if you add them to the end of your sentence for
fun, and you are actually trying to force any of your points out.  Try
adding something that is funny or emotional for a change, instead of
appealing only to logic.

    Conclusion

    The conclusion of the sentence is a definite end.  You don't have to
worry about         your next sentence picking up from where you leave off.
You want to make sure         the next sentence is fresh and original.
Another sentence can still support the         previous even if it remains
distinctive.

Paragraph(s

    Brainstorm

Brainstorm your paragraphs out and let all of your ideas flow on to
the paper.  You can build an outline of where you want to go from
there.  You can find your original ideas change for the better one you
start discovering what others have written about the subject and you
begin reading books about the material.

    Outline

Outlines are like notes you take of your brainstorming session.  You
build them like an object oriented flow chart.  Almost like a computer
program.

    Draft

Using your outline you draft up your first paper.  You can do as much
editing on it as you want, while you write it out.  At this stage your
paragraphs are as important as you want them to be.

    Revision

Now is the time to go back and rethink, reword, and rework
everything.  For me it is the part that is the least fun.  Usually it
is called a second draft.

Paper

    Topic

The choice of a topic isn't important at all.  Pick something
challenge and different.  You can always research it and write a
response to other author's works.

Audience

Considering you audience is the most important part.  English is a
language after all, and you need to speak the same language as the
people who are going to read you.  If you can anticipate criticism
then maybe you should pick another topic.

Slant

        Personal Experience

These papers are usually full of opinions

        Response to Material

        These papers are usually very objective

    Find a balance

Find a balance that combines good research, with a subject that is
interesting to you.

Purpose(s)

        Report
        Summarize
        Discuss
        Compare & Contrast
        Define
        Analyze
        Interpret
        Evaluate
        Argue

    Type

        Issue Analysis
        Advocacy or Persuasion
        Narrative Essay
        Argumentative Essay
        Interpretive Essay
        Evaluative Essay