AboutDan Smith Expertise I have been a professional writer and editor for more than 30 years, taught speech and English composition at the university level, and have developed speech and English composition courses and seminars for businesses. I am experienced in editing a wide variety of materials, especially business, scientific, and other academic papers. I am familiar with all the major style guides.
Experience I have edited any number of graduate papers and other technical materials in such advanced fields as civil and electrical engineering and semiconductor fabrication. I have extensive experience in working with non-native English speakers.
Expert: Dan Smith Date: 12/15/2007 Subject: essay help/info ??
Question hello dan i wonder if you can help ? or give me some information as to where i would start looking for help in writing an essay ? i went back to the local adult art school in september to study photography ,everything is ok however the only fly in the ointment is ive been asked to write an essay ?? ive been given 2 subjects (old famous photographers)and ive gathered heaps of info on both (quite interesting really ) i have to write a paper on both of there lives/careers/and comparesons of there work i know what i need to do but its been 30 years since i was at school and dont know how to begin ? i.e. how to work it all out ,without going on too much or not writing enough ,any tips or ideas would be gratefully received thanks john.
Answer I can give you editorial or tutorial assistance with this on any of several levels and will be happy to explain the possibilities to you in detail if you will write to me privately at
dan@wordsmithofaustin.com
Other than that, I have this general suggestion. It would be extremely helpful if you would stop practicing writing poorly in your e-mails (and anything else you write). If you practice writing poorly (no punctuation, no caps, misspelled words, and general carelessness), that is what you will become most proficient at: writing poorly. Remember, whenever you write something your first consideration should be to make things easy for your reader. You want to communicate. Your typing conveniences is not of even secondary importance; it is an entirely trivial consideration. Everything you write is an opportunity to practice writing well. And since language is the primary tool with which we think, it is also an opportunity practice thinking well.
