Sense of Structure, The: Writing from the Reader's Perspective 1st Edition

by George Gopen (Author)

42 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0205296323

ISBN-10: 0205296327

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This composition text provides an insightful guide to writing clearly and effectively.

Reflecting on the author's decades of experience as an international writing consultant, writer, and instructor, The Sense of Structure teaches writing from the perspective of readers. This text demonstrates that readers have relatively fixed expectations of where certain words or grammatical constructions will appear in a unit of discourse. By bringing these intuitive reading processes to conscious thought, this text provides students with tools for understanding how readers interact with the structure of writing, from punctuation marks to sentences to paragraphs, and how meaning and purpose are communicated through structure.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 1st edition (January 8, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0205296327
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0205296323
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.53 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 3.94 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #356,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #546 in Creative Writing & Composition
- #563 in Rhetoric (Books)
- #1,789 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)

Customer Reviews:
42 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		12%
3 star		15%
2 star		6%
1 star		5%

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Paula Braley

Every writer should read this book...

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2012

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I had to purchase this book for an English class "Elements of Style" and yes, of course, we had to buy the Strunk and White (not that every writer doesn't already have at least two copies), but this book surprised me. Gopen keeps hammering that you must write from the reader's perspective in order to make yourself understood. Well, duh, (did you understand that?), but a lot of the points he makes about basic sentence structure is illuminating. For example: psychologically, some punctuation sets up the reader to expect certain things, and it is important that the writer deliver on those expectations or the reader will either a - not understand, or b - stop reading; and, if the reader is lost, the writing will be forgotten.

Not only interesting as a textbook, "The Sense of Structure" will remain a reference book for the rest of my writing - and audience reading - life. Thank you George, for casting a rather harsh, but forgiving, light on my prose. It can only get better from here.

7 people found this helpful

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JWLS

If the book is anything like the seminars

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2016

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I've not read the book yet, so this review is more based on my experience attending a similar-themed lecture series presented by Gopen at Duke University in 2007 (book published in 2004). If the book is anything like the seminars, it's very valuable resource going over the finer art of syntax and structure in english writing. The biggest challenge is that it requires practice, much like any skill. After I attended the seminar series I dropped off the wagon, so to speak. In contrast, some of my friends worked through a few manuscripts applying what they learned, and felt they mastered the skills within 2-3 manuscript edits. Their writing is absolutely clearer that most other writers, which helps much in the publication process. I finally bought the book to refresh what I learned during the seminar series. Wish me luck!

4 people found this helpful

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Roger Townsend

The best book on writing English extant

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2004

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The author, George Gopen, is a professor of rhetoric and a consultant to many firms about writing. Gopen presents a different approach to writing---one that focuses on what a reader is likely to glean from your writing. Thus, he assumes you are writing to communicate with another person, rather than simply to please yourself. If this is true, and it almost always will be, then Gopen's techniques cannot be bested. He concentrates on "tools, not rules," with the paramount concern being whether the reader is likely to understand the writer's intention.

His techniques are largely structural, based on current research into how readers of English read. His techniques, moreover, are objective, which solves the problem of how to edit your own work so that it will mean to a reader what it means to you. Gopen also provides practical tips on how to structure both sentences and paragraphs for proper emphasis. He demonstrates how to manipulate the story being told to ensure the reader is not left in the dark about what is being communicated. He concludes with a non-dogmatic guide to punctuation and grammatical tools, designed to improve communication under various circumstances.

To learn the specific techniques, read Gopen's book. I assure you that you will never have encountered a better approach to writing.

36 people found this helpful

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Soham

Excellent book

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2013

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Professor Gopen is a charismatic lecturer - I attended his seminar, used the techniques he suggested in my own manuscript and grant writing (which were highly effective) and bought this book.

Aside from working closely with mentors who carefully critique your writing, there is nothing I have come across that will improve the clarity of your writing more than "writing from the reader's perspective"

Would suggest to all professionals or students who write regularly - this will likely make a huge difference in your ability to communicate to your readers.

6 people found this helpful

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Cengiz G

Superb writing aid

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2009

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I knew about this book before -- I had borrowed it from a library. When the due date came, I was still using it. It improved the way I formulate and think about writing so much that I wish I had this book long time ago. Unlike the usual writing course, it doesn't give you a list of rules to follow, but teaches you the 'sense' behind good writing practises so that you can use your own judgement. That's why you don't forget the lessons learned from this book. Highly recommended.

5 people found this helpful

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Carl Stormer

If you need one book on writing, this is it!

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2012

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This is probably best book I have read on how to structure and craft good sentences. The reader's ability to grasp your message relies more on structure (85% according to Gopen) and less on the words you choose. If you fail to provide a good structure -- i.e. in accordance with reader expectations -- you will divert the readers attention away from trying to understand the message as the reader instead tries to makes sense of your structure. "In order for the reader to understand what the writer means, the writer must understand what the reader needs." Elegant, intelligent and extremely useful book.

2 people found this helpful

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XeDr

Help your reader out!

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2014

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There is definitely more than one way to write clearly and effectively, but many of those ways are not readily teachable. Gopen has a systematic, effective approach that is teachable. Learn it. Know it. Live it.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2016

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Perfect

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

AmyMo

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2017

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Superb - very expensive, but in my opinion worth the money.

Tonie M. van Dam

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2016

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arrived on time and as described. could not ask for more.

Dario

The paperback material and paper collage is just hoorrible. The content is 5 starts though!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 10, 2013

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George Gopen is just great. I listened to him once in a workshop and had to get this book. He revolutionized my writing. Too bad for the paperback material and paper collage: just terrible and completely not worthy of its content. I'm a scientist but would recommend this book to anyone.

DAN AU

Better than Expected - a must read for every aspiring writer

Reviewed in Singapore on September 15, 2020

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I was reading a few books on prose and style when one of the books highly recommended Sense of Structure as a source of reference for aspiring writers. After reading the first chapter, I have to say the content is surprisingly good and it teaches exactly what the title of the book claims to do: writing from the reader's perspective.

The author convincingly debunk some of the common myths in styles such the need to avoid weak verb and passive voice. The authors shows how what seems to be weak verb and passive voice can be most apt in construction under certain context. Examples are provided to illustrate "best stylists are often our most violent violators of rules in writing".

Content wise, this book definitely deserves a five star, but I am deducting one because the binding is the worst of all the books I have bought so far--I could not open the book completely which makes reading a bit difficult.

Having said that, I strongly recommend this book to all who are keen to improve their writing. I have read a few top-selling books on styles but none of them match Sense of Structure in terms of clear presentation for readers and step-by-step illustrations with examples. One that could match is Writing and Thinking by Norman Foerster, John M. Jr. Steadman (another five star rated book). Both of these books do not have much review which I wonder why, but they are now my best collections and I am savoring every bit of what the authors have artfully penned down.

john laskin

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2018

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Superb. I wish I had read it 10 years ago.

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