Definition and Examples of the Colloquial Style

The term colloquial refers to a style of writing that conveys the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English. As a noun, the term is a  colloquialism. A colloquial style is commonly used, for example, in  informal  emails  and  text messages. You wouldnt use it where you need to sound professional, serious, or knowledgeable, such as in presentations, meetings, business letters and memos, and academic papers. As a literary device, it would be used in fiction and theater, especially in dialogue and internal narration of characters. Its more likely to be in lyrics as well. Colloquial writing is a conversational style, but its not writing exactly how you talk, either, Robert Saba said.  To do that would be bad writing — wordy, repetitive, disorganized.  A conversational style is  a default style, a  drafting  style, or point of departure that can serve as a consistent foundation for your writing. It is the style of a painter doing sketches for a painting, not the painting itself. Conversational writing as a style, then, is still more refined, composed, and precise than talking because of the ability to self-edit and polish the words. On using the conversational style in essays, critic Joseph Epstein wrote, While there is no firmly set, single style for the  essayist, styles varying with each particular essayist, the best general description of essayistic style was written in 1827 by  William Hazlitt  in his essay  Familiar Style.  To write a genuine familiar or truly English style, Hazlitt wrote, is to write as any one would speak in common conversation who had a thorough command and  choice of words, or who could discourse with ease, force, and perspicuity, setting aside all pedantic and  oratorical  flourishes. The style of the essayist is that of an extremely intelligent, highly commonsensical person talking, without stammer and with impressive  coherence, to himself or herself and to anyone else who cares to eavesdrop. This self-reflexivity, this notion of talking to oneself, has always seemed to me to mark the essay off from the lecture. The lecturer is always teaching; so, too, frequently is the critic. If the essayist does so, it is usually only indirectly. One should not go too informal in writing, either. According to Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd, Breeziness has become for many the literary mode of first resort, a ready-to-wear means to seeming fresh and authentic. The style is catchy, and catching, like any other fashion. Writers should be cautious with this or any other stylized jauntiness — especially young writers, to whom the  tone  tends to come easily. The colloquial writer seeks intimacy, but the discerning reader, resisting that friendly hand on the shoulder, that winning grin, is apt to back away. Mark Twains Style In fiction, Mark Twains skill with dialogue and ability to capture and portray dialect in his works are highly lauded and make his style and voice distinct.  Lionel Trilling  described it: Out of his knowledge of the actual speech of America Mark Twain forged a classic prose...[Twain] is the master of the style that escapes the fixity of the printed page, that sounds in our ears with the immediacy of the heard voice, the very voice of unpretentious truth. See this example from  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884: We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didnt ever feel like talking loud, and it warnt often that we laughed — only a little kind of a low chuckle. We had mighty good weather as a general thing, and nothing ever happened to us at all — that night, nor the next, nor the next. George Orwells Style George Orwells goal in writing was to be clear and direct and to reach as many people as possible, ordinary folks, so his was not a formal or stilted style. Richard H. Rovere explains it this way: There is not much to do with [George] Orwells novels except read them. Nor is there much to be said about his style. It was colloquial in diction and sinewy in construction; it aimed at clarity and unobtrusiveness and achieved both. Orwells opening line of the novel 1984 starts simply yet jarringly, It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (1949) Sources Composing to Communicate. Cengage, 2017Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction. Random House, 2013 Introduction. The Best American Essays 1993. Ticknor Fields, 1993The Liberal Imagination, Lionel Trilling, 1950Introduction to The Orwell Reader, 1961

Portrayal Of Female Sexuality By Bram Stoker s Dracula Essay

In a particular addition of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, Maurice Hindle had suggested that â€Å"sex was the monster Stoker feared most.† This essay will examine the examples of this statement in the Dracula text, focusing on female sexuality. The essay will also briefly look at an article Stoker had written after Dracula which also displays Stoker’s fear. Dracula is a novel that indulges its male reader’s imagination, predominantly on the topic of female sexuality. When Dracula was first published, Victorian women’s sexual behaviour was extremely restricted by social expectations. To be classed as respectable, a women was either a virgin or a wife. If she was not either, she was considered a whore. We begin to understand once Dracula arrives in Whitby, that the novel has an underlying battle between good and evil, which will hinge on female sexuality. Both Lucy Westenra and Wilhelmina â€Å"Mina† Murray embody two-dimensional virtues that have been associated with female. They are both virgins, whom are innocent from the evils of the world and that are devoted to their men. Dracula’s arrival threatens those virtues, threatening to turn Lucy and Mina into the opposites, noted for their voluptuousness, which could lead to an open sexual desire. Dracula succeeds in doing so with Lucy. After Lucy herself becomes a vampire, she requests a kiss from Arthur Holmwood, her fiancà ©e, which turns voluptuous – a word Stoker continually uses throughout. Here Stoker presents the female charactersShow MoreRelatedPortrayal Of Female Sexuality By Bram Stoker s Dracula1598 Words   |  7 PagesBram Stoker’s 1897 Dracula is a novel that condemns liberated female sexuality, presenting it as volatile and threatening to the established patriarchal order of the Victorian Era. By examining the varying level of sexuality among Stoker’s female characters and their narrative outcomes, the novel’s attitude that female sexuality is hostile becomes apparent. In Castle Dracula, Harker meets three vampiric women whose monstrosity is presented as inseparable from their eroticism. Describing their fangsRead MoreBram Stoker s Dracul Victorian Men And Women1455 Words   |  6 PagesKatherine Fulmer ENGL 3023 Dr. Lawrence 1 December 2015 Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Victorian Men and Women 1. Introduction Bram Stoker’s world famous novel Dracula, blurs the lines between Victorian ideal gender roles by using strong central female characters, such as, the three vampire sisters, Lucy and Mina, to express a powerful female sexuality challenging the Victorian notion of what makes a woman. The Victorian society placed women in a bubble of sexual purity and fragileness, making men the centralRead MoreSuch a Beast: Sexuality and Humanization in Dracula1611 Words   |  7 PagesOver the course of cinematic history, many filmmakers have attempted to recreate the chilling, unprecedented world of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Arguably very few have succeeded, for the majority of directors tend to avoid the pervasive sexuality inherent in the novel. It is a difficult task to achieve, considering the blatant imagery surrounding sex and vampirism, such as the reproduction following a vampiric encounter and the phallocentric nature of the violence committed both by and against theseRead Mor eComparing Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the 1972 Film Blacula Essay1917 Words   |  8 PagesBram Stoker’s Dracula is not only a classic story of men and monsters, but a dramatic reactionary work to the perceived threats to Victorian society in nineteenth century England. In modern times there have been many film adaptations of the novel, each developing a unique analysis or criticism of the literary text within the framework of the society and time period in which it was created. The 1972 film Blacula is one of the most culturally specific variations on the story of Dracula, and highlightsRead MoreDracula And The New Woman1992 Words   |  8 PagesDracula and the New Woman In the Victorian era, women were viewed as subordinate to men. They often had one job: reproduction. They would become housewives and cater to their husband and children’s needs. As the era progressed, so did the role of women. The once shy women were now changing into courageous and outspoken members of society. These women were open about their sexuality and embraced their intelligence. This new found independence was a turning moment in history and was given the nameRead MoreEnglish Source Doc.7581 Words   |  31 PagesTitle: Dracula: Stoker s Response to the New Woman Author(s): Carol A. Senf Publication Details: Victorian Studies 26.1 (Autumn 1982): p33-49. Source: Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Jessica Bomarito and Russel Whitaker. Vol. 156. Detroit: Gale, 2006. From Literature Resource Center. Document Type: Critical essay Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale, COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale, Cengage Learning Full Text:   [(essay date autumn 1982) In the following essay, Senf contends that, contraryRead MoreTexts Can Be Modified or Appropriated to Suit Different Audiences or Purposes, Yet Still Remain Firmly Within the Genre. Discuss Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and at Least One of the Films You Have Studied.1050 Words   |  5 Pageswithin the genre. Discuss Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and at least one of the films you have studied. FW Murnau’s 1921 film Nosferatu is an appropriation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Despite it being an appropriation, explicit gothic conventions remain evident, which explore societal fears and values. These fears and values differ from Dracula, due to distinct contextual influences of different time periods. Stoker’s novel Dracula, presents the fear of female promiscuity, for which vampirism isRead MoreComparing Vampire And The Vampire Diaries1660 Words   |  7 Pagescultural phenomenon would not have happened without Dracula. Without Bram Stoker’s novel, there would be no stereotypical vampires that capture the culture’s conscious. Aside from telling a story on vampires, Dracula also explores ideals about the women of the time in which it was written, which is the Victorian Era. Throughout the Victorian period, one of the predominant concerns was the role of women and the place they fill in their society. Dracula is one of many Victorian novels that explore theRead MoreEssay on Gothic Fiction2923 Words   |  12 Pagesfiction is erotic at the root according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. Gothic fiction is erotic at the root according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. In your essay you should consider: - · The authors portrayal of eroticism and sexuality (in all its forms) through characters. - · Relevant social/cultural concerns duringRead MoreThe Angel Of The House1756 Words   |  8 PagesMina says herself before Dracula comes into her life that â€Å"[she] [has] been working very hard lately, because [she] [wants] to keep up with Jonathan’s studies [and when they] are married [she] shall be able to be useful to Jonathan† (Stoker 53). Even before Dracula’s threat becomes imminent, she works only to help Jonathan and not for herself (Mai 30). Through this analysis, it seems as Mina’s work in organising the text is permitted by a contemporary discourse, Bram Stoker nonetheless â€Å"felt the need

Ebscohost free essay sample

Main Task: Evaluate Library Databases and Resources for use in Research For this activity you will do a library search for resources in your area of professional or research interest. Locate two peer-reviewed journal articles, one book chapter, and one scholarly resource (website or other resource). Then, prepare a brief paper on your library search and your results. First, fill out this chart and for each resource include the following: [pick] Appropriate citation (PAP form) for the resource you discovered. Name of the database you used. Keywords you used. Any search limiters such as full text, date, peer-reviewed that you used. A note about your skills at this point in using the database from which you accessed the resource; what do you still need to practice? Then, conclude your activity with some general remarks that comment on: How useful was each database for you? What important journals, key scholars, or new ideas did you discover from your search. We will write a custom essay sample on Ebscohost or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page How might a library search spark new ideas? As you searched did you find new ideas or new directions for your search?Did the direction your search take you surprise you? Length: Completed chart and 1 page reflection paper Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and incepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current PAP standards. Be sure to adhere to Northeastern Universitys Academic Integrity policy. Submit your document in the Course Work area below the Activity screen. Learning Outcome: 6 Develop skills in online library database searches.Your instructor will give you feedback using the form below and in margin comments on your work. Reading and using your instructors feedback is as much a part of your learning as is reading the course materials and doing activities. Your instructor will not Only help you understand the quality of your work on this activity, but will also give you guidance on how to improve your skills and increase your knowledge that, if you follow it, will help you do better on future activities! Feedback Introduction to Feedback: 1 . Was the activity completed as instructed?Activity Elements Chart Faculty Feedback I Includes three peer-reviewed journal articles, one book chapter, and I one scholarly resource Inch dudes Name of the database used Keywords used Search limiters Mention of skills at this point in using each database Discussion of skills attained/needed to be acquired Follows PAP form and style Reflection Paper discusses: Usefulness of each database Important new sources, scholars, or ideas I Value of searches in inspiring new ideas/ surprises 2. Are statements about all readings and resources accurate? Is the writing clear and persuasive? 3. 4.Is the writing correct in punctuation, grammar, word usage, and PAP style? Grade and rationale. Grade is based on the following that maps onto the Northeastern rubrics as follows: 70% Content 1 Completion Of the activity as instructed 2. Understanding of activity resources 3. Clarity and persuasiveness of writing 30% Presentation 4. Grammar, word usage and PAP style For this assignment the topic that I chose to use is one that is very close to my heart. Over the years the research has become more specific in terms Of different types of eating disorder as well as the impact that it has on multiple areas of life.For the first article I researched a topic which was first coined by the author Margo Maine, that topic is Father Hunger. This topic addresses the relationship between an adolescent female and the bond with her father and depending on the factors of the relationship the female is either more prone to developing an eating disorder or not. Although there was a large amount of articles available the further down the list searched the keywords became less relevant however I kept the theme of eating disorders constant throughout my search.

Joy In The Journey-10 years of the greatest hits by Micheal Card free essay sample

Have you ever wished that you could find some deep lyrics amongst this sea of pointlessness? Do you ever wish to find a cd filled with lyrics that make you think and music that keeps you coming back for more? Well, you probably cant get any deeper or more challenging and addictive lyrics than Micheal Card. Hes not all that popular. In fact, the only way many people know him is from the fact that he wrote and originally performed El Shaddai (feat. on this album), which was made popular by award-winning Christian artist, Amy Grant. This album is filled with doctrinal truths and answers many of the questions we as Christians have every day and simply gives new ones to ponder. Like, have you ever thought that Jesus was considered the wisest man on earth? Or have you wondered if he was simply Gods Own Fool? Do you know the Scandalon of believing in Jesus Christ? Have you ever really took the time to wonder Why Judas betrayed Jesus the way he did; by giving Him a kiss? Or that Mary, Jesus mother, was created by her very own Son? These a simply a few of the meaningful and make-you-stop-and-think lyrics that you will find on Joy In The Journey. We will write a custom essay sample on Joy In The Journey-10 years of the greatest hits by Micheal Card or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page And everyone knows that the 90s style music is incredibly addicting. One listen to Joy In The Journey and youll be hooked for life. The album focuses mainly on the life of Christ (Card enjoys recording albums that focus on one main topic, i.e, The Fragile Stone focuses on the disciples and The Word focuses on the prophets). From His birth (Immanuel), to the last supper (Come To The Table), His betrayal (Why?), His death (The Final Word) and His resurrection (Known By The Scars), Card covers it all. His music is enjoyable and while some songs are slightly darker than the rest (Known By The Scars, Scandalon, To The Mystery), and those are some of my favorites, others are acoustic or cheerful. His lyrics challenge the way we perceive Christ, His life and the Bible in its entirety. Although most of Micheal Cards music is from our parents generation, I believe we Christian teens can learn a lot about our faith, if we simply put away our pride and choose to listen to some oldies and learn more than we ever imagined about the Bible from Micheal Card.