1. Summary
Lesile Alexander Hill, a renowned personality among essayist, was born in the year 1918 in Greece and was educated at Cambridge university. He worked for the British council in Greece, Iran, Indonesia and India. Later he worked as adviser for the Oxford University Press, England, on the teaching of English as a second language. His works include many thought provoking essays, comprehension and epitomisation for overseas students.
Hill’s interest in linguistics extends to all human behavior and similarities and variations between different cultures. Hill’s good command over prose language is revealed clearly in this formal-tone essay “The Principles of Good Writing”.
In this essay, Hill has brought to light the rules and regulations to be observed in shaping and sharpening one’s writing skills. He has given valuable tips regarding the secret of successful writing. The clarity of thought and expression, the logical development of the theme, the illustrative examples and the appropriate use of vocabulary, make it a wonderful piece of work.
Hill, in first person narration, gives a piece of valuable advice to all the aspirants who want to be proficient in English-written and oral skills. In the opening passage, he clearly says that good writing demands good and logical thinking. Good thinking, is not developed instantly, rather it emerges with practical experience and proper training. Initially, thinking in the direction of logic and reason seems difficult because one’s mind may not be acquainted with this.
But with time it will happen so and it will be reflected in one’s writing. Next move, is to give expression to thought and vocabulary is required. Depending on the form and tone of your work, vocabulary should be either formal or slang. To improve vocabulary you need to read widely and different sorts of writing. A dictionary is of great help in this field.
Sincere and diligent practice in writing is the first concrete move towards a successful writing.
Waiting for an inspiration will prove a hinderance towards your goal, so avoid it. Hill further suggests that one should be alive to all the happenings and pay heed to it. Even an ordinary talk heard in the street can be taken as a subject to start writing. It is required to note every new word or expression that one comes across while reading also.
The writer also feels that love of mankind is an essential trait to see other state of minds, feel it intensely, and write it effectively.
And, to be a good writer the readers must be kept in mind; their interest and taste should be borne in mind always.
'Impersonality of art’ should be maintained by a poet or writer while expressing emotions or feelings. The subject that is chosen for writing should be personal experience. ‘Words are body, sentences in structure, and the expression, the soul’. So apt words, correct sentence structure, and good theme, will together constitute a good writing.
Introduction would be interesting and eye-catching and conclusion should not end abruptly.
Finally, a writer is expected to write with zeal and true involvement- only then reader’s imagination can be kindled.
Hill’s command over English language needs true appreciation. Only those will be able to appreciate who, themselves have appropriate knowledge of this language. His epigrammatic style and lucidity of expression is remarkable. “Through this essay all that he wanted to do is teach the rules and regulations of good writing, and throughout the essay we find such tips.
The formal tone is maintained throughout the essay. All the paragraphs are neatly linked and introduction is apt for the subject choosen.
He himself avoided very carefully; the use of slang, jargon, hackneyed expressions, rhetorical, circumlocution, verbosity and mingling of styles- formal and too much informal or slang.
The title of the essay is very appropriate as the aim of the essayist is to teach principles of good writing by the means of various suggestions mentioned in the essay.
Do’s and don’ts in the field of learning writing good English, is highly suggestive. The lucidity of thought and expression, neat structure with logical development of idea, apt examples and simple vocabulary of the essay, make it a remarkable piece of work.
Hill is a writer of promising skill. His abilities are fully reflected in this thought provoking essay, ‘Principles of Good Writing’.
In this essay he suggests wide reading, using a dictionary, note-making, frequent writing, maintaining humanistic and rational attitude, as essential traits for developing logical reasoning and good writing.
He also suggests to avoid artificiality, avoiding second hand experience, avoiding use of jargon, rhetorical, unnecessary verbose, and too much of personal element in writing. Reader-writer relationship is aptly emphasized. The essay on the whole is of great significance.
According to L. A. Hill, one should revise and edit their writing to make it better. This includes checking for grammar and spelling errors, improving sentence structure and ensuring that the message is clear and concise.
2) What is the first step to write clearly and logically?
A:- In order to be able to write clearly and logically, first we should be able to think clearly and logically. If we cannot do this, we should train ourselves to do it by taking particular problems and then try to find the solution for it. While doing this, we shouldn't leave anything, and shouldn't avoid any difficulties that we meet.
3) What is needed to improve step by step thought?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
Hill, in this context, says that when we are in the beginning levels of writing, getting step-by-step thought may be difficult for us, and our mind may continually wander on various issues. But practice of writing will improve our ability to think clearly and logically.
4) What should one do to improve vocabulary?
A:- In order to improve vocabulary, one should read widely and carefully, and should keep a notebook in which to write down words and expressions that particularly strike him.
5) Where can one get ideas from to write?
A:- If one keeps his eyes and ears open, he will find plenty of things to write about around him.
6) How much importance does the author give for inspiration?
A:- The author gives only one per cent importance to inspiration.
7) What, according to the author, do we need to develop to be interested in everything we see?
A:- According to Hill, we should develop the art of seeing and hearing things around us keenly and responsively as an artist does. Then we will be able to describe things vividly.
8) What interests people even when they are reading about the past or future?
A:- Hill opines that most people are interested in the present. Even when they read about the past or future, it is the past's or future's connection with the present that particularly interests them.
9) How can one know what interests people?
A:- By carefully reading magazines that are written for particular group of readers(e.g- women's magazines, magazines for teenagers etc, we can find out things that interest particular types of readers.
10) What does L.A.Hill suggest which can be used as a topic of writing?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
L.A.Hill says if we keep our eyes and ears open, we will find plenty of things to write about around us. Often a little piece of conversation heard in the street can be used as a topic of writing.
11) Summarize L.A.Hill's advice to a person who wants to be a "successful writer"?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
In order to be a successful writer, Hill advices that one must write interestingly. While as a matter of fact different kinds of people have different interests, and it will be difficult for one to appeal to all of them. So one has to know exactly what type of reader he is going to write for and exactly what kind of things interest such reader is interested in.
12) What does Hill mean by "simple and clear style" of writing?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
Hill says that it is always best to write simply and in a conversational tone, as plain, clean English is the fashion in these days. Using elaborate, decorative style, now-a-days has become out of date. Hill means to say that for writing something one shouldn't use jargon, officealese, hackneyed expressions, rhetorical flourishes and verbiage as all these not at all interest readers now-a-days.
13) How does Hill want to begin a presentation?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
Hill wants to begin a presentation from concrete words to abstract words whenever possible, and be definite. It means one should call a spade a spade and should avoid euphemisms. Because the using of euphemisms may create an impression that everything is all right when it is in fact not.
14) How do we know what in interests a reader?
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
Hill says, by carefully reading magazines that are written for particular kinds of readers (e.g.:- women's magazines, magazines for well educated men etc.), we can find out things that interest particular types of readers.
15) "To write interestingly, you must yourself be intensely interested in what you are writing." Comment on the significance of this statement in the context of the theme of the essay.
A:- This context is from the lesson, "Principles of Good Writing", written by L.A.Hill. In this lesson, Hill pointed out the rules and regulations that are to be observed in improving one's writing skills.
Hill says when we don't show our personal interest to a task, we can't justify it and there won't be much scope/room to get success in it. Likewise, to write something interestingly, we must ourselves be intensely interested in writing and should have strong belief on what we say. If we cannot do this, we cannot arouse, expect the interest as well as sympathy from our readers.