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

by George Gopen (Author)
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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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  1. ISBN-10
    0205296327
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0205296323
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Pearson
  5. Publication date
    January 8, 2004
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.9 x 0.8 x 8.8 inches
  8. Print length
    256 pages
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George D. Gopen

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book extremely useful, with one mentioning it provides a step-by-step guide to punctuation. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a superb writing aid.

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EffectivenessWriting style
7 customers mention "Effectiveness"6 positive1 negative

Customers find the book extremely useful, with one customer noting it provides a step-by-step guide and another mentioning it clearly conveys thoughts and findings.

"...Elegant, intelligent and extremely useful book." Read more

"...Gopen also provides practical tips on how to structure both sentences and paragraphs for proper emphasis...." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"...Gopen has a systematic, effective approach that is teachable. Learn it. Know it. Live it." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one mentioning it serves as a superb writing aid, while others highlight its focus on structure, sentence formulation, and grammatical tools.

"This is by far the best book I've ever read about stylistic writing...." Read more

"...He concludes with a non-dogmatic guide to punctuation and grammatical tools, designed to improve communication under various circumstances...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...valuable resource going over the finer art of syntax and structure in english writing...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Roger Townsend
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on writing English extant
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2004
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
    37 people found this helpful
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  • Carl Stormer
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you need one book on writing, this is it!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Ekom Eyoh
    3.0 out of 5 stars It wasn't as nice as I was expecting it to be
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It wasn't as nice as I was expecting it to be. It seemed to have been dried after being dipped in water which wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't a paperback. Also, the cover was tearing.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Paula Braley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Every writer should read this book...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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
    4.0 out of 5 stars If the book is anything like the seminars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Soham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb writing aid
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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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  • BJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get your meaning across
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Fascinating and extremely helpful. Step-by-step guide to analyzing even the simplest sentences to make them more clear and comprehensible to readers. Gopen shows how the most subtle differences in structure can create major changes in the reader's perception. Witty and inspiring.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • john laskin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Superb. I wish I had read it 10 years ago.
    Report
  • DAN AU
    4.0 out of 5 stars Better than Expected - a must read for every aspiring writer
    Reviewed in Singapore on September 16, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
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  • AmyMo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Superb - very expensive, but in my opinion worth the money.
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  • Tonie M. van Dam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    arrived on time and as described. could not ask for more.
    Report
  • Dario
    4.0 out of 5 stars The paperback material and paper collage is just hoorrible. The content is 5 starts though!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 10, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    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.
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