Mastering Style: The Learning and Teaching of Writing

Explore the art of effective writing in this Harvard lecture featuring Professor Steven Pinker and Visiting Professor Jill Abramson. Delve into the challenges of teaching and learning writing, gaining practical recommendations based on Pinker's book "The Sense of Style." Discover the importance of establishing a mental model for writer-reader communication and learn about the "classic style" approach to writing. Contrast academic writing styles with more effective techniques, and understand how to avoid common pitfalls such as clichés and metaconcepts. Gain insights into newspaper style, the impact of digital media on writing, and the role of journalists in clear communication. Examine examples of both good and bad writing across various fields, including law and consulting, and explore the future of writing in the digital age.

Introduction
Why is writing bad
Why is writing hard
Improving the craft of writing
The style is conversation
An example
The compulsive hedging
Classic prose
The ribbon experiment
The rabbit illusion
Get a real reader
Summary
Shoes
Personal Experience
Newspaper Style
Al Hunt
John Kerry
Consultants
Lawyers
Obfuscation
I remain an optimist
The role of journalists
Journalism shows and doesnt tell
The digital age
The Twitter effect
Robowriting
Descriptive Writing
AJ Lee Blank
Bad Writing
Legalese
Questions