"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris incorporates many aspects of the guidelines set in Michael Harvey's, The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing. Sedaris describes the reflections of a middle aged man with hopes of learning French in Paris. He applies many techniques from Nuts and Bolts allowing his literary work to be the best it can be.
Concision is a major point that Harvey stresses. He emphasizes the importance of getting straight to the point instead of beating around the bush. Sedaris has definitely made sure to be straight forward when he wrote, "I've moved to paris with hope of learning the language" (11) or "Her English was flawless" (13). Sentences that use less words to make a point are easier to read and create less confusion. Reducing excess wordiness helps create a more coherent piece of writing.
Word choice, structure and transition are key ingredients that writers need in order to create flow. Nuts and Bolts mentions a few tips to create flow in your writing. When a work of literature begins to introduce character it's best when your "showing characters doing thinks or being described" (Harvey 23). Often times when introducing characters, the flow of the writing gets disrupted. I personally feel like Sedaris has done a pretty good job with his introduction of characters. For example, he states, "The teacher licked her lips, revealing a hint of the saucebox…" (Sedaris 12). The flow of the writing has been maintained without becoming choppy.
Another aspect that Sedaris followed in his writing is the use introductory phrases. Nuts and Bolts shows the impact introductory phrases can have by saying, "introductory phrases may provide other kinds of contextual information…" ( Harvey 29). Some examples of introductory phrases used in Me Talk Pretty are, "Call me sensitive,…" (Sedaris 13) or "The World opened up,…" (Sedaris 15). These phrase help the futher reader understand a given situation without over burdening them with too much information. It gives the writer a chance to add some detail with over informing the reader. Sedaris incorporated many of the tips that Harvey used to define a good essay.
Introductions and conclusions are just as important as body itself. Since the "length for a beginning varies by discipline, assignment, and topic…" (Harvey 78), there is never a given limit for how long or short and introduction can be. Sedaris chose to have a shorter introduction and even shorter conclusion. However Nuts and Bolts states that "a skilled writer doesn't merely repeat what he said at the beginning" (Harvey 84).
Sedaris made an effort to "Me Talk Pretty One Day" include many of the tips which Harvey used to make anyone's writing better. Many of the suggested techniques from The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing have made "Me Talk Pretty One Day" a better piece of work.
