Thinking on Paper: The Harvard Researchers' Practical Manual for Overcoming Writer's Block and Generating Ideas - Softcover

Howard, V.a.; Barton, J.H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0688077587 ISBN 13: 9780688077587

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 1988

Synopsis

Thinking on Paper shows how writer's block as well as many other writing problems are engendered by the tendency, supported by traditional approaches, to separate thinking from writing. Drawing on the developing field of symbol theory, V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton explain why this separation is unsound and demonstrate how to improve dramatically our ability to generate and express ideas. 

Most books on writing assume that the sole purpose of writing is communication. These manuals seldom go beyond teaching how to avoid the problems of punctuation, grammar, and style that at one time or another ensnare the best of writers. Few, if any, of these books explore writing as a way of shaping thought.

Howard and Barton, two Harvard researchers in education, take a radically different approach. While they agree with their predecessors that an important function of writing is the clear, direct expression of thought, they point out that many of our thoughts first come into being only when put to paper. By failing to recognize the link between thinking and writing, we fall into the deadlock inappropriately named writer's block.

For everyone who writes, this is a readable, accessible manual of immense educational and practical value.

About this title

About the Authors

V.A. Howard, Ph.D., is co-director, with Israel Scheffler, of the Philosphy of Education Research Center at Harvard University.

J.H. Barton, M.A., is an associate at the Philosophy of Education Research Center and a private business consultant.

From the Back Cover

Most books on writing assume that the sole purpose of writing is communication. These manuals seldom go beyond teaching how to avoid the problems of punctuation, grammar, and style that at one time or another ensnare the best of writers. Few, if any, of these books explore writing as a way of shaping thought.

V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton, two Harvard researchers in education, take a radically different approach. While they agree with their predecessors that an important function of writing is the clear, direct expression of thought, they point out that many of our thoughts first come into being only when put to paper. By failing to recognize the link between thinking and writing, we fall into the deadlock innappropriately named writer's block.

Thinking on Paper shows how writer's block as well as many other writing problems are engendered by the tendency, supported by traditional approaches, to separate thinking from writing. Drawing on the developing field of symbol theory, Howard and Barton explain why this sepapration is unsound and demonstrate how to improve dramatically our ability to generate and express ideas. For everyone who writes, this is a readable, accessible manual of immense educational and practical value.

Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0688077587
• ISBN 13: 9780688077587
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160