After reading the article written by George Orwell I have to say I'm a believer, although here is a more specific list of what I personally feel belongs in writing, and what doesn't.
1) Use the correct format - For instance, in many papers and essays writers tend to argue some but include a lot of summary in the middle of the paper. Another way for me to say this would be to write with a purpose. Clearly know what you're trying to say, pick a format, and state your argument in a way anyone can pick up the paper and read it.
2) Keep it concise - Try to avoid the unnecessary words or phrases that bog down the point you're trying to make. Readers are intrigued easily, but lose interest even easier, and to really be heard writers must get to the point. Leave the fancy wordplay and awesome diction alone unless it's necessary.
3) Use transitions wisely - While papers with no transitions are seen as "jumpy" papers that use bad transitions are even more so. Say you're writing on a topic, really tearing it up, and then you realize you want to shift gears. A proper transition takes the reader logically from the first point to the next, where as a bad transition can actually seem like 3 points, all jumbled together in a heap of failure with no transitions.
4) Use topic sentences (that fit with your transitions) - But mostly use topic sentences. Without topic sentences a paragraph is just a separated part of the last paragraph. Paragraphs are supposed to introduce new topics, which means they must deviate from the previous ones, and this requires a formal statement of a new topic, or a topic sentence.
5) Use commas and punctuation correctly (see above for poor example) - What is worse than a choppy paragraph? A choppy sentence! So try to write without commas first and then add in necessary commas in sentences that can not be separated. It's true that "advanced" writers utilize many word sentences complete with punctuation, but if used poorly commas can be a detriment to your image as a writer.
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