I've got essays on the mind this week, so it's the perfect time to post about them.
English-style essay: I have something I've researched. I'm going to fight it to the death. In my first paragraph, I'm going to spell it out quite simply for you. Then I will give you some clear examples and link them back to the first paragraph. In my last paragraph I'll restate what I've fought so hard for another way just in case you weren't smart enough to get my point.
German-style essay: I have something I've researched. Here is one side of the argument. I'll give you a few reasons why this argument is good and a few reasons why it's bad. Here is the other side. I'll give some good and bad sides of this viewpoint. Then in my last paragraph I'll surprise you with the side I've decided to support, of course assuming this whole time that you can follow my writing because you're a smart person.
These differences of course cause some difficulties between cultures. Germans writing in English have to be told to fight! Take a side, sound sure of yourself! English speakers writing in German have to be told that they sound bold and uninformed because they haven't explored both sides.
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2 Kommentare:
This is so great! I know I'm not the only one that finds the differences fascinating. I am going to talk to my husband about this little factoid you noticed on writing styles :) I've read some of his papers, he's currently in school here in the U.S., and now that I think about it, they are (or at least were in the beginning) structured differently.
He totally agrees. Not that I ever doubted you...
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