Conventions of Composition Rule 209 Practice

1. Wrong: Morrison doesn't want Sula and Nel's relationship to be easy for the reader to understand.

Better: Sula and Nel's relationship remains complex through their lives.

Explanation: We can't know what Morrison wanted to show, but we can evaluate the novel and support our claims with evidence and analysis.

2. Wrong: Golding purposefully has Jack and Ralph display opposing characteristics.

Better: Golding has Jack and Ralph display opposing characteristics.

Explanation: We know what Golding's book does, not what he was thinking about as he wrote it. Write about what's there in the text.

3. Wrong: Bronte wanted the reader to have mixed feelings about Heathcliff.

Better: Bronte writes Heathcliff as having some traits that inspire empathy and others that create aversion.

Explanation: You can't ever know exactly what Bronte thought as she created this character, but you can evaluate the text as it stands.