Let Dr. Mike Zizzi teach you to uplift your world via truly *authentic* writing (and speaking! and listening!) We need more of YOUR voice (not AI's).
Welcome back. In the prior post, labeled Stage 2-c, we explored — and in some ways exploded — the idea of any universally proper sentence length. I hope that essay helped you to take an interesting and useful step along our Stage 2 pathway. We now move to the next lesson, Stage 2-d, where we…
We have learned, in Stage 1, that — in English grammar — every complete sentence must include, as its essential component, a main clause (MC), which combines a subject (S) – what we are talking about – and its predicate (P) – what the subject is 1) being, 2) having, or 3) doing. This pair–that-makes–one,…
Read More “Stage 2-a: From “Simple” to “Surprise Me” – Introduction” »
By now, you know all about main clauses (MCs) — also commonly known as independent clauses — and you understand them not just as grammatical factoids, but as a team that, together, constitutes the sentence’s very essense. Something (that you named) either does, has, or is something (according to you). It’s that simple, ha ha….
Read More “Stage 2-b: Across the muck . . . we need *stepping stones*!” »
As you know by now, I cherish authenticity — such that things you say could have been said by you, only. For example, just to show my own authenticity, including my poetic leanings, I might re-arrange those opening eight words like this: “As you, by now, know, I cherish authenticity . . .” (hear the…
Here I am, at the 1988 annual convention of the International Listening Association, standing with my “pen-pal finally met in the flesh,” Ralph G. Nichols, aka “The Father of Listening.” (Click post title to see pic)
As for my interest in driving (aka motorists in traffic), I did focus on this topic for the first three semesters of my doctoral study of communication at the University of Colorado. I took some heat from my faculty for this choice (it’s not what they studied, and, yes, that matters) and was “encouraged” (more…
Read More “Why study driving as “rhetoric” (like a speech)?” »
“Words Matter,” so get them right! I’ve dedicated my academic and professional life, along with much of my personal life, to studying, teaching, theorizing, and writing about the endless meanings, implications, and applications of the brief, common, and commonly mis-used expression, “words matter.” How? Why? To what effect? Making what possible? Causing what limitations? Overcoming…
Again and again on the Up-Wordz.com website/blog, you’ll find me urging you to “say it with authenticity.” We often take that word for granted, not even stopping to wonder or even ask, “What do you mean by authenticity“? Good question! Do you have authenticity in you? The founding principle of this whole site centers on…
Yes, I’ve taught a lot of writing classes and, since trained as a communication theorist, I’ve developed my own method (my “Activated Writing” system) of re-thinking how you (or any writer) approaches writing sentences (and whole messages). I consider this system the “heart” of the Up-Wordz.com website/blog, because it’s the most powerful — and original…
Read More “Get ready for some great tips in speech (public speaking)” »
Certainly, I, like most people, can easily conjure up quick and semi-informed (if informed at all) opinions on just about any topic. But on this site, you will find only things I’ve given much thought to and, in most cases, have studied formally and quite likely taught, written, and/or discussed publicly, aided by my love…