Review of How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView" by William R. Drew, Jr..]

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5 out of 5 stars

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You have a few rough ideas about how to write your emails, essays, theses, articles, or presentations. However, you end up staring at a blank page for hours, and your mind becomes foggier and foggier. You are not sure how to make your writing feel fresh and insightful. You are not even sure if your ideas make sense. You promised yourself you would finish writing, but you just can't. In the end, you feel hopeless. Even a single thirty-word paragraph feels impossible. If this is you, then How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView is exactly what you need.

How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView helps transform your writing from jumbled to purposeful by using a new framework called the OldView-NewView Principle. Authors, founders, educators, and executives love this book, and it is not hard to see why. The framework bridges the old and the new. It changes what we are familiar with (people's language and way of thinking) into new perspectives and stories. The book's example about salads is simple and relatable, making the framework easy to pick up for learners of all ages (even if your kid is five years old). My other favourite part of the book is the personal story that involves two students, Jared and Pamela, asking the author for help. In that story, the author helps them express their values and experiences, how most people view them, and how they view themselves. It proves that the framework is not fluff and works in real life. If you wish to know more about the components of this framework, read the book.

The only drawback is the way the author explains the framework used in stories, novels, and plays. Although I like how the book shows the universality of the OldView-NewView Principle, the explanation glosses over some nuances of storytelling. Namely, readers and viewers do not just expect change. They expect change that feels earned and meaningful, neither forced nor contrived. In real life, blockbuster films often receive criticism for having forced or contrived plot shifts or character development. That said, this drawback does not affect my high rating of the book. I understand that the author may want to keep things simple so that readers will not be overwhelmed by too many complex details.

You do not need a literary background to understand and apply the framework introduced in How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView. This makes the book suitable for readers of all ages and professions who want a reliable compass to navigate their writing process. Educators will also understand how to implement the OldView-NewView Principle into school curricula and enhance students' writing ability. The editing is perfect. There are neither typos nor grammatical errors. I give How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

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How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView
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[Mary Daurio]

Thanks for your enlightening review of How to Write Essays with OldView-NewView . As someone who likes to write fiction and non-fiction and is also a returning student, this book sounds like it could be very useful to me. I appreciate you having read the book and giving such a good review.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Great review! When reading someone's essay, I like it to be written with words that are compatible with the way a person would normally speak. When someone tries to impress us with these unbelievably long and complicated words, it turns me off. No one talks like that. Why write your essay like that? No one is impressed.

[Neto Onuoha]

Thank you for the good review, you really captured the general concept of the book. This book seems like a problem solver for anyone interested in writing.

[Kibet Hillary]

The issue you have discussed in the first paragraph is real, and most readers will probably remember a time when they have battled writer's block. I am glad the book can be a useful resourceful to readers regardless of their literary experiences. Thanks for the review, @Chi Chiu Michael Mak.

[Priya Murugesan]

I wish to know more about the framework used in the book. It sounds intriguing, and I am sure it will be an interesting read! Thanks for introducing this book, Michael!

[Gerry Steen]

This Old View-New View framework might be the answer to enabling more people to actually enjoy writing. Writing should be fun. If it is fun, it will get better and become a means of self-expression. What more could one ask for??

[David Alabi]

I’d say this review makes the book sound both practical and inspiring. I like that it explains the core idea clearly, gives relatable examples, and points out a small flaw without lowering the overall praise—it makes the recommendation feel trustworthy.