Says/does outline, final draft of “The Rejection of Closure” (1985) by Lyn Hejinian*

Paragraph One

Says: Writers are conflicted between being coherent and being open and free

Does: Introduces the author’s proposition

Paragraph Two

Says: Writers are constrained by form and the need to use language

Does: Further introduces the author’s proposition

Paragraph Three

Says: These characteristic problems for writers are not always at odds with each other

Does: Complicates the picture painted by the preceding paragraphs

Paragraph Four

Says: Two different characterizations of written work are “open” where all the elements are “maximally excited” and “closed” where all the elements are directed toward a single reading

Does: Clarifies terms used in the preceding (and following) paragraphs

Paragraph Five

Says: There are different techniques that writers can use to make their texts more open

Does: Gives examples/applies the definition of openness laid out in paragraph four

Paragraph Six

Says: Robert Grenier and Bruce Andrews are two authors who have written texts which can be described as open.

Does: Provides concrete examples of open text

Paragraph Seven

Says: Repetition is one technique a writer can use to encourage multiple readings of his or her work.

Does: Provides a concrete example of one of the techniques alluded to in paragraph five

Paragraph Eight

Says: The author used the paragraph as a unit of time in one of her own works in an attempt to be open and expansive.

Does: Provides the critical theory behind one author’s conscious choice to be more open in her writing

*original essay accessed via Poetry Foundation, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/essay/237870?page=1