Throat Clearer Excision

Cut the throat-clearer from each sentence. (1) 'In this essay, I will argue that Angelou uses concrete diction.' (2) 'It is important to note that Cisneros employs vignettes.' (3) 'Personally, I think that Tan's diction reveals her childhood.' (4) 'Let me begin by saying that the syntax is compressed.' (5) 'To start with, Park uses extended metaphor.'

1. A throat-clearer is throat-clearing — words that delay the claim.
2. Start with the claim, not the announcement.

• Keeps the throat-clearer because 'it sounds academic.'
• Cuts the claim along with the throat-clearer.