John G. Maguire is a man obsessed with clear writing. He began his writing career as a reporter for daily newspapers, including the Albany Times-Union, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, and the Miami News, specializing in science and medical news. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He later did press work at a major hospital and medical school. He is the author of a book about Jonestown called Hold Hands and Die.
He began teaching college-level writing at Boston University School of Journalism, where he directed the master’s degree Program for Reporting on Science and Medicine. He later taught writing and communication at other Boston area colleges, including the Berklee College of Music, Babson College and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. In the middle of his teaching career, while at Berklee College, he invented the innovative method of writing instruction described in this article. He later wrote the Newsweek College Writing Guide. He lives in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Another of John’s articles on teaching college writing is found here: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/10/the-secret-to-good-writing-its-about-objects-not-ideas/263113/