A little on the long side, but you can skim it. TL;DR: sentences written for a clear purpose, with a goal beyond themselves, are better than sentences written just to be beautiful.
The Marquise Went out at Five O’clock: On Making Sentences Do Something
http://www.themillions.com/2012/08/the-marquise-went-out-at-five-oclock-on-the-form-and-function-of-sentences.html
