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Section 24 Writing Improvement Program AY ‘12-’13

Section 24 Writing Improvement Program AY ‘12-’13. Program Schedule. A Hierarchy for Effective Writing. Substance. Style. Organization. Correctness. Correctness. Or… how not to end up like this dude!. Seven Deadly Sins. Seven Deadly Sins.

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Section 24 Writing Improvement Program AY ‘12-’13

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  1. Section 24Writing Improvement ProgramAY ‘12-’13

  2. Program Schedule

  3. A Hierarchy for Effective Writing Substance Style Organization Correctness

  4. Correctness

  5. Or… how not to end up like this dude!

  6. Seven Deadly Sins

  7. Seven Deadly Sins 1. Comma Splice (CS)/ Fused Sentence (FS) (PH Section 7, pages 68-74) Definition: Two independent clauses incorrectly joined together either with a comma (CS) or without punctuation (FS). Example: We decided to ditch the car, it was no longer of use to us. Fixes: 1. End Punctuation 2. Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction 3. Subordination/Restructure Sentence 4. Semicolon 2. Sentence Fragment (FRAG) (PH Section 6, pages 62-68) Definition: An incomplete sentence that lacks, as a minimum, a simple subject and a simple predicate. Example: Sitting alone in the dark. I decided to remain hidden. Fixes: 1. Join to sentence that comes before it. 2. Add to the sentence that follows it. Restructure the sentence fragment by adding or removing words.

  8. 3. Agreement (AGR) (PH Section 8, pages 75-85) Definition: An error between subjects and verbs in person and/or number. Example: The chairman of the board of directors evaluate the company’s fiscal performance. Fixes: 1. Reduce sentence to its “barebones” construction to identify the true subject and true verb. 2. Learn the special case rules. 4. Passive Voice (PASS) (PH Section 5d pages 53-55) Definition: Stylistically weak writing that reverses the natural order of the sentence to make the subject the recipient of the action. Examples: 1. The injured lad was carried to the hospital by his mother. 2. The suggestion was made by the firm that each employee park in a designated slot. 3. The rookie QB was benched by the angry coach. Fixes: 1. Invert sentence order to make subject the actor. 2. Ensure you identify a subject in the sentence.

  9. Passive voice • Is decidedly weaker writing. • Takes up more space. • Reverses the natural, logical order of the action.

  10. Passive voice • Inappropriate vs. appropriate use • Four cues for the passive voice: • Subject is the recipient of the action • “to be” verb form • Transitive verb (transfers the action to an object) • Some form of a past participle “to be” verb forms: am be is being are been was were past participle -d, -ed: said, looked -n, -en: sown, given -t: kept, swept

  11. Examples of Passive Voice • The injured lad was carried to the hospital by his mother. • He was observed crossing the trail. • The objective was swept clean by the infantry squad.

  12. 5. Pronoun/Antecedent Reference (PRO/REF) (PH Section 9, pages 85-92) Definition: An error in pronoun/antecedent use based on case, person, and/or number Examples: 1. Between my wife and I, we greeted every one of the guests. 2. Dave and me decided to go in the same car together. Fixes: 1. Learn the proper cases of pronouns 2. Ensure agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent. 3. Learn the special rules.

  13. Pronoun Cases and the Reflexive Mood singular plural us our(s) ourselves we you you your(s) yourselves their(s) they them themselves

  14. 6. Spelling (SP) (PH Section 40, pages 316-324) Definition: Any word incorrectly spelled or abbreviated. Examples: its vs. it’s, your vs. you’re, confident vs. confidant, dessert vs. desert, there vs. their vs. they’re Fixes: 1. Use spell checkers but proofread papers! 2. Keep a dictionary/spelling guide handy. 3. Memorize “trouble” words 7. Punctuation (various) (PH Sections 19-30, pages 144-213) Definition: Incorrect or inappropriate punctuation use Examples: 1. He added “let’s do it again”! 2. I was born May 6th 1960 on a cold dark Tuesday but I was called sunshine by my parents. Fixes: Refer to a punctuation guide (i.e. Turabian, MLA Handbook, or grammar text)

  15. Summary • Grammatical correctness is essential for • success in writing. • Building effective sentences requires attention • to basic grammatical correctness. • Avoiding the “Seven Deadly Sins” will ensure • you have a grammatically correct paper.

  16. Questions/Comments? Next Meeting: “Organization” Thursday, 6 September 0730!

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