Writing SuggestionsWriting Suggestions

After grading the cover After grading the cover letter, résumé, and personal letter, résumé, and personal essays and reading the essays and reading the compare/contrasts drafts, compare/contrasts drafts, Ms. Miller put together the Ms. Miller put together the following writing following writing suggestions.suggestions.

Read and follow instructionsRead and follow instructions

It sounds simple, but many fail to do It sounds simple, but many fail to do so.so.

Look for the bullets in Ms. Miller’s Look for the bullets in Ms. Miller’s assignmentsassignments

Frequent errors/weaknessesFrequent errors/weaknessesThere statementsThere statementsNot following MLA formatNot following MLA formatPoor word choice Poor word choice Pron./ant. and other agreement in # Pron./ant. and other agreement in #

issuesissuesMissing or misplaced thesis Missing or misplaced thesis

statementsstatementsRun-on sentencesRun-on sentencesTense shiftsTense shifts

We can’t fix everything todayWe can’t fix everything today

It is impossible to improve in all It is impossible to improve in all areas at once, so today we will areas at once, so today we will focus on four issues:focus on four issues:

MLA formatMLA formatThere statementsThere statementsAgreement in # (including Agreement in # (including

pron./ant. agreement)pron./ant. agreement)Run-on sentences (r/o)Run-on sentences (r/o)

MLA Format MLA Format

Good news:Good news:

The format is standard The format is standard throughout the course. It will throughout the course. It will not change. Memorize it. Use it not change. Memorize it. Use it with every paper requiring MLA with every paper requiring MLA format.format.

MLA FormatMLA Format cont. cont.

12 pt. Times New Roman (or 12 pt. Times New Roman (or comparable)—set this first so all comparable)—set this first so all text, even pagination, matches)text, even pagination, matches)

Pagination (upper right-hand Pagination (upper right-hand corner, ½” from top margin, 1” corner, ½” from top margin, 1” from right margin, last name and from right margin, last name and page number—this should be page number—this should be placed in the header)placed in the header)

MLA Format Cont.MLA Format Cont.Double spaceDouble spaceOne-inch marginsOne-inch margins4-line MLA heading (NOT in header 4-line MLA heading (NOT in header

because it prints on first page onlybecause it prints on first page only—student name, teacher name, —student name, teacher name, course, date)course, date)

Centered title (do not set title of in Centered title (do not set title of in any other manner)any other manner)

There StatementsThere Statements

Expletives are words or phrases Expletives are words or phrases which add nothing to sentences. which add nothing to sentences. The most commonly utilized The most commonly utilized expletives in student writing are expletives in student writing are there statements (there is, there there statements (there is, there are, there have been, there was, are, there have been, there was, there were, etc.)there were, etc.)

There Statements Cont.There Statements Cont.There statements weaken prose. Ridding There statements weaken prose. Ridding

papers of there statements offers the papers of there statements offers the fastest way to strengthen weak writing. fastest way to strengthen weak writing.

Good news: it is fairly easy to rid writing Good news: it is fairly easy to rid writing of there statements.of there statements.

Offer: anytime a student is writing in/for Offer: anytime a student is writing in/for my class and can’t think of anything to my class and can’t think of anything to write but a there statement, he should write but a there statement, he should ask for help. I will help the student ask for help. I will help the student eliminate it and learn to do so himselfeliminate it and learn to do so himself

There Statements cont.There Statements cont.Student example:Student example:

““There is no answer.”There is no answer.”

This sentence is grammatically This sentence is grammatically correct, but structurally weak. How correct, but structurally weak. How can the sentence be rewritten with can the sentence be rewritten with more strength?more strength?

There Statements cont.There Statements cont.

““There is no answer.”There is no answer.”

Improvement: No answer exists.Improvement: No answer exists.

The improvement removes the The improvement removes the empty word and includes an action empty word and includes an action verb.verb.

There Statements cont.There Statements cont.

Student example: “There are many Student example: “There are many goals I have achieved through hard goals I have achieved through hard work and determination.”work and determination.”

How can the sentence be How can the sentence be strengthened?strengthened?

There Statements cont.There Statements cont.

““There are many goals I have There are many goals I have achieved through hard work and achieved through hard work and determination.”determination.”

I accomplished many goals through I accomplished many goals through hard work and determination.hard work and determination.

There Statements cont.There Statements cont.

Student example:Student example:

““There are many things that are different There are many things that are different between Beowulf and Superman.” between Beowulf and Superman.”

How can this sentence be strengthened?How can this sentence be strengthened?

There StatementsThere Statements

““There are many things that are different There are many things that are different between Beowulf and Superman.” between Beowulf and Superman.”

Beowulf and Superman vary greatly. Beowulf and Superman vary greatly.

OrOr

Beowulf and Superman possess many Beowulf and Superman possess many differences.differences.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

The essays had many issues with The essays had many issues with number agreement, frequently number agreement, frequently pronoun antecedent agreement.pronoun antecedent agreement.

Errors in agreement are grammatic Errors in agreement are grammatic mistakes.mistakes.

Agreement in NumberAgreement in NumberAgreement in number errors Agreement in number errors

demonstrate a lack of consistencydemonstrate a lack of consistency

A singular subject requires a A singular subject requires a singular verbsingular verb

A singular antecedent requires a A singular antecedent requires a singular pronounsingular pronoun

A singular adjective requires a A singular adjective requires a singular noun or pronounsingular noun or pronoun

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

Agreement in number errors demonstrate Agreement in number errors demonstrate a lack of consistencya lack of consistency

A plural subject requires a plural verbA plural subject requires a plural verb

A plural antecedent requires a plural A plural antecedent requires a plural pronounpronoun

A plural adjective requires a plural noun A plural adjective requires a plural noun or pronounor pronoun

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

Student example: “I mean that no one Student example: “I mean that no one person should believe they have the person should believe they have the right to down or trash someone else’s right to down or trash someone else’s religion.”religion.”

What is the agreement (pron./ant.) error?What is the agreement (pron./ant.) error?

How might it be corrected?How might it be corrected?

Agreement in NumberAgreement in NumberStudent example: “I mean that no one person Student example: “I mean that no one person

should believe they have the right to down or should believe they have the right to down or trash someone else’s religion.”trash someone else’s religion.”

Error: plural pronoun “they” refers back to Error: plural pronoun “they” refers back to singular “person.”singular “person.”

Correction: I mean that no one person should Correction: I mean that no one person should believe he has . . .. (making entire sentence believe he has . . .. (making entire sentence plural would be appropriate as well)plural would be appropriate as well)

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

Student example: These people’s Student example: These people’s success is to . . ..success is to . . ..

What is the agreement (modifier/subj.) What is the agreement (modifier/subj.) error?error?

How might it be corrected?How might it be corrected?

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number

Student example: These people’s Student example: These people’s success is to . . ..success is to . . ..

Error: “People’s” is plural but Error: “People’s” is plural but “success” is singular.“success” is singular.

Correction: These people’s Correction: These people’s successes. . .. (The verb will need successes. . .. (The verb will need to be plural as well.)to be plural as well.)

Agreement in NumberAgreement in NumberStudent Example: “An identity in a Student Example: “An identity in a

person tells a lot about their person tells a lot about their background and their personality.”background and their personality.”

What is the agreement (pron./ant.) What is the agreement (pron./ant.) error?error?

How can it be corrected?How can it be corrected?

Agreement in NumberAgreement in Number““An identity in a person tells a lot An identity in a person tells a lot

about their background and their about their background and their personality.”personality.”

Error: plural “their” (times 2) refers Error: plural “their” (times 2) refers back to singular “person.” back to singular “person.” “background” and “personality” “background” and “personality” singularsingular

Correction: People’s identities tell a Correction: People’s identities tell a lot about their backgrounds and lot about their backgrounds and their personalities.their personalities.

Number Agreement cont.Number Agreement cont.

Student example:Student example:

Even though these two flaws are very Even though these two flaws are very different, they still come together as a different, they still come together as a problem for the hero in their poem or problem for the hero in their poem or novel.novel.

How can this sentence be corrected?How can this sentence be corrected?

Number Agreement con.Number Agreement con.

Even though these two flaws are very Even though these two flaws are very different, they still come together as a different, they still come together as a problem for the hero in their poem or problem for the hero in their poem or novel.novel.

These diverse flaws present problems for These diverse flaws present problems for the heroes in their respective works.the heroes in their respective works.

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

A major issue which shows up again and A major issue which shows up again and again in student writing is run-on again in student writing is run-on sentences. In order to correct run-on sentences. In order to correct run-on sentences, students must understand sentences, students must understand dependent and independent clauses.dependent and independent clauses.

Run-On SentencesRun-On SentencesClausesClauses

Clause: a group of words with a subject Clause: a group of words with a subject and a verband a verb

Dependent (aka subordinate) clause: a Dependent (aka subordinate) clause: a clause that can’t stand alone as a clause that can’t stand alone as a sentence (contains a subject and a verb sentence (contains a subject and a verb but not a complete thought)but not a complete thought)

Independent clause: a clause that can Independent clause: a clause that can stand alone as a sentence (complete stand alone as a sentence (complete thought)thought)

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Another aid in eliminating run-on Another aid in eliminating run-on sentences is an understanding of sentences is an understanding of sentence types.sentence types.

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Simple sentence: a sentence Simple sentence: a sentence containing only one independent containing only one independent clauseclause

Compound sentence: a sentence Compound sentence: a sentence containing two or more independent containing two or more independent clausesclauses

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Complex sentence: a sentence Complex sentence: a sentence containing one independent clause and containing one independent clause and at least one dependent clauseat least one dependent clause

Compound/complex sentence: a Compound/complex sentence: a sentence containing at least one sentence containing at least one dependent clause and two (or more) dependent clause and two (or more) independent clausesindependent clauses

Run-On Sentences:Run-On Sentences:Punctuating Independent ClausesPunctuating Independent Clauses

Two independent clauses may be written Two independent clauses may be written as two separate sentences—utilize a as two separate sentences—utilize a period and a capital letter to correct.period and a capital letter to correct.

Two independent clauses may be divided Two independent clauses may be divided with a comma and a coordinating with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so, etc.).conjunction (and, but, so, etc.).

Two independent clauses may be Two independent clauses may be separated by a semicolon.separated by a semicolon.

Run-On Sentences:Run-On Sentences:Punctuating Independent ClausesPunctuating Independent Clauses

Two independent clauses may be Two independent clauses may be separated by semicolon, a conjunctive separated by semicolon, a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, moreover, adverb (however, therefore, moreover, nonetheless, etc.), and a comma.nonetheless, etc.), and a comma.

Two independent clauses may be Two independent clauses may be separated by a colon if the first separated by a colon if the first introduces a second clause which introduces a second clause which modifies the first. (This usage occurs modifies the first. (This usage occurs infrequently—do not force!)infrequently—do not force!)

Run-On SentencesRun-On SentencesStudent example:Student example:

““Spiderman maintains a secret identity Spiderman maintains a secret identity and he wants no one to know who and he wants no one to know who resides beneath the suit.”resides beneath the suit.”

Two independent clauses: Two independent clauses:

1.1. Spiderman maintains a secret identitySpiderman maintains a secret identity

2.2. He wants no one to know who resides He wants no one to know who resides beneath the suit.beneath the suit.

Run-On SentencesRun-On SentencesPossible corrections:Possible corrections:

Two sentences: Two sentences: Spiderman maintains a Spiderman maintains a secret identity. He wants no one to secret identity. He wants no one to know who resides beneath the suit.know who resides beneath the suit.

Comma and coordinating conjunction: Comma and coordinating conjunction: Spiderman maintains a secret identity,Spiderman maintains a secret identity,

and he wants no one to know who and he wants no one to know who

resides beneath the suit.resides beneath the suit.

Run-On SentencesRun-On SentencesPossible corrections:Possible corrections:

Semi-colon: Spiderman maintains a Semi-colon: Spiderman maintains a secret identity; he wants no one to secret identity; he wants no one to know who resides beneath the suit.know who resides beneath the suit.

Semi-colon/conj. adv/.comma: Semi-colon/conj. adv/.comma: Spiderman maintains a secret identity;Spiderman maintains a secret identity;

moreover, he wants no one to know whomoreover, he wants no one to know who

resides beneath the suit.resides beneath the suit.

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Possible correction:Possible correction:

Colon: Colon: Spiderman maintains a secret Spiderman maintains a secret identity: he wants no one to know who identity: he wants no one to know who resides beneath the suit.resides beneath the suit.

Run-On Sentences Run-On Sentences

Student example:Student example:

““William, however, knows he is not a good William, however, knows he is not a good knight and strives to better himself, he is knight and strives to better himself, he is confident but not to the point of confident but not to the point of arrogance.”arrogance.”

What is the issue? How might it be What is the issue? How might it be corrected?corrected?

Run-On Sentences Run-On Sentences ““William, however, knows he is not a good William, however, knows he is not a good

knight and strives to better himself, he is knight and strives to better himself, he is confident but not to the point of confident but not to the point of arrogance.”arrogance.”

Two sentences: . . . himself. He . . ..Two sentences: . . . himself. He . . ..

Comma and coordinating conjunction: . . . Comma and coordinating conjunction: . . . himself, and he. . ..himself, and he. . ..

Semi-colon: . . .himself; he . . ..Semi-colon: . . .himself; he . . ..

Semi colon/conj. adv./comma: . . .himself; Semi colon/conj. adv./comma: . . .himself; furthermore, he. . ..furthermore, he. . ..

Run-On Sentences cont.Run-On Sentences cont.

Student example:Student example:

““Beowulf was a hero from the old days and Beowulf was a hero from the old days and Sarah is a hero from our time.”Sarah is a hero from our time.”

How can the run-on sentence be corrected?How can the run-on sentence be corrected?

This also uses past tense to discuss This also uses past tense to discuss literature and film.literature and film.

Agreement in Number and Agreement in Number and Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Student example: “Beowulf and Batman are Student example: “Beowulf and Batman are alike in some ways but they differ in their alike in some ways but they differ in their motives for rising up to be a hero.”motives for rising up to be a hero.”

Correction and improvement: Alike in many Correction and improvement: Alike in many ways, Beowulf and Batman differ in their ways, Beowulf and Batman differ in their motives for rising up as heroes.motives for rising up as heroes.

Agreement in Number and Agreement in Number and Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Student example: “To rise to leadership, it is Student example: “To rise to leadership, it is expected that the leader give back to their expected that the leader give back to their people, for in turn the people will defend people, for in turn the people will defend them to the death.”them to the death.”

Correction and improvement??Correction and improvement??

Final Thoughts Final Thoughts

Writing is hard work. Do not expect Writing is hard work. Do not expect to eliminate all errors and to eliminate all errors and weaknesses at once. Select a few weaknesses at once. Select a few items to begin. Today, we looked in items to begin. Today, we looked in depth at MLA format, there depth at MLA format, there statements, agreement, and run-on statements, agreement, and run-on sentences. Improvement is sentences. Improvement is expected in the next set of essays.expected in the next set of essays.