Unit 5 Seminar

Academic

GrammarThe role of grammar in our class and in

collegeWriting centerGrammar websitesGrammar books (The Elements of Style)Write out all of your work in Microsoft Word

so you can use spell check and grammar check

Cut and paste (shortcut)

The #1 grammar mistake: Run-ons and comma splicesThese are basically the same thing. This is

where you have joined two (or more) sentences together improperly.

What two things do you need to have a complete sentence?

ClauseIndependent clauseDependent clause

ExamplesComplete simple sentence (independent

clause): “She walks.”Dependent clause (fragment): “When she

walks.”Run-on: “She walks to the store she buys

milk.”Comma splice: “She walks to the store, she

buys milk.”

4 ways to fix these mistakes• Make it two separate sentences: “She

walks to the store. She buys milk.”• Put a semi-colon between the clauses: “She

walks to the store; she buys milk.”• Connect with a coordinating conjunction

(and, or, but, for, nor, so yet): “She walks to the store, and she buys milk.”

• Connect by adding a subordinating conjunction to one clause to make it dependent on the other clause: “When she walks to the store, she buys milk.”

Grammar mistake #2 -- fragmentsAgain, you need two parts to have a

complete sentence – a subject and verb. To create a fragment, you could be missing

a subject or verb, or add in another word that makes it an incomplete thought (such as adding a conjunction without anything to join it to).

Fragment examplesThe giant red barn across the street from

my grandfather’s house. (missing a verb)Running all the way to the store late at

night with all my friends around me. (missing a subject)

While I talked to me friend on the phone. (has a subordinating conjunction – “while” – to start the phrase, and no independent clause to attach to)

Fixing fragmentsEach sentence must represent a complete

thought. If not, it needs fixing.A long phrase doesn’t necessarily equal a

sentence.Add a missing subject, missing verb, or

connect to a sentence around it.

Academic writing standardsKeep it formal – no slang, no contractions (I’m = I am can’t = cannot they’re =

they are)Standard American grammarCheck out example papers/projects to see how

an assignment should be formatted (the “look”) – generally always double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman is often required)

Be careful not to “text” in papers or in any college work (watch capitalization, don’t abbreviate)

Purpose, audience, tone, point of viewNo first-person perspective (no “I” or “me”). No

personal information as evidence (this depends on the assignment)

Since your name is on it, never a need to write “I believe,” “I think,” or “in my opinion.”

No second person (“you”) – can be replaced with “one” or “someone,” or maybe “people.”

No religious texts as evidenceMust sound like a textbook, not a conversationWhat is your goal? Why should someone read this?

What is the point? What can you offer that is new for your reader, that they don’t already hear all the time?

Why write a paper/ research paper?Academia is a like a giant conversationResearch influences more researchYour purpose is closely tied to everything –

the mode you choose (or that the assignment gives you), the research chosen, and the thesis (main idea)

What is expository writing? Expository refers to writing that explains

and clarifies an idea. You come across examples of expository

writing every day: o Magazine articles o Newspaper articles o Emails and memos o Instruction manuals

What is expository writing? Academic assignments and essays often

fall under the category of expository writing.

Hallmarks of expository writing: o Precisely-worded o Focused around a central idea o Logically sound (uses adequate support)