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Ms. Dalton’s 13 sexy rules
for college Writing
Sexy Rule # 1
Don’t Do not use contractions ! Write everything out .
Don’t =do not can’t = cannot I’m = I am
Do not end sentences with any prepositions.
alot = a lot
(2 words , but you’d you would be surprised how often I see
this…)
No Room for Slang!
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 2
No room for prejudiced language!
I will not eat gumbo made by a Yankee from New York City.
(My lame attempt at an example of prejudiced language)
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 3
No room for fragments!
A simple grammar check (Microsoft Word) often locates
fragments – but need to be aware that they have no place
in a formal writing context.
Example:
Louisiana State University offers multiple degrees in Education. Special Education, Educational Technology, and Elementary Education.
Fragment
Sexy Rule # 4
No room for feeling!
Feel vs. Believe:
You Experience FEEL Though TOUCH.
BELIEVE = Accept as TRUE
Example:
I feel believe that quality writing begins with a mastery of grammar.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Since vs. Because
since=time because= a reason
Example:
LSU has struggled to stay number one since their loss to Kentucky State University in October.
Les Miles may leave LSU because he prefers to coach in Michigan.
Sexy Rule # 5
No room to make since!
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 6
No room to disrespect yo mama !
Formality should be used when referring to family members.
Example:
My Dad daddy pop old man father insisted that I attend Louisiana State University.
My mom mommie mama mother suggested that I attend the University of Missouri- St. Louis.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 7
No room for run-on sentences!
This is an ever-present challenge to college writers.
BREAK UP YOUR SENTENCES!
ExampleMy favorite Cajun dish is gumbo it is very spicy.
Instead: My favorite Cajun dish is gumbo. It is very spicy.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 8
No room for that!
That= inanimate object (desk, car, house)
who= animate [living] (person, cat, dog, friend)
Example
I had a student that who brought donuts to each class.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 9
No room for verb nontense!
Verb tense
If you begin in the present = stay in the present.
If you begin in the past = stay in the past
Example: My friends were going to spring break in Florida, but my fraternity brother says he is going to Denver, Colorado. Instead:
My friends are going to spring break in Florida, but my fraternity brother says he is going to Denver, Colorado.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 10
No room to count!
Type out numbers when possible , especially
numbers 1-9:
Example:
nine friends, four schools, eleven singers; first place, fifth time to teach this class.
See: http://xrl.us/whentowritenumbers
Sexy Rule # 11
No, room, for too many, commas!Be careful with comma overuse Overuse of the comma : be
careful:
Observe the following rules from Purdue English online writing lab • Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by
any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or,
nor, so, yet.
• Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words
that come before the main clause.
• Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off
clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of
the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the
pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.
• Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence,
such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses
after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb
expressing mental action are always essential.
• Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate
contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct
pause or shift.
• Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence
that refer back to the beginning or middle of the sentence.
Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere
in the sentence without causing confusion. (If the placement
of the modifier causes confusion, then it is not "free" and
must remain "bound" to the word it modifies.)
• Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates
(except the month and day), addresses (except the street
number and name), and titles in names.
• Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a
quotation.
• Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion
or misreading.
Purdue English online writing lab (continued)
Sexy Rule # 12
No for poor writing; An occasional
semicolon, however, is acceptable!
A semicolon is an Independent clause=
The sentence can stand alone !!!
Example:
This could be a complete sentence; this could be another one.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Sexy Rule # 13
Elements of formal writing: Nouns,
adjectives, and correct use of the colon.
A colon is a dependent clause=
The sentence cannot stand alone !!!
Example:
Applications should be submitted to this address: Post Office Box 322, Hartwell, FL 98204.
Presented by Brent Daigle, Ph.D. (ABD) [email protected]
Essential Websites for every college writer
150 Resources to help you write better:
http://oedb.org/library/features/150-writing-resources
30+ Tools for the amateur writer: http://mashable.com/2007/10/25/30-
tools-amateur-writer/
50 things you can do to improve your writing:
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/07/50-tools-that-can-improve-your-
writing.html
A guide to writing well :
http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2007/01/08/a-guide-to-writing-
well/
57 tips for writing your term paper:
http://www.degreetutor.com/library/online-assignments/termpaper-writing
How to use English punctuation correctly: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-
English-Punctuation-Correctly
Grammar Girl Blog: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
Ideas on how to write better: http://www.digital-
web.com/news/2007/02/top_five_articles_for_presenters/
How to write a good research paper:
http://research.microsoft.com/~simonpj/Papers/giving-a-talk/giving-a-
talk.htm [email protected]
