Post on 22-Dec-2015
transcript
Seven Deadly Sins of Writing
1. Rhetorical Questions
• Rhetorical questions are vocal tools for speech writing.
• Without the proper inflection by the author, rhetorical questions can be misinterpreted.
• Students tend to over use rhetorical questions for:– Question and answer style paragraphs– Transitions to tie one topic to the next– Witty conclusions or introductions
• Replace Rhetorical questions with direct statements.
• Definitive statements are clear, direct, and more effective than a rhetorical question.
Example
Rhetorical question: Wouldn’t education be more effective with a class engaged in conversation?
Direct statement:However, education is more effective when a class is engaged in conversation.
2. Conversational language
• Much like rhetorical questions, conversational language hurts your credibility and makes your paper sound informal.
• Also, conversational language relies on verbal inflections by the author to understand the full intention.
• It also requires an understanding of your generational and regional dialect.
Example• Avoid introductory clauses that start with “So”
“Well” “Anyhow”
• Conversational language can be easily corrected by removing phrases that are slang which also include CONTRACTIONS.
• Another good technique to use when correcting and identifying conversational language is having a second person read your paper aloud. – When your reviewer is struggling with a sentence,
that is a good indication that there is a problem with the phrasing, possibly due to conversational language.
– Because a reader will have trouble reading a statement made unclear by the author’s conversational intent.
3. Wordy sentences
• Do not try to increase your word count by adding a couple of “had been having” type of phrases.
• “because of the fact that”
• Make sure you are using the best wording for your sentences.
• Do not be afraid of direct, strong, and concise sentences. Being clear and understood is always best.
4. Misuse of Semi-Colon
• A semi-colon should not be used as a comma. It is a special type of comma.
• It is not used for simple lists or connecting sentences that have a conjunction.
Semi-Colon Rule
• Semi- Colon or ; should be used to connect two complete sentences together without a conjunction in order to complete a thought.
• Example: Roderiguez believes that he has disconnected with his family through his academic progress; he sees this new barrier in his inability to discuss his daily academic life.
Semi-colons in lists
• Semi-colons are used when separating items in complex lists.
• For example: I have visited Atlanta, Georgia; Frankfort, Kentucky; Tucson, Arizona; and Miami, Florida.
5. Inappropriate Comma Use
• Commas should normally not separate the noun phrase and verb, unless there is a dependent clause between the two parts.
For example:In the Freire article, the banking system, is a negative way of educating students by pouring the educator’s opinions in the students’ minds.
• In the Freire article, the banking system is a negative way of educating students by pouring the educator’s opinions in the students’ minds.
– “In the Freire article” is separate because it is an introductory dependent clause, an fragmented phrase that requires a connection to a sentence.
– “the banking system” is the noun phrase that must not be separated from the verb “is”.
Comma Rule
• Use a comma when connecting 2 complete sentences with a conjunction, isolating dependent clauses, and when separating items in a list.
Example: I did not agree with Freire, but he made some solid points about the misuse of power in education.
Introductory clauses and word phrases
• Introductory clauses and phrases must be separated using a comma.
• Example: However, I really enjoy watching Big Bang Theory.
• Other examples include phrases like: After, Although, Since
• It clarifies information before the Noun Phrase.
6. Paraphrased Information Not Cited
• Not citing information that does not belong to you is a form of plagiarism.
• Even though paraphrased information is put in your own words, all information that comes from another source must be cited.
• Borrowed language or phrases must put in direct quotes.
Example
• Bad- Roderiguez discusses how he was the scholarship boy who longed for teacher validation.
• Good – Roderiguez discusses how he was the “scholarship boy” who longed for teacher validation (52).
7. Using You
• Making the reader a part of the narrative is not appropriate for formal essay writing.
• This is a form of conversational language.
How to use sources
• Assume your reader is an outsider. • Do not write your paper to me, the teacher.• You need to thoroughly explain the source,
introduce the material and explain the context of the quote.
• Follow up the source with information about WHY you used this information, specifically how the information supports your thesis.