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BEFORE WE DIVE IN… http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=409
6 (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart-watch for language-and a good laugh!)
WHAT DO THESE WORDS MEAN TO YOU? Concise Language
Specific Language
Transitions
WHERE TO GO IF YOU WANT GUIDANCE! A Writer’s Resource- “Editing for Clarity” (pgs. 417-
470, especially 459-468) Wordy Sentences Missing Words Mixed Construction Confusing Shifts Faulty Parallelisms Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Coordination and Subordination Sentence Variety Active Verbs Appropriate Language
The UWC Your Professor
WHAT IS CONCISE/SPECIFIC LANGUAGE? Concise: expressing or covering much in few
words; brief in form but comprehensive in scope
Specific: having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying explicit, or definite: to state one’s specific purpose; concerned specifically with the item or subject named
Language: a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition
HOW CAN I BECOME CONCISE AND SPECIFIC IN MY WRITING? AVOID…
Doubling of Words (instead, choose one): Mutual agreement (agreement) Consensus of opinion (consensus) Whether or not (whether)
Intensifiers, Qualifiers (instead, omit or give specific details): Very Extremely Really Definitely
Formulaic Phrases (instead, use a one-word form or omit): For the purpose of (to) At this point in time (now) Due to the fact that (because) In the near future (soon)
HOW CAN I BECOME CONCISE AND SPECIFIC IN MY WRITING? AVOID…
Catch-all Terms (instead, omit wherever possible): Aspect Case Factor
Padded Verbs (instead, use a one-word form): To have an expectation (to expect) To make an arrangement (to arrange)
Unnecessary “to be” and “being” (instead, omit): The program is considered to be effective./The
program is considered effective OR The program is effective
because of the terrain being rough/because of the rough terrain
HOW CAN I BECOME CONCISE AND SPECIFIC IN MY WRITING? AVOID…
Passive Verbs (instead, use active voice-preferably with a personal subject): The beveling jig is said by most users to be
faulty./Most users say the beveling jig is faulty. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/1/
(Great site for writing in general!) Overuse of Relative Structures (“who,” “which,”
“that”-instead, omit): It was Confucius who said…/Confucius said… I think that X is the case…/X is the case, as the
evidence shows…
PRACTICE #1 Revise the sentences to state their
meaning in fewer words. Avoid passive voice, needless repetition, and wordy phrases and clauses. The first sentence is not wordy and can serve as an example.
PRACTICE #2 Combine each sentence group into one
concise sentence.
WHAT ARE TRANSITIONS? Transitions work as glue that holds our ideas
and our essay together. Transitions… Can help you establish logical connections
between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers
Tell readers what to do with the information you present to them
Function as signs for readers that tell them how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have written
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS Transitions between sections: in longer
assignments, it may be necessary/helpful to include transitional paragraphs that summarize the information just covered and specify the relevance of the information to the discussion in the following sections
Transitions between paragraphs: can help you highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows; can be a word or two, a phrase, or a sentence
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS Transitions within paragraphs: act as
cues by helping to anticipate what is coming before they read it; tend to be single words or short phrases
TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS Similarity: also, in the same way, just as…so too Exception/Contrast: but, however, in spite of Sequence/Order: first, second, third…next Time: after, afterward, at last, before, currently Example: for example, for instance, namely Emphasis: even, indeed, in fact, of course Place/Position: above, adjacent, below, beyond Cause and Effect: accordingly, consequently,
hence Additional Support or Evidence: additionally,
again, also, besides Conclusion/Summary: finally, in a word, in brief
SO…REMEMBER: A Writer’s Resource- “Editing for Clarity” (pgs.
417-470, especially 459-468) Wordy Sentences Missing Words Mixed Construction Confusing Shifts Faulty Parallelisms Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Coordination and Subordination Sentence Variety Active Verbs Appropriate Language
The UWC Your Professor
ALSO REMEMBER… The UWC is always here to help you! 678-839-6513 [email protected] TLC 1201 (First floor, past the snacks) www.westga.edu/writing Like us on Facebook: University Writing
Center (UWG)_______________________________________________ Duane Theobald (Manager) 678-839-5312 [email protected]
