Writing seminar

1
Writing seminar

• Paragraph structure
• Sentence structure
• Words
• Punctuation and mechanics

2
Paragraph structure

• Topic sentences
• Important, but easy to forget.
• Paragraph development
• Exemplification instances that support the topic
  sentence
• Narration series of events to tell the reader
  what happened
• Process how something works or how an action is
  carried out
• Comparison and contrast similarities or
  dissimilarities to another thing, process, or
  state
• Cause and effect tracks the development of one
  situation or event out of another.
• Definition describes the meaning and scope of
  important terms.
• Analysis presents evidence and causal links to
  explain how something works.

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Paragraph structure

• Transitional devices
• Words and phrases that provide transitions among
  sentences by invoking
• Cause and effect consequently, therefore, as a
  result
• Sequence furthermore, in addition
• Comparison or contrast similarly, also, however,
  in contrast
• Example for example, for instance, specifically

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Paragraph structure

• Linking old and new information
• A and B. B and C. C and D.
• Example Every semester after final exams are
  over, I'm faced with the problem of what to do
  with books of lecture notes. They might be useful
  some day, but they just keep piling up on my
  bookcase. Someday, it will collapse under the
  weight of information I might never need.

5
Sentence structure

• A description of the important terms may possibly
  be provided by the writer. (13 words)
• Passive versus active voice
• The writer may possibly provide a description of
  the important terms. (11 words)
• Nominalizations Turning verbs into nouns
• The writer may possibly describe the important
  terms. (8 words)
• Unnecessary words or phrases (double hedging,
  extra articles)
• The writer may describe important terms. (6 words)

6
Sentence structure

• Avoid comma splices, join independent clauses
  with semicolons
• Semicolon, not a comma, is used to link to
  independent clauses- i.e., there is a complete
  sentence on either side of the semicolon.
• Parallelism Parts of a single sentence with the
  same function should have the same structure
• Poor parallelism One of the most important
  problems faced by exobiologists is how to devise
  and agreeing upon tests to detect life.
• Improved parallelism One of the most important
  problems faced by exobiologists is devising and
  agreeing upon tests to detect life.

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Sentence structure

• Misplaced modifiers
• Avoid interrupting the sentence structure by
  placing modifiers between the subject and the
  verb.
• Dangling modifiers
• A modifier whose connection to the sentence is
  implied, but not made explicit is said to dangle.
  This is often a problem when writing in the
  passive voice.
• Dangling Using a wing-ruler, wing chord was
  measured for each bird.
• Corrected Using a wing-ruler, I measured the
  wing chord of each bird.

8
Words

• Vague language
• many, some, about, etc.- be explicit or leave
  them out
• Technical terms
• use terms that will make it easier for your
  audience to understand what you are writing
  about.
• Which/That
• Which is non-restrictive and preceded by a comma,
  that is restrictive, not preceded by a comma.
• Non-restrictive Bats, which have wings, are
  similar to birds. (implies all bats have wings)
• Restrictive Bats that eat insects echolocate
  more than other bats. (implies that only some
  bats eat insects)

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Punctuation and Mechanics

• Commas after introductory elements
• Commas separate elements in a series
• The final comma is optional, but omitting it can
  create confusion
• Omitted Contemporary physics is still exploring
  neutron stars, black holes and the penetration of
  electrons through potential barriers.
• Included Contemporary physics is still exploring
  neutron stars, black holes, and the penetration
  of electrons through potential barriers.
• Use semicolons for elements of a series that
  include commas Italicize titles of journals,
  books, newsletters, and manuals letters, words,
  terms, and equation symbols foreign words and
  names of specific vessels.

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Punctuation and Mechanics

• Commas between coordinating modifiers
• Modifiers are coordinate if they modify the same
  word. You can test for coordination by inserting
  an and between the modifiers. If the description
  still makes sense the modifiers are coordinate.
• Example Ebola viruses are known as filoviruses
  for their long, filamentlike appearance.

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This modifier splits the subject from the verb
Use of Rebel links to civil war in previous
sentence
Excellent use of topic sentence

• Episode IV A NEW HOPE
• It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships,
  striking from a hidden base, have won their first
  victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
• During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal
  secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the
  DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough
  power to destroy an entire planet.
• Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess
  Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of
  the stolen plans that can save her people and
  restore freedom to the galaxy....

Linking old and new information
This modifier does not split subject and verb,
but it isnt directly next to what it modifies
(Princess Leia)
Modifier is not dangling, also links old and new
information
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For next week

• Work in Groups of 2-3
• Read examples I have provided and come prepared
  to discuss the following questions
• 1) How do the authors develop their paragraphs?
  E.g., what type of development do they use? Do
  they link old and new information? Do they use
  passive or active voice?
• What do you like about their writing?
• 3) What do you dislike about their writing?
• 4) Find three sentences that could be improved.
  Come to class these sentences written down and a
  revision the sentence that you think would fix
  the problem.