Issues to Correct When Writing
1. Annotate the directions AND passage. You will find your support while organizing and developing your ideas, thesis, and essay plan.
2. Craft a clear thesis statement that is unified and argues a point.
3. Any assertion or generalization you make is not valid without proof, which MUST be explained. Proof, such as a quote, needs support. As a rule, if the quote is three lines in length, you should spend a minimum of three more lines discussing that quote. In fact, you should discuss it beyond the quote’s length. Discussing your support/proof will allow you to develop your ideas and show insight by going beyond the literal, surface level. It’s the same 3 step process we have continuously discussed: (1) form your argument/assertion/claim, (2) provide text-based proof that supports step 1, and (3) explain the proof from step 2, focusing on making connections and demonstrating your purpose.
4. Understand the difference between paraphrase and analysis. Putting the plot’s events into your own words (paraphrase) is just summarizing, not analysis. For analysis, you must examine the events, characters, and language in order to come to justifiable conclusions that you can support with evidence from the text. Then, you must support those conclusions/assertions with specific, preferably text-based proof.
5. Understand the difference between “how” and “why.” “Why” refers to what reason, cause, or purpose. “How” refers to in what manner or way – to what extent, degree, etc. “How” requires deeper analysis and examination.
6. Show, don’t tell. Don’t tell your audience what you mean, show them.
7. Avoid inappropriate judgments or opinions in your writing. Unless you are writing a personal essay, you should not use the person pronoun “I.” Character judgments such as “The counselor is only trying to help Ellen, but she is being mean to him for no reason” are inappropriate. The prompt did not call for this response; plus, to make a statement like this requires text-based proof, which will be difficult to find since it is a judgmental opinion.
8. The word “significant” or “significance” means more than just important. Significance refers to a deeper or hidden meaning. The key is that you should be looking for meaning when a question includes this word.
9. The titles of novel and larger works of literature are underlined when writing and italicized when typing. Titles of shorter works like most poems and short stories are punctuated with quotation marks.
10. Use the present tense when writing about a work of literature. You are discussing it NOW, not in the past.
11. Use the same verb tense, i.e. keep verb tense consistent.
12. Delete vague, useless words from your writing vocabulary such as “things,” “a lot,” “stuff,” “many ways” (or any variation of this) and “very.” From now on, consider these words DEAD.
13. Do not use “we” or “you”; replace with “the reader” or “one.”
14. Know the when and how to use commas and semicolons.*
15. Learn to spell the words that you often have difficulty with.
Commonly confused: there, their, they're; than, then*; conscience, conscious*; affect, effect*; it's (it is, but do not use contractions in formal composition), its (possessive); quote (verb), quotation (noun); to, too, two; all right (not alright); desert, dessert; passed, past; weather, whether; accept, except; should have (not should of). And if the word is in the prompt or the passage, it absolutely must be spelled correctly.
Quick Comma and Semicolon Guide
l Use a comma when a sentence begins with a subordinating clause, but not when the subordinating clause is the latter part of the sentence.
Examples: Whenever I think of Jenny Jordan, I imagine her as she looks in a picture taken at my high school graduation in 1976. (subordinating conjunction is “whenever”)
Her choice of dress surprised no one since Jenny’s favorite color had been red when we were children. (subordinating conjunction is “since”)
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
as though
as well as
because
before
even though
if
in order that
provided that
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
whether
while
why
l Use a semicolon between independent clauses (think: between two complete sentences with a subject and a verb) joined by a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression.
Examples: Leonora is planning to become an engineer; however, she is also interested in graphic design (semicolon with a comma after “however”)
Not all birds migrate south for the winter; cardinals, for instance, can stay in northern climates year round. (semicolon used with transitional expression “for instance”)
Common Conjunctive Adverbs
also
anyway
besides
consequently
furthermore
however
instead
likewise
meanwhile
moreover
nevertheless
otherwise
still
then
therefore
Common Transitional Expressions
as a result
at any rate
by the way
for example
in addition
in fact
in other words
on the contrary
on the other hand
l Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet when the conjunction joins independent clauses (think: between two complete sentences with a subject and a verb).
Examples: Patrick brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the potato salad. (comma)
High school graduates may go on to college or may begin working immediately. (no comma)
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
for
and
nor
but
or
yet
so
Commonly Confused Words:
affect vs. effect—As verbs: affect: 1. to act or have an influence upon E.g. Sunless days can affect my mood 2. to make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume, as, "to affect ignorance”
effect: 1. to bring about or create, as “to effect a change”
If you affect something, you do it, if you effect something, you cause it to be.
As nouns: affect: (rare, so you probably can remember usually to use “effect”) 1. used in psychotherapy to describe the emotional complex associated with an idea or mental state E.g. He displayed a negative affect.
effect: 1. result, consequence, outcome
An effect is that which is produced when you affect something. E.g., “The poem affected me deeply; it really had an effect on me.”
conscious vs. conscience—conscience: (noun) awareness of moral or ethical judgment, or any source of this ethical judgement. Think: Jiminy Cricket.
conscious: (adjective) 1. having an awareness of one's environment and one's own existence, sensations, and thoughts. 2. intentionally conceived or done; deliberate
than vs. then—than: used as a comparative adjective or adverb. E.g. She is a better athlete than I.
then: usually used as an adverb to describe time, in addition, in that case, or as a result. E.g. I was still in school then. Come at noon; I’ll be ready then. It’s costs $20, and then there is the sales tax to pay. If traffic is heavy, then allow extra time. The case, then, is closed.