The Bridget Frimpongmaa Combined UGRC 210.

Lecture Notes: Academic Writing II

1. Overview of Grammar: Deviant Usage and Common Errors

• Definition: Deviant usage refers to the use of words and expressions that violate established conventions, leading to poor writing quality.

• Objective: Highlight common errors to help students avoid them for better writing.

2. Common Errors in Academic Writing

Outline of Common Errors

• Misplaced Modifiers

• Dangling Modifiers

• Comma Splices

• Split Infinitives

• Pronoun-Antedecent Agreement

• Rambling Sentences

• Double Subjects

• Sentence Fragments

• Parallel Structures

• Subject-Verb Agreement

• Confusing Words

3. Misplaced Modifiers

Definition

• A modifier that is incorrectly positioned in a sentence, leading to ambiguity.

Example 1:

• Incorrect: "On her way home, Akosua found a gold man’s watch." (Implies the watch is owned by a gold man).

• Correct: "On her way home, Akosua found a man’s gold watch."

Types of Misplaced Modifiers

• Misplaced Adjectives

• Misplaced Adverbs

• Misplaced Phrases

• Misplaced Clauses

4. Dangling Modifiers

Definition

• A modifier that does not clearly refer to any word in the sentence.

Examples:

• Incorrect: "Walking to the movies, the cloudburst drenched Jim." (Implies the cloudburst is walking).

• Correct: "Walking to the movies, Jim was drenched by the cloudburst."

Correction Methods

• Modify sentence structure to clarify the referent.

5. Comma Splices

Definition

• Occurs when two independent clauses are joined incorrectly with just a comma.

Corrections

• Use a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "and/so") with a comma.

• Use a semicolon to separate the clauses.

• Form two distinct sentences.

6. Split Infinitives

Definition

• A split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between 'to' and the verb (e.g., "to quickly finish").

Correction

• Avoid placing words between 'to' and the verb whenever possible.

7. Subject-Verb Agreement

Rules

• A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Examples

• Single Subject: "The cat plays with the toy."

• Compound Subject: "The dog and the cat are friends."

• Collective Nouns: Use a singular verb when referring to a team as a unit (e.g., "The team wins.").

8. Confusing Words

Examples of Confusing Words

• Accept vs. Except

• Affect vs. Effect

• Loose vs. Lose

• Their vs. There

• Who’s vs. Whose

9. Writing Skills I: Making Notes from a Text

• Note-taking vs. Note-making: Note-taking captures information quickly while note-making involves extracting and synthesizing ideas from a text.

• Advantages of Note-making:

  • Helps in understanding content.

  • Enhances memory retention.

  • Allows for organization and clarification of ideas.

10. Writing a Summary

• Definition: A concise restatement of the main points in one's own words.

• Importance: Summarizing enables understanding of complex material and is crucial for effective communication in writing.

11. Writing a Paraphrase

• Definition: Restating another person's ideas in your own words with similar length.

• Importance: Demonstrates understanding and adds originality to writing.

12. Making Effective Presentations

• Preparation: Understanding your material, selecting relevant information, and organizing your presentation help ensure success.

• Delivery: Make eye contact, maintain a clear voice, and engage the audience to enhance communication.

13. Combining Sources and Providing Cohesion

• Combining Sources: Involves analyzing and synthesizing information from various texts to support arguments.

• Cohesion Tools:

  • Reference words (e.g., pronouns to avoid repetition)

  • Transition words/phrases (to connect ideas)

Conclusion

• Academic writing is a structured process that encompasses various skills, strategies, and rules to communicate effectively and ethically in academia.