LT: L1 I can use correct grammar and usage when writing or speaking.EQ: How can I make my writing better?

Questions Notes

5 writing issues at a glance and how to fix

them

1. Inappropriate Pronouns in play

The pronoun cases

There are three pronoun cases.

1. Subjective Case- Pronouns used as subjects. These are categorized into person and number

2. Objective Case- Pronouns used as objects of verbs or prepositions.

3. Possessive Case- Pronouns which express ownership.

Pronoun Basic CasesSubjective Pronouns Objective Pronouns Possessive Pronouns

IYou HeSheItWe TheyWhoOne And other yet unofficial genderless pronouns

MeYouHimHerItUsThemwhom

My (mine)Your (yours)HisHer (hers)ItsOur (ours)Their (theirs)Whose

Subjective Pronouns Person and Numbers

Person Number

Singular Plural

First

Second

Third

I

You

HeShe it

We

You

they

Person(s) speaking

Person(s) spoken to

person(s) spoken about

The pronouns this, that, these, those, and which do not change form

1. Please only use third person pronouns

2. Pronoun and Antecedent Agreement

Rule #1: The pronoun and its antecedent agree in gender and number.

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. The antecedent of a pronoun is the word to which the pronoun refers.

The pronoun is masculine (he, his, him) when the antecedent is masculine, and feminine (she, her, hers) when the antecedent is feminine, and neutral (it, its) when the antecedent has no gender association.

Rule #2: A plural pronoun should be used with a compound antecedent joined by “and.”

Mary and Bill ran until they were exhausted.

Rule #3: A singular pronoun is used to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by “or” or “nor”.

Rule # 4: A plural pronoun is used with two or more plural antecedents joined by “or” or “nor”

Either the juniors or the seniors are singing their class song.

Ben or Tom will give his presentation today.

Rule # 5: When a singular antecedent and a plural antecedent are joined by “or” or “nor”, use a pronoun that agrees with the nearer antecedent.

The boy or his parents will present their idea.

The parents or the boy will present his idea.

Rule # 6: Use a singular pronoun when a collective noun refers to a group as a single unit.

Rule #7 Use a plural pronoun when the collective noun refers to a group's members as individuals.

The class stayed in their desks.

The class decided it wanted to do the project.

Rule # 8: Use singular pronouns to refer to indefinite pronouns (words like everybody, none, nobody, someone) used as antecedents

Each of the boys had his assignment ready. Everyone on the women's team improved her time. Everybody on the committee had his or her own agenda.

Rule # 9: Use the relative pronouns who, whom, which, and that with the appropriate antecedents.

(Who refers to people and animals that have names. )He is the one who committed the crime.

(Which refers to animals and things.)The biology book, which is on the table, was very helpful.

(That refers to animals, things and sometimes to people). The house that is on the right is being demolished.

Some problems I

saw…..

The job of education is to teach a student the best way to live their lives in the future.

Education is supposed to make students more intelligent. How can we trust them if they are not prepared?

2. Make sure your antecedents and pronouns match up

3. Lack of defining your terms

Some problems I

saw…..

It is very important in an paper to

define key terms so that

A. you show you understand them,

B. you let your reader know how

you are using them.

C. you alert your reader that terms

may be problematic, ambiguous, or

subject to change over time (or

within particular contexts).

Education Adult lifeImportant

A few questions to ask yourself….How does the author mean the word? (Definition 1)

Are you making assumptions of the author’s message because of what you assume the terms to mean? (Definition 2)

How could the audience interpret the word to have a different definition? (Definition 3)

Have you taken the steps to make sure your audience knows which definition is the one you are utilizing?

3. Define your terms as you write to have greater clarity.

4. Losing your objective tone and succumbing to a pathetic argument.*

*Pathetic as is relying too much on pathos. You’re getting into your emotional stuff instead of keeping your bias out of your argument.

Some problems I

saw…..

Some of you brought personal baggage into the analysis. This writing was supposed to be analytic.

Whenever you try to bring in pathos into analysis you must do so as neutrally as possible (see purposes for writing section)

4. Maintain an objective tone and focus on your assigned purpose.

5. Lack of following the purpose for writing

Why do people write?

1. To inquire/ to explore2. To argue/convince3. To persuade 4. To analyze5. To share a personal

experience

What does it mean to

inquire or explore?

Example: An essay exploring the history of migrant farm workers in the

American West.

1. An inquiry/exploration essay summarizes a topic, gives an overview of a controversy, or explores a subject explores a subject you know little about.

2. Your purpose is not to make an argument. In most cases, you should write objectively rather than take a stand for or against a topic.

What does it mean to argue or convince?

Example: An essay arguing that migrant labor has led to loss of jobs

for Americans.

1. In an essay to convince, the goal is to argue a position or make a claim and get readers to both listen to and agree with you. Build your case through rational presentation of reasons and evidence.

2. You write essays to convince when your subject is “intellectual” for example, when you’re writing about a scientific, technical, or rigorously academic topic.

What does it mean to

persuade?

Example: An essay arguing that migrant labor is exploitative and

immoral.

1. A persuasive essay, like an essay to convince, involves arguing a position using relevant reasons and evidence.

2. When you write a persuasive essay, your goal is for your readers to agree with you and, as a result, change their attitudes or behavior in some way.

3. A persuasive essay is a call to action, and your goal will be to reach your audience on a deeper, more emotional level (see Forms of Appeal). As a result, a persuasive essay often is appropriate when you’re addressing topics such as social issues, public policy, or values.

What does it mean to analyze?

Example: How does Steinbeck use symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath?

● In an analysis essay, you separate a selected text into parts and study them. Ultimately, you attempt to make a discovery or answer a question about the text as a whole.

● To answer such a question, use thoughtful interpretation of one or more textual elements. Your purpose is to illuminate and explain a writer’s strategies.

● After closely reading a text, you’ll evaluate the writer’s purpose, style, and/or rhetoric, as well as the effect, intended or actual, that the text has on readers.

● Your evaluation will include analysis of elements such as word choice, tone, attitude, organization, evidence, writing style, language, and argument.

What does it mean to share

a personal experience?

Example: An essay discussing your trip to Florida orange groves and how it shaped your views of migrant labor.

1. In a personal essay, you’ll write about your own experiences and observations as they relate to a particular theme or subject.

2. You might write a personal essay to reflect on something, or you might use your personal experiences to argue a point, in the manner of an essay to convince or persuade.

3. Be sure to select your material carefully—each anecdote you include in a personal essay should in some way illuminate the purpose of the essay as a whole.

5. Remain within your purpose for writing lane.

What some basic parts of an essay?

1. Introductions2. Body

Paragraphs3. Counter

Argument Paragraphs

4. Conclusions

What are the three pieces of an introduction?

An introduction usually has three pieces1. Attention Grabber2. Background3. Thesis/Overall Claim

Attention Grabbers

What are some examples of attention grabbers?

1. Comparisons2. A quotation or paraphrase3. A little known TRUE statistic or

striking fact 4. A statement of opinion that you

intend to challenge5. An interesting incident or anecdote

related to your subject6. Use the opposite of what you plan

to write about. 7. State the importance of the topic. 8. A definition 9. A question that will be answered

by your thesis, or will catch the reader’s attention and lead toward your thesis topic

● Simile○ comparisons using like,than, or as between two unlike things

■ “A dog is like a cat” is NOT a simile■ “Some days school can feel like a prison” IS a simile

● Metaphor○ comparisons not using like or as between two unlike things

■ “Daytime is when the sun is up” is NOT a metaphor

■ “School is a prison for teenagers that have only committed the crime of being born” IS a

metaphor

● Analogy ○ comparison focusing on only the similarities

What kinds of comparisons can I use as an attention grabber?

What kinds of quotes can I use as an attention grabber?● If you use a quote, make

sure that it is relevant to your topic, background information or your thesis in some way.

● Avoid over-used quotes or clichés, or if you must, try to put your own original spin on an old cliché.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein

What kinds of fact or statistic can I use as an attention grabber?● Try to surprise and impress

your reader with an interesting fact related to your topic.

● If it is a commonly known fact, people won’t be as interested in learning more.

● Don’t forget to cite your research

“About 25% of high school freshmen fail to graduate from high school on time.” "11 Facts About High School Dropout Rates." DoSomething.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.

Both of these quotes work for discussing the importance of the topic

“Bibb County boosted its overall graduation rate by more than 12 percentage points, from 58.9 percent in 2014 to 71.2 percent in 2015.” Zimmerman, Jeremy. "Middle Georgia High Schools Post Better Graduation Rates for 2015." The Telegraph. N.p., 9 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.

What kinds of challenging statement can I use as an attention grabber?● No one can resist a bit of

fair and healthy conflict. If you can challenge the reader’s understanding of the world without alienating their beliefs or values, you have a good chance of getting their attention quickly.

What kinds of anecdote or interesting incident can I use as an attention grabber?● If you have observed or

experienced something personally that can demonstrate why the topic interests you, then your reader will likely be interested as well.

How do I state the opposite of what I plan on writing for my attention grabber?This is done for dramatic effect, as in “What if the world were like this instead of what the world, or situation about to be discussed, truly is?” Readers are often fascinated, intrigued by this type of approach

How do I state the importance of the topic for my attention grabber?

You do this by presenting statistical data, facts, figures that underscore the issues about to be discussed. The data must be pertinent, validated and presented in an objective manner free of any editorializing – the facts speak for themselves

“About 25% of high school freshmen fail to graduate from high school on time.” "11 Facts About High School Dropout Rates." DoSomething.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.

Both of these quotes work for discussing facts and statistics.

“Bibb County boosted its overall graduation rate by more than 12 percentage points, from 58.9 percent in 2014 to 71.2 percent in 2015.” Zimmerman, Jeremy. "Middle Georgia High Schools Post Better Graduation Rates for 2015." The Telegraph. N.p., 9 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.

What kinds of definitions can I use as an attention grabber?While dictionary definitions are ok, most people find them to be quite dry. Try to paraphrase, or write your own unique take on a definition whenever you can

What kinds of questions can I use as an attention grabber?

A question that will be answered by your thesis, or will catch the reader’s attention and lead toward your thesis topic. Questions can immediately garner attention as long as the answer isn’t immediately obvious or too obscure.

Background

Background

Background means a brief summary of the work to give your reader context. The background should not be more than three sentences. This is something to connected to both your attention grabber and your thesis. This is information that your reader absolutely needs to understand what you are discussing. You can establish your credibility as an authority by giving facts or by providing some information about what you will be writing about.

Background

Stay away from things like● In class we’ve been studying poetry, and

now I have to write a comparison essay● Poetry has a lot of literary devices like

figurative language and sound devices. They also have themes.

● Or anything else that makes you sound like you have no idea what you are talking about.

Be logical with you background information. Ask yourself● How does this help make my point? ● How does this clarify the things I’m

going to say later?● How does this guide my reader to the

logical idea in my claim?

Thesis/Overall Claim

Thesis/Overall Claim

Claim/Thesis Statement this is what you are trying to prove or explain in your essay. It should be the last sentence of your introduction paragraph.

This is usually where you flat out tell the reader what you are going to be proving or explaining in your essay and the evidence you are going to be providing to make your points.

Thesis/Overall Claim

Examples: a. The author of “What is

Education for?” uses pathos, description, and juxtaposition to make his work more persuasive.

b. The central message of “What is Education for?” is to discuss the need for a change in school curriculum.

What are the parts of a paragraph?

Body Paragraphs usually have 5 parts.

1. Topic sentence/Claim 2. Supporting Sentences 3. Detail Example from Text/

Quotes with Citations 4. Explanation sentences5. Conclusion Sentence

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT PARAGRAPHS ONLY HAVE FIVE SENTENCES. Ms. Hernandez prefers at least 10 sentences in a paragraph with the majority of the content coming from supporting supporting sentences and explanation sentences.

Topic Sentences

How do I introduce

precise claims?

Topic sentence/Claim that usually states what the paragraph is going to be about. This must connect to your OVERALL CLAIM/THESIS and contain what the paragraph will be about.

How do I introduce

precise claims?

Examples:

a. The rhetorical appeal logos is employed in order to convince the reader

b. The rhetorical strategy the author uses to argue his point is definition of terms.

c. One change the author discusses is the need for curriculum that focuses on the student.

Supporting Sentences

How do I introduce evidence?

Supporting Sentences are usually where you introduce the evidence by providing context and/or define terms the reader must know to understand your writing.

How do I introduce evidence?

Examples:

a. Definition of terms is when the author spends a greater part of his/her writing providing meanings for words that are essential to understanding the position of the text.

b. One example of logos, the use of facts and figures to prove a point, is when he cites acts of heroism from recent American tragedies.

c. In the second paragraph of the text, the author discusses the need for a more diverse educational system.

Evidence and Detail Sentence

What counts as quality

evidence to develop/prove

my claim?

Detail Example from the text /Quotes with a Citation is directly is where you provide evidence for your opinion in the topic sentence.

Details and Example are usually quotes from the original text or some other facts

1. Fact-- a piece of information that can be verified and is inarguable

2. Evidence—collection of facts indicating whether a claim is true or valid

3. Proof-- evidence helping to establish a fact or the truth of a statement

What counts as quality

evidence to develop/prove

my claim?

Details and Examples are NOT1. Opinions-- a view or judgment not

necessarily based on fact or knowledge

2. Speculation- a theory about a subject without firm evidence

3. Conjecture-- an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

Explanation Sentences

How do I explain my evidence to make my reader understand what I am writing/ agree with my argument?

Explanations this is where you break down your thinking to your reader so they can come to understand your explanation or agree with what you are arguing. When you explain you need to handle

a. Paraphrasing the quote or simplifying it

b. Explanation of the Quote’s meaning

c. Connection to Thesis/Overall Claim

Concluding Sentences

How do I provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented?

Conclusion Sentence this is where you want to restate your topic sentence or thesis in different words. Some will also drop a hint as to what is coming next.