Technical Writing Lesson 2- Viet Nam

7/30/2019 Technical Writing Lesson 2- Viet Nam

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Technicalwriting 2012

Lesson 2: Phrases

Outline:

1. Participle phrases

2. Absolute phrases3. Appositive phrases

4. Prepositional phrases


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Extra notes or review for last lessonabout compound sentences

1. Coordinate conjunctions: FANSBOY

For, And, Nor, So, But, Or, Yet

2. Independent Clause; ConjunctiveAdverb,Independent Clause.


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UsingCONJUNCTIVE ADVERBSIndependent Clause; conjunctive adverb,Independent

Clause.

The following are frequently used conjunctiveadverbs:

Addition: moreover, furthermore, in addition,besides

The priceof thehouse is too high; moreover, it is too old. Result, Effect: as a result, hence, thus,

consequently, therefore

He did not study hard; thus, he failed in theexam.


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CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS:Others

Meanwhile, at the same time

Johnson usually jugs in the morning;meanwhile, he enjoys lessoning music.

In fact, indeed Then, next

Likewise, similarly

To achieve your goal, you must do

something; likewise,you need to makegreat effort to reach your goal.


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Definition: A phrase is a group of related words that

lacks either a subject or a predicate or both.

Example:

Amazing triumphs of technology can be foundin ancient civilizations.Analysis:amazing triumphs of technology : Subject

Gerund phrase lacks a predicate.can be found : Verbal phrase lacks a subject.

in ancient civilizations: modifier as adverb function

Prepositional phrase lacks a subject and predicate.

What is a phrase?


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1. Participle Phrase

A participle phrase or called participleconstruction consists of a participleand any complement or modifiers it

may have. It functions as an adjectiveor an adverb.

Being a shy student, he dare not ask hisprofessor questions.

Note: Participle phrases have the sameform as gerund phrases, but differentfunctions.


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Participle Phrase vs. Gerund phrase

Stanley found studying in Taiwanfunny and interesting.

Studying in Taiwan, Stanley foundout a lot of funny things.

Question: What is the function ofstudying in Taiwan as shown above?


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1. Participle phrases

Present participle (V+ing): active

Past participle (V+ed): passive

1. Past tense2. Present tense

3. Future tense


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Participle Phrase :past tense

Scientists who visited Taipei last year weredisappointed. (Relative clause functions as adjectiveclause)

Scientists visiting Taipei last year were

disappointed. (Participle construction functions asadjective (phrase).)

The papers which were presented in the lastconference were great.

(Relative clause)

The papers presented in the last conference weregreat. (Participle construction functions as adjective(phrase).)


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Participle Phrase : Present tense

Scientists who visit Taipei todaysee a lot of activities.

Scientists visiting Taipei today seea lot of activities

The paper which is presented inthis conference is great.

The paper presented in thisconference is great.


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Particle phrase: Future tense

Scientists who will visit Taipeinext year will enjoy it.

Scientists visiting Taipei next year

will enjoy it. The papers which will be

presented in next issue will be

great. The papers presented in next

issue will be great.


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Participle phrases: past tense

Active

When (=As) I finished my homework,I felt great.

(When) Finishing my homework, I feltgreat.

Passive

When he was invited, he feltgreat.

(When) Invited, he felt great.


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Participle Phrase : perfect tense

Active

After he had washed his car, he left.

After washing his car, he left.

Having washed his car, he left.

Passive

After she had been insulted, she felt hurt.

After being insulted, she felt hurt. Having been insulted, she felt hurt.


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Participle Phrase:Negative participle construction

As he didn't know what to do, heasked a friend.

Not knowing what to do, he asked afriend.

When she wasn't treated politely,she left the shop.

Not treated politely, she left theshop.


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Participle phrases may containcoordinating conjunction for definite

meaning.

When heated, an object will expandexcept ice.

When moving an object forward, youare doing work.

Before examining all of the availableoptions, he decided to initiate the

plan.


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Participle Construction:concession means Though

Past tense Active

Though he felt the danger, he turned.

Though feeling the danger, heturned.

Past tense Passive

Though he was dissatisfied, hesmiled.

Though dissatisfied, he smiled.


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Participle phrase may be put at thebeginning, middle, or end of asentence

hen assigned to a professor, a

graduate student should start hisresearch. (Periodic type)

A graduate student, when assigned toa professor, should start his research.

A graduate student should start his

research when assigned to aprofessor. (Loose Type)


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Variety in Sentence Structure: LooseSentence vs. Periodic Sentence

Before expanding a sentence or combiningsentences, we need to know two styles ofsentences as follows:

The Loose Sentence: Main clause or idea

+modifiers or dependent clause The Periodic Sentence: Modifiers or dependentclause + main clause or idea

Note: The loose sentence is more suitable fortechnical writing. Despite rare using periodic

sentences, an occasional periodic sentence isdramatic and persuasive.

Periodic structures usually expand the subject orverb. Loose structures expand the verb or object.


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Dont misplaces or dangle your participles !

A dangling participle (or modifier) does

not sensibly modify anything in its

sentence.

Examples: (Try to correct the following sentences:1.Walking down the crowded street, the traffic light turned red.

2. Before submitting an application for graduate schools, all universitiesshould be reviewed.

Correct:

Walking down the crowded street, I noticed the traffic light turning red.Correct:Before submitting an application for graduate schools, one should review alluniversities.


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Exception for dangling participlephrases

When the logical subject in PP refersto People, We, One, DPP is valid,

such as Generally speaking, Franklyspeaking

Some PP (V-ing) can be regarded aspreposition or conjunction, such as

Considering"," Concerning,Regarding, Providing, Excepting

I i d d t ti i i l


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In a no-person independent participialphrase, the subject often refers to

we, you, one,and is often omitted.

1.Frankly speaking, S+V ( )

2.Generally speaking, S+V ( )

3.Considering +N, S+V ( )

4.Concerning +N, S+V ( / ) 5.Speaking of +N, S+V ( / )

6.Judging from +N, S+V ( )

7.Seeing that + S+V, S+V ( )

8. Provided that +S+V, S+V ( )

9.Strictly speaking, S+V ( )

10. Roughly speaking, S+V ( )


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Participle phrases commonlyused in technical writing

As+past participle+.., omits S+Be

in an adjective clause modifying thesubject of main clause :

, as shown in Fig. 1. The form drag of a moving object increases

as the square of velocity, as shown in Fig. 1.

As already explained,= As already stated,

As already explained, the experimentalerror is still as small as two percent.


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Common Participle

(3) as mentioned above,=as pointed outabove,=as already referred to,=As we notedabove/earlier/ before,

The result at which parameter X reaches acritical value shows an optimum value, asmentioned above.

(4) As previously stated,=As illustratedbefore

As previously stated, radiation is theprocess by which energy is transmittedthrough space in the absence of matter.


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Common participle phrases

as indicated in ~,=as demonstrated in ~,

The data of parameter Y show asignificant increase in decreasing X, as

indicated in Table 2. As widely recognized,

As widely recognized, gas expands

more rapidly than solid does whenheated.


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Common Participle phrases

Common terms mean condition timeplace concession way subordinateconjunction (if though while when whenever wherever whether however)+S+ Be+Adj (or N) omitting S+ Beespecially for the same subject as themain clause :

(1) If free from external forces, anobject will move with constant velocity.

(omitting an object is ) (2) The manuscript entitled on ~ isconsidered for publication in theJournal of ~ if possible. (omitting it is)


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(3) This medicine is good for your healththough bitter. (omitting it is)

(4) This chicken soup tastes great whilehot. (omitting it is)

(5) The copper is comparatively cheap andhas a very good conductivity. Hence, thecopper is widely used in electronicscooling wherever possible. (omittingit is)

(6) John tried to work out his project,however difficult. (omitting the project

is)


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(7) All matter, whether large or small, ismade up of molecules. (omitting it is)

(8)While in a pure state (=When pure),

water is colorless. (omitting it is) (9) Atoms may send out vast amounts of

radiant energy once cracked. (omittingthey are)

(10) If necessary, please feel free tocontact me. (omitting it is)


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2. Absolute Phrase

(Absolute Participle Construction)

An absolute phrase consists of a subject,usually a noun or a pronoun, and aparticiple, together with any object ormodifier of the participle. Since theabsolute phrase modifies the wholesentence, it acts as an adverb.

Subordinate conjunction+ S1+V S2+ V

S1+ V-ing (active) S2 + V

S1+ p.p. (passive) S2 + V


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Examples of Absolute Phrase

Time permitting, we will pay

you a visit next week.

The class being over, the studentsrushed out of the classroom.


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Examples of Absolute Phrases

Aluminum being very soft, we can press iteasily into any desired shape.

=Because aluminum is very soft, we canpress it easily into any desired shape.

After completing the assignment, the finalexamination was taken. (True or False?)

False, and corrected as: After the studentcompleted the assignment, the final

examination was taken. Or:The student took the final examinationafter completing the assignment.


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3. Appositive phrases

An appositive is usually a noun that renames another

noun; it also adds new information about the noun

it follows.

An appositive phrase also includes modifiers.Appositives and appositive phrases sometimes begin with

that is, such as, for example, or in other words.

Example:Dr. Young, my technical English teacher, is a professor in engineering.

appositive phrase


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4. Prepositional phrases

Consist of a preposition and an object

Function as adjectives or adverbs

Used to show relationship

Can be added or deleted without affecting the

meaning or structure of the sentenceLife on a raft was an opportunity for adventure.

adj. adj.

Huck Finn rode the raft down the river by choice.adv. adv.

With his companion, Jim, Huck met many types of people.

adv. adj.


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Sentence combining activity

Transform two sentences into onesimple sentence with participle,preposition, or absolute phrases

1. It rained yesterday.Our picnic was cancelled yesterday.

2. Einstein published his general theory

of relativity in 1916.He profoundly affects the study ofphysics for years.


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3. The university has been facingpressure to cut its budget. It haseliminated funding for important

programs. (Hint: Under., )

Ans: Under pressure to cut its budget,the university has eliminated funding

for important programs.


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4. Sandy snuck a cookie from the desserttable. This was against his mother's wishes.(Hint: Against.,..)

Ans:Against her mother's wishes, Sandy snucka cookie from the desert table.

5. I got wet. I was on water ride. The watersplashed on me. (Hint: use owing to or dueto)

Ans: I got wet on the water ride owing towater splashing on me.


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Home Assignment #3.Part A:

Please correct the following sentences from problem set 1 to 4.1.When not going to college, my hobbies range from athletics to automobiles.2.Before submitting a graduate school application, the university should be

selected.3.While analyzing the samples, the error was detected by the technician.4. After bleeding the mice, radio-immune assays were conducted to test binding

capabilities. Please transform two sentences into one simple sentence (with a

preposition phrase)5. The economy was shaky last year.My company still managed a 10% growth in exports.

6. The instructor helped me a lot.I was able to write a fluent technical writing.

7. We discussed online sales and promotion.The general manager wanted our marketing department to find an effective

way to promote total output. (Hint: Concerning,)


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Home Assignment #3.

Part B: Choice

_____1. My homework _______, I wentout to play. (A) has been finished (B)finished (C) been finished (D) was finished

_____2.The sun _______, we start to gohome. (A) has set (B) having set (C) hasbeen set (D) having been set

_____3.The vacation _______over, the

students came back to school. (A) is (B)are (C) being (D) having


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Choice (exercise in class)

___ 4. Weather _____, we will have a picnictomorrow. (A) permit (B) permits (C)permitted (D) permitting

___5. _____ fine today, we are going for an

excursion. (A) It being (B) It is (C) Becauseof it is (D) Owing to (E) To being

___ 6. ____ by hunger, he stole a cake. (A) Having driven (B) Driving (C) Being

driving (D) Driven

___ 7. Some people _____ with the virus lookand feel healthy, but still can pass the virus toothers . (A) who infected (B) infecting

(C) are infected (D) infected


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T h i l

The End!

Thank you for your attention!

Technical Writing Lesson 2- Viet Nam

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