Writing Flashcards
Write informative, effective sentences that continuously clarify the purpose of your essay.
Make each sentence contribute something new and interesting to the overall discussion.
CLEAR STYLE
“Empty sentences” vs sentences containing an informative and complete thought
Vague vs specific
KISS
Word order
-misplaced modifiers
-dangling modifiers
Mixed constructions
*** Empty sentences/ overly general sentences = statements that alone do not contain enough information to make specific point in your discussion
*** Modifier = a word or a group of words that affects the meaning of another word
*** Misplaced modifier = a modifier that seems to modify the wrong part of a sentence
*** Dangling modifier = the object of the modifying phrase is missing
*** KISS
CONCISE STYLE
Deadwood constructions
-“empty fillers”
-“space wasters”
-there are / it is
-who / which
-to be
-of
Redundancies
Active / passive verbs
Pretentiousness
*** Deadwood constructions:
due to the fact – use because
at this point in time – use now / today
regardless of the fact that – use although
By means of – use by
*** Redundancies = words that repeat the same idea or whose meaning overlap
e.g. reverted back, new innovation, fell down, climb up
LIVELY STYLE
Specific, descriptive verbs
Avoid dull words (to be, to have, to get, to make, very, really, good, nice, etc.)
Emphasize people
Vary your sentence style; avoid the “hiccup syndrome”
Overuse of one construction in a sentence, e.g. negation; who/which; for; of
They – we- you – be consistent
*** hiccup syndrome = you begin a sentence with the same word that ends the preceding sentence
EMPHATIC STYLE
Word order (at the end/beginning; inversion)
Coordination (FANBOYS)
Subordination
-when
-because
-if
-there
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
