Breaking News from SSS:
Thirteen Basic Writing Mistakes Corrected Today!
SSS
An English/Reading Mini-workshop
Student Support Services
Troy University (Main Campus)
Workshop Objectives
• To teach students to identify
and correct common writing
flaws.
• To help students write more
clearly.
• To give students writing
practice.
• To help improve students’
writing confidence.
First, don’t be afraid to
make a mistake.
Do your best!
Determine to see a Mistake as . . .
• An opportunity to improve.
• A a challenge to overcome.
• A reason to seek help or information
Mistakes . . .
That writers commonly
make . . . can be
corrected if you . . .
• Stop telling yourself you can’t
write or that you’re a bad
writer and . . .
• Start noticing the mistakes
and
• Start working to correct them.
Writing Mistake #1
Avoiding controversy
Corrections:
• Don’t be afraid to have an opinion and present it as
your thesis. Discuss what you have read and observed.
• Don’t present facts as thesis statements. Facts make
okay topic sentences or supports, but not okay thesis
statements. Thesis = opinion.
• Don’t be afraid to include counterarguments to an
argument. Acknowledge your opponents’ views and
then present your opposing views.
Writing Mistake #2
Failing to present evidence of assertions.
Corrections:
• Use evidence that supports your opinion.
• Use facts, statistics, and quotes from credible
researchers or sources.
Writing Mistake #3
Hiding the thesis at end or middle of essay
Corrections:
• Revise introduction to include a clearly
stated thesis. Restate thesis in conclusion.
• Blueprint your thesis statement and use
each blueprinted point as a topic sentence.
Writing Mistake #4
Failing to revise thesis statement
Corrections:
• Revise your thesis statement if your opinion
changes or shifts as you do your research.
• Your thesis statement needs to be a strong,
clear expression of your opinion.
Writing Mistake #5
Problems unifying Paragraphs
Corrections:
• Give enough information to make a real paragraph.
(A Topic Sentence with supporting statements and details
help build a paragraph)
• Go into detail. Don’t just make a broad statement
and then go on to another subject.
(How would you feel if . . . )
• Use transition words to link ideas and improve
readability.
Writing Mistake # 6
Relying too much on sources
(Not enough discussion)
Corrections:
• Let the reading audience know what is in your soul and spirit.
Don’t just fixate on what others think, speak or write. Sound
your voice.
• Appeal to your audience’s . . .
(A) intellects [logic – logos],
(B) moral values [ethics – ethos] and
(C) hearts [human passions – pathos].
Writing Mistake # 7
Failing to Synthesize (Combine)
Corrections:
• Don’t just put in a lot of source material without
discussing all of the materials and showing that
they work together to form your whole theory or
assertion.
• (A) Cite a critic and document the source; (B) give
the source information; and then (C) show how it
relates to your topic.
Writing Mistake #8
Awkwardly wording sentences
Word (syntax) order and language problems
Corrections:
• Read sentences aloud to hear if they make sense to you.
• Use language that your audience understands. Respect
readers.
• Practice using Standard American English (SAE) when you
speak and let your oral speech influence your writing.
• Refer to a Grammar Handbook or dictionary often.
• Review basic grammar rules a few times a year.
Breaking News Bulletin . . .
SSS
Every college
writer should
invest
in a College
Dictionary and
A Pocket Style
Manual.
Writing Mistake #9
Fragmenting sentences
Correction:
Remember:
Complete Subject
+ Complete Predicate
Complete Sentence
Fragments do not express complete thoughts and
often frustrate readers.
Writing Mistake #10
Failing to Pace Oneself
(Work smart and hard.)
Corrections:
• As soon as you receive the assignment, start working on it so
that you will have time to do at least two proofreads and one
revision before submitting it.
• Set some personal writing objectives. Question yourself:
What do I want to accomplish and how hard am I willing to
work to meet my objectives?
• Begin doing a bibliographic search as soon as you know your
assignment. This will help you refine your topic.
• Put in for interlibrary loans early.
Procrastination –
A Common Problem
Writing Mistake #10
(corrections continued)
• Warning: Don’t procrastinate; do not delay the writing
process.
• Once the assignment is made, post the due date in
several locations – Examples: car dashboard;
bathroom mirror; cereal box .
-- Create a timeline to help you stay on schedule.
(A) Arrange appointments with interviewees that you
may use as sources; (B) Write down due dates for the
paper proposal, outline, and first draft; (C) write down
due date for annotated bibliography, if one is required;
(D) write down paper due date.
Breaking News Tip 2
Every college
student should
invest in a day
planner.
SSS
Writing Mistake #11
Misunderstanding the
terms “revise” and “proofread”
Corrections:
• Do not falsely assume that revising means
changing a few words or adding some punctuation
marks.
• Revise for logic errors or errors that reduce the
quality of your writing; proofread for physical
errors or errors that reduce the readability of your
writing.
Writing Mistake #12
Misunderstanding the Assignment
Corrections:
• As soon as you receive the assignment, start asking
questions. Seek clarification.
• Ask what documentation and style format (APA,
MLA, Chicago, etc.) you are to follow.
• Find out how your assignment will be evaluated:
Ask about the grading rubric
Writing Mistake #13
Wrongly Submitting the assignment
Corrections:
• If the assignment is to be submitted in phases, then
make sure you follow submission timeline.
• If the assignment is supposed to be submitted on
blackboard or via e-mail, find out. Ask for clarity if you
do not know how to electronically submit your
assignments.
• Find out if you are to submit source material along with
the final draft.
Review List –
Thirteen Basic Writing Mistakes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Avoiding controversy
Failing to present evidence of assertions
Hiding the thesis at end or middle of essay
Failing to revise thesis statement as needed
Problems unifying paragraphs
Relying too much on sources
Failing to Synthesize (unify information)
Awkwardly wording sentences (syntax and word choice)
Fragmenting sentences
Failing to Pace Oneself (Time management)
Misunderstanding the terms “revise” and “proofread”
Misunderstanding the Assignment
Wrongly Submitting the assignment
Practice Exercise
• Please complete the Workshop Practice
Exercise.
• Once you have completed the Exercise,
Print your name on it, date it, and then
return it to SSS staff member. Thank you.
• Please complete the Workshop Evaluation
Form in order to receive your workshop
credit. Thank you.
Conclusion
• SSS hopes this presentation has given you some
useful information concerning the task of choosing
a subject about which to write.
• Please complete a Seminar Evaluation form
before you leave and stop by SSS to complete an
online Academic Seminar Summary so that we may
document your participation.
• Also, please feel free to suggest any other topics
that you would like to see presented. Phone: 334670-5985.
• Thank you, and have a great learning experience
here at Troy University.
The End
SSS
Troy University
Troy, Alabama 36082
Student Support Services
Buffie Edwards, Coordinator
Eldridge Hall, Room 24; Troy University; Troy, AL 36082
Phone: 334-670-5985; bmedwards@troy.edu
Presentation developed by:
Rebecca C. Money, English/Reading Specialist
Student Support Services; Eldridge Hall, Room 24; Troy University; Troy, AL 36082
Phone: 334-670-5985; rmoney@troy.edu
PPT dev: 2007/01-04