Most Common Writing Mistakes Tips for basic argumentative essay writing Formal vs. Informal Writing • In writing a formal, academic essay, avoid: • • • • • • So First of all I We You (replace with one, people, a person, etc.) our (“our country, idea, goals, etc.”) • Also avoid contractions: • we’re • I’m • they’re Evidence! Claim: People should quit their regular jobs and become freelancers of they want to make more money. Reason: freelancers work according to their own timetable and preference, moreover, they get paid in US dollars which doubles the amount they usually make. Evidence: as per recent research “Freelance transcriptionists typically earn around $20-25/hr, with a yearly salary of about $32,000. Bookkeepers: A freelance bookkeeper makes $30-35/hr with an annual salary of around $40,000. Online marketers: Freelance digital marketers earn around $50/hr, with a yearly salary of approximately $100,000.” Evidence can be an anecdote, statistics, research outcome, personal experience, etc. Spelling mistakes - Make sure that your spelling is correct. - Use a dictionary! Or check your words online before submitting. Other Language Tips: Avoid the following simplistic words/phrases: good, bad, amazing, great, any form of shows (this shows that, showing, etc.), means, sort of, kind of, maybe Avoid any form of ‘says.’ Replacements: Argues, points out, concludes, comments, maintains, suggests, insists, observes, notes, states, claims, demonstrates, explains, counters, asserts, reveals, writes Proper Word Usage The error: using words that sound the same but can have different parts of speech and/or a very different meaning For example: its vs. it’s accept vs. except affect vs. effect then vs. than their vs. there vs. they’re to vs. two vs. too whose vs. who’s here vs. hear allusion vs. illusion your vs. you’re further vs. farther lay vs. lie* who vs. whom* *more on these later Vague Language: don’t assume the reader knows what you know; be specific “She began publishing them in large numbers” NO “Slavery impacted American society” “Angela Alvarez began publishing editorials in large numbers” YES “Slavery negatively impacted American society” Passive vs. Active Voice • Active voice: Getting straight to the point in a clear and concise manner • Passive voice: Saying the same thing, but adding unnecessary words (such as being/been) Passive Voice is often used colloquially, but Active Voice should be used for formal writing. Examples: Passive Voice: The song was sung by the girl. Active Voice: The girl sang the song. Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/02/ Correcting Run-Ons: Commas • Use a comma to combine two independent clauses with a conjunction – Example: • I did my homework, but I left it at home. • I did my homework but left it at home. – Both examples are correct. • Conjunctions: FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So Correcting Run-Ons: Semi-Colons • Semi-colons function the same as a period: they combine two independent clauses WITHOUT a conjunction • Remember you can also do a semi-colon + transitional phrase + comma • You do this for variation and to emphasis a closer relationship between the clauses you’re combining • Ex’s. All correct… -My house is really messy; it looks like a hovel. -My house is really messy. It looks like a hovel. -I don’t like Glee; however, I do like musicals. -I don’t like Glee, but I do like musicals. Transitions in an Out of Quotes Remember, when using direct quotation, include the following: • Context - Set up the quote first. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking and why. • Quote - w/ properly cited page number “like this” (4). • Explanation/Analysis – Make sure your reader knows what this quote means and why it is important. What does it prove or support? • You must weave the quote in with your own writing. You should never have a sentence that’s just quoted material.
