CORRECTION SYMBOLS
Mistakes can help you learn. Your teacher will mark the errors on your papers with the symbols shown below.
Study these symbols carefully. When you get a paper back, go over it carefully. Try to correct the mistakes
by yourself. Then ask for help if you need it.
wc
word choice - Use a different word or words.
wf
word form - Use a different part of speech (noun, verb, adj, adv).
sp
spelling
vt
verb tense - Use the correct tense.
vf
verb form -
agr
agreement
ss
sentence structure - Check the subjects, verbs, and conjunctions.
p
punctuation - Add or correct the punctuation.
- Check the spelling in a dictionary.
Use the correct form.
- The subject and verb should agree in number.
sg, pl - singular, plural - Use the correct form.
vocabulary or sentence structure mistake - Write a different way.
Add a word.
Omit a word.
Good! Correct!
? = I don’t understand.
See me please. = See me before or after class or during my office hours!
Correct and show me. = Correct the mistake and show it to me!
GRADING COMMENTS
Excellent or Very Good = A
Good = B
Satisfactory = C
Unsatisfactory = D
Unacceptable = F
ESSAY ORGANIZATION VOCABULARY
¶
= paragraph
Intro = introduction
Body = body paragraph
Conc = Conclusion
TS = thesis statement
ts = topic sentences
SENTENCE STRUCTURE VOCABULARY
subject and verb – the actor and the action
clause – a group of words containing a subject-and-verb unit
phrase - a group of words without a subject-and-verb unit
sentence – a group of words containing at least one independent or main clause
A. independent or main clause – a clause that can stand alone as a sentence
B. dependent or subordinate clause - a clause that cannot stand alone as a
sentence and must be joined to an independent or main clause with a subordinating conjunction
transition signals or connectors - words that show connections between clauses
A. conjunctions – words that can clauses
1. coordinating conjunctions (join two main clauses)
2. subordinating conjunctions (join a main clause and a subordinate clause)
B. conjunctive adverbs and phrases – can join ideas but must have sentence
punctuation, i.e., period or semi-colon. They don’t join clauses.
SENTENCE PATTERNS
Simple sentence – one main clause
Compound sentence – two main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
Complex sentence – at least one main clause and subordinate clause with a subordinating conjunction
Compound/Complex sentence – at least two main clauses and a subordinate clause
CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Subordinating conjunctions (for adverb clauses) –
because
although, even though, though
if, unless
before, after, as, while, since, until
when, whenever
where, wherever
so that
as long as
as if, as though
Conjunctions for Adjective Clauses (also called relative pronouns) –
who, whom, whose, which, that, when, where
Conjunctions for Noun Clauses - that, if, whether why, how
who, whom, whose
what, which
when, where
The Three Kinds of Transition Signals
Punctuation to use with coordinating conjunctions:
Punctuation to use with subordinating conjunctions:
Punctuation to use with conjunctive adverbs and phrases:
Meaning
Coordinating
Conjunctions
Addition
and
Choice
or
nor
so
for
Cause and Result
Contrast
but
yet
Subordinating
Conjunctions
also
in addition
besides
moreover
because
since
although
though
even though while
Restatement
More Specific
Condition
Time
Place
Purpose
Manner
Conjunctive Adverbs and
Phrases
if
unless
as long as
when, whenever
while, as
after, before
since
until
where
wherever
in order that
so that
as if
as though
therefore
consequently
as a result
for this reason
however
on the other hand
nevertheless, nonetheless
in other words
in fact
indeed
otherwise
today, yesterday, etc.
last …, next…
in order to