Text Reference: Chapters 30 and 32

Article:

Sword, H. Inoculating Against Jargonitis. The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 3, 2012)
http://chronicle.com/article/Inoculating-Against-Jargonitis/132039/

Toor R. My Little Bag of Writing Tricks, Chronicle of Higher Education, Sept 15, 2013. http://chronicle.com/article/My-Little-Bag-of-Writing/141309/

Grammar & Syntax.pdf

Paragraphs.pdf

Transition Signals.doc

Why the English Language is Difficult.doc

Use of Latin Phrases.pdf

Scientific Language.doc

Mechanics of Writing (Editing).ppt

“Using the almost right word is the same as using lightning for lightning bug.” Mark Twain

Instruction:

After you have mastered the flow of your writing, you begin working on the mechanics of your writing. You read and reread your writing, to be sure you are using the English language correctly. This is often a challenge for students whose first language is not English. In fact, it is a challenge for those who have forgotten what they learned in Freshman English, and have moved into the realm of texting. So here we go, to look at common mistakes in writing, and ways to improve the way in which you state things.

Pronouns and Antecedents. A common error which both writers and speakers make is to fail to make a pronoun agree with its antecedent. A pronoun must agree in number (i.e. singular or plural) with the noun it replaces.

Incorrect: Neither the highest scorer nor the lowest scorer in the group had any doubt about their competence.

Correct: Neither the highest scorer nor the lowest scorer in the group had any doubt about his or her competence.

A further problem with pronouns is using them incorrectly with reference to people or things. Use who for human beings; use that or which for nonhuman animals and for things.

Look at Grammar & Syntax.pdf The word syntax simply means word order. Will Rogers famously said, “Syntax must be bad, since it has in it both sin and tax”! Note the results of incorrect word order in the document. To correct such errors, you first have to notice you have made them. Reading your writing aloud will often catch such errors, as will having friends read what you have written.

Paragraphs.pdf should help you decide when a new paragraph is essential. Long-winded paragraphs that fill half a page make for difficult reading. Again, reading aloud what you have written helps you become aware of when both your sentences and your paragraphs are too long.

.Transition Signals.doc provides you with alternate possibilities for transitioning between paragraphs, or even within paragraphs. Take care that you do not overuse the transition words, however. Starting every paragraph or succeeding sentences with the word “Furthermore” makes for boring reading. We all have favorite words that creep into our writing unnoticed; this course should help you become aware of your favorite “repeat words.”

Why the English Language is Difficult.doc provides examples of words which appear the same in writing, but are not pronounced the same, or words that sounds the same, but mean something very different. They are just “traps” in the English language, and there is little else to do but to keep reading so you can tell if you have read, or written, it correctly. Note that many of the words which are written the same, but are spoken differently, are either verbs or nouns; they are pronounced differently if they are being used as a verb or as a noun.

Use of Latin Phrases.pdf provides illustrations for correct and incorrect usage of Latin phrases, still fairly common in scientific and legal language even though Latin has been a “dead” language for hundreds of years. Note especially the difference between the abbreviations “e.g.,” and “i.e.;” you use “e.g.”, which means “for example” when you are providing some examples but your list is not exhaustive. You use “i.e.,” which means “that is” when you are going to provide an exclusive definition or alternative way of saying something to what you have just said. Note, too, that the word “data” is plural and requires a plural verb, while “datum” is singular, and rarely used.

Avoiding the use of Jargon: Jargon, "the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group," is often obscure or pretentious. While it may demonstrate the author's ability to identify with a specific profession or topic, it can just as easily show arrogance. Use it with caution, and always explain the meaning when you do use it. Take the advice Helen Sword offers in the reference article listed above, namely, "If you suspect that you suffer from jargonitis, start by measuring the scope of your addiction. Print out a sample of your academic writing and highlight every word that would not be immediately comprehensible to a reader from outside your own discipline (p.5)"."

Scientific Language.doc provides a little humor for you to enjoy!

Assignment: After viewing the Mechanics of Writing (Editing).ppt complete Worksheet # 1 Common Errors in Writing.doc and

submit by February 16 midnight PST. Please submit your assignment through the Assignment Page.