Notes on the First In-Class Writing

Keep in mind that the in-class writing response counts as a daily grade (so will your introductory paragraph). It will not be representative of your best effort, which should be accomplished in your out-of-class essays.

Keep the following in mind as you compose your first essay:

You must have something to say and you must be able to say it well. -- Which means: your grammar and mechanics, as well as the conventions of writing [example: paragraph formation] must be correct in order to make the meaning become clear.

WORST mistakes to avoid:

Illogical sentences or sentences that are blatantly confusing, that make no sense. Examples:
Before the cell phone you had to reach someone by either telegram or by foot.

Technology has allowed us to go from horse and buggy to motor cars starting in the 17th century.

Avoid using five words when one word will suffice; example: 
replace due to the fact that  with because or since,
whichever is appropriate

Avoid phrases such as: Personally . . . or In my opinion . . .

Avoid using a question as a thesis statement

Avoid beginning a sentence with a conjunction, when two sentences can be combined. 

DO consider combining short sentences.

Avoid contractions or abbreviations in a formal essay; spell out numbers less than one hundred

Avoid ineffective adverbs such as so OR even.  These are effective in conversation because the speaker is able to add an inflection, but they are seldom effective in writing. 

***Although is  NOT followed with a comma!! Example:  Although technologies are becoming convenient, there are detrimental effects as well.

USE A THESAURAS!!  Words such as great, a lot,  are worn out.  Finding a better, more appropriate word is only a right click away!

DO NOT RELY ON SPELL-CHECK  TO GIVE YOU THE CORRECT WORD.  DO NOT RELY ON YOUR HEARING TO GIVE YOU THE CORRECT WORD.  USE THE CORRECT WORD AND AVOID CONFUSION!!  EXAMPLES:

THEN  IS NOT THAN
WORTH WILD IS NOT WORTHWHILE
DEFIANTLY IS NOT DEFINITELY
APART IS NOT A PART
NOW OF DAY IS NOT NOWADAYS
OR IS NOT OUR
FADE IS NOT FAD

An occasional error is not serious; repeated errors are serious.