The sentences that follow support the idea in the topic sentence with explanations, reasons, and other details.. tells cause and effect Circle the topic, and underline the controlling id
The Writing Process
Step 1: S t im u la tin g Id e a s *
Begin writing by gathering ideas Read your assignment carefully, and make sure you understand the task Then think about what you already know about the topic.
To enhance your assignment, start by emphasizing key sections and discussing your thoughts with classmates Document these ideas in your journal, focusing on the ones that intrigue you the most Finally, select one compelling idea to develop further in your writing.
Step 2: B r a in s t o r m in g a n d O u t lin in g
Make a plan that has a clear focus and a logical sequence To write in a way that the reader will understand, organize your ideas into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
To effectively organize your essay, start by creating a list, diagram, chart, or web that outlines your main ideas Consider your audience and the purpose of your writing during this process Additionally, compile a list of vocabulary words relevant to your topic Review your assignment to ensure your organizational plan aligns with its requirements Finally, develop a detailed outline to guide you through the drafting stage.
When crafting your initial draft, focus on clearly articulating your ideas while adhering to the established outline It's important to remain flexible and open to modifying your thoughts as you write, ensuring that your arguments effectively support your thesis and are enriched with relevant details.
To enhance your writing process, begin by reviewing your assignment thoroughly before drafting Utilize double spacing to allow for easy revisions After completing your draft, revisit your work to improve coherence by adding connectors, eliminating irrelevant content, and incorporating details that clarify your message Finally, seek feedback from a peer to gain valuable insights on your paper.
The second and third drafts of your writing allow you to refine your ideas and ensure correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation A polished final draft should be clear, easy to read, and free of errors.
To ensure clarity and correctness in your writing, utilize a checklist to identify errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense, singular and plural forms, word forms, word order, and punctuation Additionally, consult a dictionary for any vocabulary or spelling uncertainties Once you've made your revisions, prepare a final draft that adheres to formatting guidelines, including one-inch margins, double spacing, a title, and your name, date, and class information at the top of the first page.
Punctuation
A comma (,) is used to separate information from other parts of the sentence.
1 A comma is used to separate items in a series Use and before the last item if listing three or more items.
• W e m ade rice, chicken, salad, and cake.
2 A comma is used to separate an introductory word or phrase.
• A t the end o f the day, my husband and I sit on the sofa and talk.
3 A comma is used after a dependent clause when the dependent clause precedes (or introduces) an independent clause.
• W hen the pow er w en t off, w e could not listen to the radio.
4 A comma is used to separate two main clauses when there is a conjunction such as and, but, or so that shows a relationship between the clauses.
• The tem perature w as below freezin g, but w e w ere w arm
5 A comma is used to separate an appositive from the rest of the sentence.
An appositive appearing after any noun in a sentence is set off with commas.
• W e used to visit M iraflores, a beach com m unity near Lima.
• The speaker, an Ecuadorian econom ist, supported his points w ith facts and statistics.
Periods (.) are used to mark the end of a sentence
• She speaks four lan gu ages.
Colons (:) are used to introduce a list of items They can be particularly helpful when writing thesis statements because they allow the writer to introduce the major ideas.
Colons must be preceded by an independent clause They can be followed by a group of words, phrases or, in some cases, clauses.
• To build a tree house, you will need the fo llo w in g item s: nails, a ham m er, boards, and a tape m easure.
Semicolons (;) are used at the end of sentences They follow the same rules as periods; however, they are only appropriate if the relationship between the two sentences is close *
1 Semicolons are used between two separate sentences.
• They help each other; Emily does the bookkeeping w hile Am ina takes care of custom ers.
2 Semicolons are used when two sentences are joined by a connector such as however or therefore.
• The Earth's oceans still hold m any secrets; however, new tech n o lo gy is helping scientists to understand them better.
Apostrophes (’) are used to show possession.
1 When a noun is singular, add an apostrophe and 5 to show possession In the first example, the writer has one cousin.
• W e w en t to my cousin's house.
2 When a noun is plural, put the apostrophe after the plural s In the next example, the writer has more than one cousin.
3 When a noun ends in s, you may add the apostrophe + s after the final s or just the apostrophe.
• My boss's car w as ridiculously expensive.
• My boss' car w as ridiculously expensive.
Apostrophes are also used in contractions (Note, however, that contractions are not appropriate in most academic writing.)
• Scott doesn't have any hair.
Quotation marks are used to show that you are repeating or quoting someone else’s words.
Put quotation marks around only the exact words you take from someone else’s speech or writing Use a comma to separate the quote from the rest of the sentence.
• I heard him say, "D o n 't w orry about the report, Mr Noor I will take care of it."
Connectors
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES f o r ex a m p le f o r instance
My best friend is so loyal; for example, she flies to Mali every year to visit me.
• The Polish language is grammatically quite different from English
For instance, it does not have articles.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES b u t y e t w hereas even though although h o w ever in contrast u n like
• 1 wanted to talk to her, but 1 was afraid she would not like me.
• He never finished college, yet he became a millionaire at the age of 25.
Whereas many large cats are almost extinct, the number of African lions is on the rise across the continent.
• Even though he did not attend school, he taught himself to read and write.
• Although the Guggenheim museum has a modern appearance, it fits into the old architecture of New York City very well.
• We expected good weather; however, it rained very hard all day.
1 have seven siblings; in contrast, my husband is an only child.
• Unlike Mexican tortillas, Spanish tortillas are made with eggs.
• 1 was distracted by the stars, so 1 didn't see the big puddle.
• 1 used to eat a lot of fish because we lived next to the ocean.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES therefore co n sequently
• He did not want to be late; therefore, he took an earlier train than usual.
Our house was on a small hill; consequently, we were safe during the flood.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES a n d in a d d itio n m oreover
• The hotel was built on a cliff, and it had marvelous views of the ocean.
Deforestation poses a threat to many native species In addition, the construction of a large factory in the area is causing great environmental damage.
• We were lost in the forest; moreover, it was getting dark.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES sim ilarly likew ise like
• Hollywood makes a variety of movies that are distributed around the world; sim ilarly, Mumbai makes movies for international export.
• Binh started working for his father; likewise, his brother began working there at the age of 22.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES while w hen before a fter a fter th a t m ea n w h ile then fin a lly
I listen to the radio w hile I chat online.
• We were getting ready to go to my grandfather's house when my father's friends showed up.
Before the game began, the umpire flipped a coin.
A fte r I count the money and put it in the safe, I can close the store and go home.
I count the money and put it in the safe A fte r that, I can close the store and go home.
Bring the water to a boil Meanwhile, chop the vegetables.
• Add salt and then stir carefully until it has fully dissolved Finally, heat the mixture to 50 degrees Celsius.
CONNECTORS EXAMPLES in conclusion in s u m m a r y
• In conclusion, there are surprising similarities in these two architects' use of building materials.
Unemployment is very high Interest rates are going up, and the rate of inflation is on the increase In summary, the economic reforms do not seem to be working.
Glossary
Adapted from the Grammar Sense Glossary o f Grammar Terms a c t io n v e r b A verb that describes a thing that someone or something does An action verb does not describe a state or condition.
This region experiences frequent rainfall In active sentences, the subject, which is the agent performing the action, is placed at the beginning, while the object, which receives the action, follows For example, in the sentence "Alex wrote a letter," Alex is the subject performing the action, and the letter is the object receiving it.
Alex sent a letter, showcasing the use of adjectives, which are words that describe or modify nouns, such as "the orange car" and "a strange noise." Additionally, adverbs modify verbs, other adverbs, adjectives, or entire sentences, often answering questions like how, when, or where.
H o w often? They often end in -ly
She ran quickly She ran very quickly, a really hot day Maybe she'll leave. a d v e r b ia l p h r a s e A phrase that functions as an adverb.
Claudia spoke very softly. a f f ir m a t iv e s t a t e m e n t A sentence that does not have a negative verb.
Linda attended a movie screening In grammar, it is essential that the subject and verb of a clause agree in number; a singular subject requires a singular verb form, while a plural subject necessitates a plural verb form.
Articles in English, such as "a," "an," and "the," are essential for introducing and identifying nouns For example, "a potato" and "an onion" specify individual items, while "the supermarket" refers to a particular place Additionally, auxiliary verbs serve as helpers to main verbs, enhancing the clarity and meaning of sentences.
Auxiliary verbs play a crucial role in constructing questions and negative sentences in English Common auxiliary verbs include "do," "have," and "be," which can support the main verb in various tenses Additionally, modal verbs such as "may," "can," and "will" also function as auxiliary verbs, helping to express possibility, ability, or future intention Understanding the use of these verbs is essential for mastering sentence structure and enhancing communication skills.
Do you have the time? The car was speeding.
I have never visited Italy, which may cause a delay in my plans In grammar, the base form refers to the verb's infinitive without any endings, while a clause consists of a subject and a verb grouped together.
See also dependent clause and main clause.
If I leave, when he speaks.
The rain has ceased, revealing a world of common nouns that denote various entities such as people, animals, places, things, or ideas, which are not capitalized Examples include "man," "cat," "city," and "pencil." Additionally, the comparative form is essential for highlighting distinctions between two items or situations, showcasing the versatility of language in expressing differences.
This book is heavier than that one.
He runs more quickly than his brother.
The DVD costs more money than the CD. c o m p le x s e n t e n c e A sentence that has a main clause and one or more dependent clauses.
When the bell rang, we were finishing dinner. c o m p o u n d s e n t e n c e A sentence that has two main clauses separated by a comma and a conjunction, or by a semi-colon.
She possesses exceptional talent in both singing and dancing A conditional sentence illustrates a scenario, presenting either a real or hypothetical situation in the 'if' clause, followed by the corresponding expected outcome in the main clause.
If I have time, I will travel to Africa.
If I had the opportunity, I would love to explore Africa Count nouns are common nouns that can be quantified, typically having both singular and plural forms, such as "orange" and "oranges" or "woman" and "women." The definite article "the" is used in English to specify nouns based on shared knowledge between the speaker and listener, and it also serves to make general statements about entire categories or groups of nouns.
Please give me the key.
The scorpion poses a significant danger A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot function independently as a complete sentence since it relies on the main clause to convey its full meaning.
After receiving a call, I'm heading home Determiners, such as "a," "an," "the," "this," and "those," are essential for specifying nouns The future refers to a time yet to come and can be expressed in English using various forms like "will," "be going to," the simple present, or the present continuous, each carrying distinct meanings and uses.
David is going to call later.
The train leaves at 6:05 this evening.
I'm driving to Toronto tomorrow. g e r u n d An -ing form of a verb that is used in place of a noun or pronoun to name an activity or a state.
Skiing is fun He doesn't like being sick. i f c la u s e A dependent clause that begins with if and expresses a real or unreal situation.
If I have the time, I'll paint the kitchen.
If I had the time, I'd paint the kitchen. in d e f in it e a r t ic le The words a and an in English
Indefinite articles introduce a noun as a member of a class of nouns or make generalizations about a whole class or group of nouns.
An ocean is defined as a vast expanse of water In grammar, an independent clause functions as the main clause of a sentence, while an indirect object refers to the noun or pronoun that indicates the recipient of the direct object following certain verbs.
Hassan wrote a letter to Samuel.
Please purchase milk for us An infinitive is a verb form that consists of "to" followed by the base form of a verb It serves to represent an activity or situation indicated by the verb, functioning similarly to a noun or pronoun.
Do you like to swim? in t r a n s it iv e v e r b A verb that cannot be followed by an object.
We finally arrived. m a in c la u s e A clause that can be used by itself as a sentence Also called independent clause
I'm going home. m a in v e r b A verb that can be used alone in a sentence
A main verb can also occur with an auxiliary verb.
Kate is unable to have lunch today Modal auxiliary verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, should, will, and would play a crucial role in modifying the meaning of main verbs They express various aspects like ability, authority, formality, politeness, and different levels of certainty.
You should take something for your headache 0 Applicants must have a high school diploma. n e g a t iv e s t a t e m e n t A sentence with a negative verb
I didn't see that movie. n o u n A word that typically refers to a person, animal, place, thing, or idea.
A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions similarly to a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase within a sentence These clauses typically begin with words such as "wh-" (who, what, where, when, why), "if," "whether," or "that."
I don't know where he is.
I don't know whether it's true.
I think that it's a lie. n o u n p h r a s e A phrase formed by a noun and its modifiers A noun phrase can substitute for a noun in a sentence.
She drank the milk. o b je c t A noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that follows a transitive verb or a preposition.
He likes pizza Go with her.
Correlation to Grammar Sense 2
THE SHORT ESSA Y GRAMMAR SENSE 2
The Past Continuous in Narrative Essays
The Past Continuous and Past Time Clauses
Comparatives in Comparison-Contrast Essays
Quantity Expressions in Opinion Essays
Phrasal Verbs when Discussing Causes and
Future Possibilities with If Clauses
Future Time: Be Going To, Will, and the Present Continuous
Future Time Clauses and If Clauses
Effective Academic Writing, Second Edition provides the tools necessary for successful academic writing.
■ Step-by-step Writing Process guides and refines writing skills.
■ Timed Writing practice prepares students for success on high-stakes tests.
■ Online Writing Tutor improves academic writing inside and outside the classroom.
■ Online Grammar Practice provides extra practice where and when your students need it the most.
Step-by-Step Instruction takes students through the complete academic writing process starting at the sentence level and ending with the researched essay.
Academic Writing Academic Writing Academic Writing Academic Writing
Introductory Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Developing Ideas The Paragraph The Short Essay The Researched Essay
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