Research Paper Grammar Improvements

Combining sentences :: Compound Subject:

Bethany enjoys writing persuasive essays.

Linda enjoys writing persuasive essays.

Bethany AND Linda enjoy writing persuasive essays.

The traveling salesman robbed the bank

The amazing English teacher gave the test

The amazing English teacher and the traveling salesman robbed the bank.

Compound Verb

Kris wrote the essay.Kris proofread the essay.

Kris wrote and proofread the essay.

The traveling salesman robbed the bank

The amazing English teacher gave the test

The amazing English teacher gave the test and robbed the bank.

Join with [, conjunction] or [;]

The final draft due date was moved to November 2.

Everyone rejoiced.

The final draft due date was moved to November 2, and everyone rejoiced.

The traveling salesman robbed the bank

The amazing English teacher gave the test

The traveling salesman robbed the bank, and the amazing English teacher gave the test.

Turn one into a subordinate clause (shows relationship)

“Standby” transitions can be used in an essay.

Varied transitions show maturity in your writing.

Even though “Standby” transitions can be used in an essay, varied transitions show maturity in your writing.

The traveling salesman robbed the bank

The amazing English teacher gave the test

The traveling salesman robbed the bank while the amazing English teacher gave the test.

Change one into a phrase

Rhetoric is an important part of persuasive writing.

It is an effective technique

Rhetoric, an effective technique, is an important part of persuasive writing.

The traveling salesman robbed the bank

The amazing English teacher gave the test

The amazing English teacher, who travels as a salesman on the weekends, robbed the bank.

Vary Sentence length

Too many short sentences make your writing sound choppy.

To many long sentences make you writing sound long-winded.

Varying length adds variety and emphasizes key ideasEx. Insert short, direct sentences to drive a

main point home.

Vary Sentence Beginnings

Start with a noun A PersonA PlaceA thing

Julie left school after the final bell rang.

Vary Sentence Beginnings

Start with an adverbModifies a…

VerbAdjectiveAnother adverb

Closely watching the bell, Julie left school as soon as it rang.

Vary Sentence Beginnings

Start with a participleVerbal used as an adjective

Often ends in –ing or –ed

Arriving home, Julie noticed the bell had rung earlier than usual.

Vary Sentence Beginnings

Start with a Prepositional PhrasePrepositions include:

about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, outside, over, past, since, through, throughout, till, to, toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, and without.

As soon as the bell rang, Julie left school.

w/ end marks and capitals

Ashlyn turned at the sudden noise Djay had dropped the book on the floor

Ashlyn turned at the sudden noise. Djay had dropped the book on the floor

W/ commas and conjunctions

I worked hard on my lesson this morning, I knew my students would appreciate it.

I worked hard on my lesson this morning, and I knew my students would appreciate it.

I worked hard on my lesson this morning, because I knew my students would appreciate it.

w/ semi colons

Anna kept writing even after the bell rang, however she just couldn’t seem to finish the essay.

Anna kept writing even after the bell rang; however, she just couldn’t seem to finish the essay.

By rewriting

Ian stayed focused throughout class, never once did he fall asleep.

Ian never fell asleep in class because he stayed focused throughout.

PRACTICE TIME!

Read through your rough draft carefully and use these strategies to help make your writing better.