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Academic Writing 1: Sentence Structure and Grammar The University of Melbourne Tim Beaumont Teaching and Learning Unit btj@ nimelb ed a [email protected] > A recentt exchange h The University of Melbourne hi tim r u free on friday@ 2pm?:)let e know if u r free ..i want to structure the essay outline about chinee exconomu. Tks for helping ##### ! student number #### 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 2 > A recentt exchange h The University of Melbourne Dear #####, Can you write back a proper email that you’ve you ve put some thought and care into? This sounds rude, but I won’t respond to emails such as the one you’ve just sent. Regards, Tim Beaumont 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 3 > A recentt exchange h The University of Melbourne Dear Tim sori. was rushed before.Are you free in tomoro p with u tomoro afternoon around afternoon?Can i an apointment 2pm?i wanna discuss about my essay structure. Tks for helping ##### 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 4 > A recentt assignment i t The University of Melbourne Internationalization is very important in building up SMEs’ competitiveness and grow in age of globalization today. SMEs internationalization is different from LSEs internationalization internationalization. Nonetheless, little research is found that examine role of brand in SMEs internationalization. Most of past research, when addressing the role of brand in internationalization internationalization, focus exclusively on branding from large or multinational brands 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont . 5 > The Importance of Good Sentence Structure The University of Melbourne Poor sentence structure and grammar can: • • • • • affect comprehension prevent your points from being taken seriously suggest carelessness and lack of professionalism negatively affect your marks prevent you from getting jobs 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 6 > O tli Outline The University of Melbourne 1. Sentence Structure Review The Four Basic Sentence Structures 2. Clear Writing Seven Techniques 3. Grammatical Accuracy Seven Common Grammar Problems 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 7 > Clauses The University of Melbourne A clause is a group of words that contains a subject & a verb. Independent (they express a complete thought) • Martin has two PhDs. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 8 > Clauses Cl The University of Melbourne Dependent (they do not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone) • • • • because Martin has two PhDs although Martin has two PhDs that Martin has two PhDs if Martin had three PhDs 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 9 > S t Sentences The University of Melbourne A sentence is a group of words which contains (at least) one independent clause and expresses a complete thought Four main kinds: 1. Simple 1 2. Compound 3. Complex 4 Compound/Complex 4. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 10 > Si Simple l Sentences S t The University of Melbourne A simple sentence contains one independent clause. • Martin has two PhDs. • Martin has two PhDs but has absolutely no interest in a third. • Both Martin and his wife became sick of his endless study. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 11 > C Compound d Sentences S t The University of Melbourne A compound sentence combines two or more simple sentences These two sentences are clearly related and of equal importance They can be connected by: 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 12 > C Compound dS Sentences t The University of Melbourne 1. Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) • Martin enjoyed his first PhD, but he became tired of his seco d second. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 13 > C Compound dS Sentences t The University of Melbourne 2. Other linking words (eg. in addition, however, alternatively, therefore, nevertheless, on the one hand hand, for example example, in other words words, indeed indeed, specifically) • Martin enjoyed his first PhD; however, he became tired of his second. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 14 > C Compound dS Sentences t The University of Melbourne 3. A semi-colon (if the relationship is so clear that a linking word is unnecessary) • Martin enjoyed his first PhD; he became tired of his second. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 15 > C Complex l Sentences S t The University of Melbourne A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses The main idea is contained in the independent clause, creating an order of importance The dependent clause could serve: 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 16 > C Complex l Sentences S t The University of Melbourne 1. As a noun: Most theorists believe that sales will decrease. 2. As an adverb: Although this belief is widespread, the market is yet to be a ected affected. 3. As an adjective: Most theorists expect that the decrease decrease, which is likely to be severe, will begin soon. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 17 > Complex / Compound Sentences The University of Melbourne Complex / compound sentences contain at least two Independent clauses and one dependent clause • Although most theorists believe the decrease will come soon, customer confidence remains strong strong, and most businesses have not initiated significant restructures. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 18 > Review The University of Melbourne IC (independent clause) DC (dependent clause) IC Simple Sentence IC + IC Compound Sentence IC + DC Complex Sentence IC + IC + DC Complex / Compound Compound 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 19 > The University of Melbourne Wh t is What i ‘academic ‘ d i English’? E li h’? 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 20 > G d academic Good d i English? E li h? The University of Melbourne > The main purpose of the Staff Booking Database (SBD) is for the recording of staff booking requests which in turn provides the total recurring audit cost for each client. As a result of the recent merger that has taken place and hence the increase in the numbers of staff and clients, it is important that each BU be used in such a way as to track and collate all staff movements. The use of the SBD allows a age s in eac each BU U to rethink et on o a an a annual ua bas basis, s, tthe e way ay tthe e managers audit was performed and make any necessary amendments to the amount of staff and the mix of skills required for the following year. Implementing a formal process and system will not only make sure that all staff are receiving the right type of experience and exposure as they progress, but it should also be of assistance in guaranteeing our clients are receiving the most suitable mix of staff. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 21 A golden ld rule l The University of Melbourne Keep it simple! If unsure about a sentence: • • • • start with the subject (but not ‘it’) follow with a verb keep it short explain your point out loud: “What I want to say is…” 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 22 > The University of Melbourne Cl Clear writing: iti 7 tips ti 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 23 > 1 U 1. Use clear l vocabulary b l The University of Melbourne A considerable multitude of invited participants enquired about the location in which they could purchase beverages. Many guests asked where they could buy drinks. Imagine ag e you are a e writing t g for: o • an intelligent but non-specialist audience, or • a lecturer who is tired, has just read 20 assignments, and doesn’t want to think 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 24 > 2 U 2. Use short h t sentences t The University of Melbourne Once an organisation understands its customers’ needs, it must establish goals to help ensure good service delivery which are typically set in terms of employee or machine performance such as in a case in which a bank may require all its employees to conform to a dress code and that all incoming telephone calls be answered by the third ring. Once an organisation understands its customers’ needs, it must establish goals to help ensure good service delivery. These goals are typically g yp y set in terms of employee p y or machine performance. For example, a bank may require all its employees to conform to a dress code. Likewise, the bank may require that all incoming telephone calls be answered by the third ring. (Pride Elliot (Pride, Elliot, Rundle-Thiele, Rundle Thiele Waller Waller, Palandino Palandino, Ferrell Ferrell, p p. 258) 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 25 > 3. Put the subject early in the sentence The University of Melbourne In his lecture on Engineering Ethics, which he gave on Tuesday the 7th of June in the Chisholm Theatre, Dr Dabke addressed y and how humans become p professional. why Dr Dabke addressed how and why humans became professionals in the lecture on Engineering Ethics which he gave on Tuesday the 7th of June in the Chisholm Theatre. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 26 > 4 U 4. Use th the active ti voice i The University of Melbourne It is believed by many lecturers and tutors that inadequate care is put into writing by too many students. Many lecturers believe that too many students put inadequate care into their writing. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 27 > 5 Be 5. B careful f l with ith noun phrases h The University of Melbourne A measure of the distance in multidimensional space is known as Mahalanobis distance which is the distance of each observation from the mean centre of the observations. Mahalanobis distance is a measure of observations taken and where they are taken from. To be specific, it is the distance in multidimensional space of observations observations. This measurement is normally taken from the mean centre of observations. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 28 > 6 B 6. Be careful f l with ith pronouns The University of Melbourne His determination to succeed in a challenging competitive environment is what made Richard Branson so successful. Richard Branson’s determination to succeed in a challenging competitive environment is what made him so successful. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 29 > 7 B 7. Be careful f l with ith abbreviations bb i ti The University of Melbourne In Feb, 2008, MMSP of UEB, Ian Appleton, spoke about HRM use of the MBTI. In February, 2008, Associated Management and Marketing Senior Professor of the University of East Borneo, Ian Appleton, spoke about Human Resource Management use of the MyersBriggs Test Indicator. Indicator Minimise use of: A Acronyms (NASA (NASA, UNICEF) Initialisation (MBTI, UNSW, HRM) Shortened forms (etc., eg., ie, Assoc., Feb., Intl, Grad. Dip.) 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 30 > A d avoid: And id The University of Melbourne • Language that isn’t tentative “X caused Y”, “A must do B”,“A thinks B” • Vague words “some”, “many”, “somewhat” • Contractions “It’s” “Isn’t” • Smiley faces :-) 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 31 > A d avoid: And id The University of Melbourne • Informal language “I”, “you”, “we”, “pretty good” • Jargon “outcome-based benchmarking of best practice” • Colourful language “Really brilliant” 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 32 > Grammar The University of Melbourne Try to identify your grammatical problems so you can address them 7 grammatical areas students often find difficult are: 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 33 > Grammar The University of Melbourne 1. 2. 3 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Articles Singular or Plural Countable or Uncountable Subject-Verb Agreement Verb Tenses Linking Words Prepositions 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 34 > 1 A 1. Articles ti l (a/an/the) ( / /th ) The University of Melbourne • • • • • I have Finance tute in ten minutes in Spot. I usually come to uni by tram. University should not only be for rich. I read good text yesterday. Text could be useful for my essay. Tonight I need to buy milk, Age, apple and loaf of bread. The most common problem is omission. The second is using the wrong article. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 35 > 2 Si 2. Singular l or Plural Pl l The University of Melbourne It’s easy to forget to make nouns plural. ( Many manager…) Often, you will need to decide whether to refer to nouns in your text Often as singular (a manager) or plural (managers). If you are refer to ‘a manager’, don’t start talking about ‘managers’. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 36 > 3 Countable 3. C t bl or Uncountable U t bl The University of Melbourne Don’t add ‘s’ to uncountable nouns ( informations, knowledges, equipments, etc) Be careful with quantity words and articles: Many freedom Less people An information 2/10/2012 Much freedom Fewer people Information Tim Beaumont 37 > 4 S 4. Subject-Verb bj t V b Agreement A t The University of Melbourne Make sure verbs agree with subjects. • He is… is / They are… are / She lives lives… Be careful when: 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 38 > 4 S 4. Subject-Verb bj t V b Agreement A t The University of Melbourne The verb has long modifying phrase which follows the subject • The text about the marketing strategies of 10 leading Australian companies is useful. The noun is can lead to confusion about whether it is singular or plural. • The Beatles is a great band. • Everyone wants a good job. Words that indicate quantity are used • Each one of the employees is satisfied. • The number of people in support was 15 15. • A number of people were unhappy. Uncountable nouns are subjects • The audience was supportive. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 39 > 5 V 5. Verb b Tenses T The University of Melbourne The English tense system is complicated and very different to tense systems in other languages. It is essential that tenses are consistent in your writing. Don’t shift unnecessarily between tenses in a paragraph. When changing g g tenses in a p paragraph, g p , use ‘signalling g g words’ or time phrases eg. since then, currently, now, in the past etc 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 40 > 6 Li 6. Linking ki words d The University of Melbourne Be careful about the exact meaning and use of linking words: Although she tried, but she couldn’t succeed. Although she tried, she couldn’t succeed. She tried. While she couldn’t succeed. She S tried, However, she couldn’t ’ succeed. The managers lacked financial planning skills. Meanwhile, they l k d experience lacked i iin thi this area. The managers lacked financial planning skills. Furthermore, they lacked experience in this area. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 41 > 7 P 7. Prepositions iti The University of Melbourne A notoriously difficult and frustrating aspect of the English language for non-native speakers! I have locked on an appointment by the Manager in 9.00 at the morning on the 22nd to discuss about my upcoming presentation with the clients. I have locked in an appointment with the Manager at 9.00 on the morning of the 22nd to discuss my upcoming presentation to the clients. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 42 > Editi and Editing d Proofreading P f di The University of Melbourne Also check: • • • • • • text structure paragraph structure spelling punctuation font layout Always edit and proofread your work carefully! 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 43 > N d More Need M H Help? l ? The University of Melbourne Consult Academic Writing Books, particularly: • • • Writing Academic English (Longman) The Essentials of English (Longman) Some IELTS texts Use CELT C S Services, particularly: • • • • Workshops I di id l C Individual Consultations lt ti Helpsheets GEP 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 44 > A k Acknowledgement l d t The University of Melbourne Some of the material featured in this presentation has been adapted from slides prepared by Dr. Martin Davies and Chi Baik. 2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 45 >