Chapter6&7CommonErrors&SummaryWriting.doc

Chapter Five Common Errors in Writing

This list includes only brief examples and explanations intended for you to use as reminders while you are editing your papers.

1. Misuse of Parts of Speech（词性误用）
Traditional grammar classifies words based on eight parts of speech: verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.
Error
Possible Revision
My sister plagiarismed her homework and got a zero.
My sister plagiarised her homework and got a zero.
Digital products make our life convenience.
Digital products make our life convenient. OR Digital products bring convenience to our life.
Digital products have an effect on our work, study and live.
Digital products have an effect on our work, study and life.

2. Subject-verb agreement error (主谓不一致)
All too often the letter s at the end of the third person singular is left out. Even people whose first language is English sometimes have problems in writing the third person correctly, especially when the subject and verb are separated by a long phrase or clause.

error
Possible Revision
The state of Afghanistan’s roads reflect the chaotic situation.
The state of Afghanistan’s roads reflects the chaotic situation.
Twenty gallons of gasoline cost a lot of money.
Twenty gallons of gasoline costs a lot of money.
No one except two students were late for the meeting.
No one except two students was late for the meeting.

3. Verb tense errors
Verb tenses tell readers when actions take place. When you shift from one tense to another with no clear reason, you can confuse readers.
English has three time frames: past, present, and future.  Each of these is divided into simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive.

Present
Past
Future
Simple =do/does
Simple did
Simple = will do
Progressive = am/is/are doing
Progressive = was/were doing
Progressive = will be doing
Perfect = has/have done
Perfect = had done
Perfect = will have done
Perfect Progressive = has/have been doing
Perfect Progressive = had been doing
Perfect Progressive = will have been doing

Error
Possible Revision
But as time passed and I thought about it again, I knew that I was wrong.
But as time passed and I thought about it again, I knew that I had been wrong.
I thought it was a warning so I felt really nervous when I had been going to see him.
I thought it was a warning so I felt really nervous when I was going to see him.
The professor told us that Jupiter was the largest planet.
The professor told us that Jupiter is the largest planet.

Useful websites:
https://eee.uci.edu/programs/esl/vtlink.html

Ex. Identify the verb tense errors in the following paragraphs and correct them.
I will tell him the news when I am going to see him tomorrow.
I will tell him the news when I see him tomorrow.
The simple present tense is often used in the subordinate clause of a sentence in which both main and subordinate clauses refer to future events.
Ex. Identify the verb tense errors in the following paragraphs and correct them.

When I was in elementary school, I was so afraid of taking tests. The night before my final exams, I stayed at home, trying to review all the problems I have already done. However, I felt more and more anxious as I am reviewing. I put down my pen and went outside. Then I was playing basketball. When I came back, I feel exhilarated, and all my stress was gone. Therefore, to relieve anxiety, taking walks and playing sports were two effective ways that work for me.
Answer: have already done ® had already done
I am reviewing ® I was reviewing was playing ® played
I feel ® I felt were two ® are two

4. Sentence fragments 残缺句
Fragments are incomplete sentences. A fragment sentence lacks a verb, or lacks a subject, or is a subordinate clause not attached to a complete sentence.
Make sure each word group you have punctuated as a sentence contains a grammatically complete and independent thought that can stand alone as an acceptable sentence.
Fragment
Possible Revision
Cambridge offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
Cambridge offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology.
Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife, hoping she would accept his apology.
Exercise:
The following paragraph has no capital letters or periods to mark the beginnings and ends of sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be needed to make the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there are no fragments.
my brother was always my best friend when I was a child especially as we two were almost alone in the world we lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country whenever I think of him now I see a solemn, responsible boy a boy too old for his years who looked out for me no matter what once there was a bully John Anson who looked enormous to me though he was probably an average twelve-year-old John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant who liked me he decided to beat me up right before her eyes I was lucky my brother came by he didn't interfere any he just stood there somehow though his presence gave me confidence I licked the stuffing out of John Anson if my brother hadn't been there I don't think I could have done it.
My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country. Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his years, who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I was lucky my brother came by. He didn't interfere any. He just stood there. Somehow, though, his presence gave me confidence. I licked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been there, I don't think I could have done it.

5. Unclear pronoun reference (代词指代不明)
A pronoun such as it or they derives its meaning from its antecedent, the noun it substitutes for. Therefore, a pronoun must refer clearly and unmistakably to its antecedent in order for the meaning to be clear. A sentence such as Jim told Mark he was not invited is not clear because the reader does not know whether he refers to Jim or Mark.

Unclear pronoun reference
Possible Revision
Because Senator Martin is less interested in the environment than in economic development, he sometimes neglects it.
Because of his interest in economic development, Senator Martin sometimes neglects the environment.
In Chapter 4 of this book, it describes the early flights of the Wright brothers.
Chapter 4 of this book describes the early flights of the Wright brothers.
Jody found a lamp in the attic that her aunt had used.
In the attic Jody found a lamp that her aunt had used.

6. Misplaced modifiers 修饰语错位
A modifier is misplaced if readers can’t easily relate it to the word it modifies. Misplaced modifiers may be confusing. Remember to link a modifying word, phrase, or clause to the nearest word it could modify.
Misplaced modifiers
Possible Revision
He served steak to the men on paper plates.
He served the men steak on paper plates.
Kuwait, after the Gulf War ended in 1991, began returning to normal.
After the Gulf War ended in 1991, Kuwait began returning to normal.
The war had damaged badly many of Kuwait’s oil fields.
The war had badly damaged many of Kuwait’s oil fields.

Exercise: revise the sentences below to correct the positions of modifiers.
1. Channel 4 News weather forecasters predict heavy rains and poor driving conditions.
(Weather forecasters at Channel 4 News predict heavy rains and poor driving conditions.)
To avoid overuse of noun modifiers that are awkward and confusing, use nouns in only two- or three-word sequences.
2. Before making predictions, meteorologists check a precipitation accumulation measurement gauge.
(Before making predictions, meteorologists check a gauge that measures precipitation accumulation.)
To avoid overuse of noun modifiers that are awkward and confusing, use nouns in only two- or three-word sequences.

3. The energy company policy states that the price for oil should not increase dramatically in the winter.
(The energy company’s policy states that the price for oil should not increase dramatically in the winter.)

The sentence contains a possessive form instead of a noun as a modifier.

4. The city mayor has played a center role in keeping energy costs low throughout the year. (The city's mayor has played a central role in keeping energy costs low throughout the year.)

The sentence contains an adjective instead of a noun as a modifier.

7. Dangling modifiers悬垂修饰语
A dangling modifier does not sensibly modify anything in its sentence. The modifiers most likely to dangle are participle, infinitive, and prepositional phrases and elliptical clauses.
Dangling modifiers
Possible Revision
Passing the building, the vandalism became visible.
As we passed the building, the vandalism became visible.
Driving north, the vegetation became increasingly sparse.
Driving north, we noticed that the vegetation became increasingly sparse.
While reading my newspaper, my dog sat with me at the door.
While I was reading my newspaper, my dog sat with me at the door.
OR: While reading my newspaper, I sat with my dog at the gate.

Exercise: revise the following sentences to eliminate any dangling modifiers.

1. To excel in sports, much practice is needed. (To excel in sports, we need much practice.)
2. To study in quiet surrounding, the library is the best place to go. (If you want to study in quiet surrounding, the library is the best place to go.)
3. To get to class on time, my alarm is set for 6:00 a.m. (To get to class on time, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m.)

8. Misspellings
Spelling errors are usually perceived as a reflection of the writer's careless attitude toward the whole project.
Don't allow your hard work to be marred in this way!
In addition to comprehensive dictionaries, you may want to use electronic spell checks, spelling dictionaries, and lists of frequently misspelled words found in handbooks.
9. Punctuation problems
Punctuation tells the reader how to make sense of words alone. Poorly or wrongly used punctuation contributes to awkward writing and reader confusion.
For example, how would you speak these words: I'm sorry I still love you
Notice the difference punctuation makes:
I'm sorry. I still love you.
I'm sorry I still love you!
Make sure that you can use the following punctuation marks correctly.
The period ( or the full stop) 句号
The question mark 问号
The exclamation mark 感叹号 this mark is used to give extremely strong emphasis to a statement. It should be used very sparingly.
The comma 逗号
The semicolon 分号
The apostrophe 撇号
The quotation marks 引号
The colon 冒号
The dash 破折号
The ellipsis mark 省略号
The slash 斜线

. Chapter 6 Writing a Summary
Introduction: Summarising is one of the tasks most often required in academic classes, as it shows a good understanding of a text. It is a valuable skill to have when you are integrating materials from sources you have read into your own writing. Writing a summary brings together a number of important reading, study, and writing skills. It can be a real aid to understanding; you must “get inside” the material and realize fully what is being said before you can reduce its meaning to a few words.
1. What is a summary?
· A summary is a condensed or shortened version of a book, article, a TV show, or the like.
· A summary does not use symbols such as I, A, 1, 2, etc. to indicate the relations among parts of the original material.
· The summary presents the most important ideas of the original in your own words – do not give your own ideas or criticisms as part of the summary.

2. Why do we need to summarize?
· Summarizing is a good exercise for improving reading – a reader is forced to try to understand what he has read.
· Summarizing has practical uses in profession fields such as science, engineering, law, and business.

3. Characteristics of a good summary.
Discussion: Read the following model summary and discuss its characteristics.
A model summary of a magazine article:
In "Students Shall Not Download. Yeah, Sure."(New York Times, 20.09.2003), Kate Zernike describes the attitudes of students at Pennsylvania State University to illegal downloading of Internet material. She points out that while they are aware of the illegality, they think that is all right to ignore the law on this issue, just as they ignore the age limit on the consumption of alcohol. This attitude is encouraged by various factors: the ease by which they are able to download, their assumption that the Internet belongs to everyone, and the availability of Internet services on campus and their importance to university life. Warnings against illegal downloading from the university authorities have little effect because students do not agree that such downloading causes any harm. Unlike older people, they see no point in paying money to buy a recording of a song. Threats of punishment make students more cautious, but in no way lead them to stop downloading.
Characteristics:
1) Proper Citation: start by citing the title and author of the work. Include in parentheses the date of publication in the case of a journal or magzine.
Example:
In “Someone Is Stealing Your Life” (Time, October 13, 2000), Michael Ventura argues that American workers are being treated as slaves, and calls on employers to value the contribution of workers to the success of companies.
2) Thesis Statement: states the central theme of the work in one sentence. A thesis statement comprises two parts: 
a) the topic or general subject matter of the work
b) the author’s major assertion, comment, or position on the topic.
3) Supporting Ideas:
a) Cover all of the author’s major supporting ideas.
b) Show the relationships among these ideas.
c) Delete unnecessary details that are not important to the overall meaning of the reading.
d) Do not include any personal opinions, ideas, and inferences.  Let the reader know that you are reporting the author’s ideas.
4) Grammar and the Mechanics of Writing: Grammar and related concerns ensure tha