Use of clear, simple, sentences | |
Accurate and appropriate punctuation | |
Spelling: British English; the spellchecker error of correctly spelt wrong words | |
Writing confidently: | In defined, flowing, paragraphs |
In an overall structure of Introduction - body - conclusion | |
Referencing: only what was read, and used, and consistently |
The content is evidence and argument | |
Argument depends on evidence (sources) | |
Critique is direct and close: | Criticism is particular and informed at each stage |
Evaluation is broad and an overview yet justified by the sourcing: | Weighing up follows on from critique |
Subjective opinions must be limited even within the evaluating | |
Personal preference is the least interesting matter |
Complete sentences required | ||
Neutrality style: | Myths of objectivity and disinterestedness examined | |
Avoid first person: | Avoid "the author states" as a cheap alternative | |
Use economy in writing: | Avoid redundancy of adjectives and adverbs | No pleonastic phrases |
Metaphors are risky | ||
Connections should be direct and concrete | ||
Use simplicity in word choice (complexity looks after itself) | ||
Avoid punctuation that facilitates contraction | ||
Avoid exclamation marks |
Care with too many sub-clauses in brackets: reduce | |
Minimise punctuation: comma, full stop, semi-colon and colon | |
If two sentences out of one ease reading, use two | |
Italicised foreign phrases introduce fog - so do not | |
Use simple consistent referencing that keeps the flow | |
Avoid footnotes: | If it is important, place it in the text |
If is is not important, don't use it |
Tell a story: don't give away the whole ending in the introduction | |
Paragraphs should link in the story: move them around for effectiveness | |
The narrative follows the method: | Inductive: build it to a summit from evidence to conclusion |
Deductive: go from the hypothesis to the evidence | |
Titles: the fewer the better | Keep titles to when there are major breaks and changes, and when the narrative needs a new start |
Below are two boxes. These can be sent to me with work done. There are two ways to use the boxes. One is to follow the exercises as laid out. However, there is another way. Enter some notes of your own work in the first box. Enter some prose essay work into the second box. Press send. Comments will be sent by email.