Formal Academic Style

1. Formal Academic Style the language of the classroom and the workplace

2. Complete Sentences Always Make sure every sentence has a subject, a verb, and makes sense. Avoid beginning a sentence with “because” or “so.” Usage note about because: DO NOT automatically put a comma before the word because in a sentence. This will RARELY be correct!

3. No forms of YOU….EVER This includes YOUR, too. “you” = 2nd person, personal PRONOUN

4. No forms of “I” This includes me, my, we, us, & our. These words are the 1st person, personal pronouns. Do not use them in FORMAL writing.

5. No contractions, abbreviations, slang, or other e-speak This includes words such as don’t, can’t, would’ve, they’ve, b/c, &, ‘cuz, LOL, y, cul8r, etc... Such informal expressions invite miscommunication in both CONNOTATION and DENOTATION.

6. Appropriate style is important, but… Whatyou say makes the biggest difference in your grade = Content weighs more heavily in points awarded in most classes.

7. ACCURACY: information is correct Did you actually read the assignment? • THOROUGHNESS: the answer directly addresses all elements of the question What kind of question is it? literalvsanalytical • SUPPORT: text DETAILS prove what is being claimed Always refer to the reading assignment! • WRITING PROTOCOL: all the ‘rules’ for the writing situation are being followed Citations & references have strict rules dictated by a style manual-MLA for writings about literature

8. Literary Present When narrating the events of a piece of literature, writers must employ one of the special uses of present tense verbs. This is a standard element of style to be used in formal academic settings. The ‘natural’ means of expression is to relate events in the past tense, because the novel or work was read in past.

9. Goldilocks went on a walk in the woods where she found a cottage. The door was unlocked, so she went in. then, she found three bowls of steaming porridge on the table, which she ate. Then, because she had a full stomach, she decided she needed a nap. She went upstairs and found three empty beds, which she tried out one by one. The third bed was best, so she slept until she was awoke by the startled occupants of the cottage. She ran away as fast as she could. Goldilocks wenton a walk in the woods where shefound a cottage. The door wasunlocked, so she wentin. then, she found three bowls of steaming porridge on the table, which she ate. Then, because she had a full stomach, she decidedshe neededa nap. She wentupstairs and found three empty beds, which she tried out one by one. The third bedwas best, so she slept until she wasawoke by the startled occupants of the cottage. She ran away as fast as she could.

10. Past tense to present tense Change all the past tense verbs to present tense. This is the correct usage pattern for narrating literature, photo captions, or the events of history, or when stating a universal truth or habitual action. Goldilocks goeson a walk in the woods where shefindsa cottage. The door isunlocked*, so she goesin. then, she finds three bowls of steaming porridge on the table, which she eats. Then, because shehas a full stomach, she decides she needs a nap. She goes upstairs and finds three empty beds, which shetries out one by one. The third bedis best, so she sleeps until she isawoken by the startled occupants of the cottage. She runs away as fast as she could. *When verbs have auxiliaries, change the tense of the auxiliary verb, not the main verb.