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Variation in Writing

Variation in Writing. English Writing Workshop Bioforsk, Ås Spring 2009 Agro Lingua Karl Kerner - Måltrostvn 1A - 3142 Vestskogen - karl@agroling.no. Warm-up. Ty to re-write this sentence:

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Variation in Writing

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  1. Variation in Writing English Writing Workshop Bioforsk, Ås Spring 2009 Agro LinguaKarl Kerner - Måltrostvn 1A - 3142 Vestskogen - karl@agroling.no

  2. Warm-up Ty to re-write this sentence: The biggest coincidence that day happened when David and I ended up sitting next to each other at the football game.

  3. Variation – Different levels • Word (use of synonyms / phrases) • Sentence (structure, length, modifiers) • Paragraph (transitions, pointers, etc.) • An important part of paraphrasing Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  4. Why vary your writing? Tiger Woods is the name of an American golfer. He set a record in the 1997 Master's Tournament. He surprised all the veterans.He was 22 at the time. An American golfer, Tiger Woods, was only 22 when he surprised all the veterans and set a record in the 1977 Master's Tournament. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  5. Variation - Words • Synonyms (same or similar meaning) • Phrasal verbs (carry out, go through, etc) • Metaphors and idioms (shed light on) • Fixed expressions (a wide range of) Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  6. Varying words - Synonyms • Thesaurus! Be carefulwhenusingwordsyoudon’t know. ”Investigate” has many synonyms, e.g.: Examine, lookinto, interrogate, explore… Whichoneofthesewould not fit in an academicpaper? Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  7. Varying words – Phrasal verbs • Phrasal verbs (usually more informal) often have 1-word synonyms (more formal). Useboth to varyyourlanguage. Put forward (an idea) – present Carryout – conduct Setout (to do sthg.) – aim Gothrough – check (Seehandout, Chap. 6) Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  8. Varying words – Metaphors/idioms Light and darkness: Shedlighton, elucidate, remains in the dark, etc. War and conflict: Oppose, attack, bombardwith, etc. Metaphors: original meaningintact (shedlighton) Idioms: original meaning lost (a piece ofcake) (SeehandoutChap. 9) Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  9. Varying words – Fixed expressions • Frequently occurring ”chunks of language” In a variety of ways, to some extent, In addition to, etc.. Can you name some more? Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  10. Variation - Sentences • Sentence openings (avoid repetition) • Sentence length (combine /split = vary!) • Prepositional phrases (Early in the season,..) • Conjunctions (however, as, although, etc.) • Gerund (verb + -ing = noun) • Modifier placement • Active – passive voice (Passive ok at times!) Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  11. Varying sentences – Prepositional phrases Standard ”openers”: At home, In theafternoon, During the 1990s, etc. Varytheir location: With only an hourleft to finish, I knew I had to focus. I knew I had to focus, withonly an hourleft to finish. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  12. Varying sentences - Gerund • We studied the data. They showed that… • We studied the data and found that… • By studying the data, we found that… Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  13. Varying sentences - Modifiers • Initial modifiers To please her mother, Maria went to sleep. • Mid-sentencemodifiers Maria, an obedientchild, went to sleep. • Terminal modifiers Maria went to sleep, hoping to please her mother. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  14. Variation - Paragraph • Transitions and pointers Refer to and link parts of a paper. Theyare like catalysts in writing: Often, theydon’tlook like much, buttheycan have a tremendouseffect! • Therearemanysuchwords and phrases, to: Add, compare, prove, repeat, summarise, etc. Seehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/574/02/ Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  15. Paraphrasing – requires vraiation skills A paraphrase is... • yourownrenditionofessentialinformation and ideasexpressed by someoneelse, presented in a new form. • onelegitimateway to borrow from a source. • a more detailedrestatementthan a summary, whichfocusesconciselyon a single mainidea. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  16. Effective Paraphrasing – 6 steps • Rereadthe original passage untilyou understand its full meaning. • Setthe original aside, and writeyourparaphraseon a note card. • Jotdown a fewwordsbelowyourparaphrase to remindyou later howyouenvisionusingthis material. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

  17. Effective Paraphrasing – 6 steps (cont.) • Checkyourrenditionwiththe original to make sure thatyourversionaccuratelyexpresses all theessentialinformation in a new form. • Usequotation marks to identifyanyunique term or phraseologyyou have borrowedexactly from thesource. • Recordthesource (includingthepage) onyour note card so thatyoucancredit it easilyifyoudecide to incorporatethe material intoyourpaper. Agro Lingua - Karl Kerner

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