University Seminar assignment

Grammar and Usage for College Writing

· Don’t use the first person

· Don’t use the second person

· Don’t use the passive voice

· Don’t begin a sentence with because, although, or unless

· Don’t begin a sentence with and or but

· Don’t use more than one and in a sentence

· Don’t use contractions

· Don’t use the verb is

· Don’t change verb tenses within a paragraph

Organization and content

· A sentence should contain only one idea

· A paragraph should contain only one idea

· Every paragraph should begin with a topic sentence

· Every paragraph should begin with a transition sentence

· A paragraph should contain at least three sentences

· A paragraph should not contain more than six sentences

· A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph

Style

· Show, don’t tell

· Imagine that you are speaking directly to the reader

· Don’t write the way you speak

Hjorstshoj,Keith. The Transition to College Writing Second Edition. Boston:

Bedford/St. Martin’s. pgs. 88-89.