1. Improving Your Writing 1. Texas Tech Dissertation and Thesis Requirements and Aid 2. Helpful Online Grammar Resources and Practice 3. Common Errors and Weaknesses of ESL Graduate Students

2. Online Resources Texas Tech Thesis and Dissertations section on the Graduate School Website – Texas Tech deadlines and requirements – Style Guides (Format your Document) – Thesis on Demand – News about Dissertation Boot Camps, Thesis- Dissertation Formatting Workshops (Format your Document)

3. Online Resources Continued www.grammarbook.com – Grammar Tests www.grammarly.com – Insert text into Grammar checker – Abuse 7 day free trial? www.dianahacker.co/rules www.owl.english.purdue.edu – Grammar examples – Techniques for revising, analyzing tone

4. Common Grammar Errors Tense Consistency – Scientists have predicted the moon will explode in the near future. (Incorrect) – Scientists predict that the moon will explode in the near future. (Correct) Comma Use Article Use Singular Plural Agreement – Neither the researcher from Texas Tech nor the researcher from Idaho State address the issue. – Neither the researcher form Texas Tech nor the researcher from Idaho State addresses the issue.

5. Common Weaknesses Redundancy – The temporal lobe (that exists) (in the brain) – We see that oxygen is a (basic) essential for all life forms. – Africa is rich (and wealthy) in natural resources. Over-organizing Connotative Implications – Dr. Z is quite relentless in critiquing my dissertation proposal. (Dr. Z is mean.)