PITFALL #1 NotWriting!NotWriting!

Two common reasons

Useful Strategies Start early. Write anything. Talk to your mom.

PITFALL #2 Leaning too far on others. Leaning too far on others.

Avoiding (Accidental) Plagiarism Attribute words and ideas that are not your own. When you paraphrase, look away from the text. Do that from the very beginning (even in notes).

Paraphrasing Example

Engaging Experts Properly Always introduce a quotation. Always interpret the quotation for your reader. Always indicate how the quotation functions in your argument.

Example of Improper Quotation Use The apostle Paul saw himself as the apostle to the gentiles. “Paul relies on the logic of patrilineal descent to create a new lineage for the gentiles, a lineage that links gentiles through Christ to the founding ancestor, Abraham” (Johnson Hodge, If Sons, Then Heirs, 5). Paul wrote many letters to the churches he founded that were constituted of gentile Christians. The apostle Paul saw himself as the apostle to the gentiles. “Paul relies on the logic of patrilineal descent to create a new lineage for the gentiles, a lineage that links gentiles through Christ to the founding ancestor, Abraham” (Johnson Hodge, If Sons, Then Heirs, 5). Paul wrote many letters to the churches he founded that were constituted of gentile Christians.

Example of Proper Quotation Use Johnson Hodge summarizes Paul’s myth of origins in this way: Paul relies on the logic of patrilineal descent to create a new lineage for the gentiles, a lineage that links gentiles through Christ to the founding ancestor, Abraham. By means of this kinship- creation, gentiles are made descendants of Abraham, adopted sons of God and coheirs with Christ (Johnson Hodge, If Sons, Then Heirs, 5). Because of Christ, then, gentiles in the Jesus movement have access to Israel’s God through Israel’s founding patriarch because they too may now be considered Abraham’s descendants. Johnson Hodge summarizes Paul’s myth of origins in this way: Paul relies on the logic of patrilineal descent to create a new lineage for the gentiles, a lineage that links gentiles through Christ to the founding ancestor, Abraham. By means of this kinship- creation, gentiles are made descendants of Abraham, adopted sons of God and coheirs with Christ (Johnson Hodge, If Sons, Then Heirs, 5). Because of Christ, then, gentiles in the Jesus movement have access to Israel’s God through Israel’s founding patriarch because they too may now be considered Abraham’s descendants.

When it comes to quotations, remember:

PITFALL #3 Writing, but not Revising.

Why Revise?

What to Revise? Revise sentences for: (1) clarity (2) concision (3) grammar Revise paragraphs for: (1) relevance (2) logical sentence arrangement (3) transitions between sentences Revise the whole paper for: (1) clear thesis (2) organization of paragraphs (3) transitions between paragraphs Revise sentences for: (1) clarity (2) concision (3) grammar Revise paragraphs for: (1) relevance (2) logical sentence arrangement (3) transitions between sentences Revise the whole paper for: (1) clear thesis (2) organization of paragraphs (3) transitions between paragraphs

Avoid Misplaced Modifiers! Correct: The cops in the squad car chased the bear.

Avoid Misplaced Modifiers! Incorrect: Having never been to the church before, the pastor told me where to park and introduced me to the church members. Incorrect: Having never been to the church before, the pastor told me where to park and introduced me to the church members. Correct: Since I had never been to the church before, the pastor told me where to park and introduced me to the church members. Correct: Since I had never been to the church before, the pastor told me where to park and introduced me to the church members. Correct: Having never been to the church before, I asked the pastor to tell me where to park and to introduce me to the church members. Correct: Having never been to the church before, I asked the pastor to tell me where to park and to introduce me to the church members.

Avoid Misplaced Modifiers! Incorrect: Growing up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”), God was everywhere. Incorrect: Growing up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”), God was everywhere. Correct: I grew up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”) where God was everywhere. Correct: I grew up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”) where God was everywhere. Correct: Growing up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”), I observed that God was everywhere. Correct: Growing up in Mississippi (part of the “Bible Belt”), I observed that God was everywhere.

What to Revise? Revise sentences for: (1) clarity (2) concision (3) grammar Revise paragraphs for: (1) relevance (2) logical sentence arrangement (3) transitions between sentences Revise the whole paper for: (1) clear thesis (2) organization of paragraphs (3) transitions between paragraphs Revise sentences for: (1) clarity (2) concision (3) grammar Revise paragraphs for: (1) relevance (2) logical sentence arrangement (3) transitions between sentences Revise the whole paper for: (1) clear thesis (2) organization of paragraphs (3) transitions between paragraphs

Reverse Outlining Step 1: Bracket out each paragraph and write its main idea beside it. Main idea: Girl refuses date.  Main idea: Boy is happy. Main idea: Boy and girl go on date. Main idea: Girl agrees to date for tomorrow. Main idea: Boy is sad.

Reverse Outlining Step 2: Write the main ideas on a separate page. Girl refuses date. Boy is happy. Boy and girl go on date. Girl agrees to date for tomorrow. Boy is sad. Step 3: Rearrange them into the most logical order. Girl refuses date. Boy is sad. Girl agrees to date for tomorrow. Boy is happy. Boy and girl go on date.

Reverse Outlining Step 4: Put your paragraphs in that order. Girl refuses date.     Boy is sad.Girl agrees to date for tomorrow. Boy is happy.Boy and girl go on date.

PITFALL #4 Being tired.

Sleep + Exercise = Better Writing Sufficient sleep and regular exercise help you write better by… …improving brain function. …increasing creativity. …making you happy, energetic, and motivated.

PITFALL #5 Doing it completelyalone. completelyalone.

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