Top Ten Grammar Crimes

WRITING TO FLUENCY LIST

1. Thesis: Something is wrong with your thesis such as: A. Too broad. B. Does not address prompt. C. Thesis is missing. D. Thesis is in the wrong place. E. Thesis is not debateable. G. Thesis does not control the paper.

2. Evidence: Something is wrong with your evidence such as: A. Does not show what you are trying to prove, unrelated to argument. B. Quote is not integrated into your own sentence or is awkwardly set up. C. No context is given for how quote fits into the book, or the context is vague or inaccurate. D. Quote is too long (or without proper format or without developed analysis) E. You need a quote or specific example to back up your claim. F. You quote only a few words. You need more significant evidence and/or a better quote choice.

3. Commentary: Something is wrong with your commentary such as: A. You have substituted plot summary for commentary. B. Your commentary shows a misunderstanding or misreading of the story. C. Your commentary goes too far from the story and goes off topic. D. Your commentary is too general; you need a more in-depth explanation of the specific quote or situation in the book. E. Your commentary does not support your thesis. F. Your ideas lack depth or merely restate facts. G. You have not commented on the quote. Add commentary.

4. Organization: A. TOPIC SENTENCE: This should be an idea, not plot summary. Your paragraph should not start with a quote or fact from the story. B. TOPIC SENTENCE: Wihle the topic sentence is an idea (not plot based) it does not provide a clear overview or clear focus for the paragraph. C. TOPIC SENTENCE: The topic sentence is missing. D. You do not have transitions or your transitions are too simple (e.g., Firstly, secondly….) E. Organization is not logical. The flow of the argument does not make sense. F. Body paragraphs are repetitive; each par. should have its own unique focus.

5. Style/Grammar: A. Sentence is awkward and hard to understand or confusing. B. Sentence is too simple. C. Avoid use of passive voice. D. This is a run on sentence. E. This is a fragment sentence. F. Avoid contractions in format work (did not versus didn’t) G. Use present tense when writing about literature. H. Pronoun use is incorrect. I. Avoid use of I, you, we or our (stay in 3rd person)