MECHANICS

Comma (,)

Hyphen (-) -Perhaps the best and most instructive way, then,

-Hyphen is a joiner for us to approach the comma is to remember its fundamental

function: it is a separator.

Complete ideas need to be separated.

Apostrophe (‘)

-Apostrophes are used to form both contractions—two

words collapsed into one—and possessives. Comma overuses:

 Complete ideas need to be separated

Apostrophes with words ending with “s”  after any number

-Although practices vary, for words that already end in "s,"  before any preposition
whether they are singular or plural, we typically indicate
 before or after any conjunction
possession simply by adding the apostrophe without an
additional "s."

Period (.)
Apostrophes with acronyms -We all know to place a period to signal the termination of a
simple sentence that makes a statement. However, here are a
and numbers
few more specialized rules:
-In technical writing, acronyms and numbers are frequently
pluralized with the addition of an "s," but there is typically no
need to put an apostrophe in front of the "s." Parenthesis = ()

-To introduce tables or figures within a sentence:

Quotation Marks (“)

-the period and comma go inside the quotation marks all the
time.

However, the semicolon, colon, dash, question mark, and

exclamation point fall outside of the quotation marks. ACADEMIC WRITINGS

- Posting a question

Semicolon (;) - Problematizing a concept

-the semicolon almost always functions as an equal sign; it says - Evaluating an opinion
that the two parts being joined are relatively equal in their
- Answering the question/s posed
length and have the same grammatical structure.
- Clarifying the problem

- Arguing for a stand

Colon (:)

-The colon is not just used to introduce a list; it is far more

flexible. Purpose:

1. Inform

Dash (--) 2. Argue (a specific point)

-The dash functions almost as a colon does in that it adds to 3. Persuade

the preceding material, but with extra emphasis.

a dash indicates a strong pause What makes ACADEMIC WRITING different from
PERSONAL NARRATIVE or CREATIVE ESSAY? DICTO SIMPLICITER

-Writing academic papers requires deliberate, thorough and - a fallacy in which a general rule or observation is treated as
careful thought and that is why it involves research. universally true regardless of the circumstances or the
individuals concerned.

READING TEXT CRITICALLY

Logical Form:
Critical reading is an active process of self discovery.
X is a common and accepted rule.

Therefore, there are no exceptions to X.

What is critical reading?

-Scrutinizing any information that you read or hear

HASTY GENERALIZATION
-Not easily believing information offered to you by a text
-Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size, rather
-“Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take
than looking at statistics that are much more in line with the
for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and
typical or average situation.
consider.” - Francis Bacon, The Essays

Logical Form:
Ramage, Bean, and Johnson (2006)
Sample S is taken from Population P.
-The ability to pose problematic questions
Sample S is a very small part of Population P.
-The ability to analyze a problem in all its dimensions
Conclusion C is drawn from Sample S and applied
-The ability to find, gather, and interpret data, facts and other
information relevant to the problem to Population P.

-The ability to imagine alternative solutions to the problem, to

see different ways in which the question might be answered
POST HOC
and different perspectives for viewing it.
-Concluding that one thing caused another, simply because
-The ability to analyze competing approaches and answers, to
they are regularly associated.
construct arguments for and against.

-The ability to write an effective argument justifying your

choice while acknowledging counter-arguments. Logical Form:

A is regularly associated with B;

Annotate what you read. therefore, A causes B.
-Highlighting and commenting

Outline the Text CONTRADICTORY PREMISES

-Identify the main points of the writer and list them down -When the argument is self-contradictory and cannot possibly
be true.
Evaluate the text.

-Question the author's purpose and intentions, as well as

his/her assumptions in the claims. Example:
Summarize the Text The only thing that is certain is uncertainty.
-Get the main points of the text and write its gist in your own
words.
AD MISERICORDIAM

-The attempt to distract from the truth of the

LOGICAL FALLACIES
conclusion by the use of pity.
Logical Form: Adverse information (be it true or false) about Person 1 is
presented.
Person 1 is accused of Y, but Person 1 is pathetic.
Therefore, the claim(s) of Person 1 will be false.
Therefore, Person 1 is innocent.

X is true because Person 1 worked really hard

at making X true.

FALSE ANALOGY

-When an analogy is used to prove or disprove an argument,

but the analogy is too dissimilar to be effective, that is, it is
unlike the argument more than it is like the argument.

Logical Form:

X is like Y.

Y has property P.

Therefore, X has property P.

(but X really is not too much like Y)

HYPOTHESIS CONTRARY TO FACT

-Offering a poorly supported claim about what might have

happened in the past or future, if (the hypothetical part)
circumstances or conditions were different. The fallacy also
entails treating future hypothetical situations as if they are
fact.

Logical Form:

If event X did happen,

then event Y would have happened

(based only on speculation).

POISONING THE WELL

-Poisoning the well occurs when negative information that is

irrelevant is presented ahead of time to discredit the
argument.

Logical Form: