2022 Breakingbadgrammarhabits

Breaking Bad
Grammar Habits
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Learning Hub
Academic Language & Learning
The University of Sydney Page 1

3
Grammar and Chemistry: An analogy bit.ly/GRUL_LH
Blue
mixture Sky
methamphetamine
chemical substances
C10H15N
chemical compounds
CH3 molecules

Structure is key – the rank scale bit.ly/GRUL_LH
Breaking bad tells clause

the story of Walter White...
Breaking bad tells the story [of [Walter White]],
Noun Group groups
Verbal Group & Group
Noun phrases[Prepositional Phrase]
[preposition [NG]]
Breaking bad tells words
the story of Walter White,
Break ing bad tell s morphemes
the story of Walter White,

Why does structure matter? bit.ly/GRUL_LH
Text A Text B
Breaking bad tells the story of Breaking bad tells the story of
Walter White. Walter White is Walter White, a struggling high
a high school teacher. He has school chemistry teacher
no money. He teaches diagnosed with inoperable lung
chemistry. He is diagnosed with cancer.
lung cancer. The cancer is
inoperable.
Analyse this! bit.ly/GRUL_LH
Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White.

Walter White is a high school teacher. 6 sentences
He has no money.
He teaches chemistry.
He is diagnosed with lung cancer.
The cancer is inoperable.

Analyse this! Bit.ly/WW22_LH
6 sentences
Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White.
Walter White is a high school teacher.
He has no money. 6 clauses
He teaches chemistry.
He is diagnosed with lung cancer.
The cancer is inoperable.

Comparisons are odious but…
Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling high

school chemistry teacher [[diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.]]
1 sentence


2 clauses


2 clauses

Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling
high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable
lung cancer.
a struggling high school chemistry teacher [[ diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer ]]
Noun Group [[ embedded clause ]]
Noun Group [[Verbal group Prepositional Phrase ]]
He has no money.
He works in a high
school.
He teaches
The University of Sydney
chemistry. Page 12
NON-ACADEMIC ACADEMIC

Writing – a continuum
less academic more academic

Interjections
Contractions
Colloquial spelling
Personal Pronouns
Lack of punctuation

Repeated administration of high doses of

methamphetamine produced long-term
Technical language decreases in dopamine (DA) levels and in
Words with Latin and Greek roots the number of DA uptake sites in the rat
Long Nominal Groups
No contractions striatum. These two effects were dose-
No personal pronouns related and did not appear to be due to
the continued presence of drug in striatal
tissue.
Grammar as a system of choices
SHUT THE HELL UP!

SHUT UP!
Will you shut up!
Be quiet!
Could you just be quiet for a second, please?
I think I need some time alone.

Three layers of meaning
Experiential
language construing human experience

(Who did what to whom?)
Shut up! vs. Be quiet!
Material Relational
Process Process
The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page Page 19

Three layers of meaning
Interpersonal
language enacting social relations

Imperative
Shut up! vs.
Subject You
Interrogative
Could you please be quiet? vs. Modal
Subject You
I think I need to be left alone.
Declarative
Subject I
The University of Sydney The University of Sydney
‘I think’ - IGM Page Page 20
Three layers of meaning Textual Theme
how the message is organised From less serious to
Overdose more serious.
A methamphetamine overdose may result in a wide range of

symptoms.
A moderate overdose of methamphetamine may induce symptoms
such as: abnormal heart rhythm, high or low blood pressure, ....
An extremely large overdose may produce symptoms such as
adrenergic storm, methamphetamine psychosis, ....
Death from methamphetamine poisoning is typically preceded by
convulsions and coma.
Another option
A methamphetamine overdose may result in a wide range of

symptoms affecting most major body systems.
The cardiovascular system experiences high blood pressure...
The nervous system...
The respiratory system...
The excretory system...

What is grammar?
– structure
– a system of choices to create meaning
– a language to talk about language (a metalanguage)

Structure: the clause
Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman,

White turns to a life of crime,|| producing
crystallized methamphetamine ||to secure his
family's financial future ||before he dies, ||
while navigating the dangers of the criminal
world. |||


world. |||


world. |||

Not all clauses are created equal
Independent clause
(Main clause)
1.White turns to a life of crime,
2.producing crystallized methamphetamine
3.to secure his family's financial future
4.before he dies,
5.while navigating the dangers of the criminal world.
Dependent clauses (2-5)

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page 27
Bad habit #1: The comma splice (or Run-on sentence)
Independent Independent
Clause , Clause

Independent Punctuation: (.) (;)(:) Independent

Clause ,
FANBOYS Clause

Punctuation: (.) (;)(:)

Independent Independent
Clause ,
FANBOYS
(For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) Clause

bit.ly/BBGH22
Game PIN:

When he is diagnosed with cancer,||
cancer, hehe is is also
also shaken
shaken outout
ofof
hishis
lethargy,||
lethargy, hehe decides
decides toto
gogo into
into thethe highly
highly lucrative
lucrative
methamphetamine
methamphetamine business
business ||to
to paypay forfor
hishis cancer
cancer treatment
treatment and
||and leave his family a nest-egg.
leave his family a nest-egg.
1. Find the Verbal Groups

When he is diagnosed with cancer,
cancer,|| heheis is also
also shaken
shaken outout
ofof
hishis
lethargy,||
decides toto
gogo into
into thethe highly
highly lucrative
lucrative
methamphetamine
business ||to
to paypay forfor
hishis cancer
cancer treatment
treatment and
2. Identify clause boundaries

also shaken
shaken outout
ofof
hishis
lethargy,||
decides toto
gogo into
into thethe highly
highly lucrative
lucrative
methamphetamine
business ||to
to paypay forfor
hishis cancer
cancer treatment
treatment and
3. Identify independent clauses

also shaken
shaken outout
ofof
hishis
lethargy,||
decides toto
gogo into
into thethe highly
highly lucrative
lucrative
methamphetamine
business ||to
to paypay forfor
hishis cancer
cancer treatment
treatment and

also shaken
shaken outout
ofof
hishis
lethargy,||
decides toto
gogo into
into thethe highly
highly lucrative
lucrative
methamphetamine
business ||to
to paypay forfor
hishis cancer
cancer treatment
treatment and
2. Identify clause boundaries ;/. He

4. Use correct punctuation

Bad habit #2: The sentence fragment
Australia has a particularly strong relationship to crystal
meth. Approximately 2.5% of people over the age of 14
have used the drug in the last year. A rate far higher than in
the US, Canada or the UK.
???
, a/
2. No verb?
How do we fix it.
,which is a
.This is a

Bad habit #3: Lack of Subject + Verb agreement
The sympathetic nervous system,<<which speeds up our hearts in

preparation for running away from danger, >> use noradrenaline
(often referred to as the fight or flight chemical).
1. Find the Verbal Group uses
2. Find the Head of the
Noun Group?
What uses noradrenaline?
3. Is
it singular or plural?
How do we fix it?
Bad habit #4: Inappropriate use of active/passive voice
Crystal meth – also known as ice – is a form of

methamphetamine ….

Bad habit #4: Inappropriate use of active/passive voice
Crystal meth – also known as ice – is a form of

methamphetamine ….
Instead of producing it as a powder, drug producers make

it as large chunks that look like crystals.
x
Instead of being produced as a powder (as amphetamine,
√
or speed, is), it’s made as large chunks that look like crystals

Once a nerve impulse releases
the chemicals, they can’t keep
hanging around or we would
be in a state of permanent
activation (or inhibition).
Something has to get rid of
them quickly before the next
nerve impulse arrives. Enzymes
break down some of the
chemicals, such as
acetylcholine.
Once a nerve impulse releases Once the chemicals are released
the chemicals, they can’t keep by a nerve impulse, they can’t
hanging around or we would keep hanging around or we
be in a state of permanent would be in a state of permanent
activation (or inhibition). activation (or inhibition). They
Something has to get rid of have to be gotten rid of quickly
them quickly before the next before the next nerve impulse
nerve impulse arrives. Enzymes arrives. Some of the chemicals,
break down some of the such as acetylcholine, are broken
chemicals, such as down by enzymes.
acetylcholine.
activation (or inhibition). ACTIVE VOICE
nerve impulse arrives.
Enzymes break down some of
the chemicals, such as
acetylcholine.
activation (or inhibition). ACTIVE VOICE
nerve impulse arrives.
Enzymes break down some of
the chemicals, such as
acetylcholine.
Once the chemicals are released
by a nerve impulse, they can’t keep
hanging around or we would be
in a state of permanent activation
PASSIVE VOICE (or inhibition). They have to be
gotten rid of quickly before the
next nerve impulse arrives. Some
of the chemicals, such as
acetylcholine, are broken down by
enzymes.
Once the chemicals are released
by a nerve impulse, they can’t keep
hanging around or we would be
in a state of permanent activation
PASSIVE VOICE (or inhibition). They have to be
gotten rid of quickly before the
next nerve impulse arrives. Some
of the chemicals, such as
acetylcholine, are broken down by
enzymes.
a nerve impulse releases, the chemicals are released
they can’t keep hanging around they can’t keep hanging around
we would be in a state of
we would be
They have to be gotten rid of
the next nerve impulse arrives.
the next nerve impulse arrives.
Some of the chemicals,…, are
Enzymes break down
broken down by enzymes.
All active voice Some passive voice

The chemicals
A nerve impulse
They [the chemicals]
We
We
Something
the next nerve impulse
the next nerve impulse
Some of the chemicals
Enzymes
Passive voice
helps organise
the text
Bad habit #5 Inappropriate tense
Despite being a popular drug, methamphetamine accounted for

only 1% of the total annual drug seizures across Europe every year.
1. Find the Verbal Group

accounts
2. Identify the tense.
Are there any tense markers
in the sentence?
3. Do they match?
How do we fix it?
Bad habit #6 Dangling modifiers
What is purchased?
When purchased from an Australian cryptomarket vendor,
users would pay approximately three times more for
methamphetamine and cocaine.
Who would pay?
2. Identify the Subjects.
Do they match?
3. How do we fix it?
Make them match
When purchasing from an Australian cryptomarket vendor,
users would pay approximately three times more for
methamphetamine and cocaine.
When purchased from an Australian cryptomarket vendor,

methamphetamine and cocaine would cost approximately
three times more.

Bad habit #7 Lack of parallel structure
Symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal include:
intense cravings, people feel anxious, decreased energy and
motivation and problems sleeping.
1. What is being listed?
anxiety
2. What grammatical form do these
items have?
(Are they nouns, clauses, adjectives…?)
3. Which is the odd one out?
How do we fix it?
Final tips
§ Use a grammar and spell check (but don’t rely solely on it)

https://www.writefull.com/writefull-for-word

§ Proofread, revise, re-check

More Learning Hub Resources
Workshops:
• Grammar Clinic for Editing and

Proofreading
• Proofreading & Editing your work (UG
& PG Coursework)
• Functional Grammar for Academic
Writing 1 & 2

COMING SOON!

And most importantly…

We need your feedback…

The Learning Hub
learninghub.aclanguage@syd
ney.edu.au

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Breaking Bad

Please download slides from:

The University of Sydney Page 1

The University of Sydney Page 4

Breaking bad tells clause

The University of Sydney Page 5

Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White.

The University of Sydney Page 7

The University of Sydney Page 8

Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling high

The University of Sydney Page 9

Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling high

The University of Sydney Page 10

Breaking bad tells the story of Walter White, a struggling high

The University of Sydney Page 11

The University of Sydney Page 13

less academic more academic

The University of Sydney Page 14

The University of Sydney Page 15

less academic more academic

Repeated administration of high doses of

SHUT THE HELL UP!

The University of Sydney Page 18

language construing human experience

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page Page 19

language enacting social relations

A methamphetamine overdose may result in a wide range of

A methamphetamine overdose may result in a wide range of

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page Page 22

– a system of choices to create meaning

– a language to talk about language (a metalanguage)

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page Page 23

Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman,

The University of Sydney Page 24

Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman,

The University of Sydney Page 25

Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman,

The University of Sydney Page 26

Dependent clauses (2-5)

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page 28

Independent Punctuation: (.) (;)(:) Independent

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page 29

Punctuation: (.) (;)(:)

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page 30

The University of Sydney Page 31

The University of Sydney Page 32

2. Identify clause boundaries

The University of Sydney Page 33

2. Identify clause boundaries

3. Identify independent clauses

The University of Sydney Page 34

2. Identify clause boundaries

3. Identify independent clauses

The University of Sydney Page 35

2. Identify clause boundaries ;/. He

4. Use correct punctuation

The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Page Page 37

The sympathetic nervous system,<<which speeds up our hearts in

Crystal meth – also known as ice – is a form of

The University of Sydney Page 39

Crystal meth – also known as ice – is a form of

Instead of producing it as a powder, drug producers make