Writing with Clarity and Fluidity at Central Michigan University
Enhance your writing by focusing on clarity, transition, and effective topic sentences. Learn to communicate ideas clearly and smoothly, ensuring your message reaches your intended audience with precision and impact. Work on crafting topic sentences that serve as guideposts for your readers, leading them through your content seamlessly. Practice transitioning between old and new information to maintain reader engagement and understanding. Improve sentence clarity and flow to elevate your writing style to new heights.
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Writing with Clarity CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER
Clarity in Writing Focus on a specific point Maximize meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text Communicate a particular idea to an intended audience Depends on Fluidity, Voice, and Style
Fluidity TRANSITIONING IN WRITING
Topic Sentences Tell reader what topic/argument will be Act as signposts Provide the main points of the paper (Readers should be able to skim the topic sentences and understand the main argument or points of the text) Forecast intent of the paragraph How do topic sentences relate to flow? Take five minutes to write a topic sentence for the following paragraph.
Topic Sentences Example paragraph with topic sentence: Some form of written communication has been used throughout the centuries. In the earliest times, people carved or painted messages on rocks. Later on, people began to write on pieces of leather, which were rolled into scrolls. In the Middle Ages, heavy paper called parchment was used for writing and books were laboriously copied by hand. With the invention of the printing press in the middle of the fifteenth century, the modern printing industry was born. Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, Writing Academic English, 2nd Edition (New York: Longman, 1991), pp.23ff.
Workshop Activity Take a few minutes to create a topic sentence for this paragraph First, put on snow tires if you plan to drive on snowy, icy roads very often. Second, check the amount of antifreeze in your radiator and add more if necessary. Next, add antifreeze to your windshield washer fluid; otherwise, the fluid will freeze and possibly break the container. Finally, it is also a good idea to carry tire chains, a can of spray to unfreeze door locks, and a windshield scraper in your car when driving in winter weather. Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, Writing Academic English, 2nd Edition (New York: Longman, 1991), pp.23ff.
Move from Old Information to New Information Provide reader with the general knowledge (things he or she already knows) Once reader knows the basis, add new information He or she can create connections between the old and new information For example: Lately, most movies I've seen have been merely second-rate entertainment, but occasionally there are some with worthwhile themes. The rapid disappearance of the Indian culture (new) is the topic of a recent movie (old) I saw. Lately, most movies I've seen have been merely second-rate entertainment, but occasionally there are some with worthwhile themes. One recent movie (old) I saw was about the rapid disappearance of the Indian culture. (new)1 1Purdue OWL. Improving Sentence Clarity. PurdueOWL. Purdue University. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.
Transitions Act as a bridge between ideas Act as signposts for the reader, signaling the change in ideas. Include words like However, Therefore, In addition, Also, But, Moreover, ORphrases like Not only (does/is), In addition to
Transitions 2 2Courtesy of The Writing Center at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Which uses Transitions More Effectively? Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits. Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence. 4 Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits. These impressive profits are largely due to the corporation's expanded international influence. 5 4 & 5 Courtesy of OWL at Purdue
Clauses and Emphasis Different types of clauses can help establish emphasis Coordinate clauses place meaning on equal footing Joined by coordinating words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Easily remembered by the acronym, FANBOYS The train improved the mobility and efficiency of travel, and it put many cowboys out of work. (Both clauses have equal emphasis.) Subordinate clauses designate which clause is more important than another Usually begin with although, while, or because While Jack slept on the sofa, Amber watched Mad Men. (The subordinate clause is highlighted; however, the second clause has more emphasis.) By varying types of clauses, different emphases can be established
Workshop Activity Take a few minutes to write a sentence using a subordinate clause. Although the president s choice of food for lunch was interesting, I suggested that foreign policy might be a more appropriate subject for the cabinet meeting.
Voice ACTIVE VERSUS PASSIVE VOICE
Active Verbs Though easy to use, to be verbs can cause wordiness or make the sentence less clear To be verbs include is, was, were, has, had, can, am, are, become, and became The entrance exam was failed by over one half of the applicants. vs Over one half of the applicants failed the entrance exam. Instead of to be verbs, try choosing more active verbs, which spices up the language and makes the language more engaging
When Passive Voice Is Necessary In scientific writing (sometimes) To achieve an objective tone: The reagent was heated to 120 degrees Celsius. Rather than, We heated the reagent to 120 degrees Celsius. To emphasize an object 100 votes were needed to pass the bill. Rather than, The bill requires 100 votes to pass.
Active Verbs List illustrate clarify yield infer analyze narrate provide acknowledge report distinguish characterize detail guide attribute designate assess obtain determine evaluate construct argue simplify specify depict measure calculate support reiterate emphasize speculate
Workshop Activity Take five minutes to write one sentence in Active Voice. Revise the sentence to emphasize the action or the object. In other words, use Passive Voice.
Style APA STYLE AND CITATION
APA Style and Citation APA provides a standardized citation style for giving credit to others for their contributions (ideas and words). The basic pattern gives author, date of publication, then title, etc. Like this: Author. (year). Title [of article, book, chapter, website]. Container such as Journal; Book title; or web address.
Reference Page Format Begin on a new page at end of paper Center the title: References List all the sources cited in paper List only the sources cited in paper Alphabetize by authors last names (if no author, alphabetize by title) Double-space throughout Use hanging indent (indent after first line)
Articles in Print Periodicals Palmer, D. E. (2009). Business leadership: Three levels of ethical analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 88(3), 525-536.
Article with DOI Levenson, A. (2010). Millennials and the world of work: An economist s perspective. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 257-264. doi:10.1007/s10869-010-9170-9
Books Hall, W. D. (2004). Culture and context. New York, NY: Pearson Longman. Kotter, J. P., & Heskett, J. L. (2011). Corporate culture and performance. New York, NY: Free Press.
Chapter in Edited Book Casson, M. (1996). Culture as an economic asset. In A. Godley & O. M. Westall (Eds.), Business history and business culture, 48-76. New York, NY: Manchester University Press
Electronic Sources Dobrin, A. (2012). Ethics training isn't useful when taught by lawyers. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i- right/201212/ethics-training-isnt-useful-when- taught-by-lawyers
APA In-text Citations Author-Date Format (Smith, 2016) Page Numbers only for Direct Quotes (Smith, 2016, p. 157) Connects information in the text to the Reference Page Provides reader with more information
Paraphrase As Burton (2008) explained, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) can help us understand the functioning of the human brain. Metaphors are powerful tools. For example, the process of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) can be used as a metaphor to explain the functioning of the human brain (Burton, 2008).
Block Quotes If a quotation is 40 words or longer, no quotation marks are used, the text is indented one tab (0.5 ) from the left margin, a signal phrase begins the sentence, and the citation at the end is outside the final punctuation. Example: Jones's (1998) study found the following: Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many students failed to purchase a style manual or to ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)
Direct Quotations Comparing human brain functions to the process of buying online software, Burton (2008) stated that the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has formed the equivalent of neural links between your initial purchases and similar books (p. 46). A study of human brain functions and the process of buying online software showed that the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has formed the equivalent of neural links between your initial purchases and similar books (Burton, 2008, p. 46).
Need some help? Contact us! Park Library 400 (989) 774-2986 Hours: Sun 5-9; M-Th 9-5; Fri 9-1; Sat 11-3 Submit papers to us electronically! https://global.cmich.edu/writingcenter/submission/ Submissions returned within two (2) days Sessions are limited to 50 minutes, so plan accordingly Resubmissions welcomed
