Homework Lance
Collegiate-Level Writing Worksheet
Assignment Background:
The purpose of this assignment is to help you understand some of the academic writing expectations in higher education. Included is a comprehensive list of writing “Rules” you will want to adhere to during your academic career as well as ways to overcome common errors in college-level writing.
Assignment Instructions:
Before completing this assignment, please reference the Developing Academic Skills Guide and the Academic Writing Guidelines Resource located under Resources. After reviewing these resources and the accompanying links, complete the sections below.
Section 1: Rules of Academic Writing
Place the correct “Rule” (the number next to the rule), with the correct description of that “Rule”.
Rules:
1
Contractions
6
1st Lines of Paragraphs indent 0.5”
11
Spell Check
2
Writing in 3rd person
7
Conciseness
12
Margins
3
Times New Roman 12pt Font
8
Run-on Sentences
13
Text/Slang language
4
Double Space
9
Fragmented Sentences
14
Capitalization
5
Align Left
10
Idioms
15
Essay Formatting
Descriptions:
11
Microsoft Word has a sophisticated “checker” to identify most spelling, grammar, & consistency errors. Remove all before submission.
4
An extra line between sentences accomplished by using the “Line and Paragraphing Spacing” option in Microsoft Word & selecting 2.0 Spacing
6
The TAB key often makes a perfect 0.5 inch indentation by default.
12
All four sides of each page in your document must default to 1.0” for the top, bottom, left, and right sides.
15
Separates creative writing from formal academic writing including APA, MLA, & GCU Style. Strict adherence is required.
10
Clichés, or slang, or figurative language should be avoided. Instead, write out or use the definition instead of the cliché.
1
Avoid the shortened forms of one or two words combined. Spell out both words.
14
Be sure to use this appropriately for the first word in every sentence, proper nouns, and Netiquette.
13
LOL is an example of a term that should not be used in academic writing.
3
Most common standardized lettering and size in college level writing.
9
Microsoft Word will underline these errors with a green line. Rewrite the sentence until the green line disappears.
5
Paragraphs should be aligned to the left at the zero or null point on the Microsoft Word ruler.
8
Avoid extraordinarily long sentences. The word “and” can often be a place to split up a Run-on.
7
Avoid wordiness by deleting needless words and using Microsoft Word thesaurus for word ideas, synonyms, and antonyms.
2
One would, A person could, They should, She, He, It.
Section 2: Spelling & Grammar Checker
Microsoft Office Word offers a very sophisticated Spelling & Grammar Checker to help you identify errors in spelling, grammar, and format consistency. Identify what each underline color (Blue, Red, & Green) is used for:
Red
Spelling
Green
Grammar
Blue
Format Consistency
Reminder: Microsoft Word will not catch every error. Some green grammar lines are due to Word misinterpreting the sentence. Some red spelling lines are due to correct words not being in its dictionary. However, Microsoft Word will identify areas of concern. It is best that you consider rewording, rephrasing, and removing all of the errors identified with these colored underlines before final submission.
Section 3: Writing Voice
Label these sentences; state whether the sentence is in 1st Person, 2nd Person, or 3rd Person.
3rd person
Grand Canyon University prepares people for the academic rigor they will face in their first class.
1st person
Grand Canyon University prepares me for the academic rigor I will face in my first class
2nd person
Grand Canyon University prepares you for the academic rigor you will face in your first class
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