Academic Writing 1:

Sentence Structure and Grammar

The University of Melbourne >

Tim Beaumont
Teaching and Learning Unit
btj@ nimelb ed a
btj@unimelb.edu.au
 A recentt exchange
h

The University of Melbourne >

hi tim
r u free on friday@ 2pm?:)let e know if u r free ..i want to
structure the essay outline about chinee exconomu. Tks for
helping
##### !

student number ####

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 2

 A recentt exchange
h

The University of Melbourne >

Dear #####,

Can you write back a proper email that youve

you ve put some thought
and care into? This sounds rude, but I wont respond to emails
such as the one youve just sent.

Regards,

Tim Beaumont

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 3

 A recentt exchange
h

The University of Melbourne >

Dear Tim
sori. was rushed before.Are you free in tomoro
p
afternoon?Can i an apointment with u tomoro afternoon around
2pm?i wanna discuss about my essay structure. Tks for helping

#####

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 4

 A recentt assignment
i t

The University of Melbourne >

Internationalization is very important in building up SMEs
competitiveness and grow in age of globalization today. SMEs
internationalization is different from LSEs internationalization
internationalization.
Nonetheless, little research is found that examine role of brand
in SMEs internationalization. Most of past research, when
addressing the role of brand in internationalization
internationalization, focus
exclusively on branding from large or multinational brands .

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 5

 The Importance of Good
Sentence Structure
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Poor sentence structure and grammar can:

affect comprehension
prevent your points from being taken seriously
suggest carelessness and lack of professionalism
negatively affect your marks
prevent you from getting jobs

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 6

 O tli
Outline

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1. Sentence Structure Review
The Four Basic Sentence Structures

2. Clear Writing
Seven Techniques

3. Grammatical Accuracy
Seven Common Grammar Problems

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 Clauses

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A clause is a group of words that contains a subject & a verb.

Independent
(they express a complete thought)

Martin has two PhDs.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 8

 Clauses
Cl

The University of Melbourne >

Dependent
(they do not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone)

because Martin has two PhDs

although Martin has two PhDs
that Martin has two PhDs
if Martin had three PhDs

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 9

 S t
Sentences

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A sentence is a group of words which contains (at least) one
independent clause and expresses a complete thought

Four main kinds:

1. Simple
1
2. Compound
3. Complex
4 Compound/Complex
4.

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 Si
Simple
l Sentences
S t

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A simple sentence contains one independent clause.

Martin has two PhDs.

Martin has two PhDs but has absolutely no interest in a third.

Both Martin and his wife became sick of his endless study.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 11

 C
Compound
d Sentences
S t

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A compound sentence combines two or more simple sentences

These two sentences are clearly related and of equal importance

They can be connected by:

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 12

 C
Compound
dSSentences
t

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1. Coordinating conjunctions
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Martin enjoyed his first PhD, but he became tired of his

seco d
second.

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 C
Compound
dSSentences
t

The University of Melbourne >

2. Other linking words
(eg. in addition, however, alternatively, therefore, nevertheless,
on the one hand
hand, for example
example, in other words
words, indeed
indeed,
specifically)

Martin enjoyed his first PhD; however, he became tired of his

second.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 14

 C
Compound
dSSentences
t

The University of Melbourne >

3. A semi-colon
(if the relationship is so clear that a linking word is unnecessary)

Martin enjoyed his first PhD; he became tired of his second.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 15

 C
Complex
l Sentences
S t

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A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one
or more dependent clauses

The main idea is contained in the independent clause, creating an

order of importance

The dependent clause could serve:

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 16

 C
Complex
l Sentences
S t

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1. As a noun:
Most theorists believe that sales will decrease.

2. As an adverb:
Although this belief is widespread, the market is yet to be
a ected
affected.

3. As an adjective:
Most theorists expect that the decrease
decrease, which is likely to be
severe, will begin soon.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 17

 Complex / Compound
Sentences
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Complex / compound sentences contain at least two
Independent clauses and one dependent clause

Although most theorists believe the decrease will come soon,

customer confidence remains strong
strong, and most businesses
have not initiated significant restructures.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 18

 Review

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IC (independent clause)
DC (dependent clause)

IC Simple Sentence
IC + IC Compound Sentence
IC + DC Complex Sentence
IC + IC + DC Complex / Compound Compound

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 19

 The University of Melbourne >

Wh t is
What i academic
d i English?
E li h?

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 20

 G d academic
Good d i English?
E li h?

The University of Melbourne >

The main purpose of the Staff Booking Database (SBD) is for the
recording of staff booking requests which in turn provides the total
recurring audit cost for each client. As a result of the recent merger
that has taken place and hence the increase in the numbers of staff
and clients, it is important that each BU be used in such a way as to
track and collate all staff movements. The use of the SBD allows
a age s in eac
managers each BUU to rethink
et on
o a an a
annual
ua bas
basis,
s, tthe
e way
ay tthe
e
audit was performed and make any necessary amendments to the
amount of staff and the mix of skills required for the following year.
Implementing a formal process and system will not only make sure
that all staff are receiving the right type of experience and exposure
as they progress, but it should also be of assistance in guaranteeing
our clients are receiving the most suitable mix of staff.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 21

 A golden
ld rule
l

The University of Melbourne >

Keep it simple!

If unsure about a sentence:

start with the subject (but not it)

follow with a verb
keep it short
explain your point out loud: What I want to say is

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 22

 The University of Melbourne >

Cl
Clear writing:
iti 7 tips
ti

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 23

 1 U
1. Use clear
l vocabulary
b l

The University of Melbourne >

A considerable multitude of invited participants enquired
about the location in which they could purchase beverages.

Many guests asked where they could buy drinks.

Imagine
ag e you area e writing
t g for:
o
an intelligent but non-specialist audience, or
a lecturer who is tired, has just read 20 assignments, and
doesnt want to think

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 24

 2 U
2. Use short
h t sentences
t

The University of Melbourne >

Once an organisation understands its customers needs, it must
establish goals to help ensure good service delivery which are
typically set in terms of employee or machine performance such
as in a case in which a bank may require all its employees to
conform to a dress code and that all incoming telephone calls be
answered by the third ring.

Once an organisation understands its customers needs, it must

establish goals to help ensure good service delivery. These
goals are typically
g yp y set in terms of employee
p y or machine
performance. For example, a bank may require all its employees
to conform to a dress code. Likewise, the bank may require that
all incoming telephone calls be answered by the third ring.
(Pride Elliot
(Pride, Elliot, Rundle-Thiele,
Rundle Thiele Waller
Waller, Palandino
Palandino, Ferrell
Ferrell, p
p. 258)
2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 25
 3. Put the subject early
in the sentence
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In his lecture on Engineering Ethics, which he gave on Tuesday
the 7th of June in the Chisholm Theatre, Dr Dabke addressed
whyy and how humans become p professional.

Dr Dabke addressed how and why humans became

professionals in the lecture on Engineering Ethics which he
gave on Tuesday the 7th of June in the Chisholm Theatre.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 26

 4 U
4. Use th
the active
ti voice
i

The University of Melbourne >

It is believed by many lecturers and tutors that inadequate care
is put into writing by too many students.

Many lecturers believe that too many students put inadequate

care into their writing.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 27

 5 Be
5. B careful
f l with
ith noun phrases
h

The University of Melbourne >

A measure of the distance in multidimensional space is known
as Mahalanobis distance which is the distance of each
observation from the mean centre of the observations.

Mahalanobis distance is a measure of observations taken and

where they are taken from. To be specific, it is the distance in
multidimensional space of observations
observations. This measurement is
normally taken from the mean centre of observations.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 28

 6 B
6. Be careful
f l with
ith pronouns

The University of Melbourne >

His determination to succeed in a challenging competitive
environment is what made Richard Branson so successful.

Richard Bransons determination to succeed in a challenging

competitive environment is what made him so successful.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 29

 7 B
7. Be careful
f l with
ith abbreviations
bb i ti

The University of Melbourne >

In Feb, 2008, MMSP of UEB, Ian Appleton, spoke about HRM
use of the MBTI.

In February, 2008, Associated Management and Marketing

Senior Professor of the University of East Borneo, Ian Appleton,
spoke about Human Resource Management use of the Myers-
Briggs Test Indicator.
Indicator

Minimise use of:

A
Acronyms (NASA
(NASA, UNICEF)
Initialisation (MBTI, UNSW, HRM)
Shortened forms (etc., eg., ie, Assoc., Feb., Intl, Grad. Dip.)

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 30

 A d avoid:
And id

The University of Melbourne >

Language that isnt tentative
X caused Y, A must do B,A thinks B

Vague words
some, many, somewhat

Contractions
Its Isnt

Smiley faces
:-)

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 31

 A d avoid:
And id

The University of Melbourne >

Informal language
I, you, we, pretty good

Jargon
outcome-based benchmarking of best practice

Colourful language
Really brilliant

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 32

 Grammar

The University of Melbourne >

Try to identify your grammatical problems so you can
address them

7 grammatical areas students often find difficult are:

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 33

 Grammar

The University of Melbourne >

1. Articles
2. Singular or Plural
3
3. Countable or Uncountable
4. Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Verb Tenses
6. Linking Words
7. Prepositions

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 34

 1 A
1. Articles
ti l (a/an/the)
( / /th )

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I have Finance tute in ten minutes in Spot.
I usually come to uni by tram.
University should not only be for rich.
I read good text yesterday. Text could be useful for my essay.
Tonight I need to buy milk, Age, apple and loaf of bread.

The most common problem is omission. The second is using

the wrong article.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 35

 2 Si
2. Singular
l or Plural
Pl l

The University of Melbourne >

Its easy to forget to make nouns plural. ( Many manager)

Often, you will need to decide whether to refer to nouns in your text
Often
as singular (a manager) or plural (managers).

If you are refer to a manager, dont start talking about managers.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 36

 3 Countable
3. C t bl or Uncountable
U t bl

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Dont add s to uncountable nouns ( informations,
knowledges, equipments, etc)

Be careful with quantity words and articles:

Many freedom Much freedom

Less people Fewer people
An information Information

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 37

 4 S
4. Subject-Verb
bj t V b Agreement
A t

The University of Melbourne >

Make sure verbs agree with subjects.

He is
is / They are
are / She lives
lives

Be careful when:

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 38

 4 S
4. Subject-Verb
bj t V b Agreement
A t

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The verb has long modifying phrase which follows the subject
The text about the marketing strategies of 10 leading Australian companies is
useful.

The noun is can lead to confusion about whether it is singular or plural.

The Beatles is a great band.
Everyone wants a good job.

Words that indicate quantity are used

Each one of the employees is satisfied.
The number of people in support was 1515.
A number of people were unhappy.

Uncountable nouns are subjects

The audience was supportive.
2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 39
 5 V
5. Verb
b Tenses
T

The University of Melbourne >

The English tense system is complicated and very different to
tense systems in other languages.

It is essential that tenses are consistent in your writing.

Dont shift unnecessarily between tenses in a paragraph.

When changing
g g tenses in a p paragraph,
g p , use signalling
g g words or time
phrases eg. since then, currently, now, in the past etc

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 40

 6 Li
6. Linking
ki words
d

The University of Melbourne >

Be careful about the exact meaning and use of linking words:

Although she tried, but she couldnt succeed.

Although she tried, she couldnt succeed.

She tried. While she couldnt succeed.

She
S tried, However, she couldnt succeed.

The managers lacked financial planning skills. Meanwhile, they

l k d experience
lacked i iin thi
this area.
The managers lacked financial planning skills. Furthermore, they
lacked experience in this area.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 41

 7 P
7. Prepositions
iti

The University of Melbourne >

A notoriously difficult and frustrating aspect of the English language
for non-native speakers!

I have locked on an appointment by the Manager in 9.00 at the

morning on the 22nd to discuss about my upcoming presentation with
the clients.

I have locked in an appointment with the Manager at 9.00 on the

morning of the 22nd to discuss my upcoming presentation to the clients.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 42

 Editi and
Editing d Proofreading
P f di

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Also check:

text structure
paragraph structure
spelling
punctuation
font
layout

Always edit and proofread your work carefully!

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 43

 N d More
Need M H
Help?
l ?

The University of Melbourne >

Consult Academic Writing Books, particularly:

Writing Academic English (Longman)

The Essentials of English (Longman)
Some IELTS texts

Use CELT
C S
Services, particularly:

Workshops
I di id l C
Individual Consultations
lt ti
Helpsheets
GEP

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 44

 A k
Acknowledgement
l d t

The University of Melbourne >

Some of the material featured in this presentation has been
adapted from slides prepared by Dr. Martin Davies and Chi Baik.

2/10/2012 Tim Beaumont 45