College Writing syllabus
Awesome typo:
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FORBIDDEN WORDS
There + ANY form of the verb “to be”
Is, be, am, are, was, were, been, have, has, had, do, does, did, could, should, would, etc.
There are many things I need to get at the store. = I need to get several items at the store.
There is something I need to ask her. = I need to ask her something.
Figure out what the subject is (NOT “There”) and start the sentence (or clause) with it.
Eliminate any form of the verb “to be” when possible.
We were wondering what’s for lunch. = We wonder what’s for lunch.
He is baking a cake. = He bakes a cake.
She is pretty. = Fine as it is. “She looks pretty” if you really want to be awesome.
Search for all of your helping verbs and see what can be changed. You don’t have to eliminate all of them, but strengthen them when you can.
These words are poison to your papers:
Very, many, things, stuff, kind of, nice, good, bad, really, etc.
Do not begin your conclusion with “In conclusion.” Try “Therefore” instead.
Do not begin your intro with “Imagine…”
No 1st or 2nd person pronouns.
I, me, my, mine, you, your, you’re. Rarely use we, us, our.
He, she, it, they are fine because they are 3rd person.
Just because “you” is forbidden does not suddenly mean “one” is the answer.
No contractions
Can't = cannot
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