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Event
Smart sentencing: Academic Writing with Style
Friday, November 15, 2024 11:30to13:00
Description
This workshop aims to help graduate students with grammatical and stylistic features of English sentences that are often challenging for academic writers. You will reflect on your own academic sentences and review English sentence types and clauses. You will also learn and practice “Smart Sentence” strategies, adapted from the work of Helen Sword and others, to improve the structure and style of sentences in your papers. Using these strategies, you will be better able to transform unclear and convoluted sentences into ones that are not only grammatical, but precise, vigorous, and enjoyable to read.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Learn the “topic and stress” approach to sentence structure and style
• Apply the “Flabby or Fit?” Test to their academic sentences
• Learn Smart Sentencing strategies
• Practice revising their work using the strategies discussed
• Understand the “house” metaphor for sentence logic and clause combinations
Instructions
Have on hand a recent paper you have written or are in the process of writing (a draft is fine). Each part of the workshop will include applying the sentence strategies to your own writing. You may also have on hand a copy of a well-written published paper.
Facilitator
Renée Lallier teaches academic writing to graduate and undergraduate students at the McGill Writing Centre. Renée is a former CEGEP literature professor and has been an instructor with the MWC since 2014. Her current academic interests focus on helping emerging scholars write academic papers that are a pleasure rather than a chore to read.
Date, Time, & Location
This workshop will be offered online via Zoom on Friday, November 15 2024, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. You will receive the Zoom link in a confirmation email once you register.