The Mechanics of Writing in Academic Writing .pptx
1.
2. ● Name: Drashti Joshi
● Roll No: 05
● Sem: 4 [M.A.]
● Enrolment Number: 4069206420220016
● Batch: 2022-2024
● Paper Code: 22416
● Paper Number: 209
● Paper Name: Research Methodology
● submitted To: Smt S.B.Gardi, Department of English, M.K.B.U.
● E-Mail: drashtijoshi582@gmail.com
Academic Information
3. - What is Mechanics of Writing ?
- Essential of Mechanics of Writing.
- A Manual of the Mechanics of Writing
- The Mechanics Accuracy of Students’ Writing
- Teaching the Mechanics of Writing Systematically
- “Correctness” in writing: Jennifer Haytock
- Conclusion
- References
Road Map of Presentation
4. ● Knowing grammar means understanding how words fit together to make
sentences, while mechanics are the rules about writing like when to use capital
letters, punctuation, and spelling correctly. You need to know both grammar
and mechanics to write clearly.
● Mechanics are the small parts of your writing that stick everything together to
ensure that everything makes sense and that emphasis is placed where you
want it to be. (“Mechanics and Punctuation | Science Writing Resources (new)”)
● Most writers could benefit from a refresher on grammar basics (and let's face
it, some of us may be learning some of these basics for the first time). Good
grammar shapes your credibility and your reputation as an intelligent
professional (in emails, blog posts, any format where your writing represents
your thoughts and ideas). (“Mechanics of Writing”)
What is Mechanics of Writing ?
5. - Mastering the mechanics of writing encompasses precision in writing
research. Here are some factors in Mechanics of writing,
1. Spelling
2. punctuation
3. Italics
4. Names of persons
5. Numbers
6. Titles of works in the research paper
7. Quotations
8. Capitalization and personal names in languages other than English
(MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers #)
Essentials of Writing Mechanics
6. - Now a days spellings are easy
to look up of apps, and
Software.
- For examples, Grammarly,
Dictionaries, etc…
- It has Consistency, Word
Division, Plurals, Foreign Words.
- For ex, Colour- Color
Factors of Mechanics of Writing
- The primary purpose of punctuation is
to ensure the clarity and readability of
writing. Punctuation clarifies sentence
structure, separating some words and
grouping others. It adds meaning to
written words and guides the
understanding of readers as they move
through sentence.
For ex, I speak English, French and Thai.
1. 1. Spellings 2. Punctuation
(MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers #)
7. - Italicis a style of type in which the
characters slant to the right
(Casablanca). More visually pleasing
than underlining if sometimes less
distinctive, italicization is commonly
acceptable in research papers.
- For ex, if you want to put emphasize
on something you use italics. Like
quotes or seminal works etc.
- In general, the first time you use a
person's name in the text of your
research paper, state it fully and
accurately, exactly as it appears in
your source.
- For ex, Arthur George Rust, Jr. Do
not change Arthur George Rust,
Jr., to Arthur George Rust.
3. Italics 4. Name of Persons
(MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers #)
8. - Numbers like Roman numb,
PAge numbers, Main Points, Sub
Points.
- For ex, 1.2.3,
- xxv-xxvi, xlvi-xlix.
- If you are using data then you
should give numbers in
percentages.
- Whenever you cite the title of a
published work in your research
paper, take the title from the title
page, not, for example, from the
cover or from a running head at
the top of a page.
- For ex, Italicized Titles, Titles in
Quotation Marks.
5. Numbers 6. Titles of works in the
research
(MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers #)
9. - Quotations are effective in research
papers when used selectively. Quote
only words, phrases, lines, and passages
that are particularly interesting,vivid,
unusual, or apt, and keep all quotations
as brief as possible. Overquotation can
bore your readers and might lead them
to conclude that you are neither an
original thinker nor a skillful writer
- In prose and verse, French capitalization is
the same as English except that the
following terms are not capitalized in
French unless they begin sentences or,
sometimes, lines of verse: (1) the subject
pronoun je 'I,' (2) the names of months and
days of the week, (3) the names of
languages, (4) adjectives derived from
proper nouns, (5) titles preceding personal
names, and (6) the words meaning "street,"
"square," "lake," "mountain," and so on, in
most place-names.
7. QUOTATIONS 8. Capitalization
(MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers #)
10. A Manual of the Mechanics of Writing
● Raymond Woodbury Pence's "A Manual of the Mechanics of Writing" emphasizes
the importance of clarity and correctness in writing.
● The text advocates for teaching grammar and writing mechanics, starting from
elementary school, to foster an understanding of human interdependence and
cooperation.
● It critiques the glorification and justification of war, aligning with Kant's
philosophy that opposes violence.
● The review suggests that the philosophy taught to future generations will
influence the occurrence of war.
● Pence's manual provides numerous guidelines for correct writing, including rules
for capitalization, hyphenation, and exceptions to spelling and punctuation
norms. (Pence)
11. The Mechanics Accuracy of Students’ Writing
● According Lilik Yuliawati,
● Writing serves as a crucial tool for communication, with studies underscoring
the importance of clarity and conciseness in conveying ideas effectively.
● Poor writing can result in confusion and negative perceptions among readers,
highlighting the necessity of mastering writing skills for success, particularly in
academic environments where written tasks are prevalent.
● Mechanics accuracy, encompassing spelling, punctuation, and grammar, plays a
pivotal role in ensuring the clear transmission of intended messages.
● Despite its significance, students often struggle with technical errors such as
punctuation and spelling, which can diminish the quality of their writing. (Yuliawati)
12. Teaching the Mechanics of Writing Systematically
● William McColly proposes a systematic approach to teaching writing
mechanics, emphasizing the need for effective and efficient methods.
● He advocates for individualized instruction, noting that group instruction
often leads to wasteful use of time for students who may already grasp
certain concepts.
● McColly's method involves students maintaining a "theme file" with returned
themes and an "error ledger" where they record errors and corrections.
● This approach fosters self-directed learning, allows students to work at their
own pace, avoids public embarrassment, and promotes meaningful
engagement with the material, leading to self-reinforcement of progress.
(McColly)
13. “Correctness” in writing: Jennifer Haytock
● College writing is primarily judged on ideas, evidence, and arguments rather than
grammatical correctness, but adherence to formal writing rules promotes clarity and
precision.
● Mastery of formal writing rules is achievable through practice and feedback, allowing
students to present themselves well in academic settings.
● Three categories of rules in formal writing include basic English rules, standard written
English conventions, and invented rules, with the latter being less important and
sometimes unnecessary.(Haytock)
● Some invented rules, such as not splitting infinitives or ending sentences with
prepositions, are widely ignored by professional writers and do not significantly impact
clarity or effectiveness.
● While starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions is often discouraged, it can
enhance clarity and flow, though adherence to this rule may vary among
instructors.(Haytock)
14. Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the mechanics of writing is
essential for effective communication. By understanding
grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style, writers can
convey their ideas clearly and professionally. Attention to
detail in these areas enhances readability and credibility,
ensuring that the intended message resonates with the
audience. Continual practice and refinement of writing
mechanics lead to stronger, more impactful compositions,
enabling writers to effectively connect with readers across
various mediums and genres.
15. References
● Haytock, Jennifer. “Getting the Mechanics Right – Writing in College.” Milne
Publishing, https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/writing-in-college-from-
competence-to-excellence/chapter/getting-the-mechanics-right/. Accessed
2 April 2024.
● McColly, William. “Teaching the Mechanics of Writing Systematically.” JSTOR,
9 November 2017, https://www.jstor.org/stable/30181855. Accessed 2 April
2024.
● “Mechanics and Punctuation | Science Writing Resources (new).” Science
Writing Resources, https://scwrl.ubc.ca/stem-writing-resources/stem-
writing-tips/mechanics-and-punctuation/. Accessed 3 April 2024.
16. ● “Mechanics of Writing.” University of Minnesota, 9 November 2017,
https://writingthatworks.carlsonschool.umn.edu/resources/mechanics-writing.
Accessed 3 April 2024.
● MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Modern Language Association of
America, 2009. Accessed 3 April 2024.
● Pence, Raymond Woodbury. “"A Manual of the Mechanics of Writing."” The
Journal of Education,, Sage Publications, Inc., 9 November 2017, https://jstor-
mkbu.refread.com/stable/42831333?searchText=The+Mechanics+of+Writing&sear
chUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DThe%2BMechanics%2Bof%2BWr
iting%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fas
tly-default%3Ae3414c93b66f669. Accessed 2 April 2024.
● Yuliawati, Lilik. “The Mechanics Accuracy of Students' Writing | Yuliawati | English
Teaching Journal : A Journal of English Literature, Language and Education.” E-
Journal Universitas PGRI Madiun, http://e-
journal.unipma.ac.id/index.php/ETJ/article/view/8890. Accessed 2 April 2024.