1. 6 Tips to Improve Your Writing What’s the difference between narrative writing and research writing?

2. 1.Take Yourself and the Reader Out of the Paper -Avoid Personal pronouns: I, Me, My, Mine, You, Your

3. 2. Avoid Contractions -Contractions are informal and should all be extended to the full word pair -Can’t = cannot -Doesn’t = does not

4. 3. Avoid “There is” and “There Are” Avoid: There are many issues students face in middle school. Change to: Students face many issues in middle school.

5. 4. Avoid: “Really,” “Very,” “A lot,” “So” These phrases are informal. Try better words, or take them out and see what happens.

6. 5. Passive vs. Active Voice Passive voice involves helping verbs: Helping verbs include: am, are, is, was, were, has, have, had, be, being, been, do, does, did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, could Passive: The war was won by the Union. >The subject of the sentence receives the action (passive). Active: The Union won the war. >The subject of the sentence DOES the action (active) When making declarative sentences, AVOID Passive, ATTEMPT Active.

7. 6. Use Strong Verbs Weak: He gave assistance to Mark. Strong: He assisted Mark. Weak: The defense made an objection. Strong: The defense objected the motion.

8. Works Cited "5 Tips to Improve Your Writing." EngVid.com: Free English Video Lessons. EngVid, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2014..http://www.engvid.com/5-tips-to-improve- your-writing/