1. Grammar and format of the research paper
8th Lecture

2. Outline
- Grammar and writing
- Format of the research paper

3. Importance of grammar in your research paper
Grammar in academic writing should be paid special attention
It determines the structure of your research
It maintains the level of required accuracy in such informative texts

4. Common grammatical issues
1-Absence of subject/verb agreement:
Singular pronouns (e.g it) are usually mixed with plurals (e.g it help other scientists…)

5. 2-Misuse of key common verbs in academic writing:
Affect: verb form (affect) | Technology affects our lives. Noun form (effect)|Technology has an effect on our lives.
Impact: verb form (impact)|Technology impacts our lives. Noun form (an impact)|Technology has an impact on our lives.
Affect (something) | Has an effect (on something)
Impact (something) | Has an impact (on something)

6. 3-Lack of verbs consistency:
Verbs used in a sentence should be consistent.
For example: Linguists tend to consider genetic roots of an issue and analyse them later.
Senior writers are inspiring and motivating beginners.

7. 4- Structural ambiguity:
Structure on the word/sentence/paragraph level should be considered.
Using words that are extremely complex to impress the reader/examiner does not really work.
Academic writing means clear words used to form a straightforward sentence written wisely in a paragraph.

8. Sentence structure: Sentences in an essay/research paper should be formed well with a clear beginning and end.
The length of sentences should be balanced. In other words, do not write extremely long sentences followed by very short ones.
A typical paragraph usually includes 5 sentences.

9. Punctuation marks
Punctuation marks are key determiners of the meaning and message expressed in the text.
Misusing punctuation marks will result in an unclear text which may not function as planned or expected.

10. Common issues:
Leaving unnecessary spaces between the punctuation mark and the word it follows or between a word and another (more than 1 letter space)
Using commas instead of dots
Linking unrelated long sentences with a comma instead of splitting them into shorter sentences
Unnecessary capitalisation of regular words in the middle of the sentence.

11. Common mistakes in theses statements
Using too general or too vague statements
The thesis statement does not reflect the main focus/argument of the essay
Splitting the sentence by unnecessary comma:
e.g. This essay will argue that, undergraduates should not take extra language classes

12. Common mistakes in the plan
The plan sometimes does not reflect the essay (parts of the plan are missing in the essay)
It includes very long sentences instead of short key words/ phrases

13. Plagiarism issues
A paragraph/ sentence is sometimes copied from another source and pasted in the text with no citation which is considered plagiarism
Articles are sometimes copied/pasted in full to the essay with no form of citation which is an academic crime!

14. Paper format
Margins:
1 inch from all sides of the page (top- bottom- right- left)
The first word in a paragraph should be indented

15. Font:
It should be a standard one (Arial or Times New Roman)
Size: 12
Space between lines: Double

16. A cover/ title page is not needed
Write (your name, your instructor's name, name and code of the course and date finished) on the top left of the first page
Place your title in the middle (capitalize key words.
e.g. The Use of the Words Fair and Foul in Shakespeare's Macbeth )

18. Page numbers:
Insert page numbers on the top right of pages