Writing Tricks for College Essays and beyond

What are the characteristics of coherent texts? How can you recognise them and use them to improve your writing? Find out in today's episode.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you en...

Before we move any further into how to write a very good, decent paragraph, we need to consider two absolutely essential concepts: coherence and cohesion. They are transversal to all kinds of writing, and communication at large even. Any reader — examiners included — will notice immediately if any of this two aspects are missing. They might not be able to pinpoint what it is that is wrong with you...

Do you know how to identify a faulty topic sentence? Would you know how to fix it? Can you do it so that the rest of your related ideas flow naturally? Find out in today's episode.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things...

What is the secret to the perfect topic sentence? Do you know how to build a topic sentence that is interesting, not too narrow, not too broad, and that is not a chunk? Find out all the yummy tricks of the trade in today's episode...   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not...

What is a paragraph? What are the main "ingredients" of a successful one? How can you control its structure? Do you know when to start a paragraph and when to finish it? Find out in today's episode.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you...

Can you identify sentence structures by understanding their underlying syntax? In this episode, we we'll have some guided practice so that you can become confident at deducing architectural features in sentences.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that...

What are compound-complex sentences? How can you identify them? What are their main ingredients and characteristics? Find out all about them in this episode.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspe...

In this episode, we are going to practice sentence formation. Starting from two independent clauses, we are going to create their corresponding compound and complex sentences at the same time. This way, we are going to go deep into the relationship between syntax, punctuation and meaning in English.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that...

Find out how to convert compound sentences into complex ones. Follow these guided exercises and learn how to translate coordinating conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs into their corresponding subordinating adverbs. Semantically, let's change a relationship of independent equals into a relationship of inescapable dependency.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening t...

Let's review how to create complex sentences so that we can start converting compound sentences into complex ones.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it, you might conside...

What do English teachers mean when they say that you should create complex sentences? How can we visualize them? In this episode, we will define them, give you tips so that you can identify and create them, and drill their corresponding punctuation.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing...

Are the following sentences simple sentences or compound sentences? How can you even tell? Listen to this episode to find out the answer and to start the journey from meaning to structure in English.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you...

Get some practice into creating compound sentences. In this episode, we will have a semi-guided exercise in which you will be able to blend syntax, punctuation and meaning in English.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at thin...

Practise how to blend two ideas into a compound sentence. Link them with coordinating conjunctions, semicolons, and conjunctive adverbs.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed...

Find out how to link two independent clauses with conjunctive adverbs or adverbials.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it, you might consider leaving a positive review wh...

Find out about the second way in which you can use a semicolon: in complicated lists, in order to create internal order and taxonomy.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know,  or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it...

Is there a way in which we can link to independent sentences, but without explicitly explaining what the connection is between them? Visualize the union between two independent clauses as a marriage of equals. Can we find the equivalent of a "wedding ring" indicating as that there is a marriage, but without explaining what the marriage is about? There sure is a way: meet the semicolon!   THAN...

Do we always need to add a comma before the coordinating conjunctions of the FANBOYS? Find out in this episode. We will also explore what a phrase is, what a clause is, as well as introducing compound subjects, compound verbs, and compound objects.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing t...

How to link two independent clauses or sentences into a compound sentence using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). From a semantic point of view, this would be the equivalent of having a marriage of two strong, independent people. Individually, they can survive, but together, they're stronger. Coupling sentences in this way —using a comma plus a fanboy— is the equivalent of getting...

In this episode, we will talk about "the colon". This is a very interesting piece of punctuation that can allow us to expand on ideas, to create lists, and to alter sentence structure for impact. Listen to this episode, pay attention to the syntax involved, and I hope that you can make your writing far more interesting from now on!   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for liste...

Do all sentences need to follow the structure subject + verb + object, or can we design more exciting ways to express thoughts? Find out in today's episode, in which we will combine syntax and punctuation to create meaning. OUTLINE:  1. Reviewing previous episodes 2. How to begin a sentence following the standard sentence structure (subject + verb+ object) 3. How to begin with an adverbial cl...

Commas and disjuncts. What are they? How should you go about them? OUTLINE:  1. Introduction (reviewing previous episodes): Forcing non-essential information and clauses into a sentence requires commas 2. How to punctuate personal opinions - What are disjuncts? - Some examples of disjuncts - What are conjuncts, adjuncts and disjuncts? - How to identify disjuncts: Sarah, unfortunately, has to...

Using the comma to add extra, non-essential information to sentences. OUTLINE:  1. Introduction: Reviewing previous episodes 2. How to use commas as a means to include non-essential, additional info: non-defining relative clauses - My neighbour, who is from France, is an idiot. 3. Why we should not use commas with defining relative clauses - My neighbour who is from France is an idiot. KEYWOR...

Other comma uses: from places to time, from adjectives to lists, from extra info to the Oxford comma, and everything in between... OUTLINE: 1. How to use commas to separate a city and its state  2. How to pile up prepositional phrases of place 3. How to use commas with dates: American and British systems to write dates  4. How and when to use commas with coordinating adjectives 5. How to...

 What will happen if I want to begin my sentence with a negative adverbial? Would it be enough with a comma, or is there a higher price to pay? Jump right into the fascinating world of negative inversions...    OUTLINE: 1. Introduction: A review of the previous episode; it is OK ro move an adverbial to the beginning of the sentence as long as I promise to give you a comma. 2. W...