3.2 The Ancient Art of Correcting Sentence Structure
Advanced Criticizing Techniques
When faced with a grammatically-challenged sentence, the critic's eyes must be like a hawk, swooping in to correct the error with precision and finesse. But what happens when the sentence is as tangled as a plate of spaghetti?
Step 1: Identify the Offense
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Error
“The big red house on the corner was a beautiful house.-
Cliche
“The big red house on the corner of the street was a beautiful house.
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Cliche
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Error
“Me and my friend went to the store and bought some milk.-
Subject-verb Agreement
“My friend and I went to the store and bought some milk.
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Subject-verb Agreement
Step 2: Correct the Offense
- Replace the offending word with a more correct alternative.
- Rephrase the sentence for maximum clarity.
Step 3: Provide Constructive Feedback
When giving feedback, be sure to explain why the original sentence was incorrect, and provide an example of a corrected sentence.
- Use a kind tone, but firm.
- Provide additional resources for improvement.
Conclusion
By mastering the ancient art of correcting sentence structure, even the most novice critic can become a master of the craft.