Editing for Writers of English as a Second Language

1
Editing for Writers of English as a Second
Language

• presented by
• Judith M. Davis, Director
• Writing Technology Laboratory
• 24 March 2003

2
Understand how L1 knowledge may affect L2 usage

• organization
• plagiarism
• word use/idioms
• grammar, style, and mechanics

3
Organization (adapted from Robert B. Kaplan,
Cultural Thought Patterns in Intercultural
Education, Language Learning 1615)

• English
• Oriental
• Russian

• Semitic
• Romance

4
Organization

• Recognize American English discourse style
• Review terms like thesis, topic sentence,
  paragraph
• Use outlining to plan and organize

5
Plagiarism

• Understand that plagiarism and intellectual
  property are culturally bound ideas
• Understand expectations for American academic
  prose and requirements for documentation
• Acceptable paraphrase must change both syntax and
  word choice
• All words and ideas that are not common knowledge
  must be documented
• Visit Research and Documentation Online
  http//www.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc

6
Word Use/Idioms

• Understand that many English expressions are
  idiomatic
• Use an English dictionary for phrasal verb
  complements
• Use an ESL dictionary use for expanded
  definitions and usage tips
• Visit http//dictionary.cambridge.org/ for links
  to many dictionaries, including ESL references

7
Grammar, Style, and Mechanics

• Identify the causes of error
• competence (need to learn the rule)
• basic grammar knowledge
• language acquisition
• performance (need to apply the rule)
• lack of editing awareness/skill
• cognitive stretch
• L1?L2 interference
• misapplication of rules

8
Use 3-Step Editing

• Read aloud
• Read for trouble
• Read backwards

9
Grammar, Style, and Mechanics

• Anticipate typical ESL troublespots
• verbs
• agreement
• tense
• modal base verbs
• gerunds vs. infinitives
• articles
• count vs. non-count nouns
• definite vs. indefinite uses

10
Grammar, Style, and Mechanics

• Anticipate typical ESL troublespots
• modifiers
• adjectives vs. nouns
• adverb placement
• participles as adjectives (e.g., confused vs.
  confusing)
• prepositions
• time and place
• phrasal verb complements