Unit 2 Week 3 Surface Editing Activity: Verb Tense Check

Unit 2 Wk 3 Surface Editing Activity Verb Tense Check Initial Post

Using verb tenses appropriately in an essay about literature can be especially tricky, requiring the writer to carefully distinguish between proper uses of the present and past tenses. Yes, this process is tedious. However, it is also a sure way to catch verb errors. As you become more practiced in writing, you may become better at choosing the appropriate verb during the drafting process though we should always take this extra step to proofread.

When should I use the present tense? Use the present tense when discussing works of fiction (films, novels, stories, and poems). Example: Twyla and Robert remember the events surrounding Maggie differently. Discussing ideas/concepts and general truths. Example: Truth is sometimes ambiguous. Quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing an author’s ideas/argument. Example: In her critical essay, author Toni Morrison asserts that....

The past tense should be used to describe real-life events that occurred in the past. Example: Toni Morrison was born in 1931. Fictional events that took place before readers are introduced to the story. Example: Twyla's mother put her daughter in an orphanage.

Follow the steps to check verb tense: locate the last body paragraph of your essay, highlight all verbs, check each verb for tense consistency, and copy and paste the edited paragraph. Although only one paragraph needs to be uploaded for this assignment, you should eventually check all paragraphs for tense errors and unnecessary shifts.

Peer review will be assigned, where you will review a classmate's paragraph for tense errors and alert them without making corrections yourself.

Formatting your paper should follow APA guidelines: centered, bolded title in title case at the top, double-spaced content, indented paragraph beginnings, and appropriate in-text citations. Use narrative or parenthetical citations based on APA style, and include page or paragraph numbers when quoting. The conclusion should briefly summarize the paper's content without introducing new ideas, and the references should list all sources in APA format, alphabetized, with a hanging indent.

Paper For Above instruction

Proper verb tense usage is essential when writing about literature and related topics, as it ensures clarity and consistency. The distinction between present and past tense is crucial in conveying timelines accurately and maintaining an academic tone. This paper explores the appropriate contexts for the present and past tenses, provides practical steps for surface editing verb tense, and emphasizes adherence to APA formatting and citation conventions.

Understanding Verb Tense Usage

The present tense is primarily used when discussing works of fiction, general truths, or quoting and paraphrasing authors’ ideas. For example, when analyzing a novel, a writer might state, "Twyla and Robert remember the events surrounding Maggie differently," indicating an ongoing or current relevance. Similarly, when stating universally accepted facts, such as "Truth is sometimes ambiguous," the present tense underscores their timeless nature. Quoting authors like Toni Morrison involves the present tense because the text’s ideas remain relevant regardless of when they are discussed.

In contrast, the past tense is used to narrate real-life events, fictional scenarios that have already occurred within a narrative, or historical facts. For example, "Toni Morrison was born in 1931" refers to a completed event. Fictional events, such as "Twyla's mother put her daughter in an orphanage," are also appropriately described using past tense because they depict actions in a completed timeframe within the story's context. Correct tense usage helps prevent confusion and maintains a logical timeline in academic writing.

Practical Steps to Surface Edit Verb Tense

The surface editing process involves identifying and correcting verb tense errors to improve clarity and coherence in writing. First, locate the last body paragraph of your essay and highlight all verbs within it. Second, analyze each verb individually, consulting guidelines to ensure correct tense usage based on whether the context is about ongoing ideas or completed actions. Third, implement the necessary tense adjustments without changing the meaning. These steps can be repeated across all paragraphs to ensure tense consistency throughout the document.

Peer review serves as an additional layer of quality control, where classmates check each other's work for verb tense errors. During peer review, it is important to focus on tense consistency and alert the author to any errors found, such as inappropriate shifts between present and past tense. This collaborative activity enhances proofreading skills and reinforces understanding of tense rules.

Additional considerations include proper formatting according to APA guidelines. The paper should begin with a centered, bolded title in title case at the top of the page. The entire document must be double-spaced, with paragraph indentations of five spaces or 0.5 inches. Proper in-text citations should be used to credit sources, whether narrative or parenthetical. When quoting directly, include page numbers or paragraph identifiers as appropriate. The conclusion should succinctly summarize the main points without introducing new content. Lastly, the references page must alphabetize entries and employ hanging indents, listing all sources used in the paper.

Adhering to these guidelines ensures that the paper maintains a professional, clear, and consistent scholarly tone. Proper tense usage, combined with meticulous proofreading and correct formatting, enhances the overall quality of academic writing about literature and related fields.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
• Lodico, M. G., Spaulding, D. T., & Voegtle, K. H. (2010). Methods in educational research: From theory to practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Scaduto, A., Lindsay, D., & Chiaburu, D. S. (2008). Leader influences on training effectiveness: motivation and outcome expectation processes. International Journal of Training and Development, 12(3), 139-153.
• Additional scholarly sources and APA resources to support in-text citations and formatting.