Error Analysis in English

LANGUAGE AREA

This deals with specific problems such as prepositions or word order

1.	Choose the area that is giving you problems

2.	Decide between the interactive or print-out exercise

Are you always making the same miserable mistakes and you don't know why? There is a reason: your mother tongue. But don't worry. It happens to everyone. Find your bad areas and erradicate those irritating errors "forever!"

COMPOSITION TITLES

These are preparation exercises for writing your own compositions.

1.	Choose a title most similar to the one you have to write

2.	Print out both the exercise and the answers

By studying these errors you will be able to (1)avoid the typical mistakes everybody makes, associated with a topic area, and (2)learn how to express yourself in beautiful English in many different contexts.

A Note on Lazy Stupid Students

There are three main reasons why ESL student compostions are so very, very, very bad. Take note.

1.	DIRECT TRANSLATION
	This student is so stupid that he or she doesn't realize that he or she is writing in another language which is not his or her mother tongue. UNBELIEVABLE! And the results are always terrible beyond conception. In fact, I refuse to correct such work. You can't write with the same eloquence in a learned language as in your mother tongue. SO WHAT DO YOU DO, THEN? -EASY. Two things: (1)SIMPLIFY YOUR IDEAS; (2)ONLY USE STRUCTURES YOU HAVE STUDIED IN YOUR COURSE BOOK.
2.	MIXING UP YOUR VERB TENSES
	This is just pure laziness. Wake up and don't be so stupid! Here is a typical example.
	I went to Peter's house and play computer games.
	So bad, so bad. CHECK YOUR WORK after you've written it and you won't make these rubbish mistakes. CHECK YOUR WORK.
3.	BORING AND ILLOGICAL
	These compositions always come from our most brilliant companions. They are so inspired that they can begin writing immediately and finish as quickly as possible. However, your results are very similar to those dark green circles left on the ground by passing cows. Your poor half-crazy teacher finds him/herself immersed in this.
	SOLUTIONS
	1)MAKE A PLAN IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE on another piece of paper. Think about the beginning, the middle and the conclusion to your little story. WARNING! Don't translate any of these ideas. Always disastrous. NEXT: simplify these ideas and find vocabulary and English structures to express your story. NEXT: split your story into paragraphs e.g. a 120 word composition should have three paragraphs, 40 words each. This means that each paragraph will contain between 4-6 sentences and 4-8 different ideas. Before you start, ELIMINATE ALL COMPLICATED IDEAS.
	2) USE CONNECTORS OR LINKING WORDS. e.g. don't write "...day. But..."
	Write "...day. However, ...". Connectors are fantastic little words because they force a feeling of a logical progression of ideas into your work and help you avoid surrealistic rubbish. USE THEM. If you don't know what they are, find out immediately.