The Error Notebook

The Error Notebook

The Error Notebook is just a four column notebook: the first column displays an error you commonly make (spelling, grammatical, usage, documentation, etc.), the second column describes the error or explains why you make that error or the situation in which you usually make the error, the third column displays the correct form, and the fourth column notes the subsection in the Hacker Pocket Style Manual which discusses this error..

Here's an example, with two entries:

Error Reason Correction PSM Reference

Using "effect" instead of "affect" for the verb "to influence" Easy to mix these two up, and the noun forms are different. Effect as a verb means to bring about; effect as a noun means a result; affect as a verb means to influence. The use of computers in the classroom has affected the quality of learning. 232

"Another reason for using computers are all the information that is available on the Net." Subject-verb agreement. The subject is singular (reason), but the verb (are) is plural. I think the word "computers" confused me. "Another reason for using computers is all the information that is available on the Net." 21

When you get rough and final drafts back, I'll be underlining grammatical, spelling, or citation errors and putting a check in the margin. It's up to you to figure out what's wrong, but I'll be happy to tell you what the problem is. You'll have to use your handbook to understand the error and how to fix it.

If you don't have very many surface errors in your papers, then you should discuss global issues that surfaced in your drafts. These would include elements like organization, transitions, citation, integration of quotes, thesis sentences, etc. As you identify and discuss any of these "global issues", quote from our handbook, and cite the page number (a Works Cited section at the end of this document is not needed). You certainly can discuss more than one paper. You may also discuss your composing process, and how writing this semester (for this course or others) has changed or "tested" the composing process you developed in high school.

Points: 50

4 Pages Total

Error	Reason	Correction	PSM Reference
Using "effect" instead of "affect" for the verb "to influence"	Easy to mix these two up, and the noun forms are different. Effect as a verb means to bring about; effect as a noun means a result; affect as a verb means to influence.	The use of computers in the classroom has affected the quality of learning.	232
"Another reason for using computers are all the information that is available on the Net."	Subject-verb agreement. The subject is singular (reason), but the verb (are) is plural. I think the word "computers" confused me.	"Another reason for using computers is all the information that is available on the Net."	21