作文を書くときに　When you write a composition in Japanese･･･

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■「作文」を出す前に、いつもこれを見て直して下さい。 　

• Please CHECK the following things (#1~5) before you hand your composition to me. 　　
• Use a Grammar Book to check if you use an appropriate form with a certain expressions, if you don't keep your text books.

■ I recommend the following books: They should be in the Ladd library.

1. A Dictionary Of Basic Japanese Grammar (Makino & Tsutsui, The Japan Times) \2,890 ? 　
2. A Dictionary Of Intermediate Japanese Grammar (Makino & Tsutsui, The Japan Times)\ 3,811?

■ Use the dictionary through the web site.

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I. Topic interesting to the readers?

II. Structure 　

1. Don't forget the title (when it is necessary). 　
2. introduction 起 (theme) --contents 承転 (task/function/supporting details)--conclusion 結

III. Sentence style

1) use the same, ONE-speech style

1. です／ます体: personal letters, speech, debate 　　
2. だ体 used for essay, newspaper, journal 　　
3. である体 used for essay, newspaper, journal

**Be careful on the following construction for both だ体 and である体. You also need to know about the usage of 〜んだ / 〜の だ.

1. verb plain form。or -- + のである。
2. い adj. plain form。 or -- + のである。
3. な adj. + なのである。/ noun + なのである。　　　　

2) Know the difference between the written words or expressions vs. the spoken words or expressions such as 〜ではない (written) vs.〜じゃない (spoken)、~のだ vs. んだ、やはり vs. やっぱり.

3) Honorific and Humble forms

IV. Characters（漢字、ひらがな、カタカナ） 　

1. spelling -- check with a reference book. 　
2. Writing foreign words in KATAKANA -- Just try. 　
3. Kanji & Okurigana (漢字と おくりがな: i.e.止まる vs. 止る --in this case, both are correct.)
4. Use Kanji used as prefix & suffix.

V. Grammar 　

1. subject - verb/predicate agreement including tense. --If you translate your JPN sentences into English, you may notice your mistakes. 　
2. Particles (or relationals): Check a particle for a topic, a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, a place to go, a place where an action occurs, a means, a modification (Noun, especially), indirect expression, and so on. Also, check particles used in potential, passive, causative, and passive-causative forms as well as (Vて+) giving/ receiving forms. 　
3. Look up transitive はじめる／あける　and intransitive はじまる／あく verbs. 　
4. Basic conjugation such as the plain forms, masu-form, te-form, ba-form, vol. form 　
5. Look up a chart for conjugation including forms such as potential, passive, causative, causative-passive, honorific & humble. When you use these forms, check the particles. 　
6. Usage of i-adjectives. 　
7. Usage of Na-adjectives and Nouns. 　
8. Usage of basic adverbs. 　
9. Usage of basic conjunctions.

VI. Expressions/ Words / Sentences 　

1. Punctuation: use "maru" at the end of a sentence, and "ten" for a "pause." 　
2. Redundant: avoid writing similar sentences repeatedly 　
3. Use modification appropriately including "all kinds plain forms" to modify a noun and an "adverb" to modify adjectives, verbs, & another adverb. Put words and expressions in a right place. 　
4. Know English translation is not always equal to Japanese sentences. You should know about the function when a certain Japanese expression is used. 　
5. Use an appropriate conjunctive expression with a correct grammatical form and/or conjunction. 　
6. Choice of a correct word (from the list in a dictionary)--it might be difficult for some of you.
7. Use the following sites.
   1. Usage of particles
   2. Conjunctions
   3. Conjugations
   4. Summary of Basic Grammar