THE FIVE-STEP PROCESS FOR IMPROVING GRAMMAR, USAGE, MECHANICS

THE FIVE-STEP PROCESS FOR IMPROVING GRAMMAR, USAGE, MECHANICS

A. The purpose of the following Five-Step Process is to have you demonstrate recognition and
understanding of an acceptable norm of grammar, usage, or mechanics (GUM) in an area that
needs strengthening or changing in a report that you have written. Such deviations from the
norm distract, slow down, or confuse the reader of your report.
B. Places where you can improve are underlined on your report with a code number and letter.
The source for finding the code number and letter along with an explanation and a few
examples of the norm is The Little Brown Handbook, ninth edition.
C. Your GUM response should be made using the following four or five steps.
1. Type the sentence from your report in which some part has been underlined.
For example: The payload for the test and the rocket are 25,000 gallons of water.
2. Write the number and letter and a brief description of the referral indicated in your report.
For example: 15a. Make the verb agree with its subject.
3. Write your understanding of what needs to be done.
For example: I need to change the verb “are” to “is” in order for it to agree with its
singular subject, “payload”.
4. Write your revision.
For example: The payload for the test and the rocket is 25,000 gallons of water.
5. Write the following sentence if you have more than one error for the same rule for which
points were subtracted. “Points were subtracted for this error (fill in the appropriate
number) more times.”
For example: Points were subtracted for this error four more times.
D. Your response on the GUM correction paper that you submit should look like the following:
1. Jubilation was felt by all but more poignantly by those who had worked hard to achieve
their goal.
2. 14j. Prefer active verbs.
3. I need to change “jubilation was felt” to the active voice.
4. Everyone was jubilant, especially those who worked hard to achieve their goal.
5. Points were subtracted for this error two more times.
E. The fifth statement of the GUM correction is included only if additional errors are made for
the same rule, and additional points are subtracted for the errors. Once again, use statement
five only if you make the same mistake again, and points are subtracted for it. Make sure not
to count the initial correction as one of your additional ones.
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F. Another special circumstance exists if you have two errors in a sentence and have already
corrected one of the errors of that sentence. In order to maintain the points you have been
given for the first correction, that correction must appear in the sentence that is rewritten to
correct the second error. If the original error is once again made for the first error in the
sentence correcting the second error, the two points will not be awarded for the first
correction.
G. The Grammar, Usage, Mechanics (GUM) score for each report accounts for 50 points. For
each error, two points are subtracted.
H. Your written response to the Five-Step Process is optional. If you do the Five-Step Process
for a given report, your GUM grade will revert to a total of the original score plus the points
for the GUM response. If you choose not to respond with the GUM, your initial grade will
stand.
I. Please note that any written GUM response is due at the same time that you hand in a lab
report a week later, i.e. #1 response when you hand in #3 report, #2 response when you hand
in #4 report, etc. Be sure to put your name on your response sheet. Also, be sure to submit
the original lab report attached to each Five-Step GUM response.
J. GUMs are not done on the last lab report.
K. We have had students using both the eighth edition and the ninth edition of the grammar text.
While the rules are the same, the numbering and lettering is different for some rules. Below
is a chart which hopefully eliminates the confusion that occurred last semester with what rule
is indicated when a mistake is made.

40 becomes 42 (the whole section changes)
41 becomes 43 (the whole section changes)
Section 38 requires more explanation!
Section 38A remains as section 38. The listing under the heading continues in the same
order in both books. For example, 38a1 becomes 38a, 38a2 becomes 38b, and so on.
Section 38B becomes section 39. The listing is, once again, in the same order. The old
#1 becomes “a”, 2 becomes “b” and so forth.
Section 38C becomes section 40. The listing under it is in the same order. For example,
if the error is 38c5, it becomes 40 e.
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I hope this conversion chart will help if you are using the eighth edition. Since everyone
has not changed from the old edition, I want to try to accommodate everyone. Thanks for
your cooperation with this.
L. Some students are also using the third edition of The Everyday Writer. The following is a
conversion chart for students using that book:
The Little Brown Handbook, 9th ed. The Everyday Writer, 3rd ed.

22 21 D (missing words)
28 42 (commas)