Interactive Rubric for Written Communication: 5.3. Tense

This guide will help you understand common conventions of academic writing and the application of marking rubrics

STYLE

 

Definition (formal)

Tense refers to the use of verbs in writing to indicate when something happened (e.g., in the past, present or future).

Definition (informal)

Tense: When did it/is it/will it happen/ing?

Example

For example, the Persuasive Essay Example ends with a sentence correctly written in present tense  because it refers to a general abstract situation rather than a specific event that has already happened to a particular teacher.

The expert teacher moves beyond merely theoretical either/or binary oppositions (i.e., nature or nurture) to a more sophisticated and contextualised approach to teaching and learning in the context of schooling.

It could be incorrectly written with mixed tenses as:

The expert teacher moved beyond merely theoretical either/or binary oppositions (i.e., nature or nurture) to a more sophisticated and contextualised approach to teaching and learning in the context of schooling.

Resources (textbook)

Refer to the textbook pages and sections to improve your knowledge and understanding of the criterion.

Resources (web)

Click on the links to access online resources to improve your knowledge and understanding of the criterion.

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