First changes in mindset for a good writing

I used to force myself to use advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures. I searched for many synonyms and tried to replace similar words with them regardless of their inappropriate situation. In many cases, my writing ideas become off-topic due to my careless word choice. I learned the word “the native”. I used it in every sentence when I want to write about local people who grow up in the United States and speak their nation’s language, English. Nonetheless, when I took my Eng 110 class and had my professor (prof. Lynn Ishikawa) commented on my word choice in my writing. I recognized that “the native” means the first people to live in the area who do not speak English; however, the native speakers who I want to write about are English speakers.       

                                      

Besides the misunderstanding of vocabulary, I also took advantage of many complicated sentence structures such as compound sentences and relative clauses. I utilized linking words ( and, but, so, etc.) and relative pronouns ( which, when, where, etc.) to make my sentences longer, more complicated, and more advanced. After 2 months of getting familiar with the American style via American documents suggested by my First-year seminar professor (prof. Deborah Geis), I noticed that every sentence native authors would like is short and brief. 

Moreover, making a brief sentence does not mean that you separate a perfect compound sentence into small short sentences while they all point out the same idea. Actually, that was what I thought when I heard my writing professor's advice. I learned the fact that sentences guide readers to the main point of the essay; however, to a certain extent, each of the sentences has a logic value that supports each other, not equally describing exactly what nearby sentences.