Local Revision: Tense Usage

In this post, I will organize the verbs used in my essay in three different columns: past, present, and future.

Hiking Artist, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" 26 July 2012. Creative Commons.

Verb List 

Past:

Documented

Approved

Instructed

Leaked

Filed 

Died

Prescribed

Led

Been 

Went

Told

Needed

Gotten (2x)

Witnessed

Proven

Given

Made

Done
Found

Framed

Present:

Prove

Argue(4x)

Believe(4x)

Make

Reviewing

Consider

Affect

Produce

Try

Get (3x)

Induce

Continues

Answer
Expand
Boost
Prescribe
Become(2x)
Supporting
Points
Allows
Sue
Leaving
Know
Function
Watching
Neglecting
Diagnose
Blame
Stop
Being
Fearing
Ask
Find
Misuse
Force
Requires
Use
Escape(2x)
Agree
Disagree
Enforce
Feel
Halt

Future:
"Will" Cover

The present tense verbs are most prevalent in my essay because the topic that the essay focuses on is a present day controversy. This allows the reader to feel closer to the events that are occurring, almost like the events are essentially happening as the reader makes his or her way through the essay.

The switch between mostly past and present tense verbs flows because the present tense verbs are making the points of the major stakeholders, whereas the past tense verbs are used to support those claims by presenting past actions or events.