Basics rules of writing well…Basics rules of writing well…

Turn to page 11 of your writing Turn to page 11 of your writing handbook, review the basic rules of handbook, review the basic rules of writing and complete the activity. writing and complete the activity.

Be prepared to discuss your Be prepared to discuss your responses. responses.

RULE Practice Sentence

Don't use no double negatives.

I don’t have no money.

Make each pronoun agree with their antecedents. (pg #)

Everyone needs to buy their own ticket.

Do not split two complete sentences with a comma, it’s called a comma splice.

I love my mother, she has always been there for me.

About them sentence fragments.

On the way to the park.

When dangling, watch your participles.

While walking to the park, the bus hit the kitten.

Verbs has got to agree with their subjects. (pg #)

She really need to get a new car.

I don’t have any money.

Every one needs to buy his or her own ticket.

I love my mother. She has always been there for me.

On the way to the park I saw a gorilla.

The bus hit the kitten while walking to the park.

She really needs to get a new car.

Don't write run-on sentences they are hard to read.

I never listen to the teacher that is why I always fail the tests I know I should listen but I don’t.

Don't use commas, which aren't necessary.

Let’s meet at the gas station, that is on the corner of 3rd and Elm.

Try to not ever split infinitives

I really want to just sit down and relax.

Its important to use your apostrophe's correctly.

Venus Williams has won 4 Wimbledon’s.

Proofread your writing to see if you any words out.

That is such a grate essay! I am so glad I proofread it before aI turned it in.

Avoid cliches like the plague.

I have always marched to the beat of a different drummer.

I always fail the test because I never listen to the teach even though I should.

Let’s meet at the gas station on the corner of 3rd and Elm.

I really want just to sit down and relax.

Venus Williams has won 4 Wimbledons.

That is such a great essay! I’m so glad I proofread it before I turned it in!

I have always followed my own path.

Correct speling is essential.

I didn’t look over my essay before I turned it in, and I am probly going to get a bad grade.

Eschew ostentatious erudition.(pg. #)

The circumstances of the calamity that has befallen me have completely intimidated my previous giddiness about this topic.

I didn’t look over my essay before I turned it in, and I am probably going to get a bad grade.

This calamity has ruined my excitement.

Word Labyrinths Revealed:Word Labyrinths Revealed:

Reducing WordinessReducing Wordiness

What is wordiness? What is wordiness?

FLUFF FLUFF

FLOWERY FLOWERY

EXCESSIVE EXCESSIVE

LONG LONG

SentencesSentences

≠≠

““SMARTER”SMARTER”

““SMARTER” writing is…SMARTER” writing is…

ClearClear

To the PointTo the Point

ConciseConcise

How do I reduce wordiness? How do I reduce wordiness?

Many ways including…Many ways including…– Making subjects and verbs stronger and Making subjects and verbs stronger and

agreeable. agreeable. – Changing passive to active voice.Changing passive to active voice.– Omitting filler phrasesOmitting filler phrases– Combine sentencesCombine sentences– Use proper punctuationUse proper punctuation– Use proper parallelismUse proper parallelism

Review: Review: Writing Handbook Page 12-14Writing Handbook Page 12-14

Linking verbLinking verb– PassivePassive– Connect the Connect the subjectsubject of the of the verbverb to additional to additional

information about the subject (see pg. 11)information about the subject (see pg. 11)

Helping verbHelping verb– PassivePassive– help the main verb in a sentence by extending help the main verb in a sentence by extending

the meaning of the verb the meaning of the verb

Action verbAction verb– Active!Active!– Show that the Show that the subjectsubject is is doingdoing something, not something, not

just existing. just existing.

Action verbs SHOW rather than Action verbs SHOW rather than TELL. TELL.

The man is a monster.The man is a monster.

Does this show or tell? Does this show or tell? – Not very vivid…in fact it’s dull. Not very vivid…in fact it’s dull. – So…change it to So…change it to actionaction to to show show he is a he is a

monster. monster.

The man ripped off the sheep’s head and ate the eyeballs with a sickening squishy crunch.

The Holy Matrimony of Verbs & The Holy Matrimony of Verbs & SubjectsSubjects

Strongest verbs SHOW rather Strongest verbs SHOW rather than_______. than_______.

Subjects are _____ and ________ Subjects are _____ and ________ that PERFORM the action of the that PERFORM the action of the verbverb

Active Voice = A+Active Voice = A+Active voice: When the subject Active voice: When the subject performs the actionperforms the actionPassive voice: When the action is Passive voice: When the action is performed on the subject. In other performed on the subject. In other words, you’ve made the object into words, you’ve made the object into the subject. the subject. – Weak: The truckWeak: The truck was loaded with was loaded with

crates of bananas by the workers. crates of bananas by the workers. – Better: Better: The workers loaded the truck The workers loaded the truck

with crates of bananas.with crates of bananas.

Passive voice is NOT Passive voice is NOT Grammatically incorrect!Grammatically incorrect!

It’s a It’s a stylestyle issue. Active voice issue. Active voice makes the writing more concise makes the writing more concise and thus more enjoyable for the and thus more enjoyable for the

reader. reader.

Subject (Noun/Pronoun) & Verb Subject (Noun/Pronoun) & Verb AgreementAgreement

A SUBJECT is either ________ (one) or A SUBJECT is either ________ (one) or ______ (many) ______ (many)

The VERB must always AGREE The VERB must always AGREE (change form to match) with the (change form to match) with the SUBJECTSUBJECT

SINGLE subject = ________ verb; SINGLE subject = ________ verb; PLURAL subject = ________ verbPLURAL subject = ________ verb

Avoid these phrases when Avoid these phrases when possible!possible!

Common Filler Phrases

It is There is There are This This means that

This is impt. b/c That Which

Given the fact that Would Could Should

It seems that Prepositions like of, by, from

Intensifiers: very, extremely,

Combining sentencesCombining sentences

Use a colon for explanatory sentences rather than introducing it a second time in a second sentenceCombine closely related short sentences with semi-colons or conjunctions

Wordy Concise

The theater has three main technical areas. These areas are costumes, scenery, and lighting.

The theater has three main technical areas: costumes, scenery, and lighting.

The director is concerned about problems. Typical problems may occur with lighting, sound, and props.

The director is concerned about typical problems with lighting, sound, and props.

Remember when combining to Remember when combining to have correct parallel structure…have correct parallel structure…

Turn to page 22 of your writing Turn to page 22 of your writing handbookhandbook

Correct ParallelismCorrect Parallelism

1.1. Our forty second president, William Our forty second president, William Jefferson Clinton, is a complex man Jefferson Clinton, is a complex man who demonstrates great authority who demonstrates great authority and is organized as a leader, but his and is organized as a leader, but his disrespect for the feminine disrespect for the feminine population and being arrogant are population and being arrogant are unorthodox qualities at best and unorthodox qualities at best and personal vices at worst. personal vices at worst.

arrogance

CorrectedCorrected

Our forty second president, William Our forty second president, William Jefferson Clinton, is a complex man Jefferson Clinton, is a complex man who demonstrates great authority who demonstrates great authority and is organized as a leader, but his and is organized as a leader, but his disrespect for the feminine disrespect for the feminine population and population and arrogancearrogance are are unorthodox qualities at best and unorthodox qualities at best and personal vices at worst.personal vices at worst.

Page 20 of your Page 20 of your Writing HandbookWriting Handbook

1.1. The first person that I met at the The first person that I met at the party was Cindy. Cindy was a party was Cindy. Cindy was a blonde who had bright green eyes. blonde who had bright green eyes.

Combine sentences… Ask yourself what has been repeated here? How can I take out unnecessary words and phrases? Is it an active or passive sentence? If it is passive, can I make it active?

II metmet CindyCindy, a blonde with bright green eyes,, a blonde with bright green eyes, at the partyat the party first.first.

2. The woman who was keeping 2. The woman who was keeping score made a mistake. score made a mistake.

Combine sentences… Ask yourself what has been repeated here? How can I take out unnecessary words and phrases? Is it an active or passive sentence? If it is passive, can I make it active?

The woman scorekeeper made a The woman scorekeeper made a mistake. mistake.

The scorekeeper made a mistake. The scorekeeper made a mistake.

Your turn…Your turn…

Finish the rest of page 20. Take Finish the rest of page 20. Take your time in reducing the your time in reducing the

wordiness of each sentence. They wordiness of each sentence. They are all common mistakes. are all common mistakes.

Exit TicketExit Ticket

Choose one of the sentences on your Choose one of the sentences on your worksheet.worksheet.

Write the number at the top of the Write the number at the top of the small papersmall paper

Write your corrected versionWrite your corrected version

Put your name on the exit ticket and Put your name on the exit ticket and turn it in before you leave today. turn it in before you leave today.