Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Simple careful reading.
Reviewing every word, sentence, and paragraph to find errors.
Use of proofreading symbols.
10
Proofreading symbols
11
Spelling
Correct spelling gives your work credibility.
You should have a dictionary handy to confirm that you have correctly
spelled all unfamiliar words.
Grammar
Use a reliable grammar handbook.
One of the best ways to check for grammatical errors is to read your
writing aloud.
If something doesnt sound right, check the grammar.
Editing
Editing is about streamlining your piece.
Is cutting words out of your piece in some places and adding more
material in other places.
QA
What is the difference among proofreading, editing and revising?
Revising you are looking at the overall layout of the document.
Its like re-visioning your document. It includes the purpose, major
points and the supporting points.
Editing you are looking at the paragraph layout such as ordering of the
sentences within paragraph and the flow. Is the voice clear? How about
the tone? Is it appropriate to the audience?
Proofreading You are looking at the sentence level. You will be looking
for mistakes, such as spelling, punctuation and grammar. Use of
quotations and citation details should be observed well too.
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Tone
The sound of your writing. Your tone when you write can be angry,
joyful, commanding, or indifferent.
Slang
Choose am appropriate language for the setting of your writing.
Know your audience.
Slang is not appropriate in an academic piece, nut it can give a creative
short story a more realistic tone.
Voice
Can be active or passive.
Style
Is the combination of voice tone and word choice.
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Unit 2
Writing Sentences
Objectives:
The student will be able to look at the parts of a sentence, learn to spot
complete and incomplete sentences and revise sentence fragments and
run-on sentences.
Exercise 1
Underline the subject one and the predicate twice in the following
sentences. Remember it is often easier to find the predicate (verb, or
action word) first and then the subject ( the noun that is performing the
action).
Larry ate the sushi.
John changed the diaper.
In the haunted house went the children.
Jack and Mark sat in their chairs.
They were running to catch the bus.
Objects
Direct object of a sentence is the part of the predicate that is receiving
the action of the verb or shows the result of the action.
Indirect object tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done
and who is receiving the direct object.
Note: A sentence must have a direct object in order to have an indirect
object.
15
Our basketball team won the state title. Three years in a row.
17
Types of conjunction
Types of sentences
Simple Sentence contains only one independent clause.
Compound sentence contains more than one independent clauses and no
dependent clause.
18
Exercise 6
Fix the following sentence fragments and run-on sentences by adding a
conjunction and any necessary punctuation. Write the revised sentence
on the line provided.
I wanted to buy a bicycle. My pay check wasnt enough.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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Chapter 3
Avoiding Awkward Sentences
Lesson objective:
The student will be able to identify and revise
awkward sentences. When sentences are so long that they are hard to
follow or so short they sound choppy, they need thorough revision.
Examples:
Procrastination actually makes certain people really unsuccessful more
than virtually any other particular habit.
Edited example:
Redundancy
Are words that simply rephrase other words for no purpose.
Example: The football team made future plans to completely concentrate
on the basic fundamentals of each individual position.
Eliminate future because plans are always for the future.
Eliminate fundamental because it means basic.
Eliminate positions because positions are individual.
Redundant words:
whole entire, big fat, complete truth ,terrible tragedy ,pitch black,
various different, true facts, free gift, and final outcome
Some common doubled word phrases are pick
and choose, full and complete, hope and trust, any
and all, true and accurate, each and every, basic and
fundamental, hopes and desires, and first and foremost
Negatives
Changing negatives to affirmatives also eliminates
extra words. Look for sentences that use not and see
22
of opinion.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
4. At an earlier time today,my sister told me she
would pick me up after the end of work.
____________________________________
____________________________________
5. Various different people in our office were not
against moving the water cooler to a location
that would be less difficult for everyone to
reach.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Qualifiers
The best writing requires confidence. Starting sentences
with phrase such as I feel, I think, I believe, in
my opinion, or I am of the opinion that can dilute
what you have to say. Instead of using qualifying
phrases like those, say exactly what you mean.
Examples
WITH QUALIFIER: I believe that homework
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should be eliminated.
WITHOUT QUALIFIER: Homework should be
eliminated.
WITH QUALIFIER: I am of the opinion that
bungee jumping should be an Olympic sport.
WITHOUT QUALIFIER: Bungee jumping should
be an Olympic sport.
Without unnecessary qualifiers, your writing
takes on a more confident tone.
You should also be careful not to over-use
words such as very, pretty, quite, rather, clearly, obviously,
certainly, always, of course, indeed, inevitably,
and invariably. These words can be useful in helping
you make your point, but if you are using powerful
language to begin with, you may find they are cluttering
up your sentences rather than strengthening
them.
Exercise 2
Locate the unnecessary qualifiers in the following
sentences. Eliminate them and rewrite the sentences
on the lines provided. Answers can be found at the
end of the lesson.
7. In certain respects, the telephone appears to
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26
Verbal Phrases
Verbal phrases are formed from verbs, but act like nouns, adjectives,
or adverbs in a sentence. The most common
verbal phrases are participial phrases, gerund
phrases, infinitive phrases, and appositives.
Participles and Participial
Phrases
A participle is a verb form that can be used as an
adjective, and a participial phrase is a phrase that
contains a participle and any modifiers (Lesson 11).
For example, when you change the verb develop to
developing to describe something, you have created
a participle. Adding modifiers to developing
gives you a participial phrase.
Example
Developing off the coast of Haiti, a tropical storm
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speak quickly.
Example
There must be a way to get past the road block.
Appositives and Appositive
Phrases
Appositives add description and detail to your writing
to make it clearer. An appositive is a noun or
pronoun used to identify or explain another noun.
Example
My cousin Alejandro can play the piano.
The noun Alejandro identifies the noun cousin,
so it is an appositive.
Appositives are also combined with modifiers
to make appositive phrases.
Example
My grandmother, a talented cook, used to make an
excellent pot roast.
The phrase a talented cook is used to describe
the noun my grandmother.
Exercise:
Identify the italicized phrase in each of the following
sentences as a participial phrase, a gerund
phrase, an infinitive phrase, or an appositive phrase.
Write the type of phrase on the lines provided.
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39
Unit 4
Creating Sentence Variety
Objective: The student will be able to revise your writing by combining
sentences and varying their length and type.
Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, and clauses. The
most common conjunctions are and, but, and or.
Example
Did you eat the last shrimp? Did you give it to
someone else?
You is the subject of both sentences. Conjunctions
can be used to eliminate repetition; in the
example above, the combined sentence uses the
subject only once.
Edited Example
Did you eat the last shrimp or give it to someone
else?
In the example above, the part of the sentence
after the conjunction, give it to someone else, is
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Exercise 2
Circle the best conjunction to combine each sentence
pair. Answers can be found at the end of the
lesson.
1. Joe loves watching television. He hates soap
operas.
a. and
b. but
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c. or
2. We can drive to San Francisco.We can take an
airplane.
a. and
b. but
c. or
3. The driver lost the map. The driver found the
house anyway.
a. and
b. but
c. or
4. The cowboys rounded up the cows. The cowboys
put the cows in the corral.
a. and
b. but
c. or
5. The carpenter built a chair. The carpenter
built a footstool.
a. and
b. but
c. or
but you can vary the way they begin. This, too, will
make your writing appeal to your reader.Normally,
a simple sentence begins with the subject and ends
with the predicate. It is very direct, which is good.
Your reader wont get confused reading sentences in
which you have directly linked the subject and predicate.
However, a long run of these sentences may
bore your reader.
Example
Ferns can add quality and texture to an ordinary
garden. There are many different varieties. Ferns
can be bought in nurseries or by mail order.
Edited Example
Ferns can add quality and texture to an ordinary
garden. To order any number of varieties, visit
your local nursery or peruse a mail order catalog.
Phrase Modifiers
Phrases can modify sentences and come at the beginning in place of the
subject of the sentence for emphasis and variety.
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Example:
Joe lived in Chicago when he received his Masters degree and decided
to become a teacher.
Edited Example:
Living in Chicago, Joe received his Masters degree and decided to
become a teacher.
Participial phrase = Living in Chicago
Example 2:
Wendy Nguyen wrote three different essays to win the prize.
Edited Example:
To win the prize Wendy Nguyen wrote three different essays.
Infinitive phrases= to win the prize
ADVERBIAL Phrases
Adverbial phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or another adverb.
Edited example:
Because there have been no clues found so far, detectives continue to
search the crime scene for evidence.
Exercise 5
Circle the letter of the sentence in each group that
begins with a single-word modifier, a phrase modifier,
or a clause modifier and on the line provided,
write the type of modifier that is used.
15. a. In the boardroom, the discussion strayed
from the planned agenda.
b. Tarzan and Jane swung through the jungle.
c. Many people do not believe in ghosts.
____________________________________
16. a. A tornado set down in Oklahoma last
month.
b. The proud parents took pictures of their
son.
c. Lately, the weather has been warmer than
usual this time of year.
____________________________________
17. a. When the fifth-grader ate the sour candy,
all of the first-graders watched.
b. Oscar paid the rent.
c. Burnt Sienna is my least favorite crayon
color.
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____________________________________
18. a. Josh laughed at the sight of the miniature
golf course.
b. To sit through a long play can be difficult
for a child.
c. Yesterday was not my day.
____________________________________
19. a. From that time on, the aqueducts brought
water to Athens.
b. Murphys fish bait lures trout very well.
c. The rose bush caught my pant leg.
____________________________________
20. a. The telephone would not stop ringing.
b. A crash course in sweeping would help
Joan.
c. Recently,my supervisor has been giving me
more responsibility.
____________________________________
21. a. The mountain slope looked like a challenge
to climb.
b. Because he ate too much pie, Sebastian had
to lie down.
c. The modern welfare state is a result of the
Great Depression.
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___________________________________
Unit 5
Shaping paragraphs
Objective:
Good sentences need to be organized in strong, well-shaped paragraphs.
A good paragraph contains a thesis sentence, supporting
sentences, and a concluding sentence. The average paragraph is four
to six sentences long. In this lesson you will learn to edit and revise
paragraphs to form a well-written composition.
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PARAGRAPH
*A paragraph should begin with a thesis statement that presents the
main idea of the paragraph.
*A topic sentence identifies the content of the paragraph.
*The sentences that follow it develop the main idea; provide examples,
ideas and quotes. A paragraph ends with a concluding statement that
will be the transition for the next paragraph.
Topic Sentences
Provides the main idea of the paragraph.
This is also known as the hook.
Not too narrow and not too broad
Example
Computer programmers perform two main tasks
when programming a computer. First, they must
break down the instructions into clear, step-by step
tasks. Second, they must give directions in a
computer-based language such as DOS. When
these two tasks are completed properly, the computer
will be able to do what the programmer has
asked.
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Exercise 1
Circle the letter of the topic sentence in each of the
following paragraphs.
1. a. He won Rookie of the year in 1947. b. He
broke the color barrier in professional baseball.
c. He excelled despite encountering racist
players, managers, and fans and receiving
death threats. d. Jackie Robinson single-handedly
brought equality and civil rights to professional
sports.
2. a. There are two primary approaches to learning
a foreign language. b. First, there is the
textbook approach of understanding the
grammar and linguistics while studying
vocabulary. c. Second, there is immersion in a
foreign language, either in a school or in a foreign
country where the language is spoken. d.
Ideally, learning a foreign language involves a
combination of both methods.
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Startling Statistics
Example
In the roaring twenties, 30% of the money in the
United States was controlled by 5% of the richest
43
Quotation
Take a quote from your source and use it as a lead
Example
The governor, in his speech about water rights,
called the attempts to limit consumption a waste
of the taxpayers time and effort.
Question
A rhetorical question is a question that does not
necessarily need an answer, and is used by writers or
speakers to persuade their audience to agree with an
44
45
Supporting sentences
Paragraph Organization
Chronological Order
Order of Importance
Comparison/Contrast
Spatial Order
Order of Familiarity
Chronological Order
Chronos means time. Dividing the word chronological
into two partschrono and logicalis a good
way to remember that it means logical time order.
Chronological order describes events in the order in
which they took place. This is particularly effective
for explaining a process. Perhaps you have to write
47
Order of Importance
One idea can have many aspects. If your topic sentence
introduces an idea that can be supported by
several details, you may want to present the supporting
details in order of importance.
Example
Part-time jobs can be perfect for a student if they
do not interfere with school.Most importantly,
the employer must follow the state and federal
regulations for employing minors. An employer
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51
Spatial Order
Spatial order means order in space. For example, if
you wanted to describe to someone where your
seats are for the concert, you might start with a seat
number, then a row, then the section. You might
have to expand further out into space by telling
them what side of the stage you will sit on and how
far back your seat is. This is spatial order.
Example
From the observation deck of the Empire State
Building, one can see Central Park to the north.
To the south are lower Manhattan, SoHo, and the
52
Order of Familiarity
If you are writing about a well-known topic, you
might choose to organize your information into the
order of familiarity. Start with the most commonly
known information and move to information your
reader may not know, or write it the other way
around. Whether you go from the familiar to the
unknown or the unknown to the familiar, you are
organizing your information in order of importance.
Example
The Human Genome Projects goal is to define all
human genes. Scientists have already described, in
53
54
Expository Writing
If your paragraph explains something or presents
information, it is an expository paragraph. If it
explains a process, it usually does so in chronological
order. Transitional words such as first, next, and
finally make the order clear. Paragraphs that define
are also expository paragraphs. In this type of paragraph,your topic
sentence would place the topic in
a general category and then provide supporting details that describe
specific characteristics to the reader. In this way, you narrow down your
topic and clarify the way the topic differs from other topics. Paragraphs
that give reasons are also expository paragraphs. This kind of paragraph
supports the main idea with facts. It may explain that something is true
because of certain facts, or it may explain that an action or opinion is
right because the facts support it. The most common way to organize
this type of paragraph is using the order of
55
importance method.
_
Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing is expository because it gives
facts, but it also presents an opinion. There are
many ways to organize persuasive writing. One
common way is to present possible arguments
against your opinion and show why these arguments
are weak; then give the arguments in your
favor. Another way is to state an opinion and then
give evidence to support it. A persuasive technique
gives your supporting information in order of
importance, with the last fact or statistic being the
strongest or most effective reason._
Narrative Writing
Narrative writing tells a story. The structure and
methods for organizing narrative writing are different
from expository writing because narrative
writing has a different purpose. Simple narratives
describe the events that happened, usually in
chronological order. Complex narratives focus on
the resolution of a conflict and usually have a
theme, characters, setting, and other elements of a
56
short story.
_ Descriptive Writing
Using words to create a picture is called descriptive
writing, which uses sensory details to establish a
mood and point of view. Descriptive paragraphs
often contain many adjectives to describe the subject
at hand clearly. Descriptive writing can stand
alone as a descriptive piece, or it can be included as
part of a narrative. Regardless, it should be organized
into a well-shaped paragraph.
Transitional Concluding
Sentences
Well-shaped paragraphs have the same components
as a well-shaped composition: a beginning, middle,
and end. Once you have a topic sentence and some
supporting sentences, it is time to end the paragraph.
Concluding sentences are a form of transition.
Moving smoothly from one paragraph to the
other requires transitions (Lesson 6). Transitional
concluding sentences sum up what has come
before, and can be used in any paragraph.
Because paragraphs themselves mirror the
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Unit 6
58
Transitions
Objective: This lesson will show you different ways to use transitional
words and phrases to unify a piece of writing.
When writing an essay, transitions are just as important. You are trying
to keep your reader reading, and that means making smooth transitions
between words and ideas within sentences, between sentences, and
between paragraphs.
Linking Expressions
59
Therefore
other words
in Furthermore
Consequently
addition
in
Accordingly
again
However
then
such
likewise
As a result
expected
Similarly
Besides
An example of this
Nevertheless
Finally
On the contrary
Lastly
Also
After all
Meanwhile
soon
60
as might be
61
Order
of Comparison and Contrast
importance
First
Beside
More
Likewise
Second
In the middle
Less
However
Finally
Next to
Most
Similarly
Next
To the right
Least
In contrast
Then
On top of
A different kind
Afterward
In front of
Most
important
Later
Behind
Before
Against
Eventually
Beneath
Least
important
More
importantly
In
the
future
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Unlike this
Another difference
Cause
Effect
and Classificatio
n
Therefore
As a result of
Consequentl
y
Another
group
The first type
One kind
Thus
Other sorts
One cause
Other types
One effect
Other kinds
Introducing
Examples
Introducing
Introducing
contradiction conclusions,
s
summaries,
or
generalizatio
ns
For example
Nonetheless
In conclusion
One example
However
Therefore
One kind
In spite of
As a result
One type
Otherwise
In summary
One sort
Instead
In general
For instance
On
the
contrary
Another
cause
Another
effect
63
Exercise 2
Revise the sentences below by following the directions in parentheses.
Write the new sentences on the lines. Suggested answers can be found
at the end of the lesson.
It rained all morning. We went to the park. ( Begin the second sentence
with a transition words that introduces contradiction. )
Sylvia greeted all of her guests at the door. She seated them at the
dinner table.
using
64
transition
words
that
shows
Bob Marley used Sly and Robbie for a rhythm section. Peter Tosh
recorded with Sly and Robbie on at least one of his records. (Begin the
second sentence with a transition word that shows comparison and
contrast.)
We kept adding water to the paint. It was too thin to use. (Begin the
second sentence with a transition word used for concluding. )
Lesson 7
Establishing a writing style
LESSON SUMMARY
This lesson will help you develop your style through revision to make
your writing suit any occasion. It discusses the elements of style,
including tone, voice, audience, and purpose.
65
Tone
Writing has a tone. Tone is dictated by the audience and purpose of the piece.
For instance, if your piece is a narrative essay about a time in your life when you were treated
unfairly, you might decide that a direct tone is the best approach.
Audience
The audience of a piece is the intended reader.Who do you expect to read your essay or memo?
For
example, the tone would be different in a letter to a prospective employer than in a note to a
friend.
That is because the audience is different. In both of those cases, the audience is one person.
When
something is published or shared, such as a letter to the editor or a newsletter, the audience is
broader,
and you should be careful that the language doesnt alienate or offend your readers. Keep your
audience
in mind as you write and revise to ensure that you are using language appropriate for that
particular
audience.
Purpose
What is the objective of the piece? Are you writing
to persuade someone to agree with you? Are you
writing to amuse the reader with a funny story? Are
you writing to share information? You must know
the purpose of the piece before you write, and you
will be sure to meet your goal.
If you offend your audience, you will not
achieve your purpose. For example, if you are writing
a persuasive piece and your reader feels you are
being condescending, he or she may stop reading.
Persuasive Example
66
Read the topics in this exercise and circle the letter that identifies the
type of writing needed for each topic.Answers can be found at the end
of the lesson.
1. the need to arrive on time
a. persuasive
b. expository
2. Ancient Greek pottery
a. persuasive
b. expository
3. reasons to quit smoking
a. persuasive
b. expository
4. the history of tobacco
a. persuasive
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b.
5.
a.
b.
expository
why lacrosse is Americas game
persuasive
expository
Voice
Voice
Most successful writers have the ability to adjust
their voice to fit the occasion. Adding facts and statistics,
sensory details, examples, anecdotes, quotations,
or definitions to your piece can change the
voice.
Authoritative Voice
An expository piece of writing can include facts andstatistics that give the voice an authoritative
tone,
the tone of an expert in the field. A fact is a provable truth. A statistic is data, usually numerical,
that
describes a fact. Statistics add an element of authority to an expository piece.
Example without facts
Solar eclipses occur fairly often. People should not be afraid of disasters happening because of
an
eclipse.
Example with facts
Solar eclipses occur approximately once every hundred years. In fact, the moon blocked our view
of the sun twice in the twentieth century. There is no reason to be afraid an eclipse will cause a
disaster
because during the course of human history, we have survived at least fifty such alignments.
Example without statistics
In general, young Americans watch a lot of television. Some children spend almost all their time
watching TV.
Example with statistics
Studies have shown that the average American child spends three to four hours a day watching
television, which adds up to 1,500 hours per year, compared to 900 hours spent in the
classroom.
To sound like an expert, you must conduct research. When you come across an interesting fact
or statistic, make a note of it so you can add it toyour piece during revision. (When you make
notes,
dont forget to write the page number and source as well. You will need to cite the source of this
information
69
in your writing. See pages 6768 for more about this.) Facts and statistics not only support
your thesis in an expository essay, but they can also be a very effective way to begin a
persuasive piece.
You must carefully distinguish between facts and opinions. An opinion states a judgment or a
belief and cannot necessarily be proved. In all communication, you must be able to tell the
difference
between facts and opinions, whether in an advertisement, political campaign, newspaper, or
when
discussing automotive repairs with your mechanic.
Example of fact
Three hundred people attended the amateur dog
show.
Example of opinion
Many people attended the amateur dog show.
Example of fact
The average work week in the United States consists
of five eight-hour days.
Example of opinion
The average work week in the United States is too
long.Opinions often use words like most, should,should not, greatest, best, worst, and least.When
you
include a fact about one thing and apply it to all similar things, you are making a generality.
Generalities
express opinions also, so be careful when using words like all, none, and every in expository
writing.
Exercise 2
Identify the following sentences as fact or opinionby circling the correct answer.Answers can be
found
at the end of the lesson.
6. Stephen King is the greatest writer today.
a. fact
b. opinion
7. The number of camping permits issued in Yellowstone
National Park rose by 12% this year.
a. fact
b. opinion
8. Every 16 year old should be allowed to drive a
car.
a. fact
b. opinion
9. People who do not take care of their pets are
the worst.
a. fact
b. opinion
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