This blog has moved to a new home:
English Skills Blog (http://englishskillsblog.blogspot.ca/).
All students interested in practicing their English language skills are encouraged to visit the new page and participate!
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
WELCOME!
Welcome to the Effective Writing Blog for ENGL 155, 177 and 189. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase the level of communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the grammar and mechanics taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.Feel free to post comments and suggestions on how to improve this site.
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
A hearty welcome to all the new students joining this course. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.
IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you. Your first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Government of Canada about privacy and social networking issues.
Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.
Next blog: Thursday, February 16, 2016
PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION
I am always eating my dinner late while I get home at 8:00 pm but the food is warmed quick in a microwave we brought at a neighbours garage sale.
1. Verb tense:
For repeated actions, use the simple present tense: change “am eating” to “eat”.
2. Word confusion:
With a specific time reference, use “when” not “while”.
3. Word form:
The adverb is “quickly”--“quick” is an adjective.
4. Word confusion:
The word we need here is “bought”, which is the simple past tense of “buy” (“brought” is the past tense of “bring”).
5. Missing word:
The correct expression is “to warm [something] up”: “the food is warmed up”.
6. Article usage:
In this example, a specific microwave is bring referred to, so it might be best to use the definite article (“the”).
7. Punctuation:
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (“but”) when it separates two independent clauses. Also note that an apostrophe is needed in “neighbours” (“neighbour’s”) because it is a possessive.
8. Capitalization:
Capitalize PM. (MLA format).
Possible solution:
For repeated actions, use the simple present tense: change “am eating” to “eat”.
2. Word confusion:
With a specific time reference, use “when” not “while”.
3. Word form:
The adverb is “quickly”--“quick” is an adjective.
4. Word confusion:
The word we need here is “bought”, which is the simple past tense of “buy” (“brought” is the past tense of “bring”).
5. Missing word:
The correct expression is “to warm [something] up”: “the food is warmed up”.
6. Article usage:
In this example, a specific microwave is bring referred to, so it might be best to use the definite article (“the”).
7. Punctuation:
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (“but”) when it separates two independent clauses. Also note that an apostrophe is needed in “neighbours” (“neighbour’s”) because it is a possessive.
8. Capitalization:
Capitalize PM. (MLA format).
Possible solution:
I always eat my dinner late when I get home at 8:00 PM, but the food is quickly warmed up in the microwave we bought at a neighbour’s garage sale.
*GRAMMAR QUESTION*
Correct the errors in the following sentence:
The solution will be posted in the next edition of the blog.
As the matter of fact, she was a person who hard being convinced for instant, she certainly would likes to thinks that his opinion are the corrected then any one else view.
PUZZLE
Solution to the previous puzzle:
1. bleep
2. pang
3. hassle
4. dumbfound
5. brash
6. chortle
7. intercom
8. blurt
New Puzzle:
Insert one word in each pair to link the two words together.
The end of the first word is the beginning of the second.
1. Push __ __ __ Cushion
2. Digital __ __ __ __ __ __ Shy
3. Crystal __ __ __ __ Park
4. First __ __ __ __ __ Clown
5. Bed __ __ __ __ Candy
1. bleep
2. pang
3. hassle
4. dumbfound
5. brash
6. chortle
7. intercom
8. blurt
New Puzzle:
Insert one word in each pair to link the two words together.
The end of the first word is the beginning of the second.
1. Push __ __ __ Cushion
2. Digital __ __ __ __ __ __ Shy
3. Crystal __ __ __ __ Park
4. First __ __ __ __ __ Clown
5. Bed __ __ __ __ Candy
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
IDIOMS
There are three idioms that use the word egg:
Try not to use the same idiom as the other participants.
Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.
Try not to use the same idiom as the other participants.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090303_teacher_food_egg.shtml
*ALL CHANGE!*
Change the words in the sentence below as indicated.
For instance, if the original sentence is "Benson hurriedly told the bad news to his friends":
participant 1 could write "#1 Subject Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad news to his friends";
participant 2 could then write "#2 Direct Object Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad joke to his friends";
participant 3 could then write "#3 Indirect Object Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad joke to his wife";
etc.
You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.
Participants who make all 7 changes will receive 2 bonus marks for their efforts.
When all 7 changes have been made, do not repeat the original sentence; return to the top of the list, but keep building on the changes made by the previous participant.
Here is the sentence:
The doctor happily told us the good news about our friend in the hospital.
Changes:
1. subject noun
2. direct object noun
3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)
6. verb name
7. verb tense
Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.
For instance, if the original sentence is "Benson hurriedly told the bad news to his friends":
participant 1 could write "#1 Subject Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad news to his friends";
participant 2 could then write "#2 Direct Object Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad joke to his friends";
participant 3 could then write "#3 Indirect Object Noun: Michael hurriedly told the bad joke to his wife";
etc.
You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.
Participants who make all 7 changes will receive 2 bonus marks for their efforts.
When all 7 changes have been made, do not repeat the original sentence; return to the top of the list, but keep building on the changes made by the previous participant.
Here is the sentence:
The doctor happily told us the good news about our friend in the hospital.
Changes:
1. subject noun
2. direct object noun
3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)
6. verb name
7. verb tense
AFFIXES
The word stem equi- (meaning "equal") occurs in many words.
1. Add an affix to this stem to make another word.
2. Explain the meaning of the word and use it in a complete sentence.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
1. Add an affix to this stem to make another word.
2. Explain the meaning of the word and use it in a complete sentence.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*
Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*
... tomorrow is another day ...
Sentence 1. Add a phrase
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause
*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both) and do not use a semi-colon to join your independent clause.
... tomorrow is another day ...
Sentence 1. Add a phrase
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause
*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both) and do not use a semi-colon to join your independent clause.
*NUMBER CHANGE*
If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.
The first participant to make the correct changes will receive the bonus mark.
The first participant to make the correct changes will receive the bonus mark.
My birthday dinner was a real pleasure; the food was good and the company even better!
*VOCABULARY*
Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing.
Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).
emigrate (verb) and equitable (adjective).
To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day.
The site also has word games and puzzles.
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/
You can also test your skills while contributing to the World Food Programme here:
http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1498
You can also test your skills while contributing to the World Food Programme here:
http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1498
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
We can describe something believable as credible.
First, write a sentence that uses this word.
Then rewrite the sentence, first using a synonym and then using an antonym for this word.
Each participant should suggest a different synonym and antonym.
Example: easy.
Answer:
This exercise is easy.
First, write a sentence that uses this word.
Then rewrite the sentence, first using a synonym and then using an antonym for this word.
Each participant should suggest a different synonym and antonym.
Example: easy.
Answer:
This exercise is easy.
Synonym: simple. This exercise is simple.
Antonym: difficult. This exercise is difficult.
*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*
Write two sentences using the verb fight.
In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.
*TIME CHANGE*
Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.
Pancake Day is coming soon. We will celebrate by cooking a huge stack of pancakes. Some people may go out to eat, but we think the ones made at home taste best. Tradition calls for using lemon juice and sugar on top of the pancakes, but we'll add whatever we have available. The idea is to use up lots of good, rich ingredients before the start of Lent.
*SENTENCE COMBINATION*
Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences. Do not use a semi-colon.
Sentence 1: The world is uncertain.
Sentence 2: In this world, we cannot cannot know what the future will bring.
Sentence 3: We must be prepared for any eventuality.
Sentence 2: In this world, we cannot cannot know what the future will bring.
Sentence 3: We must be prepared for any eventuality.
BUILD-A-SENTENCE
Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated. Do not use a semi-colon.
Write a sentence using a dependent clause in the past perfect progressive tense and an independent clause in the simple future.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
WELCOME!
Welcome to the Effective Writing Blog for ENGL 155, 177 and 189. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase the level of communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the grammar and mechanics taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.Feel free to post comments and suggestions on how to improve this site.
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
A hearty welcome to all the new students joining this course. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.
IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you. Your first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Government of Canada about privacy and social networking issues.
Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.
Next blog: Thursday, February 2, 2016
PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION
The silver, new, shiney car was drove by Tim and I when we had gone to Western Canada seeing the Rocky mountains and some of tourist traps along the Highway; but we seen little wild animals and not a single bear: however the wild flowers had been blossoming.
1. Adjective word order:
Adjectives usually occur in the following order: (1) evaluation or opinion, (2) appearance, (3) age, (4) colour, and (5) origin. This gives us: shiny, new, silver (see the on-line resources page in the sidebar for more information).
2. Spelling:
Words that end in “e” usually drop that letter before adding a “y” to form an adjective.
3. Verb tense and form:
The correct form of the passive voice in the simple past tense is “was driven”. Also, we should be consistent with the verb tense when possible, so the past perfect “had gone” should be changed to “went”. Also note that “seen” is the past participle; the simple past is “saw”. Finally, instead of the past perfect progressive, we need the past progressive: “had been blossoming” should be changed to “were blossoming” (or “were blooming” or “were in bloom”).
4. Pronoun usage:
When the verb is in the active voice, the construction is “Tim and I,” as it forms the subject of the verb; however, in the passive voice, these become the object, and must therefore take the objective case, “Tim and me”. If this sounds awkward, it might be best to abandon the passive voice altogether.
5. Infinitive/gerund:
The phrase “go somewhere” needs the infinitive, not the gerund.
6. Idiomatic usage:
The phrase “tourist trap” is an idiom that refers to places that attract a lot of tourists.
7. Few/Little:
We use the word “little” with uncountable nouns; with countable nouns (such as “animals”), we should use “few”.
8. Punctuation:
We need a comma, not a semi-colon before the coordinating conjunction when it separates independent clauses. Unless we are expanding on an idea, we do not use a colon. Wild flowers are not a type of animal, so we need a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.
9. Capitalization:
“Western” is not part of a proper name, so it should not be capitalized; nor should “highway” unless we are referring to a specific highway. For the same reason, we should capitalize “mountains” here, as it is part of the official name of the mountain chain.
Possible solution:
Adjectives usually occur in the following order: (1) evaluation or opinion, (2) appearance, (3) age, (4) colour, and (5) origin. This gives us: shiny, new, silver (see the on-line resources page in the sidebar for more information).
2. Spelling:
Words that end in “e” usually drop that letter before adding a “y” to form an adjective.
3. Verb tense and form:
The correct form of the passive voice in the simple past tense is “was driven”. Also, we should be consistent with the verb tense when possible, so the past perfect “had gone” should be changed to “went”. Also note that “seen” is the past participle; the simple past is “saw”. Finally, instead of the past perfect progressive, we need the past progressive: “had been blossoming” should be changed to “were blossoming” (or “were blooming” or “were in bloom”).
4. Pronoun usage:
When the verb is in the active voice, the construction is “Tim and I,” as it forms the subject of the verb; however, in the passive voice, these become the object, and must therefore take the objective case, “Tim and me”. If this sounds awkward, it might be best to abandon the passive voice altogether.
5. Infinitive/gerund:
The phrase “go somewhere” needs the infinitive, not the gerund.
6. Idiomatic usage:
The phrase “tourist trap” is an idiom that refers to places that attract a lot of tourists.
7. Few/Little:
We use the word “little” with uncountable nouns; with countable nouns (such as “animals”), we should use “few”.
8. Punctuation:
We need a comma, not a semi-colon before the coordinating conjunction when it separates independent clauses. Unless we are expanding on an idea, we do not use a colon. Wild flowers are not a type of animal, so we need a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.
9. Capitalization:
“Western” is not part of a proper name, so it should not be capitalized; nor should “highway” unless we are referring to a specific highway. For the same reason, we should capitalize “mountains” here, as it is part of the official name of the mountain chain.
Possible solution:
Tim and I drove the shiny, new, silver car when we went to western Canada to see the Rocky Mountains and some of the tourist traps along the highway, but we saw few wild animals and not a single bear; however, the wild flowers were in bloom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)