The word stem -cogni- (meaning "know") occurs in many words.
Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
Friday, April 24, 2015
*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*
Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*
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).
... April showers bring May flowers ...
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).
*NUMBER CHANGE*
If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.
My old high school friend often comes over for a visit on Saturdays and spends the day with me. He usually brings his dog, who likes to run around while we throw the ball or play frisbee in the yard.
My old high school friend often comes over for a visit on Saturdays and spends the day with me. He usually brings his dog, who likes to run around while we throw the ball or play frisbee in the yard.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing.
Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).
recognize (verb) and incognito (adjective).
To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day.
The site also has word games and puzzles.
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
We can describe knowledge or understanding about something as cognizance.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*
Write two sentences using the word steal.
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.
Ever since you started your new job, you have shown more confidence and enthusiasm; and I have noticed that you have made a lot of new friends.
Ever since you started your new job, you have shown more confidence and enthusiasm; and I have noticed that you have made a lot of new friends.
*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.
Sentence 1: The Immigrant Access Fund provides loans for internationally trained immigrants.
Sentence 2: Many immigrant professionals find it hard to pursue their careers in Canada because of accreditation difficulties.
Sentence 3: The loans help pay the costs associated with accreditation, training, or upgrading.
Sentence 3: The loans help pay the costs associated with accreditation, training, or upgrading.
BUILD-A-SENTENCE
Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.
Write a sentence using a dependent clause in the simple past tense and an independent clause in the simple future tense.
Friday, April 10, 2015
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.
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For information on how to participate, please contact the administrator.
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.
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: Friday, April 24, 2015.
PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION
The commentator said its the most unique program was skated at the competition and they are skating unbelievable therefore it hasn't been surprised that the audience have given them the standing ovation.
1. Word choice:
We often use the phrase "very unique". But "unique" really means "the only one", so it should not be qualified. Delete the word "most" or change the description to something that can be modified, like "innovative".
2. Pronoun reference:
As a rule, the pronoun should refer to a previous noun. In this case, unless we assume the referent was established in an earlier sentence, we don't know what "it" is. To avoid confusion, it might be better to say something like "...the skaters' program was...".
3. Apostrophe:
If we decide to keep the word "its" in the sentence, we need to keep in mind that it's a contraction of "it is" and that we therefore need an apostrophe to indicate that a letter has been omitted.
4. Passive voice:
The verb form depends on how we construe the subject. If we go with something like "...the skaters' program", we can use the simple past: "...the skaters' program was the most innovative...". Otherwise, we might use the past participle: "...it was the most innovative program skated..."
5. Pronoun reference:
Again, unless we assume the referent was established in an earlier sentence, we don't know who "they" are. It might be better here to make this clear by saying something like "the pair" or "the skaters".
6. Word form:
"Unbelievable" is an adjective, but we want to modify a verb ("are skating"), so we need an adverb ("unbelievably"). Otherwise, we need to change the verb into a noun and say something like "...their skating was unbelievable..."
7. Verb tense/form:
The action happened over a very short period of time, so it might be better to use the simple past tense ("wasn't") instead of the present perfect ("hasn't been"), and follow it with the present participle ("surprising") instead of the past participle ("surprised").
8. Verb tense:
Again, use the simple past ("gave") instead of the present perfect ("have given").
9. Article use:
“The” refers to something definite, but in this case "standing ovation" is indefinite (there could have been any number of standing ovations during the competition), so we need to use the indefinite article ("a").
10. Punctuation:
We could use direct speech here (putting the comments in quotation marks), but we often report speech indirectly. In that case it might be helpful to put "that" after the reporting verb ("...said that... and that..."). Also, remember to put a comma before the dependent (after "competition").
Suggested solution:
The commentator said that the skaters' program was the most innovative one at the competition and that their skating was unbelievable; therefore, it was no surprise that the audience gave them a standing ovation.
We often use the phrase "very unique". But "unique" really means "the only one", so it should not be qualified. Delete the word "most" or change the description to something that can be modified, like "innovative".
2. Pronoun reference:
As a rule, the pronoun should refer to a previous noun. In this case, unless we assume the referent was established in an earlier sentence, we don't know what "it" is. To avoid confusion, it might be better to say something like "...the skaters' program was...".
3. Apostrophe:
If we decide to keep the word "its" in the sentence, we need to keep in mind that it's a contraction of "it is" and that we therefore need an apostrophe to indicate that a letter has been omitted.
4. Passive voice:
The verb form depends on how we construe the subject. If we go with something like "...the skaters' program", we can use the simple past: "...the skaters' program was the most innovative...". Otherwise, we might use the past participle: "...it was the most innovative program skated..."
5. Pronoun reference:
Again, unless we assume the referent was established in an earlier sentence, we don't know who "they" are. It might be better here to make this clear by saying something like "the pair" or "the skaters".
6. Word form:
"Unbelievable" is an adjective, but we want to modify a verb ("are skating"), so we need an adverb ("unbelievably"). Otherwise, we need to change the verb into a noun and say something like "...their skating was unbelievable..."
7. Verb tense/form:
The action happened over a very short period of time, so it might be better to use the simple past tense ("wasn't") instead of the present perfect ("hasn't been"), and follow it with the present participle ("surprising") instead of the past participle ("surprised").
8. Verb tense:
Again, use the simple past ("gave") instead of the present perfect ("have given").
9. Article use:
“The” refers to something definite, but in this case "standing ovation" is indefinite (there could have been any number of standing ovations during the competition), so we need to use the indefinite article ("a").
10. Punctuation:
We could use direct speech here (putting the comments in quotation marks), but we often report speech indirectly. In that case it might be helpful to put "that" after the reporting verb ("...said that... and that..."). Also, remember to put a comma before the dependent (after "competition").
Suggested solution:
The commentator said that the skaters' program was the most innovative one at the competition and that their skating was unbelievable; therefore, it was no surprise that the audience gave them a standing ovation.
*GRAMMAR QUESTION*
Correct the errors in the following sentence:
The solution will be posted in the next edition of the blog.
Studying on my own pace is a lot of benefit for me do to I am not needing to be worrying about no time for attend class.
PUZZLE
Solution to the previous puzzle:
1. prosecute SUE
2. scoundrel CUR (or perhaps CON)
3. falsities LIES
4. stockings SOCKS
5. pantaloons PANTS
6. brackets BRACES
Other answers were possible.
New Puzzle:
Five words that contain GM as a letter pair have had all of their other letters removed and placed into a pool.
You have to put those letters back in their proper places to find the words.
Here are the words:
**GM*, **GM**, ***GM*, ****GM, **GM***
And here is the pool:
A, A, A, A, B, E, E, H, I, L, N, N, P, P, S, T, T, U, Y, Y
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
1. prosecute SUE
2. scoundrel CUR (or perhaps CON)
3. falsities LIES
4. stockings SOCKS
5. pantaloons PANTS
6. brackets BRACES
Other answers were possible.
New Puzzle:
Five words that contain GM as a letter pair have had all of their other letters removed and placed into a pool.
You have to put those letters back in their proper places to find the words.
Here are the words:
**GM*, **GM**, ***GM*, ****GM, **GM***
And here is the pool:
A, A, A, A, B, E, E, H, I, L, N, N, P, P, S, T, T, U, Y, Y
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
IDIOMS
There are three idioms that use the word dog:
Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.
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 posters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090311_teacher_animal_dog.shtml
*ALL CHANGE!*
Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.
Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.
For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, 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.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
Changes:
1. subject noun
2. direct object noun
3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)
6. verb name
7. verb tense
Benson excitedly told the good news to his friends.
For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, 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.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
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 -mit- (meaning "send") occurs in many words.
Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word.
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:*
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).
... we are already one-third of the way through the year ...
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).
*NUMBER CHANGE*
If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.
Yesterday, I noticed a child in the park feeding bread to the pigeons.
Yesterday, I noticed a child in the park feeding bread to the pigeons.
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