Last Halloween, we went trick-or-treating with the neighbours and their young children. At first, the little ones didn’t know what to make of the activity, but by the time we reached the third house on our route, they had it all figured out. The tiny ghosts and goblins ran up to the house before all of the bigger kids and excitedly rang the doorbell.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
*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.
Last Halloween, we went trick-or-treating with the neighbours and their young children. At first, the little ones didn’t know what to make of the activity, but by the time we reached the third house on our route, they had it all figured out. The tiny ghosts and goblins ran up to the house before all of the bigger kids and excitedly rang the doorbell.
Last Halloween, we went trick-or-treating with the neighbours and their young children. At first, the little ones didn’t know what to make of the activity, but by the time we reached the third house on our route, they had it all figured out. The tiny ghosts and goblins ran up to the house before all of the bigger kids and excitedly rang the doorbell.
*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: Justin Trudeau is the leader of the Liberal Party.
Sentence 2: He is currently leading in the polls.
Sentence 3: I wonder if he will win the election.
Sentence 3: I wonder if he will win the election.
BUILD-A-SENTENCE
Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated. Do not use a semi-colon.
There have been some talented participants in recent weeks, so I am putting up a very challenging problem this time:
Write a sentence that begins with a dependent clause in the present perfect tense and an independent clauses in the simple present followed by an independent clause in the simple future and a dependent clause in the simple present.
Good luck!
Write a sentence that begins with a dependent clause in the present perfect tense and an independent clauses in the simple present followed by an independent clause in the simple future and a dependent clause in the simple present.
Good luck!
Thursday, October 1, 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.
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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, October 16, 2015.
PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION
Peter and me are needing knowing to who to address the letter before its written in it's envelope and than being posted by us too the company in the states.
1. Pronoun confusion:
"Peter" is the subject of the verb "are needing" -- and so is the pronoun, which should therefore be "I" rather than "me".
2. Verb tense:
For something that is generally true and not specifically ongoing, use the simple present tense ("need") instead of the present progressive ("are needing").
3. Relative Pronoun confusion:
"Who" is the subject pronoun, but in this case we need the object pronoun, which is "whom". This may sound a little too formal in this case, but it is important to understand the grammatical rule.
4. Apostrophe confusion:
In this sentence, "it's" is meant to be possessive. And this is normally how we signal the possessive: by adding an apostrophe s. For example, the possessive form of "envelope" is "envelope's". "It", however, is a special case. By adding an apostrophe s, we are indicating that the word is a contraction of "it is". If we want the possessive form, we just add the s: "its".
5. Word confusion:
Be careful not to confuse "than" with "then". "Than" is used in comparisons; "then" is used to order events in time. Also, be careful not to confuse "to" (a preposition) with "too" (an adverb).
6. Verb form:
"Being posted" is the progressive form of the verb, which is easily confused with "been posted" (the passive form that was intended). Here, however, the passive voice is not our best choice. Instead, we should use the active voice in the simple present tense: "post" (cf. comment 8 below).
7. Capitalization:
Whether we say "the United States" or just "the States", we are referring to the name of a country, which is a proper noun that must be capitalized.
8. Passive voice:
As a rule, it is better to use the active voice as it usually makes the the meaning clearer. Instead of saying "it's written", we should say "we write"; and instead of "posted by us", we should say "we post".
9. Preposition:
We write the address "on" the envelope, not "in" it.
Possible solution:
Peter and I need to know whom to address the letter to before we write on its envelope and post it to the company in the United States.
"Peter" is the subject of the verb "are needing" -- and so is the pronoun, which should therefore be "I" rather than "me".
2. Verb tense:
For something that is generally true and not specifically ongoing, use the simple present tense ("need") instead of the present progressive ("are needing").
3. Relative Pronoun confusion:
"Who" is the subject pronoun, but in this case we need the object pronoun, which is "whom". This may sound a little too formal in this case, but it is important to understand the grammatical rule.
4. Apostrophe confusion:
In this sentence, "it's" is meant to be possessive. And this is normally how we signal the possessive: by adding an apostrophe s. For example, the possessive form of "envelope" is "envelope's". "It", however, is a special case. By adding an apostrophe s, we are indicating that the word is a contraction of "it is". If we want the possessive form, we just add the s: "its".
5. Word confusion:
Be careful not to confuse "than" with "then". "Than" is used in comparisons; "then" is used to order events in time. Also, be careful not to confuse "to" (a preposition) with "too" (an adverb).
6. Verb form:
"Being posted" is the progressive form of the verb, which is easily confused with "been posted" (the passive form that was intended). Here, however, the passive voice is not our best choice. Instead, we should use the active voice in the simple present tense: "post" (cf. comment 8 below).
7. Capitalization:
Whether we say "the United States" or just "the States", we are referring to the name of a country, which is a proper noun that must be capitalized.
8. Passive voice:
As a rule, it is better to use the active voice as it usually makes the the meaning clearer. Instead of saying "it's written", we should say "we write"; and instead of "posted by us", we should say "we post".
9. Preposition:
We write the address "on" the envelope, not "in" it.
Possible solution:
Peter and I need to know whom to address the letter to before we write on its envelope and post it to the company in the United States.
*GRAMMAR QUESTION*
Correct the errors in the following sentence:
The solution will be posted in the next edition of the blog.
Its important that we are on time for todays meeting on affective marketing techniques so please be picking Bryan and I up prompt at 8 am avoiding the trouble with the boss.
PUZZLE
Solution to the previous puzzle:
1. Pass by→Temporary failure (elapse/lapse)
2. Picture→ Wizard (image/mage)
3. Brave →Fortunate (plucky/lucky)
4. Enthusiastic meetings →Partners (rallies/allies)
5. Attacked →Helped (raided/aided)
6. Choose →Choose (select/elect)
7. Fragments →Dice game (scraps/craps)
8. Customary practice→ Spiritual mentor (usage/sage)
New Puzzle:
Hint: Without changing the order of the letters, place the four letter words on the spaces below to form eight letter words.
Veto, Rake, Hilt, Clam, Tile
1. __ um__ __ i __ y
2. Pro __ __ __ i __
3. __ err __ b __ __
4. __ __ xa __ i __ n
5. Ove __ t __ __ __
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
1. Pass by→Temporary failure (elapse/lapse)
2. Picture→ Wizard (image/mage)
3. Brave →Fortunate (plucky/lucky)
4. Enthusiastic meetings →Partners (rallies/allies)
5. Attacked →Helped (raided/aided)
6. Choose →Choose (select/elect)
7. Fragments →Dice game (scraps/craps)
8. Customary practice→ Spiritual mentor (usage/sage)
New Puzzle:
Hint: Without changing the order of the letters, place the four letter words on the spaces below to form eight letter words.
Veto, Rake, Hilt, Clam, Tile
1. __ um__ __ i __ y
2. Pro __ __ __ i __
3. __ err __ b __ __
4. __ __ xa __ i __ n
5. Ove __ t __ __ __
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
*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.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
Here is the sentence:
The elderly gentleman carefully explained his concerns to the visiting doctor.
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.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
Here is the sentence:
The elderly gentleman carefully explained his concerns to the visiting doctor.
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 ante- (meaning "before") occurs in many words.
Add an affix to this stem to make another word.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
Add an affix 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) and do not use a semi-colon to join your independent clause.
... I always look forward to the fall ...
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.
If your friends want to play cards over the next few weekends, we can arrange some tournaments.
The first participant to make the correct changes will receive the bonus mark.
If your friends want to play cards over the next few weekends, we can arrange some tournaments.
*VOCABULARY*
Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing.
Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).
recourse (noun) and chronic (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 something we genuine bona fide.
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 verb flee.
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.
When I took my vacation last week, I toured the mountain parks in Alberta. I started by driving to Waterton Lakes National Park, and then I drove north through Kananaskis Country to Banff National Park, and then I continued north to Jasper National. The weather was good, so I enjoyed hiking in the mountains, and I certainly enjoyed the views.
*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 price of gasoline remains high even though the price of oil has fallen drastically.
Sentence 2: Some may blame the weakening dollar.
Sentence 3: There always seems to be one excuse or another for the high cost of gasoline.
Sentence 3: There always seems to be one excuse or another for the high cost of gasoline.
BUILD-A-SENTENCE
Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated. Do not use a semi-colon.
Write a sentence that includes a dependent clause in the present progressive tense and an independent clause in the simple present.
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