Pre test: SDPI Writing Skills Workshop Participant Name: Self assessed Score

Look at the words given below and identify according to CATEGORY/FUNCTION: 1. Circle the NOUNS (naming), Box the ADJECTIVES (describing). Underline the VERBS (describing action) /18 Briefing Deny Leadership 2. Activate Agenda Stagnant Implementation Information Progress Effective Letter Refine Careful Assert Emergency Emphasize Develop Emergent

Circle the ACTION verbs (showing action). Underline the LINKING VERBS (No action). /12 Are Concentrate Understand Impress Am Summarize Analyze Was Were /12 Effectively Fluent Very Quietly

Apprehend Will be 3.

Operationalize

Circle adverbs and limited adverbs. Box Adjectives. Too Detailed Just Quite Explicit Alarmingly

Essentially Broad

4. Label the category to which each of the following word belongs: (Adj (adjective), N (noun), Adv (adverb), Pr (pronoun), Prep (Preposition), Art (Article), V (Verb), Int (interjection): /12 Alas Conference The Damage A Under SDPI Causing Workshop Their above Qualify

Motivational Abruptly

5. Some of the following word groups are fragments while others are simple sentences. Mark F for fragment and C for complete sentence. 10 1. when he walked into the supermarket 2. please complete the exercise on page 16 3. such as lions, tigers, and leopards 4. people who exercise daily 1

5. will the tree survive the snowstorm 6. the dog chewing on the bone 7. while we played cards 8. it was a small price to pay for the item 9. she will either go to the party or stay at home 10. the flamingo near the lake 6. Determine which error the following statements contain by marking CS for comma splice (two independent clauses with inadequate/unsuitable punctuation) and RO for run on (two independent clauses without suitable punctuation/conjunction): 10 1. In March, Harry was transferred to a new plant in Detroit, then he was laid off in June. 2. The CEO received a subscription to his favorite magazine, it arrived in the mail within two weeks. 3. The jury members deliberated for over two months, the judge has asked to meet with them today. 4. We will travel to Bermuda this summer, we will stay home. 5. The weather forecaster asked everyone to remain indoors, a storm was heading our way. 6. My sister has over two thousand old record albums, she has very little storage space left. 7. The sun is 93 million miles away it can still burn a person's skin badly. 8. My mother was born in Madrid, I had very little trouble learning Spanish. 9. The new oil painting is very colorful, it will look good with our bright furnishings. 10. Many people believe in the curative powers of this water they have felt relief after bathing in it.

7.

Select the word that is consistent with the rules of parallel structure.

10

1 The Freeport Board of Education wants students to take more required courses and (a) passing (b) pass them before they can earn a diploma. A) passing B) pass 2 By a vote of 6 to 1, the board last night approved requirements beginning the freshman year and (a) extending (b) extend through the senior year. A) extending B) extend 2

3 The requirements include four years of English, two years of science and mathematics and (a) three (b) three years of a foreign language. A) three B) three years 4 Board members expressed concern about the large numbers of Freeport high school graduates who failed college entrance exams and (a) are (b) were placed in remedial courses. A) are B) were 5 Too many graduates find they cannot read well, write properly or (a) logically think (b) think logically, board members felt. A) logically think B) think logically 6 They agreed that it is easier (a) to prepare (b) preparing students in high school than to have them spend money to take remedial college courses. A) to prepare B) preparing 7 The lone dissenting vote was cast by Edwin Minteer, who said that the action is punitive and (a) is (b) was bound to create turmoil in the high schools. A) is B) was 8 Minteer also said the proposal would fall disproportionately on the foreign born, the late bloomers and (a) those who are (b) the poor. A) those who are B) the 9 Albert Swimmer disagreed. He said that providing students with a better education and (a) to give (b) giving them intellectual stimulation should be the aim of high school. A) to give B) giving 10 The majority agreed the proposal will require smaller classes, better teacher training and (a) money (b) more money. A) money B) more money 8. Choose the correct verb in each sentence below. 10

1. Emily and Greg (comes, come) to my house every Friday for lunch. 2. There (is, are) time to watch the movie. 3

3. My friends who are in the band (wants, want) me to play a musical instrument. 4. My father or my brothers (is, are) coming with me to the ball game. 5. Everyone (needs, need) time to relax. 6. That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh. 7. The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to win the tournament next week. 8. Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned. 9. Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty. 10. Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too complicated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. 10

1. Making only minimum wage, I nearly earned $2,000 last summer. 2. The bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick. 3. A fish was found in the Pacific Ocean that had been considered extinct. 4. The cowboy was thrown by the bull in a leather vest. 5. Sam asked me to accompany her for dinner on the telephone. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. 1. Writing carefully, the essay was finished in time to hand in. 2. My flesh felt creepy after seeing a monster movie. 3. At the age of four, my grandmother taught me to knit. 4. To do well in college, good grades are essential. 5. Crowded in the car, the trip was uncomfortable.

10

Change each passive voice sentence into the active voice. 4

10

1. The winning novel was chosen by a panel of famous fiction writers. 2. Four motorists were killed by automobile accidents over the Memorial Day weekend. 3. The book on glaciers was never sent to the bookstore by the publishers. 4. A ball traveling at incredible speed was thrown by the veteran pitcher. 5. The dishes were cleared from the table by the impatient server. 6. English sheepdogs are bred and raised by the kennel on 3rd Avenue. 7. We were amazed by some of the performances. 8. Adequate medical benefits should be insisted on by every employee. 9. A motion was made to table the matter by three committee members. 10. A note was written on the brown paper bag by the grocery clerk.

11. For each sentence, identify the subject or the predicate (verb). Remember that the subject tells who or what the sentence is about or is talking about. The predicate tells what the subject is doing or what is being said about the subject. 10 1 The professor handed out a syllabus the first day of class. The subject is A) professor B) syllabus C) class 2 Most colleges offer several computer science courses. The predicate is A) colleges B) offer C) courses 3 Typing is an important skill. The subject is A) typing B) is C) skill 5

4 Everyone recognizes the name Oprah. The subject is A) Everyone B) name C) Oprah 5 A schedule helps students with time management. The predicate is A) schedule B) helps C) management 6 The tennis team won the state championship. The subject is A) tennis B) team C) championship 7 Several thousand people watched the parade. The predicate is A) Several B) watched C) parade 8 Identity theft is a significant problem in the United States. The predicate is A) theft B) is C) problem 9 The study of human populations is called demography. The predicate is A) study B) populations C) is called 10 We were puzzled by her explanation. The subject is A) We B) were puzzled C) explanation

KEY Pre test: SDPI Writing Skills Workshop Participant Name: Self assessed Score

Look at the words given below and identify according to CATEGORY/FUNCTION: 1. Circle the NOUNS (naming), Box the ADJECTIVES (describing). Underline the VERBS (describing action) /18 Briefing Deny Activate Agenda Implementation Information Progress Effective Letter Refine Careful Assert Emergency Emphasize Develop Emergent

Leadership Stagnant 2.

Circle the ACTION verbs (showing action). Underline the LINKING VERBS (No action). /12 Are Concentrate Understand Impress Am Summarize Analyze Was Were /12 Effectively Fluent Very Quietly

Apprehend Will be 3.

Operationalize

Circle adverbs and limited adverbs. Box Adjectives. Too Detailed Just Quite Explicit Alarmingly

Essentially Broad

4. Label the category to which each of the following word belongs: (Adj (adjective), N (noun), Adv (adverb), Pr (pronoun), Prep (Preposition), Art (Article), V (Verb), Int (interjection): /12 Alas Conference The Damage A Under SDPI Causing Workshop Their above Qualify

Motivational Abruptly

5. Some of the following word groups are fragments while others are simple sentences. Mark F for fragment and C for complete sentence. 10 1. when he walked into the supermarket 2. please complete the exercise on page 16 3. such as lions, tigers, and leopards 4. people who exercise daily 7

5. will the tree survive the snowstorm 6. the dog chewing on the bone 7. while we played cards 8. it was a small price to pay for the item 9. she will either go to the party or stay at home 10. the flamingo near the lake 6. Determine which error the following statements contain by marking CS for comma splice (two independent clauses with inadequate/unsuitable punctuation) and RO for run on (two independent clauses without suitable punctuation/conjunction): 10 1. In March, Harry was transferred to a new plant in Detroit, then he was laid off in June. 2. The CEO received a subscription to his favorite magazine, it arrived in the mail within two weeks. 3. The jury members deliberated for over two months, the judge has asked to meet with them today. 4. We will travel to Bermuda this summer, we will stay home. 5. The weather forecaster asked everyone to remain indoors, a storm was heading our way. 6. My sister has over two thousand old record albums, she has very little storage space left. 7. The sun is 93 million miles away it can still burn a person's skin badly. 8. My mother was born in Madrid, I had very little trouble learning Spanish. 9. The new oil painting is very colorful, it will look good with our bright furnishings. 10. Many people believe in the curative powers of this water they have felt relief after bathing in it.

7.

Select the word that is consistent with the rules of parallel structure.

10

1 The Freeport Board of Education wants students to take more required courses and (a) passing (b) pass them before they can earn a diploma. A) passing B) pass 2 By a vote of 6 to 1, the board last night approved requirements beginning the freshman year and (a) extending (b) extend through the senior year. A) extending B) extend 8

3 The requirements include four years of English, two years of science and mathematics and (a) three (b) three years of a foreign language. A) three B) three years 4 Board members expressed concern about the large numbers of Freeport high school graduates who failed college entrance exams and (a) are (b) were placed in remedial courses. A) are B) were 5 Too many graduates find they cannot read well, write properly or (a) logically think (b) think logically, board members felt. A) logically think B) think logically 6 They agreed that it is easier (a) to prepare (b) preparing students in high school than to have them spend money to take remedial college courses. A) to prepare B) preparing 7 The lone dissenting vote was cast by Edwin Minteer, who said that the action is punitive and (a) is (b) was bound to create turmoil in the high schools. A) is B) was 8 Minteer also said the proposal would fall disproportionately on the foreign born, the late bloomers and (a) those who are (b) the poor. A) those who are B) the 9 Albert Swimmer disagreed. He said that providing students with a better education and (a) to give (b) giving them intellectual stimulation should be the aim of high school. A) to give B) giving 10 The majority agreed the proposal will require smaller classes, better teacher training and (a) money (b) more money. A) money B) more money 8. Choose the correct verb in each sentence below. 10

1. Emily and Greg (comes, come) to my house every Friday for lunch. 2. There (is, are) time to watch the movie. 9

3. My friends who are in the band (wants, want) me to play a musical instrument. 4. My father or my brothers (is, are) coming with me to the ball game. 5. Everyone (needs, need) time to relax. 6. That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh. 7. The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to win the tournament next week. 8. Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned. 9. Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty. 10. Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too complicated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. 10

1. Making only minimum wage, I nearly earned $2,000 last summer. 2. The bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick. 3. A fish was found in the Pacific Ocean that had been considered extinct. 4. The cowboy was thrown by the bull in a leather vest. 5. Sam asked me to accompany her for dinner on the telephone. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. 1. Writing carefully, the essay was finished in time to hand in. 2. My flesh felt creepy after seeing a monster movie. 3. At the age of four, my grandmother taught me to knit. 4. To do well in college, good grades are essential. 5. Crowded in the car, the trip was uncomfortable.

10

10

Change each passive voice sentence into the active voice. 1. The winning novel was chosen by a panel of famous fiction writers. 2. Four motorists were killed by automobile accidents over the Memorial Day weekend. 3. The book on glaciers was never sent to the bookstore by the publishers. 4. A ball traveling at incredible speed was thrown by the veteran pitcher. 5. The dishes were cleared from the table by the impatient server. 6. English sheepdogs are bred and raised by the kennel on 3rd Avenue. 7. We were amazed by some of the performances. 8. Adequate medical benefits should be insisted on by every employee. 9. A motion was made to table the matter by three committee members. 10. A note was written on the brown paper bag by the grocery clerk.

10

11. For each sentence, identify the subject or the predicate (verb). Remember that the subject tells who or what the sentence is about or is talking about. The predicate tells what the subject is doing or what is being said about the subject. 10 1 The professor handed out a syllabus the first day of class. The subject is A) professor B) syllabus C) class 2 Most colleges offer several computer science courses. The predicate is A) colleges B) offer C) courses 3 Typing is an important skill. 11

The subject is A) typing B) is C) skill 4 Everyone recognizes the name Oprah. The subject is A) Everyone B) name C) Oprah 5 A schedule helps students with time management. The predicate is A) schedule B) helps C) management 6 The tennis team won the state championship. The subject is A) tennis B) team C) championship 7 Several thousand people watched the parade. The predicate is A) Several B) watched C) parade 8 Identity theft is a significant problem in the United States. The predicate is A) theft B) is C) problem 9 The study of human populations is called demography. The predicate is A) study B) populations C) is called 10 We were puzzled by her explanation. The subject is A) We B) were puzzled C) explanation

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