QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL WORK. 1. Mechanics is a part of writing that readers look at carefully

1. Mechanics is a part of writing that readers look at carefully. What are the two main components of mechanics?

2. Punctuate the following sentences correctly with commas and/or semi-colon:

· The countryside although beautiful in the summer looks barren and sad in the winter.

· My mother's brother Paul Duncan came to the party drunk again.

· Nobody knows what Granny is thinking she's probably thinking about going to sleep.

3. When is it necessary to use a semi-colon within a sentence instead of a comma?

4. Which of these sentences uses definite, concrete language?

· The weather is always bad in these months.

· From November through February, the skies are dull gray and ice cold rain falls nearly everyday.

5. The following sentence is vague and unclear. Change it to a sentence with definite, concrete language.

That woman travels a lot.

6. The following sentences have unnecessary words. Cross out the words that should be omitted.

· He is a boy who likes to eat a lot of candy.

· This is a subject that bores everyone.

7. A paragraph is defined by 3 things. Finish the three statements about the paragraph.

..................................................supporting one idea

central idea is usually stated in................................

all sentences are........................................................

8. Circle the topic sentence in the following paragraph:

One morning you may wake up to find yourself in a strange place. The curtains aren't the color you remember. The furniture has been moved around. However, it isn't the room that has changed—it is you. You are seeing through different eyes, because you've adopted a new consciousness. From this point on, everything will appear as if you are seeing it for the first time. You will meet familiar people all over again. You will learn what you already know. But you shouldn't be afraid—sit back, get acquainted with this new life, allow your senses to direct you to a new understanding.

9. Put the following sentences in the order of a correct paragraph.

The mother of the red-haired boy brought the fight to an end.

Other children came running to watch.

"Stop it, Johnny, I tell you to stop it," the woman screamed.

In the roadway two children had got into a fight.

A red-haired boy hit another boy in the face.

10. Sentences that don't belong in a paragraph are considered irrelevant. Cross out the irrelevant sentences in the following paragraph:

Ever since the time of the ancient Greeks, drama has played an important role in men's lives. The Greek comedies and tragedies were a central part in the lives of the citizens in ancient Greece. During the Middle Ages, Bible stories were acted out in churches, and wandering companies of actors performed in the streets. William Shakespeare lived during the Elizabethan period. The English language has changed somewhat since Shakespeare's time. In modern times, drama is brought directly into people's homes through the magic of television. Television also offers people such things as quiz and variety shows.

Different people spend their weekends in different ways. Some enjoy going to the mountains to hike, ski, or just relax. Water skiing is much more difficult than snow skiing. Others prefer going to the beach to enjoy the seashore activities and to get a suntan. Some of these people work very hard during the week; others have more relaxing jobs. Still others like to relax by staying home and reading a good book.

Zoos are popular with all children. They are able to see the examples of wildlife from all continents. In wildlife preserves in Africa, the animals wander about freely without fear of being captured. Perhaps the favorite part of the zoo is the elephant cage. There the elephants entertain the children by spraying themselves with their trunks and doing various tricks. The children are especially delighted when an elephant takes peanuts from them with its trunk.

11. There are four main ways to support a topic sentence. What are they?

12. What is a short, entertaining account of some happening, usually personal?

13. What is a particular part or characteristic of a whole thing, frequently used in description?

14. What is a specific instance that explains an idea?

15. What is a numerical fact?

16. Use an example (one sentence) to support this topic sentence:

There are nine planets within our solar system.

17. Use statistic to (one sentence) to support this topic sentence:

Eating fast food everyday can people to becoming overweight.

18. A definition explains what a particular term means. What are the three components of an effective definition?

19. Identify the three components of these definitions:

· A diary is a book of empty pages, upon which people write their thoughts, feelinss and secret desires.

· A hamburger is a kind of food made of ground beef, and is eaten between bread with onions and ketchup.

· A unicorn if a mythological animal that looks like a white horse and has a horn in the middle of its head.

20. Write definitions for these terms, and identify the components.

· radio

· wardrobe-shoes

21. What is the difference between the writing strategies of comparison and contrast?

22. Compare the following things:

· lamp and television

· novel and DVD

23. Contrast the following things:

· humans and birds

· computers and televisions

24. Define the meaning of the writer's voice.

25. What is diction?

26. What is the difference between concrete and abstract words?

27. Use a concrete description for the abstract sentence:

The girl was very happy with the surprise.

28. What is considered the writer's tone?

29. All following words have the denotation of the word “footwear”. What are the connotations of each word?

· high-heels

· hiking boots

· socks

· slippers

30. What is the difference between literal and figurative language?

31. What is a simile?

32. What is a metaphor?

33. Identify which sentence is a simile, which is a metaphor:

· When she told him she would marry him, he looked like a man who had just won the lottery.

· The child was a hurricane, destroying everything in his path.

34. What is personification?

35. Write one example of personification:

36. What is onomatopoeia?

37. What is alliteration? Give an example of alliteration.

38. Which of the writing styles, formal or informal, uses simpler words and contractions more often?

39. Which of the writing styles, formal or informal, uses longer, carefully constructed sentences more often?

40. What is a cliche?

Sample 2

Поиск по сайту: