Exam 2: Writing Complete Sentences

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: In order to be a good cook, you have to be prepared in the kitchen. Cookbooks are so expensive.

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: Gilberto learned how to play the trumpet, but it took a long time. His older sister teased him for his horrible playing.

Instructions: Select the part of the sentence that contains a grammar or punctuation error. According to recent studies, over 7 million americans eat a meatless diet, and more than 22 million adults limit their consumption of animal products.

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: Modern fireworks have their origins in tenth-century Chinese pyrotechnics. My family set fireworks off last summer.

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: Gilberto learned how to play the trumpet, but it took a long time. He became more advanced and enjoyed the music.

Instructions: The paragraph below is developed by a specific mode or pattern. Read the paragraph; then answer the question(s). (1) Although separated by many years in age, Carolyn s father and her son are remarkably similar. (2) A gray-haired elderly gentleman, Carolyn s father always carefully selects his clothing before he steps into the public view. (3) His greatest treat is to browse through encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs to absorb scraps of knowledge, minute facts, and out-of-the-way statistics. (4) At dinner, he enjoys surprising his family with the annual rainfall of Australia or the average length of the tiger shark. (5) Billy, Carolyn s seven-year-old, also carefully surveys his clothing each morning to see what would best suit his mood. (6) He too loves to read, but he confines himself to children s books on exotic lands. (7) Just like his grandfather, at mealtime he parades his store of odd facts before the family, relishing the surprised looks on their faces. (8) Maybe the old saying should be Like grandfather, like grandson. Transitional words or phrases are used in which sentence(s)?

Instructions: Select the part of the sentence that contains a grammar or punctuation error. Although the Japanese aristocracy scorned tattooing. Poor persons, workers, and craftsmen proudly wore these decorations.

Instructions: The paragraph below is developed by a specific mode or pattern. Read the paragraph; then answer the question(s). (1) Employers should take aggressive steps to end age discrimination at the workplace. (2) According to the AARP, one-third of older American voters say that they or someone they know has experienced some form of age discrimination. (3) This problem is a serious one, as workers fifty-five and older are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. (4) Age discrimination is on the rise in these difficult economic times. (5) Workers who are laid off at age fifty-five or sixty find it difficult to find work. (6) The same is true for men and women who retire early, whether by choice or due to a corporate buyout. (7) Some employers say that older workers will take more time to learn things and will be less willing to work long hours. (8) However, that is a narrow-minded view. (9) Older workers can bring wisdom and expertise to the work environment. (10) In addition, they can prove to be excellent teachers to younger employees who need help. (11) Therefore, employers must treat every worker and job applicant with fairness and objectivity, regardless of age. Select the type of development the writer of this paragraph has used.

Instructions: Read the essay that follows, written without proper paragraph breaks, and then answer the question(s) by selecting the letter of the correct answer. (1) Pele and Slouch, my two cats, are so unlike, it s a wonder that they get along. (2) Pele is a short-haired, long-eared, slim but agile feline. (3) His color is silver gray. (4) Slouch, on the other hand, is a long-haired, short-eared, chubby, and clumsy cat. (5) He is brown and gold. (6) Pele has always been a very active cat. (7) He will fetch a crumpled piece of paper as often as I can throw it. (8) I ve yet to tire him out. (9) Jumping to a height of 3 feet is an effortless task for him, or so he makes it seem. (10) His muscle coordination is something to see. (11) If I throw a paper directly at him, he will sit back on his hind legs and catch it with his front paws. (12) Whenever he gets tired of that, he just runs all over the apartment. (13) With people, Pele is extremely gentle. (14) Because Slouch didn t come along until Pele was ten months old, Pele got a lot of attention. (15) He likes being held and petted. (16) On occasion he will jump up next to a visitor with a crumpled piece of paper in his mouth, all primed for fun and games! (17) Slouch, on the contrary, is a lazy but unpredictable cat. (18) His daily exercise consists of walking over to the dish where his food is kept. (19) When he gets tired of that, he will just sit by the bowl as if he were waiting to get hungry. (20) On those long days when the cat food loses its appeal, he will walk around, head bent down, sniffing the floor for imaginary food droppings. (21) His methodical and determined approach to this pastime reminds me of a cow grazing in the fields. (22) But people, beware: don t ever try to hold on to a piece of food while feeding Slouch. (23) He will claw wildly to get it. (24) I was told by his previous owner that he was the runt of the litter, often shoved aside by the larger cats. (25) Perhaps this accounts for his greedy and fearful hunger. (26) Contrary to what might be expected, Pele and Slouch are the best of friends. (27) I have seen Pele help Slouch with the laborious task of washing his long coat. (28) Once in a while, Slouch will join Pele in a game of slow tag, or perhaps they ll just lie together. (29) On sunny afternoons they often sit by the open window, sharing the weird smells drifting in on the breeze. (30) They seem to know they are like two children, each loved in a different way, but nevertheless loved. Angel Reyes, Student This essay should be broken into six paragraphs. Select the group of sentence numbers below that includes all first sentences of new paragraphs.

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: In order to be a good cook, you have to be prepared in the kitchen. Salt and pepper are the most common food seasonings.

Instructions: Select the part of the sentence that contains a grammar or punctuation error. Whatever their reasons, a vegetarian makes a conscious effort to plan his or her diet and improve their life.

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. Proofread them for errors in spelling and look-alikes/sound-alikes. Select the letter of the correct list of misspelled words. Also identify you re strenths and skills. What types of things do you do well? In what subjects do you excel?

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. Proofread them for consistency, parallelism, and concise language. Select the letter of the error in each sentence. They used this soap for bathing and also to cleanse wounds.

Instructions: Read the essay that follows, written without proper paragraph breaks, and then answer the question(s) by selecting the letter of the correct answer. (1) Have you ever wanted a huge party, puffy dress, and sparkling tiara? (2) If so, you just may be one of the millions of girls counting the days until their quincea eras. (3) A quincea era is an over-the-top, dramatic, and even funny celebration that occurs when a Hispanic girl turns fifteen, but a quincea era is also an important event in the girl s life, marking her entry into adulthood. (4) Each girl puts her own stamp on the celebration, as several examples will show. (5) One illustration of a memorable quincea era was my cousin Cindy s three years ago. (6) She constantly said she wanted something different from other quincea eras. (7) The first step was her custom-made invitations. (8) Another component of the party was more like a fairytale. (9) A wooden swan was constructed to lead her into the ballroom to perform her waltz. (10) Luckily, her dress wasn t as outlandish as the swan. (11) It was simple, but it was the centerpiece of the party. (12) Many quincea eras are lavish parties like my cousin s, but others focus on the occasion s meaning. (13) My own quincea era four years ago is an example. (14) Despite its simplicity, it was an experience I ll never forget. (15) My family came from far away to the event, and I felt special, knowing they were there to help me transition into adulthood. (16) Even more special were my uncles sincere speeches and my mother s proud and happy words. (17) Yet, despite this joy, I felt a little sad: I was no longer a carefree girl as I would now have to take on some responsibilities. (18) I was scared I would fail, but having my family there showed me the help I would have along the way. (19) A third example is my little cousin, who is 11 years old but already halfway through planning her own quincea era. (20) She has already designed her own dress for the quincea era and picked the location. (21) So far, she feels relaxed, but knowing how I felt during the first few months of planning, I wish her the best of luck. (22) I plan on helping her. (23) I already promised her a spa day before her party, but I hope the meaning of the occasion is what she appreciates the most, not the dress or shoes. (24) As you can see, a quincea era is a pivotal experience in a Hispanic girl s life. (25) She learns there is more to life than clothes and gifts. (26) It s the togetherness of the family and determination that she learns about, two things Hispanics value highly. (27) After the party, we begin our adulthood, our entrance into the real world. (28) Somehow, we still manage to laugh and smile along the way. Diana Valtierra, Student What is the thesis statement?

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer for the following question. Select the letter of the answer that lists the steps of the writing process in the order that most writers follow as they compose.

Instructions: The paragraph below is developed by a specific mode or pattern. Read the paragraph; then answer the question(s). (1) I hadn t seen my childhood bedroom in the two years since I had left for France. (2) My parents kept everything in place, as if I had never left. (3) An enormous poster of Michael Jordan was still tacked to the front of the door. (4) On the wall were markings of my height, from age three to eighteen. (5) In the bookcase next to my bed stood all the science fiction novels and copies of Sports Illustrated that I had read in middle and high school. (6) Above the bed, a model airplane hung, suspended by thin wires. (7) I lay on the bed, now too small for me, and watched the model airplane move gently in the breeze. Transitional words or phrases are used in which sentences?

Instructions: The paragraph below is developed by a specific mode or pattern. Read the paragraph; then answer the question(s). (1) The chronograph is a watch that measures time in different ways. (2) Its dial has two, three, or even four smaller subdials for this purpose. (3) A dial at the 9 o clock mark might measure continuous seconds; one at six o clock might count total hours up to twelve. (4) Specific features like these are useful to people who must measure time with great accuracy. (5) The stopwatch dial, for example, is useful to athletes who must time and assess their performance. (6) Another possible feature, the tachometer, can be used by race-car drivers to measure the speed of Formula One racers. (7) The chronograph s radium dial with luminous numbers and hands is helpful to military personnel conducting operations at night. (8) A waterproof version with rubber gasket rings can be used by divers who need to mark the tides. (9) Because of the chronograph s fancy, technical details, these timepieces project an active, competent, outdoor image. Select the type of development the writer of this paragraph has used.

Instructions: Select the part of the sentence that contains a grammar or punctuation error. These needles had been dip in dyes of various colors.

Instructions: Each group of sentences below could be organized into and written as a paragraph. In each group, select the letter of the topic sentence. Which sentence is the topic sentence?

Instructions: The topic sentence below is followed by a brainstormed list of possible ideas for a paragraph. Decide which ideas support the topic sentence and should be kept and which ideas should be dropped. Select keep or drop for each idea. Topic sentence: Gilberto learned how to play the trumpet, but it took a long time. Trumpets are made of brass.