Semester Exam Review: Revising and Editing

Semester Exam Review

Transition Words

These link sentences and ideas. If you use them correctly, your writing will be easier to understand and more mature. Choose the best transition word to insert into the following sentences.

Multiple Choice

I was concentrating on my homework. ________, the soup boiled over.

• However

• for example

• Meanwhile

• Furthermore

Multiple Choice

When you begin an exercise program, you must be careful not to overdo it. My father, _________, hurt his back by exercising too hard without warming up first.

• however

• Therefore

• for example

• Meanwhile

Multiple Choice

Choose the best version of the sentence.

• I would like to read many books; however, I don't seem to have enough time to read.

• I would like to read many books; however; I don't have enough time to read.

• However I would like to read many books. I don't have enough time to read.

• I would like to read many books; However, I don't have enough time to read.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best version of the sentence.

• Texting while driving is dangerous; however, it is also illegal.

• Texting while driving is dangerous; furthermore, it is also illegal.

• Texting while driving is dangerous; for example, it is also illegal.

• Texting while driving is dangerous; meanwhile, it is also illegal.

Poll

What is wrong with this sentence? Erica felt as if she might faint from hunger; therefore she decided a trip to McDonald's was necessary.

• Nothing--it's all good

• the "t" in therefore needs capitalizing

• the semi-colon after "hunger" needs to be a comma

• there should be a comma after "therefore"

• "however" would be a better transition word

Combining sentences for clarity

• Vocab to recognize: to make more clear, clarify, improve clarity

• If given a choice of word improvement, go with the MORE SIMPLE choice.

• Keep things *parallel*

• --look at the verbs: are they all the same tense?

• --look at the verbs: do they all have the same *style*/endings

• --look at the words "between the commas:" do they need to have the same structure?

• If you can change an unclear pronoun to a correct noun, that's usually a GOOD choice.

Poll

Which is better?

• Every morning, we make our beds, eat breakfast, and feed the dog.

• Every morning, we make our beds, are eating breakfast, and feed the dog.

Poll

Which is better?

• We enjoy relaxing and sitting out in the sun.

• We enjoy relaxing and like to sit out in the sun.

Poll

Which is better?

• Tim was considered to be a good employee because he was always on time, he was very motivated, and he was a good leader.

• Tim was considered to be a good employee because he was always on time, he was very motivated, and he led the team well.

Poll

Which is better?

• Industrial spying is increasing rapidly because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information.

• Industrial spying, because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information, is increasing rapidly.

Poll

Which is better?

• The committee decided to postpone the vote.

• A decision was reached to postpone the vote.

Poll

Which is better?

• At the city park, you can rent paddle boats.

• At the city park, guests can rent paddle boats.

Poll

Which is better?

• The implementation of the plan was successful.

• The plan was implemented successfully.

Poll

Which is better?

• The weather forecast on the internet says that it might rain tomorrow.

• On the internet, it says that it might rain tomorrow.

Colons :

Use them to introduce a complete sentence.

Multiple Choice

Answer this question for me: why aren't more people concerned about pollution?

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

This was the moment he had waited for: justice had finally been served!

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

You know what to do: need to practice.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Personal space: a must-have in the time of Corona!

• Correct

• Incorrect

Use a colon to introduce a list

:

Multiple Choice

For our class project, we had to interview the following experts: an economist, a scientist, and a doctor.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

We wanted to order: burgers, fries, and several drinks.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

We needed several items from the grocery store: milk, cereal, fruit, and bread.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Use a colon for emphasis or announcement

:

Multiple Choice

I finally decided on a career: nursing.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

His explanation for being late was implausible: carjacking.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

He wanted to try something new: biking to school.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Commas

• Use commas with FANBOYS--for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so--when joining independent clauses to make a compound sentence.

• ***Because*** is NOT one of the FANBOYS. Do NOT use it to make a compound sentence. If you think ***because***would fit, replace it with the word "for."

Multiple Choice

I drank some water, for I was thirsty.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

I knew I shouldn't enter the forest, yet something drew me nearer.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

I didn't want to do my homework, nor did I want to start my chores.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

My favorite candy bar is Hershey's bar, but I also like KitKats.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

You need to vacuum your room because the carpet has dirt all over it.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Commas and *nonessential* clauses & phrases

These interrupt the sentence and are NOT essential to the meaning of the sentence. Think of the commas as handles to grab and pull that section out of the sentence. If the sentence still holds its original meaning with that part "pulled out," then, yeah, keep the commas!

Multiple Choice

Which is better?

• My uncle who is 83 years old walks three miles a day.

• My uncle, who is 83 years old, walks three miles a day.

Multiple Choice

Which is better?

• James, a part-time aviator, loves to work with various types of machinery.

• James a part-time aviator loves to work with various types of machinery.

Multiple Choice

Which is better?

• A part-time aviator, James loves to work with various types of machinery.

• A part-time aviator James loves to work with various types of machinery.

Apostrophes

Use an apostrophe to show the omission of a letter (or letters) from a word to form a contraction. This can include numbers.

To make a word plural, add -s or -es. To show possession of a singular word, add an apostrophe and an -s.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• The owners car is parked in a no-parking zone.

• The owner's car is parked in a no-parking zone.

Multiple Choice

Did not = Didn't

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

1940-1949

• 1940s

• 1940's

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• There is your paper.

• They're is your paper.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• Your right.

• You're right.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• Its going to be a long drive.

• It's going to be a long drive.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• The papers thesis is off-topic.

• The paper's thesis is off-topic.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• The students' papers were well-written overall.

• The students papers were well-written overall.

Vocabulary and Terms you may want to know...

simile, metaphor, vulnerable, remorseful, impenetrable, subtle, sustained, resourceful, dignified, similar sentiment, brick-and-mortar store, algorithm, obliged, patrons, affluent, antidote, appalling, ravenous, diminutive, serendipity, entrepreneurial, unblemished