Test Preparation for Mid-Term Examination
Date: May 3, 2007
Course Title: Practical Writing (Applied English)
There are 13 Rules of Good Writing listed here. Please read them through and
complete the tasks that follow. (2 pts for each question item)
RULE #1---Avoid comma splice
To join two independent clauses , use a comma followed by a conjunction, a
semicolon alone, or a semicolon followed by a sentence modifier.
Task A: Write formulas. Please convert Rule #1 into three formulas that show how
to avoid comma splice or run -on sentences, using a sentence format such as S V O.
1. ________________________;
2. ________________________;
3. ________________________
Task B: Correct the following sentences .
4. The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo , but still ventured off unafraid.
RULE #2---Use “nonrestrictive” and “restrictive” clauses or phrases
intentionally
Use commas to enclose nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which are not
essential to the sentence's meaning. Do not use commas to bracket phras es or
clauses that are essential to a sentence's meaning
RULE #3---Use a comma correctly
When beginning a sentence with an introductory phrase or an introductory
(dependent) clause, include a comma.
RULE #4 ---Indicate possession
To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an
"s". Otherwise, the noun's form seems plural.
RULE #5---How to put a direct quotation
Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. There are two
situations: First, i f the introductory material is an independent clause, add the
quotation after a colon. Second, if the introductory material ends in "thinks,"
"saying," or some other verb indicating expression, use a comma.
RULE #6 --- Subject-verb agreement
Make the subject and verb agree with each other, not with a word that comes
between them.
RULE #7---Avoid dangling modifiers
A modifier is dangling because its placement gives it nothing to modify. This can
happen in one of these three situations: When (a) a participial phrase, (b) an infinitive
phrases, or (c) a prepositional phrase, cannot refer clearly to or describe the proper subject.
RULE #8---Parallelism
Use parallel construction to make a strong point and create a smooth flow.
RULE #9 ---Passive voice
Use the active voice unless you specifically need to use the passive voice.
RULE #10 ---Wordiness
Omit unnecessary words.
Rule #11---Misplaced modifiers
A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes. This sentence is
unclear: “I told m y son when the game was over I would play with him. ” The
adverbial clause “when the game was over” is a squinting modifier , a misplaced
modifier that may describe two situations.
Rule #12---Avoid fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences.
Rule #13-- Topicalization
Chinese learners of English tend to overemphasize the topic of their s peech or
writing. They do this by using certain language devices (e.g., “For” and
“Concerning”) to put the topic at the beginning of a sentence. The topic is often
then repeated as a pronoun. See the example:
Topicalized Expression:
“For making a gold rin g, it involves several complex steps. ”
Corrected sentence:
(1) Making a gold ring involves several complex steps.
Or
(2) There are several complex steps in making a gold ring.
References
More information about this test is available from the following sources:
1. Topicalized expressions http://vlc.pol yu.edu.hk/common/topicalize.htm
2. 11 rules of Writing http://www.junketstudies.com/rulesofw/frules.html
3. Usage http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ows/usage.htm
4. Ten most wanted. http://ace.acadiau.ca/english/grammar/int ro.htm