English 1301
AUGUST 27
CW: CHAPTER 1
BH: MLA ESSAY FORMAT & ACTIVE VERBS
Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers, Chp. 1
Myths versus Reality
 Myth: Writing is easy for some.
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Reality: Some writers might be blessed with the ability to write
easily, but for most, including most professional writers,
writing is hard, it is a struggle, and the words do not always
come easily.
Ernest Hemingway: “I always worked until I had something
done and I always stopped when I knew what was going to
happen next. That way I could be sure of going on the next
day.”

The best piece of advice I’ve received recently was this: “Always
stop when you have something more to say. That way, you can be
sure to be able to get going again the next day.”
 Myth: “Good writers are born, not made. A writing
course really won’t help my writing.”

Reality: Writers acquire their skills through practice and hard work,
just like athletes.
 Myth: “Writing courses are just a review of grammar and
punctuation.”

Reality: Yes, we will study grammar, punctuation, and mechanics,
but those elements are only a small part of the whole. Expressing
your thoughts in logical and consistent ways is more important than
those things.
 Myth: “College writing courses teach creative
writing, something I don’t need in my major.”

Reality: I’ve designed this course, and these textbooks were
chosen, to be practical and applicable to all majors. We may do
some writing that is more creative than other pieces of writing
that we do. But, in reality, all the writing we do in here is
designed to improve your skills as writers.
 Myth: “Writing courses are not important in college
or the real world. I’ll never have to write again after I
complete this class.”

Reality: Learning to write well can improve your note-taking
skills, your reading comprehension, and your ability to think
critically. Also, I can’t think of a major or job where there is not
some writing or reading involved. I challenge you to tell me of
a job that does not involve writing or reading of some kind,
literally, shout it out.
Writing Rituals
 A ritual is a ceremonial behavior performed not for
its own sake but for some other goal. For example,
the habit of fastening your seatbelt becomes a ritual
when doing this reminds you to drive safely.
 In writing, sharpening pencils or finding a favorite
pen, fixing coffee, or cleaning your desk may be
habits that lead to successful writing.
On a sheet of paper, answer the following
questions:
Describe your own writing rituals: When, where,
and how do you do your best writing?
2. In two or three sentences, complete the following
thoughts: “First, my greatest strengths as a writer
are……….BUT the area(s) I hope to improve the
most in during this semester is (are)………………”
3. In a few sentences, complete the following thought:
“In my previous classes and from my own writing
experiences, I’ve learned that the three most
important rules about writing are….”
1.
Bedford Handbook: MLA
Format, pgs. 122-23
MLA Format
 Margins – 1” top, bottom, left, right
 Double-spaced throughout
 Font – 12 pt. Times New Roman
 Title – We always need a title. Centered on the page.
 Indent new paragraphs ½”, or one tab.
 Page numbers – in top right. Use last name plus page
number. Page number on 1st page.
MLA Format
 Heading
 Name
 Instructor’s name
 Class + Section #
 Date the assignment is due, not the day you type this up, but
the assignment’s due date.
 Do NOT place this information in a header. It does not need to
be repeated on every page.
MLA Format Example
George 1
Jim Yudovitz
Sean George
English 1301.23339
10 September 2009
The UC: Life in the Slow Lane
Life in the university center, aka the student center tends to be dull and uninteresting.
However……………………….
BH: Active Verbs, pgs. 146-151
 Use active verbs as much as possible, although it is
not always possible.
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Passive: The pumps were destroyed by a surge of power.
Active: A surge of water destroyed the pumps.

In the first sentence, the pumps are passive, they are not DOING
anything. In the second sentence, the water is active, it is
destroying the pumps.
Active Verbs
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
Passive: The fly ball was caught by Hernando.
Active: Hernando caught the fly ball.
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In the first sentence, the fly ball is passive. In the second,
Hernando acts.
Passive: The transformer was struck by a bolt of lightning.
Active: The bolt of lightning struck the transformer.

Again, passive versus active. The difference may be subtle, but
using active verbs as often as possible will strengthen your writing.
Active Verbs, Exercise 8-1
a. The Prussians were victorious over the Saxons in
1745.
b. The entire operation is managed by Ahmed, the
producer.
c. There were shouting protestors on the courthouse
steps.
Exercise 8-1, pg. 151, with a partner
A strange sound was made in the willow tree by the
monkey that had escaped from the zoo.
2. Her letter was in acknowledgement of the student’s
participation in the literacy program.
3. The work of Paul Oakenfold and Sandra Collins
was influential in my choice of music for my
audition.
4. The only responsibility I was given by my parents
was putting gas in the brand-new Mitsubishi they
bought me my senior year.
1.
1.
A strange sound was made in the willow tree by the
monkey that had escaped from the zoo.
Revision???
The monkey that escaped from the zoo made strange
sounds in the willow tree.
2. Her letter was in acknowledgement of the student’s
participation in the literacy program.
Revision???
She wrote a letter acknowledging the student’s
participation in the literacy program.
3. The work of Paul Oakenfold and Sandra Collins was
influential in my choice of music for my audition.
Revision???
The work of Paul Oakenfold and Sandra Collins
influenced my choice of music for my audition.
The work of Paul Oakenfold and Sandra Collins
influenced the music I chose for my audition.
4. The only responsibility I was given by my parents was putting
gas in the brand-new Mitsubishi they bought me my senior
year.
Revision???
My parents gave me the responsibility of putting gas in the
brand-new Mitsubishi they bought during my senior year.
This sentence may be hard to get away from the passive voice.
For example,
It is my responsibility to put gas in ….
I have the responsibility to put gas in ….
I am responsible for putting gas in ….