1. PLEASE TAKE A HIGHLIGHTER AND NOTE ALL EXAMPLES YOU CAN FIND OF “TO BE” VERBS. E.G. AM, IS, ARE, WERE, BE, BEEN, BEING. 2. ALSO NOTE ALL EXAMPLE OF “HAVE” VERBS. E.G. HAS, HAD, HAVE

1. CHECK TO SEE WHETHER YOUR “TO BE” VERBS SIGNAL PASSIVE VOICE. (SEE YOUR STYLE GUIDE, PROBLEM FIVE) 2.IF YOU SEE AN EXAMPLE OF PASSIVE VOICE CHANGE THE SENTENCE SO THAT IT BEGINS WITH THE SUBJECT.

1. NOW LOOK AND SEE IF THE “TO BE” OR “HAVE” VERBS ARE IN SITUATIONS WERE YOU COULD USE A STRONG VERB. INSTEAD OF DIMMESDALE IS A VERY RELIGIOUS MAN. DIMMESDALE BELIEVES UNRESERVEDLY IN THE WORD OF GOD.

LOOK FOR EXAMPLE OF “THERE IS” OR “THERE ARE.” TRY TO GET RID OF THEM. DOES YOUR SENTENCE MAKE SENSE WITHOUT THEM?

LOOK AT YOUR SENTENCE LENGTH. ARE ALL YOUR SENTENCES SHORT? ARE ALL YOUR SENTENCE LENGTHY WITH MANY SUBORDINATE CLAUSES? TRY VARYING YOUR SENTENCE LENGTH. TAKE TWO SENTENCES AND COMBINE THEM. OR TAKE A LONG SENTENCE AND BREAK IT INTO TWO.

DO ALL YOUR SENTENCES FOLLOW A SUBJECT VERB OBJECT PATTERN? I.E. TOM THROWS THE BALL. PICK ONE AND CHANGE IT SO IT BEGINS WITH A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE. IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE, TOM STOOD LISTLESSLY THROWING THE BASKETBALL AGAINST THE WALL.

NOW CHOOSE ONE AND TRY BEGINNING WITH A GERUND (WORDS ENDING IN “ING”) THROWING THE BALL AGAINST THE WALL, TOM BEGAN TO PLAN IS RISE TO WORLD DOMINATION.