1. Writing Test

2.  Semi-colons Used to combine sentences Must have 2 independent clauses No conjunctions  EX: My favorite types of movies are comedies and fantasies; I also like horror movies.  Colons Combine 2 independent clauses when the second clarifies or illustrates the first  EX: I have three favorite types of movies: comedy, fantasy, and horror.

3.  Parentheses: Used to set off something that seems out of place or that would otherwise interrupt the flow of the sentence.  EX: VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was a national holiday.  Dash: Add drama or emphasis to the information Highlights information inside  EX: April 15 – an inauspicious day- is the date of many tragic events in history.

4.  Comma: Subordinating conjunction when the subordinating clause comes first.  EX: Although they are not home, you can wait for them here.  EX: You can wait for them here although they are not at home. (NO COMMA – subordinating clause at end) Must be used with a coordinating conjunction when combining independent clauses  IC, FANBOYS IC  EX: Jason went to the store, and Jessica went to her friend’s house.

5.  Pronoun-antecedent agreement Agree in Number:  EX: Each student must turn in his or her homework. Compound Subjects:  EX: My dad will give the car to my sister and me when we graduate. Clear antecedents:  EX: If you want to work in a museum, they require that you have a degree in art history.  If you want to work in a museum, the management require that you have a degree in art history.

6.  Joined with a coordinating conjunction EX: I like to read and play computer games. INCORRECT: I like to read and playing computer games.  Items in a series EX: Today I need to go to the store, pick up the dry cleaning, and stop by the post office. INCORRECT: Today I need to go to the store, picking up the dry cleaning, and stop by the post office.  Comparisons EX: Driving across the country takes more time than flying. EX: To drive across the country takes more time than to fly. INCORRECT: Driving across the country takes more time than to fly.

7.  A word or phrase that describes, clarifies, or otherwise modifies something else in a sentence.  Misplaced: EX: Isaac was worried that the rocks, which were thundering down the hill, would land on his campsite. INCORRECT: Thundering down the hill, Isaac was worried that the rocks would land on his campsite.

8.  Information is missing EX: Walking near the river, I watched as the fish jumped. INCORRECT: Walking near the river, the fish jumped.

9.  Look for transitional words/phrases  Look for paragraphs that contain closely related ideas that are not placed near each other.  Choose the one that seems to place the paragraphs in the most LOGICAL order.  Move on…

11.  Precision: Accurate: She enjoys reading books, particularly those in the science fiction genres. Precise: She enjoys reading novels, particularly those in the science fiction genres.  Concision: Wordiness:  Passive Voice Redundancy:

12.  Wordiness Fewest words without losing meaning  Passive voice:  Passive: The birthday gift was given to Sarah by her aunt and uncle.  Active: Her aunt and uncle gave Sarah a birthday gift.  There is/there are/it is  Wordy: There are too many people in this room.  Better: This room has too many people.  This/that/which  Wordy: I enjoy cooking, which is because my grandmother taught me.  Concise: I enjoy cooking because my grandmother taught me.

13.  Redundancy Needless repetition of words, phrases, or ideas within a given sentence or paragraph Redundant: Many uneducated citizens who never graduated from school continue to vote for education improvements. Concise: Many uneducated citizens continue to vote for education improvements.

14.  Only 2 sections!  You CAN DO THIS!