Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
TEST NEED WEEK FEB 3/ FEB 5
The requirements for the test next week are as follows:
1. 15 minutes: edit a paragraph by hand, using copy edit symbols; CLOSED BOOK--you must know the symbols. There will be 12 errors for a mark of 3%
2. 30 minutes: edit three paragraphs using track changes; OPEN BOOK. The mark will be based on my sense of your overall edit. You will be required to make copyedits as needed and substantive comments and suggestions that you believe will make the piece better.
Please see blog below for instructions on track changes and a track changes exercise for practice passages.
I will post the editorial symbols and the second page of the edit exercise on Friday night (my apologies, I left it on my desk!!).
If you have questions or concerns, please email or call me.
If you must miss the test for any reason, please contact me by email as soon as possible, letting me know three available times when you can sit it at the testing centre.
1. 15 minutes: edit a paragraph by hand, using copy edit symbols; CLOSED BOOK--you must know the symbols. There will be 12 errors for a mark of 3%
2. 30 minutes: edit three paragraphs using track changes; OPEN BOOK. The mark will be based on my sense of your overall edit. You will be required to make copyedits as needed and substantive comments and suggestions that you believe will make the piece better.
Please see blog below for instructions on track changes and a track changes exercise for practice passages.
I will post the editorial symbols and the second page of the edit exercise on Friday night (my apologies, I left it on my desk!!).
If you have questions or concerns, please email or call me.
If you must miss the test for any reason, please contact me by email as soon as possible, letting me know three available times when you can sit it at the testing centre.
COVER LETTER LATE POLICY
The following was due last week (Wednesday January 20 / Friday January 22):
1. Dream job sheet (1%)
2. Want ad based on dream job sheet (1%)
3. Cover letter; the cover letter was to either respond to the want ad OR be a letter applying for an actual program. It was not supposed to be some random thing for some job you applied for at some time.
READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!!! How can you hope to get anywhere at all if you cannot follow instructions?
If you handed everything in on time:
1. You will receive back your letter with errors circled
2. You have until next week to correct the errors and hand in the letter, but you will get a chance to work on it today in class.
3. Once your letter is perfect in terms of typos, spelling and punctuation errors, or major faults of construction, you will receive the grade given on your first copy, which is based on content and structure.
If you handed in your letter on time, but were missing either the job sheet or the want ad, or both:
1. You may hand in any missing components of the assignment with your clean letter for no penalty.
If your cover letter was late:
1. I will deduct 10% total from your final grade ONLY if you hand in the clean copy on time.
2. If your clean copy is late, you will lose 10%/day from the first deadline;
SO, if you were five days late with your first letter, and your clean copy is on time, you will lose 10%. If you were five days late with your first letter, and your clean copy is late AT ALL, you will lose 50% PLUS 10% for every day your clean copy is late. Now you are looking at a big fat ZERO.
I am giving you this chance, you know who you are, because I am a SUCKER. This is your ONLY chance. I will be rigorous regarding deductions from henceforth.
FINALLY: here are excuses I consider to be irrelevant for late assignments or missing class:
“My car broke down.” Take the bus.
“My computer isn’t working.” Use one at school, or write it by hand with a dictionary.
“I slept in.” DON’T.
Have a nice day
The following was due last week (Wednesday January 20 / Friday January 22):
1. Dream job sheet (1%)
2. Want ad based on dream job sheet (1%)
3. Cover letter; the cover letter was to either respond to the want ad OR be a letter applying for an actual program. It was not supposed to be some random thing for some job you applied for at some time.
READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!!! How can you hope to get anywhere at all if you cannot follow instructions?
If you handed everything in on time:
1. You will receive back your letter with errors circled
2. You have until next week to correct the errors and hand in the letter, but you will get a chance to work on it today in class.
3. Once your letter is perfect in terms of typos, spelling and punctuation errors, or major faults of construction, you will receive the grade given on your first copy, which is based on content and structure.
If you handed in your letter on time, but were missing either the job sheet or the want ad, or both:
1. You may hand in any missing components of the assignment with your clean letter for no penalty.
If your cover letter was late:
1. I will deduct 10% total from your final grade ONLY if you hand in the clean copy on time.
2. If your clean copy is late, you will lose 10%/day from the first deadline;
SO, if you were five days late with your first letter, and your clean copy is on time, you will lose 10%. If you were five days late with your first letter, and your clean copy is late AT ALL, you will lose 50% PLUS 10% for every day your clean copy is late. Now you are looking at a big fat ZERO.
I am giving you this chance, you know who you are, because I am a SUCKER. This is your ONLY chance. I will be rigorous regarding deductions from henceforth.
FINALLY: here are excuses I consider to be irrelevant for late assignments or missing class:
“My car broke down.” Take the bus.
“My computer isn’t working.” Use one at school, or write it by hand with a dictionary.
“I slept in.” DON’T.
Have a nice day
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Track Changes Exercise
EDIT THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES USING TRACK CHANGES
Make basic copy editing changes without comment.
Structural or significant sentence changes should be accompanied by a comment.
1.
The thirtieth anniversary party of my uncle and aunt was the worst family gathering I’ve ever attended. On a hot Saturday morning in july, Mom and I drived out into the country to Uncle Ted’s house. It had already rained heavily, and the only place left to park was in a muddy field. Then, you would not believe the crowd. There must have been two hundred people in Uncle Ted’s small yard, including his five daughters with their husbands and children, and all the other relatives, and all the neighbours, and the entire congregation of their church. Since the ground was soaked and light rain was falling. Mom and me went under the big rented canopy with everybody else. We couldn’t move between the tables, and the humidity fogged my glasses. After wiping my glasses, I seen the there was a lot of food. It was mainly cold chicken and potato and macaroni salads, I ate a lot just because there was nothing else to do. We were suprised that Uncle Ted and his wife were doing all the work themselves. They ran back and forth with trays of food and gathered trash into plastic bags staggering with exhaustion. It didn’t seem like much of a way to celebrate. Mom was upset that she didn’t get to speak with them. When we left, I was hot, sticky, and sick to my stomach from overeating. But quickly pushed our car out of the mud and got us on the road. I have never been happier to leave a party.
2.
It is this writer’s opinion that smokers should quit smoking for the sake of those who are around them. Perhaps the most helpless creatures that suffer from being near a smoker is unborn babies, one study suggests that the risk of having an undersized baby is doubled if pregnant women are exposed to cigarette smoke for about two hours a day. Pregnant women both should refrain from smoking and to avoid smoke-filled rooms. Spouses of smokers are also in big trouble. They are more likely than spouses of non-smokers to die of heart disease and the development of fatal cancers. Office workers are a final group that can be harmed by a smoke-filled environment. The Minister of Health and Welfare has said “Workers who smoke are a health risk to their co-workers. While it is undoubtedly true that one can argue that smokers have the right to hurt themselves they do not have the right to hurt others. Smokers should abandon their deadly habits for the health of others at home and at work.
Taken from College Writing Skills with Readings, 3rd Canadian Edition, by John Langan and Sharon Winstanley, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2003
Make basic copy editing changes without comment.
Structural or significant sentence changes should be accompanied by a comment.
1.
The thirtieth anniversary party of my uncle and aunt was the worst family gathering I’ve ever attended. On a hot Saturday morning in july, Mom and I drived out into the country to Uncle Ted’s house. It had already rained heavily, and the only place left to park was in a muddy field. Then, you would not believe the crowd. There must have been two hundred people in Uncle Ted’s small yard, including his five daughters with their husbands and children, and all the other relatives, and all the neighbours, and the entire congregation of their church. Since the ground was soaked and light rain was falling. Mom and me went under the big rented canopy with everybody else. We couldn’t move between the tables, and the humidity fogged my glasses. After wiping my glasses, I seen the there was a lot of food. It was mainly cold chicken and potato and macaroni salads, I ate a lot just because there was nothing else to do. We were suprised that Uncle Ted and his wife were doing all the work themselves. They ran back and forth with trays of food and gathered trash into plastic bags staggering with exhaustion. It didn’t seem like much of a way to celebrate. Mom was upset that she didn’t get to speak with them. When we left, I was hot, sticky, and sick to my stomach from overeating. But quickly pushed our car out of the mud and got us on the road. I have never been happier to leave a party.
2.
It is this writer’s opinion that smokers should quit smoking for the sake of those who are around them. Perhaps the most helpless creatures that suffer from being near a smoker is unborn babies, one study suggests that the risk of having an undersized baby is doubled if pregnant women are exposed to cigarette smoke for about two hours a day. Pregnant women both should refrain from smoking and to avoid smoke-filled rooms. Spouses of smokers are also in big trouble. They are more likely than spouses of non-smokers to die of heart disease and the development of fatal cancers. Office workers are a final group that can be harmed by a smoke-filled environment. The Minister of Health and Welfare has said “Workers who smoke are a health risk to their co-workers. While it is undoubtedly true that one can argue that smokers have the right to hurt themselves they do not have the right to hurt others. Smokers should abandon their deadly habits for the health of others at home and at work.
Taken from College Writing Skills with Readings, 3rd Canadian Edition, by John Langan and Sharon Winstanley, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2003
Using Track Changes for Writing and Editing
USING TRACK CHANGES FOR WRITING AND EDITING
• In Microsoft Word, click the tab Review
• Click on Track Changes then Tracking Options to change default settings if you wish.
• To add a comment, click on the New Comment button; it will put a “sticky” on the page with your notes.
• If you want to move a paragraph or sentence, it will underline it: click and drag.
• Open the Reviewing Pane to see changes in the margin (electronically only) as well as on the line.
• You can also choose to show your revisions in balloons, so that changes appear out in the margins on the page—click Balloons
• Once you are happy with your edit, click Accept—you can accept changes globally, or one by one.
• You can also use the Compare button to merge changes by more than one editor.
• In Microsoft Word, click the tab Review
• Click on Track Changes then Tracking Options to change default settings if you wish.
• To add a comment, click on the New Comment button; it will put a “sticky” on the page with your notes.
• If you want to move a paragraph or sentence, it will underline it: click and drag.
• Open the Reviewing Pane to see changes in the margin (electronically only) as well as on the line.
• You can also choose to show your revisions in balloons, so that changes appear out in the margins on the page—click Balloons
• Once you are happy with your edit, click Accept—you can accept changes globally, or one by one.
• You can also use the Compare button to merge changes by more than one editor.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Copyediting Exercise
Complete the COPYEDIT the following passage, using copyediting marks off-side (left or right); I’ve done the first two paragraphs for you. [NB: This is an exercise to practice for the test.]
You need to look for the following:
Capitalization / Lower Case
Italicization / Roman
Boldface
Move flush left
Paragraph indent
Follow-on Paragraph
Insert space /Closeup space
Deletions of words, letters or punctuation
Insertions of words, letters or punctuation
Transpositions (words and or letters in the wrong order)
Powerful Avatar Stuns the Eye seduces the Heart
Even if it had a crappy story shallow characters and lame dialogeu, James Camerons 3-D spectacle Avatar would earn a big wow solely on the strength of its aweinducing visuals.
As it turns out avatar which opens Friday, is a damn good movie, period.
Building on a solid foundatin of strong performances Cameron and his team have cut from whole digital cloth a detailed exquisitely world at once familiar and gorgously exotic.
The adventure takes place entirly on the distant orb known as Pandora, an exotic alien world squarely sitting in the cross-hairs of earthlings military-industrial complex. This is where humans clash with the Na’vi: 10-foot-tall blue creatures that enjoy a special bond with their World
Every few minute Cameron unveils another vista, beast, some new flower or dinosaur-bird or airborne jellyfish designed to stun the senses and celebrate natures shere fecundity. Like the Discovery Channel on acid, Avatar’s wildlife produces sensations of wonder awe and delight.
Throw in a few knife-wielding robots, fierce fight scenes, vertigo-inducing aerial chases amid Pandora’s floating forest islands and you’ve got a pg thirteen movie that satisfise even the most jaundiced moviegoers apetite for Sci-Fi eye candy.
You need to look for the following:
Capitalization / Lower Case
Italicization / Roman
Boldface
Move flush left
Paragraph indent
Follow-on Paragraph
Insert space /Closeup space
Deletions of words, letters or punctuation
Insertions of words, letters or punctuation
Transpositions (words and or letters in the wrong order)
Powerful Avatar Stuns the Eye seduces the Heart
Even if it had a crappy story shallow characters and lame dialogeu, James Camerons 3-D spectacle Avatar would earn a big wow solely on the strength of its aweinducing visuals.
As it turns out avatar which opens Friday, is a damn good movie, period.
Building on a solid foundatin of strong performances Cameron and his team have cut from whole digital cloth a detailed exquisitely world at once familiar and gorgously exotic.
The adventure takes place entirly on the distant orb known as Pandora, an exotic alien world squarely sitting in the cross-hairs of earthlings military-industrial complex. This is where humans clash with the Na’vi: 10-foot-tall blue creatures that enjoy a special bond with their World
Every few minute Cameron unveils another vista, beast, some new flower or dinosaur-bird or airborne jellyfish designed to stun the senses and celebrate natures shere fecundity. Like the Discovery Channel on acid, Avatar’s wildlife produces sensations of wonder awe and delight.
Throw in a few knife-wielding robots, fierce fight scenes, vertigo-inducing aerial chases amid Pandora’s floating forest islands and you’ve got a pg thirteen movie that satisfise even the most jaundiced moviegoers apetite for Sci-Fi eye candy.
Week 2 Exercises
EXCERCISES:
1. In the following sentences, underline relative pronouns when they are the SUBJECT of the sentence, and make them BOLD (or underline them twice) when they act as adjectives:
a. Another makes its way to the front.
b. Several dogs and cats were left in the shelter.
c. What is free?
d. Some of them went skiing.
e. This is the last time.
2. Rewrite the following sentences so that the indirect object becomes the object of a prepositional phrase:
a. The dj gave the mc the records.
b. My mother brought me the clothing.
c. His best friend left him all his money.
3. Remove faulty or excessive coordination by using subordination to show the relationship between the clauses:
a. Eugene O’Neill was an American playwright, and he won a Nobel Prize for literature in 1936.
b. O’Neill had an unhappy childhood, and he told the story of his childhood in a play entitled Long Day’s Journey into Night, and he said it was “written in tears and blood.”
c. O’Neill’s daughter Oona married Charlie Chaplin, but she married against her father’s will.
d. One of O’Neill’s plays, The Iceman Cometh, is full of symbols and hidden clues about its meaning, and it has probably been written about more than any other American play.
e. Louis Sheaffer wrote a biography of O’Neill, and he spent sixteen years researching and writing it, and his book won a Pulitizer Prize.
4. Combine the following sentences, by subordinating one idea to another:
a. My sister Carla loves to shop at airport duty-free stores. Her first overseas trip was to Paris.
b. Carla gets to take several overseas trips every year. She works for an importing firm in Ottawa.
c. Duty-free shops are not really duty-free to the consumer. She still saves money on perfumes, watches, scarves, and ties.
d. Carla arrives at the airport early and checks in. She heads for the duty-free shops.
e. She prefers the large selection of the airport duty-free shops. The on-plane duty-free shops are cheaper.
5. Correct the following sentence to remove excessive subordination:
a. Daniel J. Boorstin, who has been a teacher at Harvard and the University of Chicago, is now head of the Library of Congress, which is located in Washington , DC, and which is the largest library in the world.
b. The Library of Congress is open to everyone, which makes it different from the government libraries of many other countries, which restrict use of their resources to a select few.
1. In the following sentences, underline relative pronouns when they are the SUBJECT of the sentence, and make them BOLD (or underline them twice) when they act as adjectives:
a. Another makes its way to the front.
b. Several dogs and cats were left in the shelter.
c. What is free?
d. Some of them went skiing.
e. This is the last time.
2. Rewrite the following sentences so that the indirect object becomes the object of a prepositional phrase:
a. The dj gave the mc the records.
b. My mother brought me the clothing.
c. His best friend left him all his money.
3. Remove faulty or excessive coordination by using subordination to show the relationship between the clauses:
a. Eugene O’Neill was an American playwright, and he won a Nobel Prize for literature in 1936.
b. O’Neill had an unhappy childhood, and he told the story of his childhood in a play entitled Long Day’s Journey into Night, and he said it was “written in tears and blood.”
c. O’Neill’s daughter Oona married Charlie Chaplin, but she married against her father’s will.
d. One of O’Neill’s plays, The Iceman Cometh, is full of symbols and hidden clues about its meaning, and it has probably been written about more than any other American play.
e. Louis Sheaffer wrote a biography of O’Neill, and he spent sixteen years researching and writing it, and his book won a Pulitizer Prize.
4. Combine the following sentences, by subordinating one idea to another:
a. My sister Carla loves to shop at airport duty-free stores. Her first overseas trip was to Paris.
b. Carla gets to take several overseas trips every year. She works for an importing firm in Ottawa.
c. Duty-free shops are not really duty-free to the consumer. She still saves money on perfumes, watches, scarves, and ties.
d. Carla arrives at the airport early and checks in. She heads for the duty-free shops.
e. She prefers the large selection of the airport duty-free shops. The on-plane duty-free shops are cheaper.
5. Correct the following sentence to remove excessive subordination:
a. Daniel J. Boorstin, who has been a teacher at Harvard and the University of Chicago, is now head of the Library of Congress, which is located in Washington , DC, and which is the largest library in the world.
b. The Library of Congress is open to everyone, which makes it different from the government libraries of many other countries, which restrict use of their resources to a select few.
Last Semester's Exam
MEDIA WRITING ONE
MSFP 160
Instructor: Nicola Winstanley
FINAL GRAMMAR EXAM DECEMBER 18th Please answer the multi-choice questions below.
Make sure you read each question and option CAREFULLY.
This exam is worth 9% of your final grade.
GOOD LUCK!!
A. PARTS OF SPEECH.
Identify the underlined words in each sentence as follows:
a. Adverb
b. Adjective
c. Verb
d. Preposition
e. Noun or pronoun
1. The black door swung open and banged against the wall.
2. Walking fast, and wearing a silk suit, James stepped into the long hallway.
3. A worried look crossed his face as he quickly entered the conference room.
4. Three colleagues were waiting for him in the room.
5. They fired accusations at him.
6. An angry look crossed his face, but he did not respond.
7. His fists were clasped tightly, and he stared straight ahead.
8. The others in the room gradually became silent.
B. PARTS OF A SENTENCE
Identify the underlined words or phrase in each sentence below as follows:
a. Complete subject
b. Prepositional Phrase
c. Conjunction
d. Verb
e. Object
9. Writers usually pursue stories in two ways.
10. Many begin with the plot in mind.
11. They start by outlining the dramatic points, and soon characters and settings begin to fill in
the empty spaces.
12. Others begin with a character; someone they’ve seen at school, on campus, in a restaurant,
or someone they know.
13. They describe the character, and create a story around them.
14. I begin with a picture, or a mental image that might even come to me in a dream.
15. I try to explore its significance.
16. I visualize the image, and allow it to create a feeling in me.
17. I sketch the image in words, and soon it includes characters and a plot.
18. The image I am examining now is of a sad little girl and a talking crow together on a drizzly day.
C. CONJUNCTIONS
19. Which of the following sentences contains subordinating conjuction(s)?
a.) i b.) ii & iii c.) ii d.) i & ii e.) iii & iv
i. Easter Island is a tiny, volcanic, barren isolated place.
ii. Statues dominate the island, but the people who built them are gone.
iii. The people are extinct because they gave their lives to create the statues.
iv. They used the resources on the island as if they would last forever.
20. Which of the following sentences contains coordinating conjunction(s)?
a.) i & ii b.) ii & iv c.) ii & iii d.) iii & iv e.) ii, iii & iv
i. Our global civilization may face a similar fate.
ii. Our resources are shrinking, and we place too high a demand on them.
iii. We erect not stone heads, but high-rises and highways.
iv. Will we notice the last tree fall, or will we continue as always?
D. PUNCTUATION
Which of the following sentences (in each group) contains correct punctuation?
21.
a. Don’t worry about grammar, keep the flow of words going.
b. Don’t worry about grammar; keep the flow of words going.
c. Don’t worry, about grammar, keep the flow of words going.
d. Don’t worry, about grammar; keep the flow of words going.
22.
a. A good way to get one’s ideas going is just to begin writing.
b. A good way to get ones idea’s going is just to begin writing.
c. A good way to get ones ideas going is just to begin writing.
d. A good way to get ones’ ideas going is just to begin writing.
23.
a. Start with whatever comes to mind, and as soon as you finish a sentence, begin another.
b. Start with whatever comes to mind and as soon as you finish a sentence begin another.
c. Start with whatever comes to mind, and as soon as you finish a sentence begin another.
d. Start with whatever comes to mind and as soon as you finish a sentence, begin another.
24.
a. “I won’t do it”! Sam yelled, at his poor, long-suffering mother.
b. “I won’t do it,” Sam yelled; at his poor long-suffering Mother.
c. “I won’t do it!” Sam yelled at his poor, long-suffering mother.
d. “I wont do it!” Sam yelled at his poor long-suffering mother.
25.
a. Mr. Smith will contact you on M.S.N.
b. Mr Smith will contact you on MSN.
c. Mr. Smith will contact you on MSN
d. Mr. Smith will contact you on MSN.
26.
a. She wrote a beautiful story about Mother Nature and sent it to her father.
b. She wrote a beautiful story about mother nature and sent it to her father.
c. She wrote a beautiful story about Mother Nature and sent it to her Father.
d. She wrote a beautiful story about mother nature and sent it to her Father.
E. VERBS: TENSE
Please indicate which of the following sentence contains a verb in the wrong tense:
27. [Mixed tense: analysis]
a. In her latest collection of short stories, Too Much Happiness, Alice Munro examined the lives of characters who have experienced some kind of jarring violence.
b. In one story, the main character remembers purposely drowning an intellectually disabled girl at summer camp.
c. In another, a woman’s children are murdered by her husband.
d. These stories are unlike what I have come to expect from Munroe.
28. [Past tense: narrative.]
a. The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
b. Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
c. But at last he made it, and was seated alongside her.
d. The array of knives and forks frightens him.
[From Martin Eden, by Jack London.]
F. VERBS: AGREEMENT
In the following sentences you are given two options, where the first one is correct, please indicate “a” on your answer sheet; where the second one is correct, please indicate “b” on your answer sheet.
29. At least once a week fish and chips is/are the main dish for dinner.
30. The interior halls as well as the gallery was/were redecorated before the tourist season.
31. Each of the rooms were/was beautiful.
32. All but three of the projects has/have been completed.
33. Everybody at the Smiths’ were/was wearing a costume.
G. SENTENCE FAULTS
Please identify the sentence faults (if any) in the following sentences:
a. Correct
b. Comma splice
c. Fragment
d. Run on sentence
34. We could go to Mexico.
35. Or maybe Cuba.
36. I want to take the kids, I want to spend some time with them.
37. They would love it, I think it would be ok.
38. It would still be relaxing.
39. I wouldn’t have to spend the whole time chasing after them I think they will just play.
F. MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Please identify the following sentences on your answer sheet:
a. Correct
b. Dangling modifier
c. Misplaced modifier
40. While singing in the shower, I heard my neighbour banging on the wall.
41. To understand world affairs, a daily newspaper should be read.
42. Singing in the shower, my neighbour rang the doorbell.
43. Walking through the supermarket, the oranges looked tempting.
44. Paris is, by many visitors today, considered one of the most exciting cities in the world.
45. After writing the grammar test, the students were ecstatic to have finished.
MSFP 160
Instructor: Nicola Winstanley
FINAL GRAMMAR EXAM DECEMBER 18th Please answer the multi-choice questions below.
Make sure you read each question and option CAREFULLY.
This exam is worth 9% of your final grade.
GOOD LUCK!!
A. PARTS OF SPEECH.
Identify the underlined words in each sentence as follows:
a. Adverb
b. Adjective
c. Verb
d. Preposition
e. Noun or pronoun
1. The black door swung open and banged against the wall.
2. Walking fast, and wearing a silk suit, James stepped into the long hallway.
3. A worried look crossed his face as he quickly entered the conference room.
4. Three colleagues were waiting for him in the room.
5. They fired accusations at him.
6. An angry look crossed his face, but he did not respond.
7. His fists were clasped tightly, and he stared straight ahead.
8. The others in the room gradually became silent.
B. PARTS OF A SENTENCE
Identify the underlined words or phrase in each sentence below as follows:
a. Complete subject
b. Prepositional Phrase
c. Conjunction
d. Verb
e. Object
9. Writers usually pursue stories in two ways.
10. Many begin with the plot in mind.
11. They start by outlining the dramatic points, and soon characters and settings begin to fill in
the empty spaces.
12. Others begin with a character; someone they’ve seen at school, on campus, in a restaurant,
or someone they know.
13. They describe the character, and create a story around them.
14. I begin with a picture, or a mental image that might even come to me in a dream.
15. I try to explore its significance.
16. I visualize the image, and allow it to create a feeling in me.
17. I sketch the image in words, and soon it includes characters and a plot.
18. The image I am examining now is of a sad little girl and a talking crow together on a drizzly day.
C. CONJUNCTIONS
19. Which of the following sentences contains subordinating conjuction(s)?
a.) i b.) ii & iii c.) ii d.) i & ii e.) iii & iv
i. Easter Island is a tiny, volcanic, barren isolated place.
ii. Statues dominate the island, but the people who built them are gone.
iii. The people are extinct because they gave their lives to create the statues.
iv. They used the resources on the island as if they would last forever.
20. Which of the following sentences contains coordinating conjunction(s)?
a.) i & ii b.) ii & iv c.) ii & iii d.) iii & iv e.) ii, iii & iv
i. Our global civilization may face a similar fate.
ii. Our resources are shrinking, and we place too high a demand on them.
iii. We erect not stone heads, but high-rises and highways.
iv. Will we notice the last tree fall, or will we continue as always?
D. PUNCTUATION
Which of the following sentences (in each group) contains correct punctuation?
21.
a. Don’t worry about grammar, keep the flow of words going.
b. Don’t worry about grammar; keep the flow of words going.
c. Don’t worry, about grammar, keep the flow of words going.
d. Don’t worry, about grammar; keep the flow of words going.
22.
a. A good way to get one’s ideas going is just to begin writing.
b. A good way to get ones idea’s going is just to begin writing.
c. A good way to get ones ideas going is just to begin writing.
d. A good way to get ones’ ideas going is just to begin writing.
23.
a. Start with whatever comes to mind, and as soon as you finish a sentence, begin another.
b. Start with whatever comes to mind and as soon as you finish a sentence begin another.
c. Start with whatever comes to mind, and as soon as you finish a sentence begin another.
d. Start with whatever comes to mind and as soon as you finish a sentence, begin another.
24.
a. “I won’t do it”! Sam yelled, at his poor, long-suffering mother.
b. “I won’t do it,” Sam yelled; at his poor long-suffering Mother.
c. “I won’t do it!” Sam yelled at his poor, long-suffering mother.
d. “I wont do it!” Sam yelled at his poor long-suffering mother.
25.
a. Mr. Smith will contact you on M.S.N.
b. Mr Smith will contact you on MSN.
c. Mr. Smith will contact you on MSN
d. Mr. Smith will contact you on MSN.
26.
a. She wrote a beautiful story about Mother Nature and sent it to her father.
b. She wrote a beautiful story about mother nature and sent it to her father.
c. She wrote a beautiful story about Mother Nature and sent it to her Father.
d. She wrote a beautiful story about mother nature and sent it to her Father.
E. VERBS: TENSE
Please indicate which of the following sentence contains a verb in the wrong tense:
27. [Mixed tense: analysis]
a. In her latest collection of short stories, Too Much Happiness, Alice Munro examined the lives of characters who have experienced some kind of jarring violence.
b. In one story, the main character remembers purposely drowning an intellectually disabled girl at summer camp.
c. In another, a woman’s children are murdered by her husband.
d. These stories are unlike what I have come to expect from Munroe.
28. [Past tense: narrative.]
a. The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
b. Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
c. But at last he made it, and was seated alongside her.
d. The array of knives and forks frightens him.
[From Martin Eden, by Jack London.]
F. VERBS: AGREEMENT
In the following sentences you are given two options, where the first one is correct, please indicate “a” on your answer sheet; where the second one is correct, please indicate “b” on your answer sheet.
29. At least once a week fish and chips is/are the main dish for dinner.
30. The interior halls as well as the gallery was/were redecorated before the tourist season.
31. Each of the rooms were/was beautiful.
32. All but three of the projects has/have been completed.
33. Everybody at the Smiths’ were/was wearing a costume.
G. SENTENCE FAULTS
Please identify the sentence faults (if any) in the following sentences:
a. Correct
b. Comma splice
c. Fragment
d. Run on sentence
34. We could go to Mexico.
35. Or maybe Cuba.
36. I want to take the kids, I want to spend some time with them.
37. They would love it, I think it would be ok.
38. It would still be relaxing.
39. I wouldn’t have to spend the whole time chasing after them I think they will just play.
F. MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Please identify the following sentences on your answer sheet:
a. Correct
b. Dangling modifier
c. Misplaced modifier
40. While singing in the shower, I heard my neighbour banging on the wall.
41. To understand world affairs, a daily newspaper should be read.
42. Singing in the shower, my neighbour rang the doorbell.
43. Walking through the supermarket, the oranges looked tempting.
44. Paris is, by many visitors today, considered one of the most exciting cities in the world.
45. After writing the grammar test, the students were ecstatic to have finished.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Handouts for week 1: Cover Letter for Programme Template
Your Address
Today’s Date
Name of Admissions Person
Department
Institution
Address
Dear [Admissions]:
PARAGRAPH 1: Why you are writing and what program you are applying for.
PARAGRAPH 2: Outline your current position—briefly. In the body of this paragraph, highlight some of your most relevant experiences and qualities as they relate to the specific course and what it is you hope to achieve in the future. You can use one or two specific, concrete examples to support your claims here.
PARAGRAPH 3: Show some background knowledge of the school and program by linking your goals to what the program can offer you. List one or two personal qualities that will make you a successful candidate in their programme.
PARAGRAPH 4: Refer to your enclosed portfolio and resume. THANK the reader for his or her consideration!
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE]
YOUR NAME
Enclosure(s): [list resume, references, portfolio contents etc]
Today’s Date
Name of Admissions Person
Department
Institution
Address
Dear [Admissions]:
PARAGRAPH 1: Why you are writing and what program you are applying for.
PARAGRAPH 2: Outline your current position—briefly. In the body of this paragraph, highlight some of your most relevant experiences and qualities as they relate to the specific course and what it is you hope to achieve in the future. You can use one or two specific, concrete examples to support your claims here.
PARAGRAPH 3: Show some background knowledge of the school and program by linking your goals to what the program can offer you. List one or two personal qualities that will make you a successful candidate in their programme.
PARAGRAPH 4: Refer to your enclosed portfolio and resume. THANK the reader for his or her consideration!
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE]
YOUR NAME
Enclosure(s): [list resume, references, portfolio contents etc]
Handouts for week 1: Cover Letter for Work Template
COVER LETTER TEMPLATE: JOB
Your Address
Today’s Date
Mr./Ms. EMPLOYER’S NAME
Title
Company Name
Address
Dear Mr./Ms. Employer:
PARAGRAPH 1: Why you are writing and what position you are applying for—don’t say where you saw the ad, unless you were referred by a mutual contact.
PARAGRAPH 2: Outline your current position—briefly. In the body of this paragraph, highlight some of your most relevant experiences and qualities as they relate to the specific position. You can use one or two specific, concrete examples to support your claims here.
PARAGRAPH 3: Show some background knowledge of the company by linking your experience to what they do—be positive here about why you want to work for their company specifically, and list one or two personal qualities that makes you perfect for their company and job.
PARAGRAPH 4: Refer to your enclosed resume and request an interview. THANK the reviewer for his or her consideration!
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE]
YOUR NAME
Enclosure(s): [list resume, references, portfolio contents etc]
Your Address
Today’s Date
Mr./Ms. EMPLOYER’S NAME
Title
Company Name
Address
Dear Mr./Ms. Employer:
PARAGRAPH 1: Why you are writing and what position you are applying for—don’t say where you saw the ad, unless you were referred by a mutual contact.
PARAGRAPH 2: Outline your current position—briefly. In the body of this paragraph, highlight some of your most relevant experiences and qualities as they relate to the specific position. You can use one or two specific, concrete examples to support your claims here.
PARAGRAPH 3: Show some background knowledge of the company by linking your experience to what they do—be positive here about why you want to work for their company specifically, and list one or two personal qualities that makes you perfect for their company and job.
PARAGRAPH 4: Refer to your enclosed resume and request an interview. THANK the reviewer for his or her consideration!
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE]
YOUR NAME
Enclosure(s): [list resume, references, portfolio contents etc]
Handouts for week 1: Want ad notes example
DREAM JOB . . .
1. What kind of company do you want to work for?
-multinational corporation; national corporation; non –profit; independent business; freelance ;
If there isn’t a specific company you would like to work for, make one up—consider if the company is large or small, what they specialize in etc.
-small, independent documentary production company with a focus on social justice and anti-consumerism
2. What would your job title be? Think entry level here . . . this should be a job you could realistically do now . . .
-editing assistant; sound assistant; junior researcher; online media assistant; runner; PA; junior copywriter, etc . . .
-junior researcher
3. List four or five key responsibilities you might hold in that position and which you would be able to do with your skills and/or experience.
1. Assist all members of the production team with daily tasks, such as faxing, phone calls, mail
2. Assist the researcher with background research—online researching, setting up interviews
3. Assist the permissions coordinator with clearing visual and music rights
4. Act as runner during filming
4. What are some of the general skills and personal qualities that you have and that would be required for this job?
1. Organized
2. Willingness to work long hours
3. Excellent online research skills
4. Polite and personable
5. Able to multitask
5. What kind of education and work/life experience do you need for this job?
1. Degree or certificate in film studies
2. A interest in social justice, including a background of volunteerism or political activism
1. What kind of company do you want to work for?
-multinational corporation; national corporation; non –profit; independent business; freelance ;
If there isn’t a specific company you would like to work for, make one up—consider if the company is large or small, what they specialize in etc.
-small, independent documentary production company with a focus on social justice and anti-consumerism
2. What would your job title be? Think entry level here . . . this should be a job you could realistically do now . . .
-editing assistant; sound assistant; junior researcher; online media assistant; runner; PA; junior copywriter, etc . . .
-junior researcher
3. List four or five key responsibilities you might hold in that position and which you would be able to do with your skills and/or experience.
1. Assist all members of the production team with daily tasks, such as faxing, phone calls, mail
2. Assist the researcher with background research—online researching, setting up interviews
3. Assist the permissions coordinator with clearing visual and music rights
4. Act as runner during filming
4. What are some of the general skills and personal qualities that you have and that would be required for this job?
1. Organized
2. Willingness to work long hours
3. Excellent online research skills
4. Polite and personable
5. Able to multitask
5. What kind of education and work/life experience do you need for this job?
1. Degree or certificate in film studies
2. A interest in social justice, including a background of volunteerism or political activism
Handouts for week 1: Want ad notes
DREAM JOB . . .
1. What kind of company do you want to work for?
-multinational corporation; national corporation; non –profit; independent business; freelance ;
If there isn’t a specific company you would like to work for, make one up—consider if the company is large or small, what they specialize in etc.
2. What would your job title be? Think entry level here . . . this should be a job you could realistically do now . . .
-editing assistant; sound assistant; junior researcher; online media assistant; runner; PA; junior copywriter, etc . . .
3. List four or five key responsibilities you might hold in that position and which you would be able to do with your skills and/or experience.
4. What are some of the general skills and personal qualities that you have and that would be required for this job?
5. What kind of education and work/life experience do you need for this job?
1. What kind of company do you want to work for?
-multinational corporation; national corporation; non –profit; independent business; freelance ;
If there isn’t a specific company you would like to work for, make one up—consider if the company is large or small, what they specialize in etc.
2. What would your job title be? Think entry level here . . . this should be a job you could realistically do now . . .
-editing assistant; sound assistant; junior researcher; online media assistant; runner; PA; junior copywriter, etc . . .
3. List four or five key responsibilities you might hold in that position and which you would be able to do with your skills and/or experience.
4. What are some of the general skills and personal qualities that you have and that would be required for this job?
5. What kind of education and work/life experience do you need for this job?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Assignment 1: Cover Letter
Due Date: January 20th/January 22nd
Part 1:
1. Fill in the sheet “Dream Job”
2. Write a “Want ad” based on your job . . . a short paragraph is ok (2%). For example:
WANTED
Small, independent documentary company seeks junior researcher to assist in production. Responsibilities will include daily office tasks, online research, setting up interviews, and general assistance during filming. You will have a certificate from a recognized media studies programme and an interest in social justice.
Part 2:
Either:
1. Write a cover letter replying to your own dream job ad (you will definitely get it!) following the template I gave you in class.
OR
2. Write a cover letter to submit with your programme admission following the template I gave you in class.
Next week you need to hand in:
1. Dream job sheet (filled in by hand).
2. Want ad
3. A cover letter
You will receive a grade, and I will circle any errors. You must then submit a final cover letter, error free, for your grade to be recorded. If your first cover letter is perfect, you will not have to resubmit.
Due Date: January 20th/January 22nd
Part 1:
1. Fill in the sheet “Dream Job”
2. Write a “Want ad” based on your job . . . a short paragraph is ok (2%). For example:
WANTED
Small, independent documentary company seeks junior researcher to assist in production. Responsibilities will include daily office tasks, online research, setting up interviews, and general assistance during filming. You will have a certificate from a recognized media studies programme and an interest in social justice.
Part 2:
Either:
1. Write a cover letter replying to your own dream job ad (you will definitely get it!) following the template I gave you in class.
OR
2. Write a cover letter to submit with your programme admission following the template I gave you in class.
Next week you need to hand in:
1. Dream job sheet (filled in by hand).
2. Want ad
3. A cover letter
You will receive a grade, and I will circle any errors. You must then submit a final cover letter, error free, for your grade to be recorded. If your first cover letter is perfect, you will not have to resubmit.
Friday, January 8, 2010
COURSE OUTLINE
MSFP 261 Media Writing
Professor: Nicola Winstanley Voice mail: (416) 533-1858 (home)
Email: nwinstanley@sympatico.ca
Office: K107
Office hours: By appointment on Wednesday and Friday, or, if I happen to be in my office . . .
Blog: Please become a follower of http://mediawritingtwo.blogspot.com. All handouts and assignments will be posted there.
Course Description
Media Writing 2 builds upon the writing skills introduced in Media Writing 1, and we will have an emphasis on professionalism. You will develop your writing and research skills and you will learn to effectively analyze, summarize, paraphrase, and quote. You will develop a fictional monologue to be turned into a short film, review a book, television show, game, newspaper or magazine, and produce a research essay focused on your area of career interest. Finally, you will analyse Opinion writing and write and Opinion piece in class.
Required Text(s) / Supplies
• English Simplified Ellsworth, Blanche; Longman Publishers
• The Short Story – a handout available for purchase in the bookstore (the same red book as last semester).
• A recent book (fiction or non-fiction) OR one television show season on DVD, OR one month of a newspaper, OR one year of a magazine for magazine, OR games (talk to me about this . . .).
• USB handy key on which all assignments will be stored to later be saved on a hard drive or CD. Please remember to bring your handy key and English Simplified to every class.
• Other texts as assigned (will be provided, or online, or on reserve at the library)
Recommended Reading
• Everything you can get your hands on!
Where to get Help!
1. The Writing Centre: Room GH 202 (University of Guelph-Humber)
2. Peer Tutoring: Room D128. The tutoring program provides one-on-one help/support @ a fee of ten dollars for eight sessions and is well worth the price.
MSFP 261
Evaluation
Passing grade is 60%
In all media and in higher-level media-studies programs, the ability to meet deadlines is essential. Therefore, this semester, assignment deadlines must be strictly adhered to: Assignments are due when they are due. Only in the most extreme situations will extensions be considered. Late assignments will be penalized at 10% per day and will not be accepted over one week late. If there is a change in deadline, it will be announced in class. Please see your assignment calendar for deadlines.
Assignments
*FORMAT: Please include your name, the course name, and my name on all assignments. Assignments not submitted in class may be handed in at the Media Studies office, K107. All must be double-spaced and written in 12 point type. KEEP A COPY!!
FOR MID-TERM MARK (50%)
1. Job Description (2%) and Cover Letter (10%)
—the first time you submit your cover letter, you will not receive a grade, but will be edited. You must resubmit and edited version of your cover letter to receive your grade.
2. Editing test (8%)
3. Analysis of monologues (5%)
4. Monologue (for short film) (12%)
5. Analysis of reviews (8%)
6. Summary and citation test (5%)
FOR FINAL MARK (100%)
Mid-term mark plus:
1. Group edit of monologue (5%)
2. Review (15%)\
3. Research Essay plan and reading list (5%)
4. Research paper (15%)
5. In-class writing test: Opinion Piece (10%--half of the mark for content, half for grammar).
Professor: Nicola Winstanley Voice mail: (416) 533-1858 (home)
Email: nwinstanley@sympatico.ca
Office: K107
Office hours: By appointment on Wednesday and Friday, or, if I happen to be in my office . . .
Blog: Please become a follower of http://mediawritingtwo.blogspot.com. All handouts and assignments will be posted there.
Course Description
Media Writing 2 builds upon the writing skills introduced in Media Writing 1, and we will have an emphasis on professionalism. You will develop your writing and research skills and you will learn to effectively analyze, summarize, paraphrase, and quote. You will develop a fictional monologue to be turned into a short film, review a book, television show, game, newspaper or magazine, and produce a research essay focused on your area of career interest. Finally, you will analyse Opinion writing and write and Opinion piece in class.
Required Text(s) / Supplies
• English Simplified Ellsworth, Blanche; Longman Publishers
• The Short Story – a handout available for purchase in the bookstore (the same red book as last semester).
• A recent book (fiction or non-fiction) OR one television show season on DVD, OR one month of a newspaper, OR one year of a magazine for magazine, OR games (talk to me about this . . .).
• USB handy key on which all assignments will be stored to later be saved on a hard drive or CD. Please remember to bring your handy key and English Simplified to every class.
• Other texts as assigned (will be provided, or online, or on reserve at the library)
Recommended Reading
• Everything you can get your hands on!
Where to get Help!
1. The Writing Centre: Room GH 202 (University of Guelph-Humber)
2. Peer Tutoring: Room D128. The tutoring program provides one-on-one help/support @ a fee of ten dollars for eight sessions and is well worth the price.
MSFP 261
Evaluation
Passing grade is 60%
In all media and in higher-level media-studies programs, the ability to meet deadlines is essential. Therefore, this semester, assignment deadlines must be strictly adhered to: Assignments are due when they are due. Only in the most extreme situations will extensions be considered. Late assignments will be penalized at 10% per day and will not be accepted over one week late. If there is a change in deadline, it will be announced in class. Please see your assignment calendar for deadlines.
Assignments
*FORMAT: Please include your name, the course name, and my name on all assignments. Assignments not submitted in class may be handed in at the Media Studies office, K107. All must be double-spaced and written in 12 point type. KEEP A COPY!!
FOR MID-TERM MARK (50%)
1. Job Description (2%) and Cover Letter (10%)
—the first time you submit your cover letter, you will not receive a grade, but will be edited. You must resubmit and edited version of your cover letter to receive your grade.
2. Editing test (8%)
3. Analysis of monologues (5%)
4. Monologue (for short film) (12%)
5. Analysis of reviews (8%)
6. Summary and citation test (5%)
FOR FINAL MARK (100%)
Mid-term mark plus:
1. Group edit of monologue (5%)
2. Review (15%)\
3. Research Essay plan and reading list (5%)
4. Research paper (15%)
5. In-class writing test: Opinion Piece (10%--half of the mark for content, half for grammar).
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