Optional Writing Tutorial 2

8/17/2019 Optional Writing Tutorial 2

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WRITING SKILLSOPTIONAL TUTORIAL 2

Idioma Modern II


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CHECKING YOUR WORK

The aim of this activity is to develop your skills in checking

(proof-reading) your written work.

Checking and correcting your text means that the reader will

be able to read it more easily.

The activity looks at your use of some language points in a

text – specifically how to be consistent so that you don’t

confuse the reader.

The tasks in this activity focus on typical mistakes with

verbs, personal pronouns and possessive words.

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CONSISTENCY IN VERB FORMS

I had to make a difficult decision

some years ago. I want to study,

but I didn’t have the time. I wasworking in a job I didn’t enjoy

and I’m looking for a change. A

friend suggested retraining for a

new career, while my parents say

I should stay where I was secure.

In the end, I choose to do acourse at the UOC and it was the

best thing I ever did.

I had to make a difficult decision

some years ago. I wanted to

study, but I didn’t have the time.

I was working in a job I didn’t

enjoy and I was looking for a

change. A friend suggested

retraining for a new career,

while my parents said I should

stay where I was secure. In the

end, I chose to do a course at the

UOC and it was the best thing Iever did.

The original paragraph mixed up past and

present tenses. The corrected text uses past simple

verbs consistently.

Read this paragraph from a post about ‘Life decisions’and decide what the main problem with it is.

Click to see the corrected paragraph. Compare it withthe original. Notice how it is different.

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TENSE CONSISTENCY

Ihad tomake a difficult decision

some years ago. Iwanted to

study, but Ididn’t havethe

time. Iwas workingin a job Ididn’t enjoyand Iwas looking

for a change. A friendsuggested

retraining for a new career, while

my parentssaid I should stay

where I was secure. In the end, I

chose to do a course at the UOC

and it was the best thing I ever

did.

The first use of the past simplehad totells

the reader that the events happened in the

past.

Check that the main events in the text

follow this pattern and use the past

simple.

Check that any other past tenses are

also consistent.

Check the –edendings of the regular

past simple verbs.

Check that irregular past simple verbs

are correct. Check the verbs that often cause

problems with form such as modal verbs

likemustand spelling such aschoose.

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TENSE CONSISTENCY – TASK 1

We were advised to invest our savings

in the stock market. It seemed like a

good idea at the time because

interest rates are very low. Then

suddenly, the markets crashed and

share prices fall. We lose about 30%of our savings overnight. There was

nothing we can do except wait for the

markets to recover.

We were advised to invest oursavings in the stock market. It

seemed like a good idea at the

time because interest rateswere

very low. Then suddenly, the

markets crashed and share

pricesfell. Welost about 30% ofour savings overnight. There was

nothing wecould do except wait

for the markets to recover.

1 Find and correct four places where the incorrect

tense is used in this paragraph.Click when you are ready to check your answer.

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TENSE CONSISTENCY - TASK 2

Thinking about next year, I don’t

think I’ll still be working here. I

probably look for a temporary job

abroad. It might not be easy to find

at first, but something turns up. I

have a friend who lives in London

since 2014, so she’ll be able to help

me, I’m sure.

Thinking about next year, I don’t

think I’ll still be working here.I’ll

probablylook for a temporary

job abroad. It might not be easy

to find at first, but somethingwill

turn up. I have a friend whohas

livedin London since 2014, so

she’ll be able to help me, I’m sure.

1 Find and correct three incorrect tenses in this

paragraph.Click when you are ready to check your answer.

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CONSISTENCY IN OTHER VERB

FORMS

There are so many options open to

you. Think about activities such as

playing a team sport, join a choir,

getting out into the country or learnto swim.



playing a team sport, join a choir,

getting out into the country orlearn

to swim.

The –ing form playing is used at the start of

the list of activities. All the verbs following

this in the list should have the same form.



playing a team sport, joining a choir,

getting out into the country or

learning to swim..

Find the inconsistencies in this paragraph giing

adice.

Click when you are ready to check your

answer.

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FORMS- TASK 1

It’s not always easy to share a flat.

The most common problems with

flatmates are to argue about

housework, paying the utility bills

and keep things tidy. It’s a good ideato agree to the rules from the start.

It’s not always easy to share a

flat. The most common problems

with flatmates arearguing about

housework, paying the utility

bills andkeeping things tidy. It’s

a good idea to agree to the rulesfrom the start.

Correct the inconsistent erb forms in this paragraph

about flat!sharing.Click when you are ready to check your answer.

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FORMS- TASK 2

Before you start painting your house,

you need to do some preparation:

cover the furniture with a sheet, to

wear old clothes and cleaning thesurfaces. You shouldn’t begin until

everything is prepared.

Before you start painting your

house, you need to do some

preparation: cover the furniture

with a sheet,wear old clothes

andclean the surfaces. You

shouldn’t begin until everythingis prepared.

Correct the inconsistent erb forms in this paragraph. Click when you are ready to check your answer.

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PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND

POSSESSIVE WORDS

The next set of tasks focus on using pronouns (her,

himetc) and possessive words (her, youretc)

consistently in your text.

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POSSESSIVE WORDS

After the first date with your new

girlfriend, then the second step is to meet

his friends. And of course, at some point

you’ll have to introduce him to your friends

too.


girlfriend, then the second step is

to meethis friends. And of course,

at some point you’ll have to

introducehim to your friends too.

The noun and the pronouns areinconsistent so the reader doesn’t know if

it’s a girlfriend or boyfriend – how can we

know which is correct, the noun or the

pronouns? We can’t.

Read this paragraph from a te"t about new

relationships. #ecide why it is confusing for the

reader.


answer.

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POSSESSIVE WORDS - TASK


girlfriend, then the second step is to meet

his friends. And of course, at some point

you’ll have to introducehim to your friends

too.


girlfriend, then the second step is

to meether friends. And of course,


introduceher to your friends too.

After the first date with your newboyfriend , then the second step is

to meethis friends. And of course,


introducehim to your friends too.

1 Now change the paragraph so it is consistent and

correct. $here are two ways of doing this.


answer.

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POSSESSIVE WORDS


boyfriend, then the second step is

to meethis friends. And of

course, at some point you’ll haveto introducehim to your friends

too.

If the noun isboyfriend, any pronouns

referring back toboyfriend must be

masculine and singular.

Check what the first noun is. Is it

singular or plural?

Check that any possessive adjectives

match the noun they refer to.

my / your /his / her / its / our / your /

their

Check that any object pronouns match

the noun they refer to.

me / you /him / her / it / us / you /them

Check that any possessive pronouns

match the noun they refer to.

mine / yours / his / hers / its / ours /

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POSSESSIVE WORDS – TASK

Meeting her friends doesn’t need

to be a disaster, but you need tobe prepared. When the day

comes and your guy brings their

friends, be aware that they will

talk about such boring topics that

you won’t understand your

conversation. My advice is to

smile and agree with they. If you

get through this, you’ll be ready

for the next stage: meeting the

parents!

Meetinghis friends doesn’t need

to be a disaster, but you need to

be prepared. When the day comesand your guy bringshis friends,

be aware that they will talk about

such boring topics that you won’t

understandtheir conversation.

My advice is to smile and agree

withthem. If you get through

this, you’ll be ready for the nextstage: meeting the parents!

How did you do? If you need to, you can

revise the grammar via the Grammar

Reference in the classroom.

2 Now read the rest of the paragraph and make

changes to the pronouns so that it doesn’t

confuse the reader. Click to see the correct version.

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POSSESSIVE WORDS – TASK

It’s hard to know what life will be

like for my young niece, Anna.He’s only three and so has her

whole life ahead of him. Your

parents, my sister and his

husband, have already started

saving money for her education. I

admire your planning and

organisation – I guess that’swhat being a parent means.

It’s hard to know what life will be

like for my young niece, Anna.

She’s only three and so has herwhole life ahead ofher.Her

parents, my sister andher

husband, have already started

saving money for her education. I

admiretheir planning and

organisation – I guess that’s what

being a parent means..

How did you do? If you need to, you can

revise the grammar via the Grammar

Reference in the classroom.

3 Now read this paragraph about the future.

Make five changes to the pronouns so that it

doesn’t confuse the reader. Click to see the correct version.

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CHECKING YOUR WORK:

CONSISTENCY

Remember:

Try to leave some time between finishing your final draft and

checking it.

Make sure the verbs in your text are all in the correct tense. If you have a list in your text, make sure all the main words

are the same grammatical form. For example. –ing forms,

infinitives, infinitives withoutto.

Check that pronouns match the noun they refer to.

Check that possessive words match the noun they refer to. Use the Grammar reference which is linked to from the

classroom.

Use the Essay Revision Checklist which is posted in the

classroom. 14

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Optional Writing Tutorial 2