English 101: Composition and Rhetoric
The proofreading quiz on Dec. 8, 2004 will look very much like this. In Part I, corrected sentences are given beneath each sentence. But in Part I, there are other ways the sentence could be corrected. In Part II, the sentences are written below with all the corrections. Wording must not be changed in Part II.
I. Sentence Structure. Correct the grammatical errors in each sentence below. You do not have to recopy the whole sentence if you can indicate your correction clearly in a briefer way. Do not change the wording of the sentence any more than is necessary, but you may add or change words or punctuation if that is necessary in order to correct the grammatical error. You should be able to correct errors in verb forms and tenses, pronoun use, fragments, comma splices, fused sentences, faulty modifiers (misplaced or dangling, or wrong form of adjective or adverb), parallelism.
1. The professor explained why plagiarism is wrong on Monday.
On Monday the professor explained why plagiarism is wrong. (misplaced modifier)
2. Bruce polished his coins almost until they looked new.
Bruce polished his coins until they looked almost new. (misplaced modifier)
3. Last night the stars seemed exceptional bright.
Last night the stars seemed exceptionally bright. (wrong form of adjective or adverb)
4. After sitting there awhile, snow began to fall, and we went in.
After we had been sitting there awhile, snow began to fall, and we went in. (dangling modifier)
5. When it snows, we like to stay home and taking a break from work.
When it snows, we like to stay home and take a break from work. (parallelism—or staying and taking)
6. The secretary was sorry he threw the document away three weeks before the trial.
The secretary was sorry he had thrown the document away three weeks before the trial. (verb tense)
7. Your mother or your sister should lend you their coat.
Your mother or your sister should lend you her coat. (pronoun agreement)
8. The arrangements for the convention was poorly organized.
The arrangements for the convention were poorly organized. (subject-verb agreement)
9. The dessert she baked for us tasted wonderfully.
The dessert she baked for us tasted wonderful. (wrong form of adjective or adverb)
10. I plan to swim several miles a week, therefore, I will be in good shape soon.
I plan to swim several miles a week. Therefore, I will be in good shape soon. (comma splice)
11. The whole truth being that she doesn't want to get up early.
The whole truth is that she doesn't want to get up early. (fragment)
12. Prepare to make an incision in the abdomen as soon as completely anesthetized.
Prepare to make an incision in the abdomen as soon as the patient is completely anesthetized. (dangling modifier)
13. In Gulliver's Travels the hero meets a society of horses, so he had to learn their language.
In Gulliver's Travels the hero meets a society of horses, so he has to learn their language. (tense shift)
14. Since he has no money he can't go on the trip, he is very sad.
Since he has no money he can't go on the trip and he is very sad. (comma splice)
15. The horror that was felt by everyone when the earthquake hit.
The newspaper described the horror that was felt by everyone when the earthquake hit. (fragment)
16. These hanging plants and the painting makes the room more cheerful.
These hanging plants and the painting make the room more cheerful. (subject-verb agreement)
17. A professor has the painful duty of assigning low grades to some of their students' work.
Professors have the painful duty of assigning low grades to some of their students' work. (pronoun agreement)
18. The street is icy, dangerous, and an obstacle course of stalled cars.
The street is an icy, dangerous obstacle course of stalled cars. (parallelism)
19. Jacques was the only one of the skiers who were injured.
Jacques was the only one of the skiers who was injured. (subject-verb agreement)
20. The movie was a prime example of uneducated Americans.
The movie depicted prime examples of uneducated Americans. (wrong verb to make subject and predicate link logically)
II. Punctuation and Mechanics. Add the punctuation and other mechanical marks needed in the following sentences. Make additions clearly.
1. Dr Keyser would you consider explaining this story to students who stay after class
Dr Keyser, would you consider explaining this story to students who stay after class?
2. The story is so strange said the teacher that my students are shocked by the ending every year.
"The story is so strange," said the teacher, "that my students are shocked by the ending every year."
3. 3 kinds of folklore were studied Appalachian African and japanese
Three kinds of folklore were studied: Appalachian, African, and Japanese.
4. Johnsons five page tale Jack and the Robbers was published in Journal of southern folklore
Johnson's five-page tale, "Jack and the Robbers," was published in Journal of Southern Folklore.
December 6, 2004