A Quiz About Tactical Syntactical Revision

A Quiz About Tactical Syntactical Revision A Quiz About Tactical Syntactical Revision A Quiz About Tactical Syntactical Revision By Mark Nichol Most writers understand that whole subject-verb-predicate thing, but there’s more to crafting sentences than making sure they include those basic ingredients (but not necessarily in that order and, then again, a sentence doesn’t really require any of those elements). The following sample sentences suffer from poor organization (and, as a result, their readers suffer, too). Although the information in them is present in fundamentally correct grammatical components, the syntax the arrangement of these building blocks is clumsily ineffectual. Redistribute the parts of these sentences for optimum impact, and then compare your solutions with mine, provided and annotated below each example. (This is a new format for quiz-type posts here let me know whether you like this format or prefer that my revisions be collected together at the bottom of the page.) 1. â€Å"He says he doesn’t think a prominent breast cancer charity should continue giving grants to Planned Parenthood because it provides abortion services.† The location of the â€Å"because . . .† phrase at the end of the sentence can confuse readers into assuming that there is a reason other than the one stated that the paraphrased speaker supports the grants. But the sentence means that the stated policy is the reason the person does not support them. This ambiguity is resolved by inserting the â€Å"because . . .† phrase at the head of the sentence: â€Å"Because Planned Parenthood provides abortion services, he says, he doesn’t think a prominent breast cancer charity should continue giving grants to the organization.† 2. â€Å"Passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area in order to ensure the safety of others traveling.† The problem in this sentence is similar to that of that in the first example. A reader might assume that the intention of the passengers is to ensure the safety of other travelers, but that they will be granted access for another reason. Other misreadings are also likely. This confusion is eliminated by placing the concluding modifying phrase at the head of the sentence: â€Å"In order to ensure the safety of others traveling, passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area.† 3. â€Å"America should rely on the entrepreneurship and goodness of its citizens to be a great society, not on the well-intentioned but ineffective policies of government agencies.† This sentence is not incorrect, but it is weakly constructed, spoiling the conclusion by placing it near the head of the sentence and trailing off with the alternative. Sentences intended to persuade are most effective when they first dismiss an obverse point of view and are anchored with the point of argument. (The sentence preceding this parenthesis has a similar effect.) Also, the stated goal is stronger when located at the head of the sentence than at the tail: â€Å"To be a great society, America should rely not on the well-intentioned but ineffective policies of government agencies, but on the entrepreneurship and goodness of its citizens.† 4. â€Å"Every year, colleges inject a stream of impassioned, idealistic new leaders into our nation, eager to take on our country’s toughest challenges.† The modifying phrase â€Å"into our nation,† and especially the comma following it, retard the momentum of this sentence. By placing the phrase earlier in the sentence, the writer solidifies the â€Å"inject . . . nation† imagery and omits the obstructive comma, thereby streamlining the statement: â€Å"Every year, colleges inject into our nation a stream of impassioned, idealistic new leaders eager to take on our country’s toughest challenges.† 5. â€Å"The fact is, evangelicals have progressed a long way in a very short time when it comes to relations with Catholics.† The explanatory modifier about the target segment of Christians for the evangelicals is best located earlier in the sentence, which is strengthened by placing the accomplishment at its end: â€Å"The fact is, when it comes to relations with Catholics, evangelicals have progressed a long way in a very short time.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of InfinitivesWhat to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowCareful with Words Used as Noun and Verb

Ch.5 and 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ch.5 and 6 - Essay Example Ethos is another type of appeal that presents the good character of the speaker as proof of the point being made. â€Å"My faith in the Constitution is whole†¦and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, subversion, destruction of the Constitution†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jordan puts herself forth as an example of a good American citizen. Mythos is an appeal founded on cultural values. She stresses the contrast between â€Å"a president grown tyrannical† versus the â€Å"preservation of the independence of the executive† as one of the time-honored distinctions made by the democratic American. The first is the proposition of fact, which deals with alleged facts which are debatable or inconclusive. An example of this is the allegation that: â€Å"The police power of stop and search is used by police officers to discriminate against members of the black race.† The second is the proposition of value, which treats on the morality, rightness, merit or worth of an idea or an action. This is illustrated by the statement: â€Å"Abortion is the taking of human life and is thus a crime.† The third is the proposition of policy, which encourages an audience to agree with an idea or to take an action. It goes beyond making a categorical statement and espouses the adoption of a policy or the pursuit of a course of action. An example of this type of proposition is: â€Å"Millionaires who lost their jobs in the recent recession should not be allowed to claim welfare.† There are six steps to building an argument. The first step is to develop a proposition. The proposition is that central idea that you would wish to convince your audience of, and it is best stated in a clear, declarative statement. Second, lay out a variety of compelling and coherent evidence. The evidence must be directly supportive of the proposition, not only tangentially related to it. Also, the evidence must have a clear connection in the mind of the audience,

The language of health informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The language of health informatics - Essay Example of uniform terminology, coding and standardization of the data; and†¨4) various information standards and organizations that may be applicable, and possibly required, for this project. †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ Several types of databases can be used in informatics. According to Crawford (2010), there are five types of databases that can be used in informatics: flat file databases, hierarchical databases, network databases, object orientated databases, and relational databases (p. 1). Database characteristics should be such, that, when employed throughout the hospitals and various centers, make sense for that center. For example, it doesn’t make much sense if one organization is using a flat file database when what it really needs is a program that addresses hierarchical management techniques. If the idea or end goal is to have uniformity, then the same databases should ideally be chosen in order to manage everything. This will ensure that all of the organizations within the scope of the project are working in coordination with one another. There are several types of medical data. According to Types of Medical Data (2010), there is â€Å"narrative textual data (HPI, social/family Hx, general review of systems, failure to thrive); numerical measurements (lab results, vital signs, and measurements); recorded signals (e.g., ECG, graphical tracing); and pictures (e.g., radiologic images, sketches)† (p. 1). How all of this information is entered into the computer depends, again, upon the program(s) that will be used. As such, it might be a good idea for the committee to vote on which type of program(s) they would like to see implemented when given a choice amongst programs, given the information they will be given about the field of informatics. Obviously, whatever information that is inputted into the system must be standardized. In that sense, whatever program that is chosen by the committee should be chosen carefully and with national and international standards in mind

Higher education Essay Example for Free

Higher education Essay English 10/29/13 Education has become a tremendous topic over the past several years and many people have come up with different philosophies on how to improve it. In â€Å"The Vision of Education Reform in the United States Remarks to UNESCO† by Arne Duncan and â€Å"Changing Paradigms† by Ken Robinson both have similar and different philosophies on education. Arne Duncan compares America to other nations, and Ken Robinson talks about the problems with our current day educational system. In the â€Å"The Vision of Education Reform in the United States Remarks to UNESCO† Arne Duncan addresses America as a whole. America is behind other nations in terms of educational success. There is a gap because one quarter of high school students drop out or fail to graduate on time, also 1 million students leave for the streets every year this is socially and economically unacceptable, and with the opportunity to acquire a good job without a high school or college diploma diminishing it is getting harder and harder to live without a proper education. Duncan also states that America needs to increase economic and educational competitiveness. The demand for educated workers has skyrocketed over the last decade and the United States simply can’t keep up with other nations. Americans have been introduced with new difficulties, now that Americans not only have to compete with fellow Americans but now with citizens from other nations. The most significant theory that Duncan presents is the idea that America needs to collaborate more with other nations. Collaboration is a necessity if America wants to accomplish our major goals like curing cancer, stopping world hunger, and obtaining world peace. Unfortunately America is not currently at a level in which it can keep up with other nations. To achieve such a level of educational success it is extremely important, America needs to improve upon STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math) subjects. America has the tools to accomplish these goals. This was proven when a study showed that â€Å"foreign-born students were earning masters and doctorates in science and engineering fields, now nearly half of America’s PhD scientists and engineers are immigrants even though they only take up 12% of America’s workforce overall. Although† The foreign-born immigrants usually return back to their home country with the skills they learned in America. Strengthening Americas rank in educational attainment to its former position is presidents Obama’s goal by 2020. It is immensely important that America strengthens its educational system not only to its benefit but for the benefit of nations all-around the globe. Arne Duncan identifies what America must do to progress on, an international standpoint; While Ken Robinson focuses mostly on improving America at home. In Ken Robinson’s â€Å"Changing Paradigms† he discusses what the United States government should do to improve schools in various ways. Ken Robinson discusses the lack of use of technology in schools. While students are stimulated outside of school with smart phones, computers, TVs, and tablets, when they come to school they are bored because they do not have that stimulation. This lack of stimulation can cause problems for students. Ken Robinson addresses one of these problems as ADHD. Robinson thinks ADHD is a â€Å"false epidemic†. He justifies his statement by blaming the lack of technology in schools. He believes that the high use of technology outside of school and the lack of it in school are causing the students to become bored, so they will try to stimulate themselves which is being diagnosed as ADHD. Ken Robinson in away wants our educational system to be revamped, such as he wants the way children are grouped to be change from age to ability. He also desires more in class collaboration like in a real workplace. He also wishes for the added use of technology in schools. Ken Robinson has a very agreeable philosophy on how education should be, however he fails to elaborate on how these changes should take place. Arne Duncan and Ken Robinson have very interesting philosophies on education but each focus on different parts of it. Duncan focuses on international success and on higher level education, while Robinson has a more local standpoint and is more K-12 based. Arne Duncan believes that America’s main priority should be to lead the world in educational success. Ken Robinson believes that the government should work on advancing schools technologically and changing education to better fit the students. America needs step up and step up fast both internationally and locally. By 2020 the president of the United States goal is for America to lead the world in college attainment America also needs to increase technology in schools.

X2: X-Men United Essay -- Movie Movies Film Essays

X2: X-Men United The ultimate test of a good sequel is its ability to stand alone. X2: X-Men United passes this test with flying colors. Though the story line follows the classic good versus evil paradigm, it is not dependent on the original X-Men movie to tell its story. X2’s plotline twists keep the viewer wondering about the loyalties of characters that appear at one moment to switch to the good side, and then just as easily revert to their roles as bad guys. Requiring the viewer to ask, â€Å"How do we know who we can trust?† Equally, the film’s visual effects are stunning without being overwhelming or redundant. We do not see action sequences repeated from the first movie but fresh new twists that appear as visual candy. Many sequels simply mirror their predecessor in hopes of striking gold twice, only to fall short. Not so with X2. The filmmakers have taken what was essentially a good movie and built on its foundation to create a second movie, which is not just a flat reflection of the first, but a movie which can stand on its own. In addition to plotline twist, X2 is chock full of action and adventure. In the first minute of X2 there is more action, suspense, and mystery then several other films of this superhero genre combined. Immediately we are thrust into a world so seemingly real it is almost palpable. An evil looking teleporter named Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) keeps the White House staff and the FBI on their toes as he appears and disappears through White House walls in an attempt to get to the president. Yet, all is not as it seems and the audience is drawn into a storyline where fear and prejudice play major roles. Though the storyline often takes back seat to the special effects and fight sequences, it... ... and tension again pulling the audience member into the world of the movie. There is plenty of action which propels the story forward at breakneck speed. Fight sequences such as the one between Wolverine (Jackman) and Lady Death Strike (Kelly Hu) pit strength against strength, steel against steel (or in this case adamantium against adamantium), and though it struggles to get there, good usually triumphs over evil. Other stunning visual effects include the scene where Storm (Halle Berry) whips up several tornadoes to keep the â€Å"bad guys† at bay, and the scene in which Jean Grey (Janssen) holds back the raging waters of the broken dam with her powers of telekinesis. Though not a film to be taken too seriously, this movie has the power to whisk audience members away for 2 hours, into a world in which the bad guys finish last and the power of good conquers evil.

Charles Dickens’ Diary for Writing Great Expectations Essay

I cannot but thoroughly criticize the lackadaisical social and moral abuses in this country. The will to take action has urged me to write Great Expectations in order to assail the abominable conditions that exist in England. In this novel, my dear characters are idealized in order to heavily contrast with the ugly social truths that I reveal. For it is fully my intent to raise the awareness of these corrupting and unjust conditions that we so nonchalantly live with. Oh what a pity! A grief indeed, that the once innocuous and simple Pip may be transformed into the snobbish and opinionated character he becomes. For what was the reason for Pip’s unexpected transformation? Of course, it is naught but the social-class division that feeds the desire of selfish ambition. Here in England, the social-class determines how a person is treated and his access to education. This most discriminatory attitude is displayed when the otherwise indifferent tailor servilely attends to Pip after hearing of his fortune despite turning a cold shoulder to him earlier. Is money enough to turn a man into a mouse? Why is it that charisma does not command respect but pounds and shillings? After attaining a vast amount of wealth, Pip even begins to treat his closest friend and protector, Joe, with a superior air. Was Joe not plenty a’ gentle and fair to Pip? Had Joe been an inadequate friend? Absolutely not, twas’ being Pip now belonged to a higher social class. Not only does social standing determine how one was treated daily, but also played an unfair and villainous part in court reasoning in our society. In the case of the two convicts, the main perpetrator, a gentlemen, stated in his defense speech â€Å"†..here you has afore you, side by side, two persons as your eyes can separate wide; one, the younger, well brought up†¦ one; the elder, ill brought up†¦ which is the worst one?† The most incredulous and vile aspect is not the use of an ad hominem, but the court promptly basing the entire decision of the trial strictly on this statement regarding social appearance. I assure you, this is not uncommon at all in this country. Trials and disputes are unfairly biased and integrity comes arm in arm with class and money rather than logic and proof. Ah! Though it is true that social class plays an enormous role in everyone’s lives, it all but affects one’s character. One’s character is still left intact despite the obstructive society divide. An honest but poor man today shall unquestionably hold more truth than a sly rich man. Alas’, sadly this is far from the case today. The secondary reason that had prompted me to write this novel was the physical condition of London. Being a local resident of London, I bore firsthand witness to the effects of industrialization. At the cost of clean air and green living space, London transformed into a merchant city full of jobs and people. O how I do miss the crisp clean fields of the countryside. This sentimentality was the reason that provoked me to write about the descriptive settings and bustling activities within the city. Not to mention the crowded condition people lived in, primitive sewage and poor working conditions. As a result, I am not particularly fond of aristocrats and express this through my characters. Through them, I expose the malignant social norms such as Magistrates courts and the social divide. As well, my reminiscent memories of familiar settings and my want to explore the conditions in the city have compelled me to write this novel. The end product cannot help but evoke a sense of awareness and social conscientiousness from the reader.

Essay about Rhetoric in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Cassius, Brutus, and Antony use rhetoric successfully in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, albeit each differently and for different causes. Each of these men uses his skills in rhetoric to convince each other and at some points the entire population of Rome to follow his beliefs. However, each of these men has different motivations to do so, as well as different characteristics and general worldviews. Cassius uses rhetoric successfully to persuade Brutus to come over to his cause—killing Julius Caesar. Cassius is a sharp minded politician whose motivations are personal and not always in the interest of the state of Rome. He uses rhetoric as his means of convincing others to help him reach his cause and goal. Cassius uses many tactics†¦show more content†¦By his rhetoric, Cassius is able to make Brutus join the conspirators so that Cassius’ personal fear of Caesar becoming king will not play out. Brutus, a conflicted senator obsessed with his civic duty, convinces the people of Rome that his motives in killing Caesar were just and noble by rhetoric. Brutus is the only conspirator to have impersonal motives in killing Caesar. In fact, his motives are trying to find the best solution for Rome, and in the end, he must make the hard choice of killing his best friend for his homeland. As early as Brutus’ conversation with Cassius in Act I, Brutus exhibits this deep love and respect for Rome and how this love is conflicting with his love for his friend, Caesar: â€Å"[P]oor Brutus, with himself at war, / Forgets the shows of love to other men† (I.ii.51-52). Brutus brings up this internal conflict again when he tells the crowds that although he did love Caesar, he loved Rome and its people more. After Brutus’ murder of Caesar, he realizes that the issue of the public opinion of Rome is of the utmost importance. Because of this love for Rome, Brutus uses rhetoric to persuade these plebeians to approve of him and his cause. When Cassius warns Brutus about â€Å"how much the people will be moved / By that which [Marc Antony] will utter[!]† (III.i.252-253), Brutus tells Cassius that letting Marc Antony speak â€Å"shall advantage us more than do us wrong† (III.i.261). In these cases, Brutus demonstrates his awareness ofShow MoreRelatedRhetoric and Betrayal in Julius Caeser Play1486 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s famous play Julius Caesar utilizes the literary element of rhetoric multiple times throughout to show the true power that words can hold. The rhetoric in Caesar accompanies the play’s themes of betrayal, deception, and exaggeration. Brutus uses rhetoric to persuade the crowd of plebeians that the murdering of Caesar was positive and beneficial to all of Rome, winning their support and causing them to join his cause. 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