Getting Down To The Basics--Understanding The Writing Process

Individual Assignment: Getting Down to the Basics--Understanding the Writing Process

Due Week 2 Day 7

Directions

Complete this worksheet and post your completed work as a Microsoft Word® document attachment to the Assignments newsgroup.

1. Put each of following parts of the writing process in the correct order.

_5__ Create a reference list or works cited page.

_1__ Brainstorm a list of topics.

_4__ Edit and Revise your paper

_3__ Compose a rough draft of your paper.

_2__ Compose your thesis and organize the information for your paper.

2. Click on the Center for Writing Excellence link on your University of Phoenix Student Web Site under Services, and click on the Tutorials & Guides link at the top of the page. Scroll down and click on the link to the Longman Exercise Zone. Click on the Diagnostic Self-Test, and take this self-assessment. What are your strong points? What areas do you need to work on? How might this information help you during this or any other University of Phoenix classes? -Sentences, structure, and word use are my stronger points. The areas I need work on are punctuation, and sentence grammar.

-This information will be very helpful with most of my classes especially when there will be papers due.

3. Select the following sentence that BEST explains why peer editing is a valuable part of the writing process.

a. Peer editing is just as good as using your spell checker on your computer except that you have a chance to interact with someone while writing your paper.

b. Peer editing is a way of reducing the editing workload on an individual writer and on the instructor.

c. Peer editing is a collaborative editing process where both writer and editor have the opportunity to give and receive feedback.

d. Peer editing the most important part of the writing process because peer feedback is more reliable than instructor feedback.

Punctuation

Highlight the letter of the sentence you believe is correct from each pair below in a different color. Use What's the Rule in the Center for Writing Excellence, to check your answers. Write the category and rule number in the spaces provided. Correct your answer, if necessary.

Category Rule Number

EX. Commas 3 a. Karen is a knowledgeable intelligent person.

b. Karen is a knowledgeable, intelligent person.

4. Commas 2 a. I left the bookstore and then I met my learning team.

b. I left the bookstore, and then I met my learning team.

5. Commas 8 a. In a start-up business cash flow is extremely important.

b. In a start-up business, cash flow is extremely important.

6. Commas 16 a. After April 15, 2001, all tours will be discontinued.

b. After April 15, 2001 all tours will be discontinued.

7. Semicolon 5 a. I've lived in Phoenix, Arizona; Ogden, Utah; and Austin, Texas.

b. I've lived in Phoenix, Arizona, Ogden, Utah, and Austin, Texas.

8. Quotation 4 a. One of the best movies of 1997 was Titanic.

b. One of the best movies of 1997 was "Titanic."

9. Dash 1 a. He is a well-liked attorney in town.

b. He is a well liked attorney in town.

10. Quotation 6 a. "Please be on time", she requested.

b. "Please be on time," she requested.

Sentences and Style

Highlight the letter of the sentence you believe is correct from each pair below in a different color. Use What's the Rule in the Center for Writing Excellence, to check your answers. Write the category and rule number (if applicable) in the spaces provided. Correct your answer, if necessary.

Category Rule Number

11. Sentences 2 a. An acceptable method of creating a compound sentence is to connect two independent clauses with a comma. (John went to town, Sue went with him.)

b. An acceptable method of creating a compound sentence is to connect two independent clauses with a semicolon. (John went to town; Sue went with him.)

12. Sentences 4 a. An independent clause contains at least a subject and a verb.

b. An independent clause contains at least a verb.

13. Sentences 3 a. I find it hard to believe, but I have worked here five years.

b. I find it hard to believe but I have worked here five years.

14. Capitalization 13 a. I will graduate this year in the spring.

b. I will graduate this year in the Spring.

15. Capitalization 14 a. I grew up in the south.

b. I grew up in the South.

16. Numbers 23 a. How many 7s are in your social security number?

b. How many 7's are in your social security number?