Chapter 3 Lecture Notes ● 11
Chapter 3 Additional Writing Improvement Exercises
Sentence Type
For each of the numbered sentences, select the letter that identifies its type:
a Simple sentence c Complex sentence
b Compound sentence d Compound-complex sentence
1. Members of low-context cultures tend to value individualism. ____
2. When Americans travel abroad on business, their informality may be viewed
negatively. ____
Sentence Faults
In the following, identify the sentence fault (fragment, run-on, comma splice). Then revise to remedy
the fault.
6. Destination weddings at theme parks are popular. Which explains why they have become a major
income source for Disneyland.
7. A small wedding with four guests starts at $2,500, a larger celebration with 18 guests starts at
$12,000.
Emphasis
For each of the following sentences, circle (a) or (b). Be prepared to justify your choice.
11. Which is more emphatic?
a. Increased social media marketing would improve sales.
b. Adding $50,000 in social media marketing would double our sales.
12. Which is more emphatic?
a. They offer a lot of products.
b. Amazon offers thousands of computer, travel, and office accessories.
13. Which is more emphatic?
a. Employees in cubicles are interrupted 29 percent more often than those in private
offices.
b. Those workers are interrupted more than others.
14. Which sentence places more emphasis on product loyalty?
15. Which sentence places more emphasis on the seminar?
a. An executive training seminar that starts June 1 will include four candidates.
b. Four candidates will be able to participate in an executive training seminar that we feel will
provide a valuable learning experience.
16. Which sentence places more emphasis on the date?
17. Which is less emphatic?
a. One division’s profits decreased last quarter.
b. Profits in consumer electronics dropped 15 percent last quarter.
18. Which sentence de-emphasizes the credit refusal?
a. We cannot grant you credit at this time, but we welcome your cash business and encouage
you to reapply in the future.
Chapter 3 Lecture Notes ● 13
Active Voice
Business writing is more forceful if it uses active-voice verbs. Revise the following sentences so that
verbs are in the active voice. Put the emphasis on the doer of the action. Add subjects if necessary.
Example Antivirus software was installed on her computer.
Revision Madison installed antivirus software on her computer.
21. Open-plan offices were prescribed by designers to promote increased interactivity.
Passive Voice
When indirectness or tact is required, you may prefer passive-voice verbs. Revise the following
sentences so that they are in the passive voice.
Example Kevin did not submit the proposal before the deadline.
Revision The proposal was not submitted before the deadline.
25. Our CPA seems to have made a serious miscalculation in this report.
26. We cannot ship your order for smart surge protectors until May 5.
Parallelism
Revise the following sentences so that their parts are balanced.
30. (Hint: Match active voice of verbs.) To improve your listening skills, you should stop talking,
your surroundings should be controlled, be listening for main points, and an open mind must
be kept.
33. (Hint: Match adjectives.) Training seminars must be stimulating and a challenge.
34. Our new telecommunications software allows you to meet with customers over the Internet for
training, Web-based meetings can be held, and other online collaboration within virtual teams
is also facilitated.
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Revise the following sentences to avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers. If a sentence starts with a
verbal phrase, keep it there.
38. Skilled at social networking, the marketing contract was won by ConstantContact.
39. Driving to work, the proposal deadline worried me intensely.
Chapter 3 Lecture Notes ● 15
40. Strolling along the strip, the exciting Mandalay Bay is just one of the fabulous hotels you see
in Las Vegas.
41. Angered by slow computer service, complaints were called in by hundreds of unhappy users.
Organizing Paragraph Sentences
Study the following list of sentences from an interoffice memo to hospital staff.
1. The old incident report form caused numerous problems and confusion.
2. One problem was that employees often omitted important information.
3. The Hospital Safety Committee has revised the form used for incident reports.
Building Coherent Paragraphs
48. Improve the organization, coherence, and correctness of the following paragraph.
We feel that the “extreme” strategy has not been developed fully in the fast-food market.
Pizza Hut is considering launching a new product called The Extreme. We plan to price this
49. Use the following facts to construct a coherent paragraph with a topic sentence and appropriate
transitional expressions in the supporting sentences.
• The federal government will penalize medical practices that don’t adopt electronic
medical records (EMRs).
• Valley Medical Center is considering beginning converting soon.
50. Use the following facts to construct a coherent paragraph with a topic sentence and appropriate
transitional expressions in the supporting sentences.
• Nearly all teams experience conflict. They should recognize and expect it.
• The most effective teams strive to eliminate destructive conflict and develop constructive
conflict.
• Destructive conflict arises when team members take criticism personally.
Key to Chapter 3 Additional Writing Improvement Exercises
Sentence Type
Sentence Faults
6. Fragment
Destination weddings at theme parks are popular, which explains why they have
become a major income source for Disneyland.
Chapter 3 Lecture Notes ● 17
Emphasis
11. b
12. b
Active Voice
21. Designers prescribed open-plan offices to promote increased interactivity.
Passive Voice
25. A serious miscalculation seems to have been made in this report.
26. Your order for smart surge protectors cannot be shipped until May 5. OR:
Your order for smart surge protectors will be shipped May 5.
Parallelism
30. To improve your listening skills, you should stop talking, control your surroundings,
listen for main points, and keep an open mind.
31. Beverly Payne, director of the St. Joseph branch, will now supervise all Midwest
operations; Benjamin Willis, director of the Virginia branch, will supervise all East
Coast operations.
32. Our newly hired employee has started to use our computer software and to learn her
coworkers’ names. OR: Our newly hired employee has started using our computer
software and learning her coworkers’ names.
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
38. Skilled at social networking, ConstantContact won the marketing contract.
39. Driving to work, I was intensely worried by the proposal deadline.
40. Strolling along the strip, you see the exciting Mandalay Bay, which is is just one of the
Vegas fabulous hotels in Las Vegas.
41. Angered by slow computer service, hundreds of unhappy users called to complain.
Chapter 3 Lecture Notes ● 19
Organizing Paragraph Sentences
45. Which sentence should be the topic sentence? ___3____
Building Coherent Paragraphs
Note: Many possible revisions may be appropriate for the following paragraphs.
48. Pizza Hut is considering launching a new product called The Extreme. It will be the
largest pizza on the market. With double the cheese and double the toppings, it will target the
X and Y Generations. These are the fastest-growing segments in the fast-food market. This
49. For many reasons Valley Medical Center is considering beginning the process of
converting to electronic medical records (EMRs). If we do so, we can qualify for federal funds
50. Effective teams convert conflict into better decision making. They strive to eliminate
destructive conflict, which can arise when team members take criticism personally. Such