Technical Writing Worksheet

Informal-Formal

A
1. Ask: 17. Hurt: 33. So:
2. Bad; 18. I think: 34. Sorry:
3. Book (verb): 19. In the end: 35. Start:
4. Build: 20. Kids: 36. Tell:
5. But: 21. Let; 37. Think about:
6. Buy: 22. Look for: 38. To sum up:
7. Call off: 23. Lucky: 39. Tough:
8. Cheap: 24. Mad: 40. Use:
9. Check: 25. May be: 41. Want:
10. Choose: 26. Need: 42. Worse:
11. Empty: 27. OK: 43. Says
12. End: 28. Point out: 44. Nowadays
13. Get: 29. Quit; 45. Lots of
14. Go up: 30. Say no: 46. Find out
15. Good; 31. Seem: 47. Doing
16. Help: 32. Show:

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B
Informal: The improvements canʼt be introduced due to funding restrictions.
Informal: I donʼt believe that the results are accurate.
Informal: The research project wonʼt continue next year.
Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment.
Informal: The patient got over his illness.
Informal: The results of the study were mixed up.
Informal: Lecturers still count on students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.
Informal: It was raining cats and dogs.
Informal The study checked out the health effects of passive smoking.
Informal This experiment worked out just fine.
Informal The outcomes of the study haven't been documented yet.
Informal She’s decided to take up the offer.
Informal You can purchase a car for under $10,000.
Informal Men have worked in this area for research.
Informal Men started migrating from the western part of the land.
Informal Sorry, but the delivery will be late because of the weather [informal]

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C
Edit the following sentences as per the standards of technical writing.
1. farnaz is a student from iran She speaks English French farsi
2. i am taking four classes this semester world history sociology 32 economics 40 and a
computer science course
3. i read a good book last weekend by ernest hemingway called the old man and the sea
4. it is celebrated on the fourth thursday in november in the united states and on the 2nd
monday in october in Canada
5. Filmmaker George lucas has written directed and produced some of the best loved
movies of our time
6. To sum up George Lucas's love of storytelling and his technological innovations have
transformed movie making forever.

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D
Replace the phrasal verbs in the sentences with a more appropriate verb.
1. Researchers have been looking into the problem for 15 years.
2. This issue was brought up during the seminar.
3. It is assumed that the management knows what is happening and will therefore step in if
there is a problem.
4. Schools cannot altogether get rid of the problem of truancy.
5. The number of staff has been cut down recently.
6. It was very difficult to find out exactly what happened.
7. House prices have a tendency to go up and down.
8. A potential solution was put forward two years ago.

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E
Replace the informal expressions in the sentences with a more formal one.

1. The locals could not put up with the visitors from the city.
2. The decline was brought about by cheap imports.
3. The university is thinking about installing CCTV.
4. Sales are likely to drop off in the third quarter.
5. He went on speaking for over an hour.
6. The meeting was put off until December.
7. The cinema was pulled down ten years ago.
8. People have cut down on their consumption of beef.
9. The company wants to pull out of the deal.
10. You have many course options at State University.
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F
Which of the two alternatives in bold do you think is more appropriate in academic writing?
1. The government has made considerable/great progress in solving the problem.
2. We got/obtained excellent results in the experiment.
3. The results of lots of/numerous tests have been pretty good/encouraging.
4. A loss of jobs is one of the consequences/things that will happen if the process is
automated.
5. The relationship between the management and workers is extremely/really important.
6. Some suggestions springing up from/arising from the study will be presented.
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G
Use a more formal word or phrase to replace those in bold.
 1. The reaction of the officials was sort of negative.
2. The economic outlook is nice.
3. Car manufacturers are planning a get together to discuss their strategy.
4. The resulting competition between countries is good.
5. The economy is affected by things that happen outside the country.
6. She was given the sack because of her poor record.
7. The examination results were super.
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H
There are elements on inconsistency in the paragraph. Identify them, and replace them in
consistency with the rest of the paragraph.
A marathon runner must be strong not only in body but also in mind. They to train for years to
achieve the necessary endurance to compete in his or her sport. This requires great discipline
and self-sacrifice. In addition, marathon runners have to train their minds in order to endure
the long hours of solitary running. This, too, requires great discipline. In other words, you must
be in top condition, both mentally and physically, if you want to run in marathons.
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 Punctuation

A
1) Therefore I plan to quit smoking.
2) As a result I feel terrible right now.
3) Because I have a chronic cough my doctor recommended that I quit immediately.
4) She has a good job yet she is always broke.
5) They were tired so they went home early.
6) He does not enjoy skiing ice skating or biking.
7) Cecille speaks English, Spanish, French, and Creole.
8) Stop smoking she advised.
9) My uncle however refuses to quit smoking.
10) My father on the other hand has never smoked.
11) There is no point in living according to my uncle if you do not do what you enjoy.
12) He appears to be in good health however.
13) He swims for an hour every day for example.
14) He also plays tennis beating me most of the time.
15) The advertising industry which is one of the largest industries in the United States, employs
millions of people and spends billions of dollars.
16) A company that wants to be successful must spend a great deal of money to advertise its
products.
17) Advertising is essential to the free enterprise system yet it can sometimes be very annoying.
18) Every minute of the day and night people are exposed to ads on television on billboards in
the newspapers and in magazines.
19) You cannot even avoid advertising in the privacy of your own car or your own home for
advertisers have begun selling their products in those places too.
20) In the last few years advertising agencies have started to hire young people to hand out
circulars on street comers and in parking lots.
21) You can often find these circulars stuck on your windshield thrust through the open
windows of your car stuffed in your mailbox or simply scattered on your front doorstep.
22) Because Americans are exposed to so much advertising they have become immune to it.
23) Skiing is dangerous nevertheless millions of people ski.
24) I have never been to Asia in fact I have never been outside the country.
25) I cannot decide which car I like best the Ferrari, with its quick acceleration and sporty look
the midsize Ford Taurus with its comfortable seats and ease of handling or the compact Geo
with its economical fuel consumption.
26) Professor Smith is at a conference however Dr. Jones who is the department chairman will
be glad to see you.
27) My favorite leisure time activities are going to movies especially musicals reading novels
especially stories of love and adventure listening to music both rock and classical and
participating in sports particularly tennis and volleyball.
28) If you are a college student an average day is filled with challenges you have to avoid
running into Professor Jones whose class you missed, because you overslept you have to
race across the campus at high speed to reach your next class which is always at the other
side of the campus and you have to secretly prepare your homework assignment during
class hoping all the time that the teacher will not catch you.
29) The life expectancy of North Americans is increasing for the life expectancy of a person born
in 2000 was 77.2 years which is an increase of almost 30 years since 1900.
30) The causes of the U.S. Civil War were as follows the economic domination of the North the
slavery issue and the issue of states rights versus federal intervention.

31) To me the most important things in life are good health a happy home life and a satisfying
occupation.
32) The citys Sherman Hill Historic District contains many turn of the century buildings
including Salisbury House a reproduction (1923-1928) of the Kings House in Salisbury
England, and Terrace Hill a Victorian mansion (1867-1869) now the
Iowa governor's residence.
33) Finlay had recommended four alternatives full internationalization a European plus
dependencies system an Empire only system or international regulation.

34) In comparison rote learning does not develop the skills which are important for university
education.
35) She was extraordinarily tall the tallest woman I'd ever seen.
36) She saw her sisters all five of them standing in front of the building.
37) He sold off his land 600 acres to the highest bidder.
38) As she walked across the stage to receive her degree the first in her family to graduate from
college she felt an immeasurable sense of accomplishment.
39) After laboring in the hot afternoon sun Bob was incredibly tired exhausted to the core but
knew he could not pause to rest.
40) Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
41) Judge Carswell who was nominated later for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil
rights.
42) A long time ago high in the Alps an old man lived with his goat Blanky.
43) The Amazon the second longest river is 4000 miles long.

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B
Edit the following sentences as per the standards of technical writing.

Many students feel that learning to write well is a useless time consuming task that has little to
do with "real life" their future occupations. Although this may be true if he or she plans to
become an auto mechanic or a waitress it is certainly not true if you plan to have a white collar
job. No matter what profession you enter business, engineering, government, education you
will have to write.
Structure of Sentences

A
Identify the sentence from each set (5 sentences) that has been written maintaining the
standards of technical writing. Identify the non-standard formatting/ expressions for the rest of
the sentences that do not qualify to be examples of technical writing.

1. i)Marr argues convincingly that sugar is a “terrible energy source” for the body (2010).
ii) Marr argues convincingly that sugar is a terrible energy source for the body (2010).
iii) Marr builds up a strong case that eating sugar is an unhealthy way to consume energy
(2010).
iv) Marr demonstrates that sugar is actually an unhealthy source of energy (2010).
v) Marr claims that eating sugar is not a healthy thing. (2010).

2. i) According to Marr, “Sugar consumption has risen dramatically in the last decade” (2020).
ii) Marr’s (2010) point is that sugar consumption has gone up in recent years.
iii) According to Marr Sugar consumption has risen dramatically in the last decade (2020).
iv) Marr observes that the amount of sugar that people eat has increased in the last few years
(2010).
v) Marr is of the opinion that people are eating more sugar (2010).

3. We faced big obstacles when doing online research.

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B
Match the beginning of each sentence with the appropriate ending.
a) The study sought to reduce i) regime should be developed during the course of the
program.
b) Soil erosion was ii) traced over a period of seven years.
c) At the end of this period, bio-health iii) the effects of the new treatment on homecare
patients.
d) The use of standardized iv) sample varies with the method chosen.
e) An appropriate testing v) the history of schooling from the 19th century.
f) The size of the vi) measurement is often found in industrial units.
g) This study sampled vii) the number of variables involved.
h) This study tracked viii) factors were measured again.

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C
Make these statements more cautious.
1. Today, everyone uses credit cards for all their shopping.
2. Drinking wine is bad for you.
3. Global warming will have disastrous consequences for the whole world.
4. Teleworking leads to isolation.
5. Women are worse drivers than men.
6. Everyone will agree that computer is the best invention.
Transition

A
Complete the following sentences:
1. It rained yesterday. Therefore,
2. It rained yesterday. However, …….
3. It rained yesterday. Moreover, ………
4. It rained yesterday. In fact, ………
5. It rained yesterday. On the contrary, ……..
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B
Use the following words/ phrases as Connector/ Transitions to connect two sentences.
Sentence 1. Connector. sentence 2

1. In fact
2. For example
3. On the contrary
4. In other words
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C
Complete the following sentences using the correct connective.
Although; But; So; and; Then; Until
1. __________ travelling by plane is fast, its expensive _______ bad for the environment.
2. Car-racing is exciting, ______________ it’s very dangerous.
3. I love exciting places, ________________ I want to go to a city.
4. It’s usually very hot in Australia _________________ the end of April.
5. I would like to go to the beach first, _____________ we can go to the restaurant.
6. I like to eat beef, _________________ I do like to eat chicken.
7. _______________ you’re saying you want to go diving?
8. I want to go snorkeling, diving _____________ to the opera.
9. _________________you finish your homework you can’t watch T.V.
10. It’s foggy and stormy outside, _____________ you should wear a coat ____________ boots.
11. You’re not 17 years old, ___________ you’ll have to wait till you can drive a car.
12. I love my pet dog, ______________ I prefer music.
13. Its windy today, _____________ take your umbrella _______________ be careful.
14. Snorkeling in the sea is exciting ______________ fun, ______________ I prefer to climb mountains.
15. England is colder than Spain, ____________ Spain is hotter than England.

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D
Connect the two sentences using one of the conjunctions listed.
Although; despite; in spite of; unless; however; and; so; so that; until; even if;
1. The weather was very bad. He went out for a walk.
2. It was a difficult task. She solved it with ease.
3. You can finish all the tasks on time. You still have to work overtime.
4. She has to finish her homework. She can go out afterwards.
5. They forgot to let me know. I found out from the papers.
6. They stayed out very late. The last train had already left.
7. The essay is really quite good. There are just a few tiny mistakes.

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E
Fill in the correct connectives and linking words from the list below.

As Well As ; During ; Because ; Either …. Or ;

Neither …. Nor ; When ; Although ; Unless ;
Which ; So That ; Then ; So ;
Despite ; While ; Such As ; However ;

1. ____________________ Dad come home from work he has to lie down on the sofa ________________ he
is tired.
2. Jerry had a bad headache yesterday, _______________ he couldn’t come to football practice.
3. This is Jimmy’s new mountain bike, ____________________ he got from his parents. He locks it up
every evening _______________________ nobody can steal it.
4. ____________________ Samantha was tired, she watched TV until well after midnight.
5. First, cut out the pictures, ____________________ paste them into your book.
6. I would like to learn Chinese. ____________________, I don’t know anyone who can teach me.
7. ____________________ we were driving through the countryside, we saw many picturesque
villages.
8. The Hemingways are our neighbours ____________________ our friends.
9. You can have _______________ tea ____________ coffee for breakfast. What would you like?
10. ____________________ being a great skier, only few people outside of Europe know him.
11. ____________________ the hike up the mountains we saw a lot of deer.
12. ________________ you finish the essay by tomorrow you won’t be able to get a good mark.
13. _______________ my father _______________ my mother will be able to attend the meeting
tomorrow.
14. He likes all kinds of sports, ____________________ skiing, hockey and volleyball.

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F
Fill in the correct connectives and linking words from the list.

although during neither … nor

as well as even though so that
both however therefore
despite in addition whereas
due to in order to which
while

1. __________________ we were driving through the Lake District, we saw many picturesque
villages.
2. __________________ having lost only one match this season, we didn’t win the championship.
3. Flight attendants who apply for a job must be able to speak __________________ English and
Spanish.
4. I started learning Chinese ________________ my stay in the Far East.
5. This is Jimmy’s new bike, __________________ he got from his parents. He locks it up every
evening __________________ nobody can steal it.
6. She gets up early __________________ be in time for work.
7. The climate in South Africa is perfect. It’s __________________ too hot __________________ too cold.
8. This cell phone tariff costs 8 cents per minute, __________________ the other one offers a flat rate.
9. __________________ my father likes country music, he rarely listens to it on the radio.
10. __________________ to the six air bags, the car also has a built-in security system.
11. The company manufactures cars __________________ motorcycles.
12. __________________ we hadn’t eaten for over twelve hours, we weren’t_ _very hungry.
13. My sister invited me to her party. __________________, I was so busy I had to tell her I couldn’t
come.
14. I arrived late for the performance __________________ a traffic jam on the motorway.
15. He spent most of his time playing with his friends. __________________, he wasn’t well-prepared
for the exam.

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G
Fill in the correct connectives and linking words from the list.

Although; As A Result; At Least; However; In Case; Including; In Other Words; In The

Meantime; On One Hand; On The Other Hand; On The Contrary; Otherwise; Therefore

1. Sea levels will probably rise in the next few decades __________________________ of global
warming.
2. I hope he drives carefully, __________________________ he may have problems on such a slippery
road.
3. The president was not a very popular leader. __________________________, his resignation did not
come as a surprise.
4. Our economy will not improve this year. __________________________, all projections show that it
will get worse.
5. The couple broke up a few days ago. __________________________, they are still living together
because of the children.
6. __________________________ it was a wonderful place to go skiing, not many tourists found their
way there.
7. The scientist studied the behaviour of various animals, __________________________ whales and
dolphins.
8. __________________________ we have to fight against environmental problems, but
__________________________ we need more and more energy every day.
9. I think he’s asleep. __________________________ his eyes are closed.
10. The candidate didn’t quite meet the necessary requirements. __________________________, he
failed.
11. Please take some warm clothes with you, just _______________________ it gets cold at night.
12. The report will be finished soon. __________________________, let’s get some coffee.

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H
Select the correct conjunction or conjunctive adverb from the box below to complete each
sentence.
Accordingly; however; but; whenever; whether; moreover; since; until;

a) BRCA2 is believed to be equal in importance to the BRCA1 gene. There are, ________________
differences in these genes.
b) This book offers an insight into the actual experience of anorexia from the perspective of
family members who are affected ________________ anorexia strikes a teenager.
c) A basic law of economics correlates the price of a product to the demand for that product.
________________, increases in the monetary price of alcohol (i.e., through tax increases) would be
expected to both reduce alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences.
d) The language used in the media to portray or describe older people is overwhelmingly
negative in its scope. ________________, many ageist terms are doubly offensive as they contain
both ageist and sexist references.
e) ________________ diversity skills are now essential to both business and personal success in our
diverse society, you can find more and more companies willing to invest in diversity
management training.
f) It may come as a surprise, ________________ heart disease is one of the most prevalent killers of
women in the US.
g) There is not much hope for progress ________________ gender issues are addressed through
general development policies and programs.
h) The real question then is ________________ environmental taxes have an incentive impact.

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I
Put an adverb from the box below into the correct place in the sentences that follow.
at length; clearly; closely; commonly; conclusively; critically; mainly; thoroughly.

a) This theory is ________________ based on research done in the 19th century.

b) Smith’s definition of consumer behavior is ________________ associated with Tversky (1972).
c) Sampson and Deloitte (1982) discuss this issue ________________.
d) Estevez and her research team have been unable to ________________ establish a
connection between the two phenomena.
e) Scientists at CERN have ________________ examined the evidence for dark matter.
f) This study ________________ demonstrates the need for further research in this area.
g) This approach is ________________ identified with the work conducted by Cole in the 1960s.
h) The latest research techniques were applied to ________________ examine beta scores.

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J
Choose the appropriate signal word to fill in the blanks.
Also, check the structure of the paragraph. and punctuation used.

How Storms Are Named

The way powerful ocean storms are named has changed over the years, and it is an interesting
story. (1) _________________ (consequently/ originally, generally), weather forecasters described
them by their position in degrees of latitude and longitude. (2) __________ (in addition/for
example/but), a typhoon might have been called 21.20 north, 157.52 west. (3) ________________
,(then/ however/ moreover) this method was confusing, because storms do not stay in the
same place. (4) _____________, (thus/ therefore/ in brief) people developed other ways to identify
them. In the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes were named for the Catholic saints' days. (5) ____________
(thus / for instance / moreover), a hurricane that struck an island in the Caribbean on Saint
Ann's Day was named Santa Ana. During World War I, hurricanes and typhoons were named
according to the military alphabet: Able, Baker, Charlie, and so on. During World War II,
women's names began to be used. (6) ___________ ,(as / therefore / and) for the next thirty-five
years, weather forecasters talked about Typhoon Alice or Hurricane Betsy. (7)
_________(however /then /also), in the 1970s, the women's liberation movement came along,
and forced weather forecasters to use men's names, too. (8) _____________ (thus/as a
result/finally), after about 1975, a storm could be named Gertrude or George. (9)____________
(Currently/ sequentially/ similarly), men's and women's names alternate: Alice, Bret, Carla,
David, Ellen, Frederick, and so on. (10)___________ (to sum up/so/as a result), the way hurricanes
and typhoons are named has changed over the years, and will undoubtedly change again.
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K
Complete the paragraph with the time order signals and add commas if necessary: Use each
signal once. Use these time order signals: Finally, The third step, To sum up, Second, The first
step .
Also, check the structure of the paragraph. and punctuation used.

Choosing Classes
Choosing the right classes each semester can be stressful, but you can reduce your stress by
following these steps. (1) ______________ is to become familiar with the graduation requirements
for your major. Do not
depend on others to give you correct information. Instead, study the pages in the college
bulletin dealing with your major and memorize the requirements. (2) ________ plan, plan, plan.
Write out a program for each semester to make sure you have all the courses you need for
graduation. Be aware that some classes have prerequisites - classes you must pass before you
can register for them. (3) __________ is to talk with as many older students as you can. Ask them
which courses are good, and which ones are not. Don't waste your time and money on bad
classes. (4) ________ register each semester as soon as you can. Waiting even an hour may mean
that the classes you want or need are filled. (5) ________ plan ahead to avoid missing any
required classes, to avoid bad classes, and to graduate on time.

========================== ==========================
L
Read the text and fill in the gaps with the appropriate markers from the box.
Furthermore; However; Indeed; In fact; In general; In other words; Therefore; Whereas; For
example;
Also, check the structure of the paragraph. and punctuation used.

One of the many features that distinguishes the United States from Great Britain is the political
system. (1)_______________, some people even claim that the fundamentally different ideas of
government account for the dissimilar historical developments of the two
cultures.(2)________________, the Anglo-American system is of a decidedly republican nature,
(3)______ the British system shows clear monarchical traits. (4)________________, the head of state
in the United States is an elected president, as opposed to the king or queen who is at the top of
the British society. (5)_______________, all members of the US Senate are elected representatives of
the people while the members of the British Upper House are hereditary or appointed peers.
(6)________________, despite such distinctions, many people believe that nowadays the differences
are actually quite minor. (7)________________, both countries have a strong parliamentary
tradition and both are considered well-functioning democracies. (8)________________, the US-
American Congress would hardly be conceivable without developments that began in Medieval
England with the signing of the Magna Charta in 1215. (9)________________, the outward
differences between the British and Anglo-American political systems should not distract from
the many and significant underlying similarities.

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M
Add signaling words and phrases in the following article on “Nuclear Hazards”.

Nuclear Hazards
There are three separate sources of hazard related to the use of nuclear reactions to supply us
with energy. (1)__________, the radioactive material must travel from its place of manufacture to
the power station. (2)__________ the power stations themselves are solidly built, the containers
used for the transport of the material are not. (3)__________, there are normally only two
methods of transport available, (4)__________ road or rail, and both of these involve close contact
with the general public, (5)__________ the routes are bound to pass near, or even through, heavily
populated areas. (6)__________, there is the problem of waste. All nuclear power stations produce
wastes which in most cases will remain radioactive for thousands of years. It is impossible to
de-activate these wastes, and (7)__________, they must be stored in one of the ingenious but
cumbersome ways that scientists have invented. (8)__________ they may be buried under the
ground, dropped into disused mineshafts, or sunk in the sea. (9)__________ these methods do not
solve the problem; they merely store it, (10) __________ an earthquake could crack open the
containers like nuts. (11) __________ there is the problem of accidental exposure due to a leak or
an explosion at the power station. As with the other two hazards, this is extremely unlikely and
(12) __________ does not provide a serious objection to the nuclear programme, (13) __________ it
can happen, as the inhabitants of Harrisburg will tell you. Separately, and during short periods,
these three types of risk are no great cause for concern. Taken together, (14) __________, and
especially over much longer periods, the probability of a disaster is extremely high.

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N
Edit the following paragraph as per the standards of technical writing:

A person who has made a difference My Grandfather

My Grandfather help his community in two ways. My Grandfather born in 1880. He was farmer.
Not well educated. (Maybe he only went to high school for one or two year. In those days,
children were needed to work on the farm.) He was first farmer in his community to terrace his
fields. Then, people thought he was crazy, but now, every farmer does it. Terracing helps
prevent soil erosion. This improved farming techniques in his area. After he is too old to work
at farming, my Grandfather get the idea that his town needs a Hospital, so he spend his time
raising money to build one. There is no hospitals nearby, and people have to go long distance to
see doctor. People again think he really crazy, but he succeed. Now a small Hospital in
community, and two doctor. Each of the doctors have lots of patients. The Hospital is named the
james walker community hospital. It was named for my Grandfather. My Grandfather just a
simple, uneducated farmer, but he helped his community a lot.
Topic and Controlling Idea

A
Identify the topic and the controlling idea in the following sentences:
1. This paper demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of living off-campus.
2. The college students consume enormous quantities of junk food.
3. People can avoid burglaries by taking certain precautions.
4. Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you follow these steps.
5. Animals in danger of becoming extinct come from a wide range of countries.
6. There are several advantages to growing up in a small town.
7. Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop.
8. There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.
9. When writing a laboratory report, one must complete four sections.
10. Tennis racquets have changed greatly in the last ten years.
11. People from many different cultures live in Boston.
12. Cats are better pets than dogs for many reasons.
13. Oral presentations make me very nervous.
14. Computer skills are a requirement for many office jobs.
15. Hardwood flooring is a better buy than carpeting.
16. Marriages are a union of two families.
17. Weddings in certain cultures are very elaborate.

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B
Identify the topic sentence, the topic, the controlling idea, the supporting sentences, and the
concluding sentence of the following paragraph.
The mix of cultures in Hawaii makes weddings there very special occasions. Certainly,
Hawaiian clothing, music, and other Hawaiian customs play a big role. For example, the bride
often wears a long white holoku (wedding dress), and the groom wears a long-sleeved white
shirt and pants with a red sash around his waist. Both the bride and the groom wear leis . The
bride's lei is traditionally made of white flowers such as pikake (jasmine), and the groom's is
made of green maile leaves. Another Hawaiian custom is the blowing of a conch shell three
times to begin the ceremony. Hawaiian music is played both during the ceremony and
afterward. Other customs included in the festivities depend on the ethnic backgrounds of the
couple. For instance, there may be noisy firecrackers, a Chinese way of keeping bad spirits
away. There may be a display of Japanese origami, or there may be a pandango, a Filipino
custom. During a pandango, the wedding guests tape money together and wrap it around the
couple during their first dance together as husband and wife. AII in all, a Hawaiian wedding is
truly a magical, multicultural event.

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C
Read the following paragraphs. Then choose the best topic sentence for each one from the list.
1. ___________________________· Trail climbing is the easiest. Climbers just walk along trails to the
top of a mountain. The trails are not very steep, and the mountains are small. The second type,
rock climbing, takes place on steeper slopes and bigger mountains. Climbers generally have to
use special equipment such as climbing shoes, ropes, and metal nails called pitons. The third
type is ice climbing. Ice climbing takes place only on very high mountains and requires a lot of
special equipment. Equipment used in ice climbing includes ice axes and crampons, which are
spikes attached to a climber's boots for walking on ice and hard snow. Indeed, the sport of
mountain climbing can range from an easy uphill walk to a difficult climb up a frozen waterfall.
a. Mountain climbing requires special skills and equipment.
b. The sport of mountain climbing is practiced worldwide.
c. There are three main types of mountain climbing.

2 . __________________ . For example, Kansas City, in the very center of the United States, is known
for its beef, and Kansas City barbecue is everyone's favorite way to enjoy it. In Boston, people
love baked beans. In the Southwest, chili, a stew made of meat, beans, tomatoes, and hot
peppers, is the regional dish. Wisconsin, a state with many dairy farms, is famous for its cheese.
Go to Maryland and Virginia for crab cakes and to the Northeast for clam chowder and maple
syrup. Indeed, many U.S. cities and regions have a special food for everyone to enjoy.
a. There is a variety of food in the United States.
b. Food in the United States varies from sweet desserts to spicy stews.
c. Different regions of the United States have their own traditional foods.
d. Food in the United States is quite delicious.

============================== ========================

D
Write an appropriate topic sentence for the following paragraphs. Identify the topic and the
controlling idea of the topic sentence.

1. ____________________First of all, teachers must know their subjects very well . At a minimum,
they should take several college courses and pass a written test in every subject that they teach.
Also, they should take refresher classes every few years to keep their knowledge up-to-date.
Third, teachers should take education classes in college to learn how to teach. Fourth, they
should have spent at least one year practice-teaching. Practice-teaching is teaching real
children in a real classroom under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Only after a
person has met these requirements should he or she receive a teaching license.

2. _________________Even small towns in the United States have at least one pizzeria and one
Chinese restaurant. Every midsize town has at least one taqueria, where you can get a delicious
Mexican taco or burrito. French food has always been popular; and hot dogs and hamburgers,
German in origin, are found everywhere. More recently, Middle Eastern shikh kebab, Japanese
sushi, and English fish and chips are increasingly available in the United States.

3. _____________________ Some people skip breakfast because they think it will help them lose
weight. Another reason people give is that they simply don't like breakfast. For others, the
reason is cultural . People in some cultures consume only two meals each day instead of three,
and breakfast isn't traditionally one of them. The most common reason people give is lack of
time. They like to stay in bed until the last minute, and then they have to rush to get to work or
to school on time.
============================== ========================

E
Write additional supporting sentences for the following topic sentence. The first one is done
for as example.

T: Mr. Smith had several qualities of a great teacher.

a. He was well informed about his subject, and his enthusiasm for it was transferred to his
students.
b. Furthermore, his lectures were well organized, and he returned papers and tests promptly.
c. His classes were always interesting, and he told funny stories to keep even the sleepiest
student awake and engaged in learning.
d. Mr. Smith taught more than just history; he also taught us to love learning.

l. Owning a small car has several advantages.

a. A small car is easier to park.
b.
c.
d.

2. To keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright, do the following things.
a. Don't eat sugary foods.
b.
c.
d.

3. Consider these three/four/five factors when planning a family vacation.

a. Consider the interests of everyone.
b.
c.
d.

4. 4. A good friend has two/three/four important qualities.

a. He/She can keep secrets.
b.
c.
d.

5. A college education is important for these reasons.

a. It prepares you for a career.
b.
c.
d.

6. Three modern technological devices have changed the way we communicate.

a.
b.
c.
d.

7. Young people who live at home have several advantages.

a.
b.
c.
d.

8. Television has had a tremendous influence on society.

a.
b.
c.
d.

9. There are several advantages of staying on campus.

a.
b.
c.
d.

10. The college students consume enormous quantities of junk food.

a.
b.
c.
d.

11. When writing a laboratory report, one must complete four sections.
a.
b.
c.
d.

============================== ========================

F
Choose the best concluding sentence for the paragraph. Justify your choice.
Topic: Animals in Captivity
Paragraph: Animals living in modern zoos enjoy several advantages over animals in the wild.
The first advantage is that zoo animals are separated from their natural predators. They are
protected, so they live without risk of being attacked. Another advantage is that someone feeds
them regularly, so they do not have to hunt for food. Also, they do not suffer times when food is
hard to find. A third advantage of living in zoos is that veterinarians give animals regular
checkups, and sick animals get prompt medical attention.
1 . In conclusion, because all their needs are taken care of, most zoo animals are healthy and
contented.
2. In conclusion, living in a zoo has many advantages for animals, but it also has some
disadvantages.
3. In conclusion, zoos keep animals safe from predators.

============================== ========================

G
At the end of each paragraph, write a concluding sentence. Be sure to begin with a conclusion
signal.

1 . The college cafeteria is an inexpensive place to eat. For example, one can get a cheeseburger,
french fries, and a soda for only $3.00. A slice of pizza is only $ 1 .50, and a cup of coffee is only
50¢. There is a daily special for about $2.50. It includes an entree, rice or potatoes, and a
vegetable. The salad bar is the best deal of all . You get all you can eat for $2.00.
___________________________________

2 . Watching chjJdren's programs on television is a good way to leam a foreign language. First,
the actors speak slowly and repeat often. AJso, the vocabulary is not difficult. Finally, there is
always a lot of action, so you know what is happening even if you don't understand the words.
_____________________________

3. Cell phones have taken over! Any time of the day or night, you see automobile drivers
chatting away at 65 miles per hour (mph) on the highway. On sidewalks, in restaurants, and
even in office building elevators, cell phone users carry on the most private conversations.
Many places of business now have signs asking people to tum off their cell phones, and phones
are banned in hospital waiting rooms, movie theaters, and concert halls.
_____________________________

============================== ========================

H
Study the following abbreviated essay outlines. Only the introductory paragraph and topic
sentences for body paragraphs are given. Choose the most appropriate concluding paragraph.

Advertising
Unless you live on an uninhabited island in the middle of a big ocean, you cannot escape
advertising. People in the modern world are continually exposed to ads and commercials on the
radio, on television, on billboards, in their mailboxes, and on their computers. However,
advertising is not a modern phenomenon. Advertising has been around for a long time, as a
review of its history shows.
A. As early as 3000 B.c., merchants carved signs in wood, clay, and stone to put above their
shops.
B. In ancient Egypt, merchants hired people called criers to walk through the streets
announcing the arrival of ships and their cargo.
C. In medieval Europe, shop owners hired criers to direct customers to their shops.
D. The invention of the printing press was the start of the advertising industry as we know it
today.

Possible concluding paragraphs

(1) As we have seen, advertising has been a part of merchandising for at least 5,000 years.
From the carved signs above doorways in ancient Babylonia to the annoying pop-ups on
modern computer screens, advertising has been a part of daily life. Its form may change, but
advertising will undoubtedly be with us for a long time to come.
(2) It is clear that advertising is useful for both buyers and sellers. It helps sellers by informing
the public about their goods and services. It helps buyers by allowing them to comparison shop.
Its form may change, but advertising will undoubtedly be with us for a long time to come.

Compulsory Attendance in College

On my first day of class in an American university, I discovered that there are many differences
between universities in the United States and in my country. One difference hit me immediately
when the professor walked into the classroom dressed in casual pants and a sports shirt. Then
he sat down, and I received a second shock. He sat down on the desk, not behind the desk. The
biggest shock happened when he passed out a piece of paper listing the requirements of the
class. I learned that I was not allowed to miss any classes! In my country, professors do not
know or care if students attend lectures, but in the United States, professors actually call the
roll at the beginning of each class meeting. In my opinion, compulsory attendance in college is
completely inappropriate for two reasons.
A. College students are adults, not elementary school children.
B. Students often have other obligations such as jobs and family.

Possible concluding paragraphs

(1) To summarize, attendance in college classes should be optional. Students may already know
the material that the professor will cover. Sometimes the professor lectures on material that is
in the textbook, so students can read it on their own time. Therefore, in my opinion,
compulsory attendance in college classes should be abolished.
(2) To summarize, college students are mature enough to take charge of their own learning.
Furthermore, they may have family or work problems once in a while that cause them to miss a
class. They should not be penalized for this. Therefore, in my opinion, compulsory attendance
in college classes should be abolished.

Goals
Everyone needs goals. Having goals makes you more successful, because they keep your mind
on 'what is really important to you’. However, goals can change at different times in your life.
Your goals when you are ten are very different from your goals at fifteen or twenty. My major
goals this semester are to get a part-time job and to master the use of the English language.
A. My first goal is to get a part-time job in an area related to my field of study.
B. I also plan to improve my ability to speak, write, read, and understand English.

Possible concluding paragraphs

(1 ) In conclusion, it is important to have goals. When you have clear goals, it is easier to stay
focused and not let small things sidetrack you. I hope I succeed in reaching my goals this
semester.
(2) In conclusion, finding a job and using English well are important to me at this stage of my
life. I am working hard to succeed at both.
(3) In conclusion, I have set important goals for myself this semester. If I do not reach my goals,
I will be unhappy. Next semester, I will have new goals.

Changes in the Workplace

Female airline pilots? Male nurses? When my parents were young, such job descriptions were
not possible. In the past thirty-five years, however, society has become more accepting.
Although it is still somewhat unusual, men now work in traditionally female occupations. In
particular, more and more men are becoming nurses, secretaries, and elementary school
teachers.

A. The nursing profession has seen the greatest increase in male participation.
B. Besides nursing, more men are becoming secretaries.
C. Elementary school teaching is a third occupation that men are taking up.

Possible concluding paragraphs

(1) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses,
secretaries, and elementary school teachers. As society continues to change, we will
undoubtedly see this trend continue.
(2) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses,
secretaries, and elementary school teachers. On the other hand, it is no longer unusual to find
women engineers, construction supervisors, and corporate CEOs. In fact, there are already
more women than men studying to become lawyers.
(3) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses,
secretaries, and elementary school teachers. Indeed, there is less sexism in the working world
as men have proven themselves to be as capable as women in these areas, and women have
proven themselves to be as capable as men in others.
============================== ========================

I
The following sentences are a scrambled paragraph . Arrange the sentences in order. This is
how to proceed.
Step 1 Find the topic sentence. Give it the number 1.
Step 2 Find the concluding sentence. Give it the number 9.
Step 3 Then decide which sentences are supporting points and put them in order. Look for the
words First, Second, Third , and Finally.
Step 4 Decide which examples support which points.

Fast Food, Unhealthy Food

a. For example, a 6-inch Pizza Hut Personal Pan pepperoni pizza has 660 calories, and a
McDonald's Big Mac has 560 calories.
b. In conclusion, a quick meal at a fast-food restaurant may be delicious and convenient, but it
is definitely not a healthy way to eat.
c. Second , a lot of the calories from fast food are from fat.
d. Third, fast-food items such as hamburgers and french fries contain high amounts of salt.
e. Fast food is extremely popular in the United States, but it is not very good for you.
f. First of all, most fast food is very high in calories.
g. A typical meal at McDonald's contains as much as 1,370 milligrams of sodium.
h. Finally, add a sugary soft drink to your fast-food meal, and you pound the last nail into the
heart of any nutritionist.
i. For instance, a portion of Nachos Supreme from Taco Bell contains 26 grams of fat, and a Big
Mac contains 30 grams.
============================== ========================
Continuity & Coherence
A
Read the following set instruction, and find out the gap of continuity.

Instruction to students
Tomorrow we will have one activity.
This will be an interesting activity.
Please bring 1 A4 sheet.
This will be a pair activity.
Therefore, bring 2 pencils as well.

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

1 Surprise your friends on your next camping trip by making ice cream in a plastic bag.
2 Put 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
into a quart-size sealable plastic bag.
3 Close the quart-size bag and seal it tightly.
4 Put 2 cups of ice and ½ to ¼ cup of salt into a gallon-size sealable plastic bag.
5 Place the sealed quart bag inside the gallon bag of ice and salt.
6 Seal the gallon bag securely.
7 Gently rock the gallon bag from side to side for ten to fifteen minutes or until the contents of
the quart bag have turned into ice cream.
8 Open the bags, grab a spoon, and enjoy your ice cream.

============================== ========================

B
In the following introductory paragraph, the sentences are in scrambled order. Arrange them in
the correct order.

(1) During this period, children separate themselves from their parents and become
independent.
(2) Teenagers express their separateness most vividly in their choice of clothes, hairstyles,
music, and vocabulary.
(3) The teenage years between childhood and adulthood are a period of growth and separation.

(1 ) Therefore, anyone who wants to drive must carry a driver's license.

(2) It is divided into four steps: studying the traffic laws, taking the written test, learning to
drive, and taking the driving test.
(3) Getting a driver's license is a complicated process.
(4) Driving a car is a necessity in today's busy society, and it is also a special privilege.

(1 ) Therefore, workaholics' lifestyles can affect their families, social lives, and health.
(2) Because they work so many hours, workaholics may not spend enough time in leisure
activities.
(3) Nowadays, many men and women work in law, accounting, real estate, and business.
(4) These people are serious about becoming successful, so they work long hours during the
week and even on weekends.
(5) People who work long hours are called "workaholics."
============================== ========================
C
Read the following paragraph. Find and cross out one sentence that breaks the unity of the
paragraph .
Secrets of Good Ads
1. A good ad has three characteristics.
2. First of all, a good ad is simple.
3. lt lets pictures, not words, tell the story.
4. Of course, all ads need some words, but a good ad has a powerful headline and only a small
amount of text.
5. Second, a good ad is directed to a particular group of consumers.
6. For example, ads for face creams are for older women, and ads for motorcycles are for
unmarried young men.
7. Third, a good ad appeals to emotions.
8. Women in the thirty-to-fifty age group, for instance, want to look and feel younger, so face
cream ads tell them that women who use XYZ face cream will look like the twenty-year-old
models pictured in the ad.
9. Teenagers want to feel popular, so ads directed at teens often show a happy, confident-
looking group of young people using the product in the ad.
10. Teenagers have a surprising amount of money to spend, so advertisers research teenage
fads and fashions.
11. ln conclusion, good ads are simple, are directed at a specific group, and make an emotional
connection.
============================== ========================

D
Develop the topic sentence into a paragraph (approx.. 200 - 300 words) by adding supporting
sentences.
1. S-Cube is Assam University’s social centre.
2. The park near my house is full of activity on a sunny weekend afternoon.
3. My sibling’s room is a model of neatness and organization.
4. Advertising helps both buyers and sellers.
5. My life has changed since I joined B.Tech.
6. Animals in danger of becoming extinct come from a wide range of countries.
7. There are several advantages to growing up in a small town.
8. There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.
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E
Write an essay (approx. 800 words) for the following topics. Mention topic sentence for each
paragraph.
1. Traffic Signal
2. Indian Cinema
3. Friends
4. Software/ Tractor/ Digital display
5. Entrance Examination
6. Disadvantages of Growing Up
7. Advantages of Being Bilingual
8. University Campus
9. Your Department
10. Hospital
11. Earthquake
12. Internet Banking
13. Identity Card
14. How to Prepare for a Job Interview
15. How to Drive a Teacher Insane
16. An Important Ceremony
17. Punctuality
18. Using e-mail
19. Cell Phones
20. Shopping
21. Discrimination

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