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Tutorial 5

This document contains instructions and examples for exercises aimed at improving clarity in writing. The first exercise provides sentences lacking specific characters or subjects and asks the reader to revise them by inventing characters as the subject of verbs. The second exercise asks the reader to change passive verbs in sentences to active verbs and revise nominalizations into verbs. The third exercise similarly asks the reader to change passive verbs to active where appropriate and consider whether this improves clarity.

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59 views

Tutorial 5

This document contains instructions and examples for exercises aimed at improving clarity in writing. The first exercise provides sentences lacking specific characters or subjects and asks the reader to revise them by inventing characters as the subject of verbs. The second exercise asks the reader to change passive verbs in sentences to active verbs and revise nominalizations into verbs. The third exercise similarly asks the reader to change passive verbs to active where appropriate and consider whether this improves clarity.

Uploaded by

Deepak Tholia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences


COM200 (Communication Skills: Composition)
2015-16-II

Tutorial V: Understanding Clarity: Characters in Subjects


February 4, 2016
Time: 25 Minutes
Exercise I
Before you revise the following sentences, diagnose them. Look at the first six or seven
words, ignoring short introductory phrases such as in recent years. Then revise so that each
has a specific character as subject of a specific verb. To revise, you may have to invent
characters. Use We, I, or any other word that seems appropriate.
1. In recent years, the appearance of new interpretations about the meaning of the discovery of
America has led to a reassessment of Columbus's place in Western history.
(Answer: In recent years, historians have reassessed the place of Columbus in Western history
because they have interpreted the discovery of America in new ways.)
2. Decision about forcibly administering medication in an emergency room despite the inability
of an irrational patient to provide legal consent is usually an on-scene medical decision.
A doctor usually has to decide on scene forcibly administer medication in emergency room
despite the inability of irrational patient to provide legal consent.
3. Tracing transitions in a well-written article helps in improving coherence in writing.
The traced transition in a well-written article helps in improving coherence in writing.
4. Resistance has been growing against building mental health facilities in residential areas
because of a belief that the few examples of improper management are typical.
People have been resisting against mental health facilities in residential areas because of a
belief that the few examples of improper management are typical.
5. With the decline in network television viewing in favor of cable and rental DVDs, awareness
is growing at the networks of a need to revise programming.

Exercise II
Change the italicized passive verbs in the following sentences into active. Then go through
each sentence again and revise nominalizations into verbs where appropriate.
1. It is believed that a lack of understanding about the risks of alcohol is a cause of student
bingeing.
2. The model has been subjected to extensive statistical analysis.
3. Success in exporting more crude oil for hard currency is suggested here as the cause of the
improvement of the Russian economy.
4. The creation of a database is being considered, but no estimate has been made of its
usefulness.
Exercise III
In the following sentences, change the italicized passive verbs into active, wherever
appropriate. Do the sentences improve in clarity? How and why?
1. Science education will not be improved in this nation to a level sufficient to ensure that our
industry will be supplied with skilled workers and researchers until more money is provided to
primary and secondary schools.
2. In this article, it is argued that the Vietnam War was fought by the United States to extend
influence in Southeast Asia and was not ended until it was made clear by North Vietnam that it
could not be defeated unless atomic weapons were used.
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