Transcript Active and Passive Voice

Characteristics of
Good Writing
Characteristics of Good Writing
• Elements of an effective paragraph
– Topic Sentences
– Evidence
– Transition words
• Verbs
– Maintaining verb tense
– Passive vs. active voice
Effective Paragraphs:
Topic Sentences
• A topic sentence indicates what idea the
paragraph is going to address.
• The reader should be able to clearly identify
the paragraph’s topic by reading the topic
sentence.
• It should occur at the beginning of the
paragraph.
Effective Paragraphs:
Evidence
The entire paragraph should focus on the
subject set out in the topic sentence.
• The topic must be thoroughly
addressed, with adequate details.
• Supporting details should occur in
logical order and “flow”.
• Three sentences do NOT make a
paragraph!
Effective Paragraphs:
Transitions
• Transitions are words/phrases that connect ideas.
• Transitions help the reader see connections and
progress from one idea to the next.
• Different transitions do different things: add
ideas, show cause and effect, clarify sequence,
etc…
• Examples: in addition to, particularly, similarly,
in other words, etc…
Effective Paragraphs:
Example
• Paragraph A:
Music piracy receives too
much attention. The
majority of money made
from artists is from
merchandising and
endorsements. A large
portion of paid downloads
and CD sales go to the
record company. Losing a
few dollars to
unauthorized downloads is
unlikely to hurt the artist.
• Paragraph B:
Downloading MP3s for
free does not hurt
recording artists. First,
artists make most of their
money elsewhere.
Surprisingly, they don’t
get most of the income
from music sales. It is
clear that unauthorized
downloads aren’t all that
harmful.
Effective Paragraphs:
Example
• Paragraph B has the more effective topic
sentence.
• Paragraph A provides the most effective
evidence to support the argument.
• Paragraph B uses transitions most
effectively to connect ideas.
Verbs:
Maintaining Verb Tense
• Verb tense indicates to the reader when something
is taking place (present, past, future).
• For the most part, verb tense should be consistent
throughout sentences, paragraphs, and essays.
• Only change verb tense when called for by the
situation:
– I am glad that I remembered my homework since I
forgot it yesterday.
– After everyone has finished, we will offer dessert.
Verbs:
Maintaining Verb Tense
• Unnecessary or inconsistent changes in verb
tense can cause confusion.
• Do not change tenses when there is no time
change indicated:
– Incorrect – During the movie, Sam stood up
and then drops his popcorn.
– Correct – During the movie, Sam stood up and
then dropped his popcorn.
Verbs:
Maintaining Verb Tense
•
Practice directions:
– Check the following sentences for
confusing shifts in tense.
– First, underline the verbs.
– Then, write S for satisfactory, or U for
unsatisfactory.
– Correct any sentences marked U.
Verbs:
Maintaining Verb Tense
1. S - If the price of soda rises, it will increase
income for beverage companies.
2. U - As Barbara puts in her contacts, the
telephone rang. Change to put/rang OR
puts/rings.
3. S - I was disappointed by my grade because I
studied hard.
4. U - The storm raged outside, and inside we
hear booming thunder. Change to rages/hear
OR raged/heard.
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
What
is
voice?
• Voice is a
characteristic of verbs
which indicates the
relation of the verb’s
action to its subject.
• The voice of a verb
may be either active or
passive.
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
• Active voice verbs are
used when the subject
is acting in a sentence.
• Example:
– Cindy steered the boat.
• “Steered” is in the
active voice because
the subject, “Cindy”,
is doing the action.
What
is
active
voice?
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
What is
passive
voice?
• Passive voice verbs are used
when the subject is being acted
upon in a sentence.
• Example:
– The mountain’s peak was reached
by Ed Danvers.
• “Was reached” is considered
passive because it indicates that
the subject (peak) is receiving
an action.
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
• Although both constructions are grammatically correct, the
active voice is usually more effective in academic and
business writing because it is simpler and more direct. The
passive construction is effective only when the doer of the
action is unknown or irrelevant.
Examples
– The cruiseliner was hijacked.
– The ball was hit.
– The town was quarantined.
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
• Active voice verbs: Verbs that
indicate the sentence’s subject as
actively acting:
Review
– Marvin hit the ball.
• Passive voice verbs: Verbs that
indicated the sentence’s subject
as being acted upon:
– The ball was hit by Marvin
Verbs:
Passive vs. Active Voice
Practice
Directions:
Label each sentence as
passive voice or active
voice. Change the
sentences that use
passive voice to active
voice.
Example:
-Before I began my
research, only German
fascism was studied
by me.
Voice: passive
Correction: Before I
began my research,
I only studied
German fascism.
1. The documentary was not located by Dr. Edwards.
Voice: passive
Correction: Dr. Edwards did not locate
the documentary.
2. For the opening flag ceremony, a dance was
choreographed by Kema Jones.
Voice: passive
Correction: For the opening flag
ceremony, Kema Jones choreographed a
dance.
3. When the tickets are ready, the travel agent
notifies the client.
Voice: active
Correction: n/a
4. Seismologists have examined data concerning the
recent earthquake, and reports will be filed.
Voice: active/passive shift
Correction: Seismologists have examined data
concerning the recent earthquake, and they
will file reports.
5. The senator discussed problems of famine,
pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control.
Voice: active
Correction: n/a
6. Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the
entire paper had to be rewritten by the student.
Voice: passive
Correction: Whenever Mrs. Clark found
an error, the student had to rewrite the
entire paper.