2. General Writing General Writing Practical Writing Practical Writing Unit 8 Return to Menu Return to Menu

3. Omission An important aid to economy in writing English is the elliptical clause. In many cases, it is possible to leave out a relative pronoun that normally would join a dependent clause to an independent clause. Sometimes a dependent clause contains neither subject nor verb. It is known as an elliptical clause.

4. The movie I wanted to see was not playing. ( which or that is omitted) When in Barcelona, try to find a quiet hotel room. (When you are in Barcelona) Another kind of elliptical construction occurs most commonly after the words “than” and “as.” The chairman spoke longer than he. ( spoke is not repeated) is Are you as old as she? ( is is omitted) ExamplesExamples ExamplesExamples Exercises

5. Exercise 17 Exercise 18

6. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. While cooking dinner, she spilled the sugar. ExampleExample While she was cooking dinner, she spilled the sugar.

7. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. 1.Although he was expecting a telephone call, the doctor had to leave his office. Although expecting a telephone call, the doctor had to leave his office.

8. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. 2.While she was driving into town, my mother ran out of gas. While driving into town, my mother ran out of gas.

9. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. 3.If you are curious about your final grade, ask your professor. If curious about your final grade, ask your professor.

10. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. 4.When you are applying for a scholarship, you should write neatly. When applying for a scholarship, you should write neatly.

11. Ex. 17Reduce the number of words in these sentences by making the introductory dependent clauses elliptical. Write out the revised sentences. 5.After you finish cutting the grass, please water it. After cutting the grass, please water it.

12. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. Janet is sleepier than I. (than I am) ExampleExample Janet is sleepier than (I, me).

13. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. 1.You worked harder than (they, them). You worked harder than they. (than they worked)

14. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. 2.Michael is more popular than (he, him). Michael is more popular than he. (than he is)

15. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. 3.They don’t dance well as (we, us). They don’t dance well as we. (as we dance)

16. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. 4.Do you like to drive as fast as (they, them)? Do you like to drive as fast as they? (as they drive)

17. Ex. 18Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence. Write out the complete sentence. Then write after each sentence the elliptical clause beginning with than or as. 5.I can do the job better than (she, her). I can do the job better than she. (than she does)

18. Emphasis Effective sentences emphasize main ideas while subordinating less important points. Emphasis can be achieved through economy of words, proper subordination, effective repetition, use of parallelism, and use of contrast.

19. 1 Wordy sentence : The book about which he spoke is relatively new and deals with the subject of mathematics. Revision : He spoke to us about a new mathematics book. ( economy of words ) ExamplesExamples

20. 2 Compound sentence : The convicted murderer was denied a retrial, and he was executed on Friday. Revision : The convicted murderer was executed on Friday after being denied a retrial. ( with proper subordination ) ExamplesExamples

21. 3 Original sentence : She looked forward to a new year and beginning. Revision : She looked forward to a new year and a new beginning. ( effective repetition ) ExamplesExamples

22. 4 Nonparallel construction : Visiting relatives, to sightsee, and when we relaxed took up most of our vacation time. Revision : Visiting relatives, sightseeing, and relaxing took up most of our vacation time. ( use of parallelism ) ExamplesExamples

23. 5 Original sentence : She was tall and strikingly attractive. Revision : She was not only tall but also strikingly attractive. ( use of contrast ) ExamplesExamples Ex. 19 Ex. 19

24. Ex. 19Rewrite the following sentences so that major ideas receive proper emphasis. Rely upon the suggestion in parentheses. 1.If you will refer back to page 321, you will find on that page that the major character is over six feet tall. (avoid wordiness) Refer to page 321 and you will find that the major character is over six feet tall.

25. Ex. 19Rewrite the following sentences so that major ideas receive proper emphasis. Rely upon the suggestion in parentheses. 2.The immigrants will gain economic power, and speaking the immigrants’ language will become more important to the businessman. (use subordination) Because the immigrants will gain economic power, speaking the immigrants’ language will become more important to the businessman.

26. Ex. 19Rewrite the following sentences so that major ideas receive proper emphasis. Rely upon the suggestion in parentheses. 3.Art was both a hobby and a vital emotional therapy. (use repetition) Art was not only an interest; art was a vital emotional therapy.

27. Ex. 19Rewrite the following sentences so that major ideas receive proper emphasis. Rely upon the suggestion in parentheses. 4.The young girls enjoy their drives around town and waving to friends. (use parallelism) The young girls enjoy driving around town and waving to friends.

28. Ex. 19Rewrite the following sentences so that major ideas receive proper emphasis. Rely upon the suggestion in parentheses. 5.A knowledge of language is important, and a knowledge of customs is important. (use contrast) Not only a knowledge of language is important, but a knowledge of customs is also important.

29. An Internet notice is written to inform the public of the affairs concerning computer use and the Internet communication. The place for the notice to be put is called an Internet Notice Board. Internet Notice

30. ExamplesExamples Note: McAfee is an anti-virus company in the U.S. Ex. 20 Ex. 20

31. Ex. 20Choose one of the following topics and write an Internet notice. 1Finding of a serious virus 2Change of one’s e-mail address 3Establishment of a website Reference ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

32. Virus Notice

33. Virus Characteristics: This is a VBScript Internet worm which was based loosely on the original VBS/Love letter worm. This worm does not damage files, however, it does contain another mechanism of downloading a password stealing agent and launching this silently in the background. In addition, this worm steals PIN information stored in the registry related to UBS online banking software. This worm distributes itself via MAPI e-mail as “ resume.txt.vbs ” with the subject line “ resume ” and no body text. If this VBScript is run, it may display an actual resume in Notepad. However in the background it is doing other things such as downloading the trojan component and sending itself to others via MAPI e-mail. Additionally, the sensitive PIN information is e-mailed to three hard-coded e-mail recipients.

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