1. Do Now: Exercise 8-1 On your clicker, indicate if the numbered sentences are (A) OK or (B) Need Editing to eliminate weak or passive constructions. Be ready to explain your choice.On your clicker, indicate if the numbered sentences are (A) OK or (B) Need Editing to eliminate weak or passive constructions. Be ready to explain your choice. What do the verbs in the correct answers have in common?What do the verbs in the correct answers have in common?

2. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? 1.Use the active voice unless you have a good reason for choosing the passive. 2.Replace be verbs that result in dull or wordy sentences. 3.As a rule, make the subject the actor--the person or thing doing the action.

3. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? The pumps were destroyed by a surge of power.The pumps were destroyed by a surge of power. –Passive—the subject is not the actor A surge of power was responsible for the destruction of the pumps.A surge of power was responsible for the destruction of the pumps. –Be Verbs A surge of power destroyed the pumps.A surge of power destroyed the pumps. –Active

4. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? 1. Use the active voice unless you have a good reason for choosing the passive. The fly ball was caught by Hernando.The fly ball was caught by Hernando. Hernando caught the fly ball.Hernando caught the fly ball. The transformer was struck by a bolt of lightning.The transformer was struck by a bolt of lightning. A bolt of lightning struck the transformer.A bolt of lightning struck the transformer. Make the ACTOR the SUBJECT!

5. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? The land was stripped of timber before the settlers realized the consequences of their actions.The land was stripped of timber before the settlers realized the consequences of their actions. –The settlers stripped the land of timber before realizing… The holiday decorations were not taken down until Valentine’s Day.The holiday decorations were not taken down until Valentine’s Day. We did not take the holiday decorations down until Valentine’s Day.We did not take the holiday decorations down until Valentine’s Day.

6. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? 2. Replace be verbs that result in dull or wordy sentences. Burying nuclear waste in Antarctica would be in violation of an international treaty.Burying nuclear waste in Antarctica would be in violation of an international treaty. Burying nuclear waste would violate…Burying nuclear waste would violate… When Rosa Parks was resistant to giving up her seat on the bus, she became a civil rights hero.When Rosa Parks was resistant to giving up her seat on the bus, she became a civil rights hero. When Rosa Parks resisted giving up…When Rosa Parks resisted giving up…

7. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? 3. As a rule, choose a subject that names the person or thing doing the action. Exposure to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching had the effect of inspiring me to major in education. (Weak)Exposure to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching had the effect of inspiring me to major in education. (Weak) Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching inspired me to major in education (Emphatic).Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching inspired me to major in education (Emphatic). The use of cocaine by pregnant women can be a major cause of severe brain damage in infants. (Weak)The use of cocaine by pregnant women can be a major cause of severe brain damage in infants. (Weak) Cocaine used by pregnant women can cause severe brain damage in infants.Cocaine used by pregnant women can cause severe brain damage in infants.

8. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? a.The Prussians were victorious over the Saxons in 1745. a.The Prussians defeated the Saxons in 1745.

9. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? e. There were shouting protesters on the courthouse steps. e. Protesters were shouting on the courthouse steps. Working with your partner, look at page 151—d, 2, 4. Which one is correct? How can you make them more active?

10. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? To make verbs active… UseActiveVoiceReplaceBeVerbsMake the Subject the Actor

11. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? The Passive is acceptable if…The Passive is acceptable if… 1. Actor is unknown, oblivious, or irrelevant –A car was broken into last night on Clawson. 2. Emphasis belongs to the receiver. –The criminal was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison. 3. In scientific writing, emphasizing the receiver lends an air of objectivity. –Participants in the study were asked to respond to a test.

12. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? To make verbs active… UseActiveVoiceReplaceBeVerbsMake the Subject the Actor 11.11.2. 3.

13. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? A…Douglas assumed… C. Also, poor people did not own lovely homes, pianos, art, and books. D. …Douglass doubted… F. Instead, the beautiful homes with equally beautiful furniture and gardens indicated considerable wealth. G. Laborers on the wharves handled quality merchandise and purchased it in the stores.

14. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active? Carefully selected verbs Energizes Writing