1. Nye Communities Coalition Writing Seminar Session #2
Welcome Back!
Nye Communities Coalition
Writing Seminar
Session #2

2. The Plan Quick review of last week Collecting the homework Q & A
Active Voice
What is it? Why is it important?
Practice correcting passive voice

3. The Plan Parallel structure sentences & lists Q & A
Punctuation mark of the day: Apostrophes
Hyphens next week 
Transitions
Words & sentences

4. Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
What is it?
Examples
A verb is active if its subject performs the action.
A verb is passive if its action is performed upon the subject.
Often the person or item performing the action is in a prepositional phrase at the end of the sentence.
Rob wrote several sample sentences.
The sentences were written by Rob.

5. Why Use Active Voice?
Active voice is generally preferred because it uses fewer words.
Active voice is generally more specific and direct.
Passive voice can be used to emphasize the receiver of an action as opposed to the “doer” of the action.

6. Practice
Questions

7. Parallel Structure What is it Examples
Parallelism is the placement of equal ideas, often in a list, into similar structures.
Faulty:
The waiter suggested lamb chops, green beans, and that we try the sweet potatoes.
Correct:
The waiter suggested lamb chops, green beans and sweet potatoes.

8. Parallel Structure Lists Fix Me
Bulleted lists should follow parallel structure.
We have a plan:
gather data
assess need
write proposals
wait for money
Notice each item in the list begins with an action verb.
Here is a list of items to consider for writing grants:
active voice
being concise
correct punctuation
how to organize

9. Practice
Questions

10. Apostrophes Two Uses Examples Contractions Possessives
Not for plurals!
Have not = haven’t
Will not = won’t
The ball is John’s.
Mr. Williams' homework
Tattoos and Piercings

11. The Apostrophe to Memorize
Its
It’s
The possessive form
The dog buried its bones.
The contraction for “it is”
It’s time for dinner.

12. English Simplified

13. Practice
Questions

14. Purpose: to create fluency within a text
Transitions
Purpose: to create fluency within a text
Words
Phrases
however, therefore, finally, also, otherwise
on the other hand, most important, in other words, for example

15. Transition Examples
George and Al disappeared into another room. They emerged wearing clown costumes.
George and all disappeared into another room. A few minutes later, they emerged wearing clown costumes.
Do this one…
North Americans often serve hot chocolate with whipped cream. South Americans often add cinnamon and sometimes orange rind.

16. Review The move was seen by our whole family.
A good speech must be audible, logical, and have clarity.
This is Robs classroom.
I’m interested in getting several tattoo’s.
Its not my fault.
Not everyone did poorly on the exam. Janet scored over 90 percent.

17. Homework
Remembering the items we’ve covered over the first two weeks, please rewrite the grant proposal we outlined during session #1.
Please keep it to one page.