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The Narrative Essay

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:04:08 +0000

What is a Narrative Essay?
When writing a narrative essay, one might think of it as telling a story. These essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal-allowing the student to express herself in a creative and, quite often, moving way.
Here are some guidelines for writing a narrative essay:
If written as a story, the essay should include all the parts of a story.
This means that you must include an introduction, plot, characters, setting, climax, and conclusion.
When would a narrative essay not be written as a story?
A good example of this is when an instructor asks a student to write a book report. Obviously, this would not necessarily follow the pattern of a story and would focus on providing an informative narrative for the reader.
The essay should have a purpose.
Make a point! Think of this as the thesis of your story. If there is not point to what you are narrating, why narrate it at all?
The essay should be written from a clear point of view.
It is quite common for narrative essays to be written from the standpoint of the author; however, this is not the sole perspective to be considered. Creativity in narrative essays often times manifests itself in the form of authorial perspective.
Use clear and concise language throughout the essay.

How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:03:24 +0000

As you’ve probably noticed, essay writing assignments can pop up in any class.
An essay is a literary composition that expresses a certain idea, claim, or concept and backs it up with supporting statements. It will follow a logical pattern, to include an introductory paragraph (make the claim), a body (support), and a conclusion (summary of statements and support).
English and Literature teachers use them on a regular basis, but essays are also a test tool used commonly in the social sciences, and even in math and science class.
Of course, essays play a big role in the college application process, as well. In short, there’s just no avoiding essays, as long as you’re in school!
Luckily, you can learn to craft a great essay if you can follow the standard pattern and write in a clear and organized manner.
Introduction
The introduction is the first paragraph in your essay, and it should accomplish a few specific goals.
1. Capture the reader’s interest
It’s a good idea to start your essay with a really interesting statement, in order to pique the reader’s interest.
Avoid starting out with a boring line like
“In this essay I will explain why Rosa Parks was an important figure.”
Instead, try something like
“A Michigan museum recently paid $492,000 for an old, dilapidated bus from Montgomery, Alabama.”
The second sentence sounds much more interesting, doesn’t it? It would encourage most people to keep on reading.
2. Introduce the topic
The next few sentences should explain your first statement, and prepare the reader for your thesis statement.
“The old yellow bus was reported to be the very one that sparked the civil rights movement, when a young woman named Rosa Parks…”
3. Make a claim or express your opinion in a thesis sentence.
Your thesis sentence should provide your specific assertion and convey clearly your point of view.
“In refusing to surrender her seat to a white man, Rosa Parks inspired a courageous freedom movement that lives on, even today.”
Body
The body of the essay will include three paragraphs, each limited to one main idea that supports your thesis. You should state your idea, then back it up with two or three sentences of evidence or examples.
Example of a main idea:
“It took incredible courage for an African American woman to make such a bold stance in 1955 Alabama.”
Offer evidence to support this statement:
“This act took place in an era when African Americans could be arrested and face severe retribution for comitting the most trivial acts of defiance.”
Include a few more supporting statements with further evidence, then use transition words to lead to the following paragraph.
Sample transition words:
moreover
in fact
on the whole
furthermore
as a result
simply put
for this reason
similarly
likewise
it follows that
naturally
by comparison
surely
yet
The fifth paragraph will be your conclusion.
Conclusion
The final paragraph will summarize your main points and re-assert your main claim. It should point out your main points, but should not repeat specific examples.
Once you complete the first draft of your essay, it’s a good idea to re-visit the thesis statement in your first paragraph. Read your essay to see if it flows well.
You might find that the supporting paragraphs are strong, but they don’t address the exact focus of your thesis. Simply re-write your thesis sentence to fit your body and summary more exactly.
By doing this, you will ensure that every sentence in your essay supports, proves, or reflects your thesis.

How to Write an Argument Essay

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:03:14 +0000

Planning Stage
For an argument essay to be effective, it must contain certain elements. For this reason, you must take a few minutes to plan before you jump into writing an argument essay.
Find a Good Topic
To find good topic for an argument essay you should consider several issues that will have two conflicting points of view or very different conclusions. As you look over a list of topics you should find one that really sparks your interest.
While a strong interest in a topic is important, it’s not enough. You next have to consider what position you can back up with reasoning. It’s one thing to have a strong belief, but when shaping an argument you’ll have to explain why your belief is reasonable and logical.
As you explore the topics, make a mental list of points you could use as evidence for or against an issue.
Consider Both Sides of Your Topic and Take a Position
Once you have selected a topic you feel strongly about, you should make a list of points for both sides of the argument. One of your first objectives in your essay will be to present both sides of your issue with an assessment of each. Of course, you will conclude that one side (your side) is the best conclusion.
In the planning stage you will need to consider strong arguments for the “other” side. Then you’ll shoot them down!
Gather Evidence
When we think of arguments we might picture two red-faced people speaking quite loudly and making dramatic gestures. But that’s because face-to-face arguments often become emotional. In fact, the act of arguing involves providing proof to support your claim, with or without emotions.
In an argument essay you will have to provide evidence without providing too much drama. You’ll explore two sides of a topic (briefly) and provide proof as to why one side or position is the best one.
Writing Stage
Once you’ve given yourself a solid foundation to work with, you can begin to craft your essay. An argument essay should contain three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The length of these parts (number of paragraphs) will vary, depending on the length of your essay assignment.
1. Introduce your topic and assert your side
As in any essay, the first paragraph of your argument essay should contain a brief explanation of your topic, some background information, and a thesis statement. In this case, your thesis will be a statement of your position on a particular controversial topic.
Example introductory paragraph with thesis statement:
Since the turn of the new century, a theory has emerged concerning the end of the world, or at least the end of life as we know it. This new theory centers around the year 2012, a date that many claim has mysterious origins in ancient manuscripts from many different cultures. The most noted characteristic of this date is that it appears to mark the end of the Mayan calendar. But there is no evidence to suggest that the Maya saw any great relevance to this date. In fact, none of the claims surrounding a 2012 doomsday event hold up to scientific inquiry. The year 2012 will pass without a major, life-altering catastrophe.
2. Present both sides of the controversy
The body of your essay will contain the meat of your argument. You should go into more detail about the two sides of your controversy and state the strongest points of the counter-side of your issue.
After describing the “other” side, you will present your own viewpoint and then provide evidence to show why your position is the correct one.
Select your strongest evidence and present your points one by one. Use a mix of evidence types, from statistics, to other studies and anecdotal stories. This part of your paper could be any length, from two paragraphs to two hundred pages.
Re-state your position as the most sensible one in your summary paragraphs.
Tips for Your Essay:
* Avoid emotional language
* Know the difference between a logical conclusion and an emotional point of view
* Don’t make up evidence
* Cite your sources
* Make an outline
* Be prepared to defend your side by knowing the strongest arguments for the other side. You might be challenged by the teacher or by another student.

Steps to write a successful term paper

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:01:16 +0000

What is a term paper? It is basically a collection of thoughts and ideas on one subject collected from various sources. It is not however as simple of a task as it might seem at first sight. Writing a term paper consists of several steps that should help the writer to compose a decent paper. These steps are the following:
-Selecting a subject
-Choosing sources and materials that will be used in the paper
-Drafting the ideas
-Making a plan/outline based on which the paper will be written
-Making the first draft
-Revising the paper
Further we will be looking into each of them in details.
Selecting a subject:
Many quality papers are written based on the question. Subjects for the term paper could be found in almost any book. You have to look at it closely and figure out why it interests you. To be able to write a term paper about the subject you have read you need to answer some questions. Does this subject seem interesting and worth learning about? Will other people find it entertaining to read about it? Can you connect two or more different subjects to the one you are looking at describing in your term paper? Will this information be useful?
You have to attempt to write a well structured and logical paper on the question you are about to pose using various facts to support the answer you want to give to the reader.
Do not be tempted by a subject that is too general. You will be unable to cover it all in your paper and therefore your argument will be general as well as the question. Even choosing a very specific subject will unable to you write a long paper if you know exactly how to build your argument and have enough supporting information.
Choosing sources and materials:
There are certain limitations to the sources that you can use while writing a term paper. Usually students are bound to use those books and other literature that is available on campus. Also, unless it is specified in the task students rarely would use information dated more than 20years old.
It is helpful to make cards on which the subject and sub-topics of your term paper are indicated. To those cards add the name of the book or article, author and title of the article, date of publication or any other relevant information. This system will help you stay focused on your research and help you manage information without wasting too much time for looking for info later while you are writing your paper.
f you need to find certain information at a university library you should consult the guide to periodicals and search for info with the help of the following:
-International index to periodicals
-Psychological abstracts
-Readers guide
These guides will be helpful in locating articles on various subjects as they provide their location in the library.
Drafting the Ideas:
Look through the book and articles that you have identified as useful for your term paper. Examine a few books and magazines at a time and take careful notes of meaningful information. Write down the names of the authors’ whose quotes you are going to use in your paper. This will save you time.
Both ideas that support your argument and those that contradict it should be taken note of. Do not simply disregard facts and ideas that will not contribute to your paper. Present all the information gathered in an honest and precise way without changing the initial meaning of it. The audience of your term paper will be interested to see the other side of the question under discussion.
You should only use facts rather than somebody’s ideas or thoughts. When doing research check whether the facts coincide with the conclusion provided by the author.
Making an outline
First review the materials you have collected and think over the subject you have chosen. Try to trace the connections of the question you are discussing with the information available.
Look through the cards you have made while searching for the information and try to allocate them into sub-topics that you will be writing about and arrange your cards accordingly. The collection you will receive will make all the information you have selected more visual and easier to use. By now the you should be able to see the general pattern in which your paper should be written.
Making the first draft
After sorting the cards and seeing which information goes into which part of the paper, you should be ready to start writing.
It is a good practice to start writing with telling your audience about the purpose of your writing. Then comes the main body in which you are saying what you were going to say. It is useful to summarize all of what you have said in the main body just to reiterate it to the reader.
While composing your paper do not forget to write in paragraphs those things that belong together and start a new one when the new thought/idea begins. It is not necessary to divide them with specific words, however you might do so. Make sure that you are not writing sentences that are too long and hard to read. It makes the reader’s attention wonder away.
Revising the Paper
Upon reading your first draft you will notice things that do not belong in your paper or things that you need to be added. It is always better to read your draft the next day after you wrote it.
Ask someone to read it to you out loud, that way you will hear your own paper as if it was something completely new. Listen to how the paper sounds and whether it flows or whether words sound strange.
Spelling and sentence structure has to be checked for any minor mistakes as the presentation of the paper is as important as the meaning of what you are writing about.
References and work cited have to be done in accordance with the style required in your university or by your professor. All of the quotes you are using in your paper should be appropriate and relate to the topic. Avoid using those if they are not necessary and do not fully support the subject.

Lesson Five: Introductions

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:00:08 +0000

The introduction is the first sentence of your essay and it plays the dual role of setting the theme of your essay and engaging the reader. The introduction should not be overly formal. You do not want an admissions officer to start reading your essay and think, “here we go again.” Although admissions officers will try to give the entire essay a fair reading, they are only human — if you lose them after the first sentence, the rest of your essay will not get the attention it deserves.
General Tips
* Don’t Say Too Much. Just tell the story! Your introduction should not be so complex and so lengthy that it loses the reader before they even start. You have the rest of the essay to say what you want. There’s no need to pack it all into the first sentence. This leads to the next tip…
* Don’t Start Your Essay with a Summary. If you summarize, the admissions officer does not need to read the rest of your essay. You want to start your essay with something that makes the reader want to read until the very end. Once you have drawn the reader in through the first one to three sentences, the last sentence in your introductory paragraph should explain clearly and briefly what the point of the whole essay is. That is, why you are using this person, place, or thing. What does it say about you?
* Create Mystery or Intrigue in your Introduction. It is not necessary or recommended that your first sentence give away the subject matter. Raise questions in the minds of the admissions officers to force them to read on. Appeal to their senses and emotions to make them relate to your subject matter.
Types of Introductions
Please select a link below for examples and descriptions of various introductions.
*Academic Introduction
*Creative Introduction
*Action Introduction
*Dialogue Introduction
*Overarching Societal Statements
*Personal Introduction
*Question Introduction
*Quotation Introduction
Note: The below essays were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers.
Academic Introduction: This is the type of introduction you would use for a standardized test or a history paper. A typical standard introduction answers one or more of the six basic questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. It gives the reader an idea of what to expect. You should try to stay away from simply restating the question unless you are limited by a word count and need to get to the point quickly. Your basic academic introduction or thesis statement is best used as the follow-up sentence to one of the more creative introductions described below.
Examples:
One of the greatest challenges I’ve had to overcome was moving from Iran to the United States. Iran was in deep political turmoil when I left, as it is today.
EssayEdge Says: This introduction is clear and to the point, and will prepare your reader for the ideas you want to discuss. However, it is rather unexciting and will not immediately engage your reader. As mentioned, you should try to preface it with a more creative statement. In addition, it makes one typical error. One should usually avoid using contractions in a formal essay, for example, “I’ve.”
Through all of my accomplishments and disappointments, I have always been especially proud of the dedication and fervor I possess for my personal beliefs and values.
EssayEdge Says: This is a very effective introduction to an essay about your personality. Mentioning pride is a good way to indicate how important your beliefs and values are to you. In a sentence like this, however, it would be better to use “Throughout” rather than “Through.” “Throughout” better expresses the widespread, expansive tone you want to give this sentence.
Creative Introduction: A creative introduction catches the reader off-guard with an opening statement that leaves the reader smiling or wondering what the rest of the essay contains.
Examples:
Imagine yourself a freshman in high school, beginning your independence. As the oldest child, I was the first to begin exploring the worlds of dating, extra-curricular clubs and upperclassmen. However, one afternoon my parents sat my two sisters and me down. They said…
EssayEdge Says: The power of this introduction is that it places the reader in your shoes, making him or her more interested in what takes place in the rest of the essay. Its main mistake is that its informality gives the essay a slightly hokey or corny tone. Although a greater degree of informality is allowed in a creative essay, you must be careful not to take it too far.
I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row.
EssayEdge Says: This introduction is both creative and effective. It amuses the reader by listing a bizarre and probably fictitious set of achievements, thus demonstrating the writer’s imagination (and poking fun at the admissions process). At the same time, its light tone avoids sounding too obnoxious. As a note, you should remember that good use of semicolons will impress your reader: “I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees; I write award-winning operas; I manage time efficiently.”
Action Introduction: An Action Introduction takes the reader into the middle of an action sequence. By not building up to the story, it forces the reader to read on to find out not only the significance of this moment in time, but what led up to and followed it. It is perfect for short essays where space must be conserved or for narrative essays that begin with a story.
I promised God I would eat all my peas, but He didn’t care. A confused eleven-year-old girl, I sat and listened to my father pace. With each heavy step echoing loudly throughout the silent house, my family’s anxiety and anticipation mounted while awaiting news of my grandfather’s health. My heart racing, I watched the clock, amazed that time could crawl so slowly. Finally, the telephone interrupted the house’s solemn silence. I heard my father repeating the words “yes, yes, of course.” He then hung up the receiver and announced my grandfather’s death and cancer’s victory.
EssayEdge Says: This is the kind of introduction that will immediately intrigue your reader because it begins with a very unusual declaration. The image of a little girl eating peas and hoping to acquire God’s help is charming while hinting at the solemnity of the situation described.
Surrounded by thousands of stars, complete silence, and spectacular mountains, I stood atop New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, awestruck by nature’s beauty. Immediately, I realized that I must dedicate my life to understanding the causes of the universe’s beauty.
EssayEdge Says: The first ten words of this essay will catch your reader’s attention, mainly because they create a mental image of perfect natural beauty. Note that you should try to avoid repeating key words. In this instance, it would be easy to avoid repeating the word “beauty.” You could simply use “magnificence” or “loveliness” instead.
Dialogue Introduction: Like the action introduction, the dialogue introduction brings the reader directly into the action, only this time in the form of dialogue. If you are writing about an influential figure in your life, you can mention a quote from this person that exemplifies the importance that he or she had on your life.
“You must stop seeing that Russian girl, ” I ordered my brother when he returned home last summer from the University of Indianapolis. Echoing the prejudiced, ignorant sentiment that I had grown up with, I believed it was wrong to become seriously involved with a person who does not follow the Hindu religion and is not a member of the Indian race.
EssayEdge Says: Multicultural awareness is a key aspect of fitting in well at a university, and admissions officers are very aware of this. Thus, it is an excellent idea to mention how you expanded your cultural sensitivity. Beginning the essay by admitting that you were once less tolerant is a compelling way to demonstrate just how much you have grown as a person.
On the verge of losing consciousness, I asked myself: “Why am I doing this?” Why was I punishing my body? I had no answer; my mind blanked out from exhaustion and terror. I had no time to second-guess myself with a terrifying man leaning over my shoulder yelling: “You can break six minutes!” As flecks of spit flew from his mouth and landed on the handle bar of the ergometer, I longed to be finished with my first Saturday rowing practice and my first fifteen-hundred-meter “erg test.”
EssayEdge Says: The power of this introduction comes from its attention to detail. The question “Why am I doing this?” gains support from every horrible detail: the exhaustion, the terrifying man, and the specks of spit flying from his mouth! With such strong supporting evidence, the quotation takes on a life of its own. Your reader will find himself thinking, “Why would anyone do that? I’d like to find out…”
Overarching Societal Statements: Rather than using a traditional thesis statement you can put forth a societal observation that ties into the theme of your essay. This can be very effective if the statement is unique and gives a glimpse into how you view the world. It can be detrimental if your statement is debatable or unclear. Make sure that if you use this form of introduction that no admissions office will take offense to it.
Examples:
High school is a strange time. After three years of trying to develop an identity and friends in middle school, students are expected to mature immediately on the first day of ninth grade.
EssayEdge Says: Be careful not to make statements in your introduction that seem too exaggerated or unrealistic. After all, no one expects a student to immediately mature on the first day of ninth grade. Moreover, if your reader senses that you attained most of your maturity at the beginning of high school, he or she might be less than impressed with your character development. It would be better to state, “students are expected to enter a new environment in which they must function with far greater maturity.”
To this day, the United States remains driven by the American Dream, and we often hear of immigrants who come to this country to search for opportunities that their native countries lack. In these tales, immigrants succeed through hard work, dedication, and a little luck. As idealistic as the story may seem, I have been fortunate enough to experience its reality in the life of one very important man. His example has had great impact on my personal expectations and goals, and the manner in which I approach my own life.
EssayEdge Says: This is an excellent way to introduce a discussion of a person who has influenced you significantly. Instead of launching immediately into a list of this man’s excellent qualities and admirable accomplishments, this introduction lays the foundation for a comprehensive look at just why the man had such a profound impact on you. It also places the most importance on the American Dream, as is fitting in an essay like this one.
Art is a reflection of one’s self-identity in the most unaffected manner. Because art is very personal, it has no right or wrong. The type of art that has influenced me most is music.
EssayEdge Says: The first two sentences in this introduction set the kind of tone you want to maintain throughout your essay: introspective and creative. However, it moves on to a very boring and stilted structure in the third sentence. To keep the tone creative, you could replace that sentence with the following: “Although artistic expression can take many forms, it is music that has captivated me.”
Personal Introduction: The Personal Introduction takes the reader directly into your mind. It says, “This is what it is like to be me. Let me take you to my little world.” Since there is a little voyeur in even the most stern admissions officer, this type of introduction can be very effective. It is always in the first person and usually takes an informal, conversational tone:
Examples:
At times, I think the world around me is crumbling to the ground, but it never does. Like most people, I face the crunches of deadlines and endless demands on my time, but I have never encountered the type of adversity that can crush people, that can drive people crazy, that can drive them to suicide.
EssayEdge Says: This introduction is indeed compelling, but it raises important questions about appropriate content. Be careful to avoid writing a personal essay that is far too personal. You do not want your reader to think that you might have character weaknesses that prevent you from handling stressful situations well.
I chuckle to myself every time I think about this. I am perceived as a mild-mannered, intelligent individual until I mention that I am involved in riflery.
EssayEdge Says: Did the first sentence of this introduction confuse you? This was no doubt its intention. By creating a little mystery in the first sentence, the reader is forced to keep reading and keep wondering, “what is this kid’s secret?” until the final word, which pops in the reader’s mind, sort of like a gunshot: “riflery.”
Question Introduction: Many admissions essays begin with a question. While this is an easy way to begin an essay, admissions officers may perceive it as a “lazy introduction.” No one wants to read an essay that begins with such tacky material as: “To be or not to be?” or “Are you looking for an applicant who has drive and determination? Well, I’m your guy.” If you are going to use a question, make sure that it is an extremely compelling one and that your experiences provide answers.
Example:
Influence? Why is it that the people who influence us most influence us in ways that are not easily quantified? Through her work with abused children, my mother has shown me the heroism of selfless dedication to a worthy cause.
EssayEdge Says: With one word, this introduction takes an essay question about the person who has most influenced you and turns it back around to the admissions board. In effect, you are telling them that you have thought about their question thoroughly. You have thought about it for so long that you have a couple of questions of your own - questions that have sparked an interesting commentary.
Quotation Introduction: Many writers are tempted to start their essay with a quote. You should try to resist this temptation, as most quotes will look forced. Admissions officers will be turned off if it is apparent that you searched through a book of famous quotes and came up with a quote from some famous philosopher about whom you know nothing. The quotation introduction is most effective when the quote you choose is unusual, funny, or obscure, not too long, and from those to whom you are closest. Choose a quote with a meaning you plan to reveal to the reader as the essay progresses. The admissions committee is interested in how you respond to the quote and what that response says about you.
Examples:
John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” I see academics as a similar two-way interaction: in the classroom, I will do much more than take up valuable space. Because of the broad range of experiences I have had, my knowledge of many subjects is thorough. These experiences will help me perform well in any class, as I have learned how to use my time efficiently.
EssayEdge Says: This is a risky quote with which to begin an essay. After all, it is difficult to imagine a more time-worn or oft-repeated statement. However, this introduction goes on to apply this quote in a relatively unique manner. The contrast between such a standard quotation and such an interesting application will likely catch your reader’s attention.
“Experience is what you receive when you don’t get what you want.” I remembered my father’s words as I tried to postpone the coming massacre. Just as during the fall of the Roman Empire, my allies became enemies and my foes turned into partners. In fast and furious action with property changing hands again and again, I rested my fate on the words of one man, hoping he would rescue me from this dangerous tailspin. Do these experts realize the heartbreak they are inflicting on my young life? While the uncertainty of tomorrow’s attire is the most pressing concern for many seventeen-year-olds, I must worry about much greater issues! It is August 31, the market is down over 300 points and the value of my stock portfolio is falling fast.
EssayEdge Says: Quoting a person with whom you enjoy a close relationship is generally preferable to quoting a famous source. This passage’s strength comes from the brief, understated role that the quote plays. The short statement introduces the rest of the paragraph and presents the fundamental point, and then the essay moves on to examine specific details. This is the ideal role of a quotation.
Now it’s your turn. Select one of the above styles (or make up your own) and try to write an introduction to your essay. Spend some time picking the right style and choosing the best words possible.

Lesson Four: Verb Tens

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:59:58 +0000

As you write your essay, remember to focus on verbs and keep adjectives to a minimum. Pumping your sentences full of adjectives and adverbs is not the same thing as adding detail or color. Adjectives and adverbs add lazy description, but verbs add action.
Passive Tense
Our editors find that one of the greatest weaknesses of admissions essays is their frequent use of the passive tense. For this mini-lesson you will learn why the passive voice should be avoided, how to identify it, and how to replace it with the preferred active voice.
Overuse of the passive voice throughout an essay can make your prose seem flat and uninteresting. Sentences in active voice are also more concise than those in passive voice. You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of to be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. In sentences written in passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon. In sentences written in active voice, the subject performs the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts.
EXAMPLES:
(Passive) I was selected to be the tuba player by the band leader.
(Active) The bandleader selected me to be the tuba player.
(Passive) I will be prepared for college as a result of the lessons my mother taught me.
(Active) My mother taught me lessons that will prepare me for college
(Passive) I am reminded of her voice every time I hear that song.
(Active) That song reminds me of her voice.
EXERCISE #4: STRONG VERBS vs. WEAK VERBS
Fill in the blanks using the most descriptive or active verb phrase.
1. After working closely with my mentor, I __________ advanced techniques in oil painting.
a) was beginning to master
b) began to master
c) mastered
2. My newspaper article on the labor strikes __________ both praise and criticism.
a) generated
b) got
c) was the recipient of
3. Once I joined the debate team, I __________ the opportunity to compete every weekend.
a) sought
b) had
c) was exposed to
4. Samuel’s touchdown __________ the stadium crowd.
a) created much energy in
b) energized
c) really energized
5. Woolf’s essay __________ my opinion of gender inequality.
a) challenged
b) made me take another look at
c) was challenging to
6. As Jessica drew near me, I __________ the baton and took off running.
a) grasped
b) got
c) was given
7. Once my mother had fallen asleep, I __________ the dolls on her nightstand.
a) put
b) arranged
c) set up
8. Chris and I __________ an educational project for first-graders in our community.
a) began
b) started
c) initiated
9. “Why didn’t you ask me before throwing it away?” Jason __________.
a) hollered
b) said angrily
c) started to yell
10. Mr. Franklin __________ that he was our true father.
a) let us know
b) told us
c) revealed
Answers:
1) c; 2) a; 3) a; 4) b; 5) a; 6) a; 7) b; c; 9) a; 10) c;
Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice
If you want to change a passive-voice sentence to active voice, find the agent in the phrase, the person or thing that is performing the action expressed in the verb. Make that agent the subject of the sentence, and change the verb accordingly. For many instances of the passive voice in your essay, you can follow these steps:
1. Do a global search for the words “was” and then “were.” These words often indicate the passive voice.
2. Cross out the “was” or the “were.”
3. Add -ed to the verb that follows “was” or “were.”
4. If that changed verb does not make grammatical sense, it is an irregular verb, so change it to the simple past tense.
5. Rewrite the sentence around the new active-voice verb.
EXERCISE #5: MAKING SENTENCES MORE ACTIVE
Change these sentences from passive voice to active voice, or note if no change should be made.
1. I was taught by my brother the principles of barbecuing.
_______________________________________________________________
2. My father was given the title by the former head chief.
_______________________________________________________________
3. The house was wrecked by the party and the cat was let loose by the guests.
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4. The house is a mess, the cat is lost, and the car has been stolen by Justin.
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5. Unfortunately, my plan was ruined by Gerald, the building superintendent.
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6. The roof was leaking. It had been leaking all week.
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7. The ball was thrown by Lucy, who had been hiding in the bushes.
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8. Francesca was placed on the first flight to Boston. Her father put her there.
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9. “To be or not to be?” That is the question.
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10. A feast had been created from nothing. I was astounded.
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Answers:
1. My brother taught me the principles of barbecuing.
2. The former head chief gave the title to my father.
3. The party wrecked the house and the guests let the cat loose.
4. The house is a mess, the cat is lost, and Justin has stolen the car.
5. Unfortunately, Gerald, the building superintendent, ruined my plan.
6. No change.
7. Lucy, who had been hiding in the bushes, threw the ball.
8. Francesca’s father placed her on the first flight to Boston.
9. No change.
10. A feast had been created from nothing. This astounded me.
EXERCISE #6: PASSIVE-FREE WRITING
Write a 100-word essay on anything at all (preferably relating to your essay topic) without using any form of the verb “to be.”