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Technical Writing · Exposition & Argumentation · Non-fiction Creative Essays · The Structure of English · Analysis of Shakespeare · Analysis of Literary Language
Advanced Professional Papers · The History of the English Language · First Internship: Tutoring in a Writing Workshop · Second Internship: Advanced Instruction: Tutoring Writing
Visual Literacy Seminar (A First Course in Methodology) · Theories of Communication & Technology (A Second Course in Methodology) · Language in Society (A Third Course in Methodology)
UMBC'S Conservative Newspaper: "The Retriever's Right Eye" · UMBC'S University Newspaper: "The Retriever Weekly" · Introduction to Journalism · Feature Writing · Science Writing Papers
Grammar and Usage of Standard English: Essay and Analyses · Exercise at the end of Chapter 1 in "The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier"
Exercise at the end of Chapter 5 in "The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier" · Song Lyrics Grammar Analysis
Exercise Requirement
It's your turn to detect and correct some weak verbs. Reread the mystery at the beginning of the chapter, find all the weak verbs, and then rewrite the story with more descriptive ones.
Original Version
Detective Pinkersolve's next case involved a man who may have been poisoned. His gastric symptoms got better, but he didn't know what had made him ill. There were no unusual chemicals lying about the house. He hoped it wasn't arsenic poisoning.
He thought it was possible his new dog walker was guilty because they had recently argued. Apparently Miss Poodlepull didn't want to walk Pookie around the block ten times. It was tiring, so she went around only eight times. When Detective Pinkersolve talked with Miss Poodlepull, it was clear she was too busy to poison anyone. There were nine dogs for her to walk each day.
It was time to close the case. There were some questions asked and some revealing answers given. The detective learned that the man's grandson, a student at the culinary institute, had recently cooked some meals for him. It was certain that a new recipe from Sonny's oyster class had caused the stomach pains. Sonny was very sorry. He offered to make the two of them a special meal to make up for all the trouble. Both quickly said that there were other things they had to do. It was time for Detective Pinkersolve to move on to her next case.
Modified Version
Detective Pinkersolve's next case involved the possible poisoning of a man. He rebounded quickly but what doubled him over. He found no unusual chemicals lying about the house and hoped no one poisoned him with arsenic.
He suspected his new dog walker because they had recently argued. Apparently Miss Poodlepull disdained walking Pookie around the block ten times. She suffered from leg cramps, so she reduced the trip to eight times around. Pinkersolve dismissed Miss Poodlepull as a suspect after a talk with Miss Poodlepull. Walking nine dogs each day, Miss Poodlepull clearly had no time to poison anyone.
In order to close the case, Detective Pinkersolve asked some questions receiving some revealing answers. She learned that the man's grandson, a student at the culinary institute, recently cooked some meals for him. By deduction, Pinkersolve determined that a new recipe from Sonny's oyster class had caused the stomach pains. Sonny apologized for all the trouble and offered to cook up a special meal for the two of them. They quickly declined by saying they had previous engagements. Detective Pinkersolve needed to move on to her next case.
Trenga, Bonnie The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier: How to solve the mystery of weak writing. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 2006.
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