InQuizitive Editing the Errors That Matter (A Comprehensive Activity)

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Although standardized testing has been criticized as an unfair measure of a student's ability, it'sPress Space to openitsits'unlikely that all US colleges will stop requiring these test scores.

No errors (it's)

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers: "Among that group of 138 of the nation's wealthiest colleges and universities, four in five charge poor students so much that they'd need to surrender 60 percent or more of their household incomes just to attend, even after financial aid is considered."—Mikhail Zinshteyn, "Rich, Stingy Colleges" Paying attention to punctuation and capitalization, drag each of the following sentences into the appropriate box based on whether or not it correctly quotes from the article.

Quotes correctly Of the 138 richest colleges and universities in the United States, Zinshteyn explains that "four in five charge poor students so much that they'd need to surrender 60 percent or more of their household incomes just to attend, even after financial aid is considered." Quotes incorrectly According to Zinshteyn, "among that group of 138 of the nation's wealthiest colleges and universities, four in five charge poor students so much that they'd need to surrender 60 percent or more of their household incomes just to attend, even after financial aid is considered." Most wealthy schools "charge poor students so much that they'd need to surrender 60 percent or more of their household incomes just to attend," insists Zinshteyn, even after financial aid is considered.

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. The Black Death of 1347-51 caused parents and children to abandon each other, evenPress Space to openother; while evenother evenother, and even priests refused to visit the sick to hear last confessions.

other, and even

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the appropriate word. The college faculty emphasizes writing instruction in -Press Space to openitstheir curriculum-building guide, a useful handbook for new instructors.The college faculty in each department regularly send out surveys to learn what issues are important to -Press Space to openitstheir students.

1. its 2. their

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the appropriate word. In the 1980s, a popular subgenre of rock music ______ called "hair metal"—named for rockers' long, dramatic hairstyles.Platform heels, distorted guitars, and pyrotechnics ______ other classic characteristics of the genre.Inside billows of hairspray ______ the charismatic lead singer.

1. was 2. were 3. was

In the sentence below, it is unclear what the pronoun "it" refers to. Drag each of the altered versions of the sentence into the appropriate box based on whether each new sentence is clear or unclear. Since the car hit the mailbox, it has not looked the same.

Clear: Since the car hit the mailbox, the mailbox has not looked the same. Since the car hit the mailbox, the car has not looked the same. The car, since it hit the mailbox, has not looked the same. Unclear: It hasn't looked the same since the car hit the mailbox.

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Paul Allen and Bill Gates founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 4, 1975. Allen and GatesPress Space to openAllen and Gates'sAllen's and Gates's company went on to produce one of the most popular computer operating systems available today.

Correct Answer: Allen and Gates's

Click or tap on any mixed constructions in the following passage. If the passage doesn't contain any mixed constructions, click the "No Errors" button. Malcolm X, a human rights activist and minister in America during the 1950s and 1960s, changed his last name from Little to X in 1952. For Malcolm, the last name Little represented enslavement; the name had been given to his ancestors by their slave masters. Malcolm chose X to signify his lost tribal name.

No Errors

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the word most appropriate in the context of the sentence. According to the United Nations, in 2012 the -Press Space to openamountnumber of people in the world reached seven billion.Environmentalists are concerned about how our planet can sustain the growing human population with a limited -Press Space to openamountnumber of land and water.In order to help prevent human overpopulation, scientist Benjamin Zuckerman favors using tax breaks to encourage families to limit the -Press Space to openamountnumber of children they have.

1. number 2. amount 3. number

comma splice

A comma splice consists of two or more independent clauses joined by only a comma.

Fill in the blank to complete the statement with the appropriate word or words. Students can turn to academic counselors for tips on how to get into graduate schools. To be accepted by a prestigious graduate school, prospective students should look for research opportunities as undergraduates. -Press Space to openTheyAcademic counselors say original undergraduate research will increase students' chances of being accepted to a top graduate program.

Academic counselors

independent clauses

An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a sentence.

In the sentence below, it is unclear what the pronoun "they" refers to. Drag each of the altered versions of the sentence into the appropriate box based on whether each new sentence is clear or unclear. In Norway, they unwrap presents on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas Day.

Clear In Norway, children unwrap presents on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas Day. In Norway, presents are unwrapped on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas Day. Unclear They unwrap presents on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas Day in Norway.

Click or tap on any word or words that should be followed by a comma. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Quarterback Tim Tebow who went from the University of Florida to the National Football League attracted attention for praying on the football field.

Correct Answer: Quarterback Tim Tebow, who went from the University of Florida to the National Football League, attracted attention for praying on the football field.

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Garcia and Smith, in addition to teaching two classes each, are responsible for selecting the novels that all first-year writing students must read. Although Garcia and Smith have selected a wide range of books over the years, The Lord of the Flies is always the book that Garcias and SmithsPress Space to openGarcia and Smith'sGarcia's and Smith's students report enjoying most.

Garcia's and Smith's

Click or tap on any pronoun that does not have a clear antecedent. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Musicians at the local high school spent weeks preparing for their winter concert. The soprano soloist and the accompanist worked together to improve their performance, and choir members rehearsed their parts both individually and as a group. In the end, the concert was beautiful, and everyone who attended enjoyed it.

No errors

Click or tap on any word or words that should not be followed by a comma. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Bottled water is popular in the United States, but, Americans still use far less bottled water than tap water.

but,: is incorrect

Click or tap on any word or words that should not be followed by a comma. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Fitness experts, have coined, the phrase sitting is the new smoking in an effort to raise awareness about the negative health effects of sitting at a desk all day every day.

experts have coined

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the appropriate word or words. Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood -Press Space to openillustratesillustratedhad illustratedwas illustrating key moments in the life of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution (1979).

illustrates

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. One of the earliest fast-food restaurants in America was White Castle, which began serving its'Press Space to openitsit'ssignature small, square hamburgers in 1921.

its

Fill in the blank to complete the statement with the appropriate word. In the 1940s and 1950s, -Press Space to openyoupeople had a high chance of being affected in some way by the polio epidemic. Most people knew someone who had contracted the disease.

people

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. On the surface, digital photography can seem simpler than film photography. Because digitalPress Space to openphotography, digitalphotography because digitalphotography; because digitalphotography does not require access to chemicals or a darkroom.

photography because digital

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the word most appropriate for academic writing. An author and an editor can spend weeks, even months, reviewing a manuscript and exchanging comments before giving -Press Space to openitstheirhis or her approval for publication.

their

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the word most appropriate for academic writing. Sopranos can protect ______ voices by doing vocal warm-ups before performing. (The missing pronoun should be plural (their) because the word it refers to, Sopranos, is plural.)

their

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. What sometimes surprises museum visitors, is, the actual size of a painting.

visitors is

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. What the performers didn't anticipate, was the huge turnout.

was

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the word most appropriate in the context of the sentence. The team captain performed -Press Space to opengoodwell during the championship game; as a result, she earned the most valuable player award.Even though he didn't win the race, the marathon runner should feel -Press Space to opengoodwell about his performance because he achieved a new personal best.Unfortunately, one of our best players wasn't able to play in the tournament because he didn't feel -Press Space to opengoodwell.

1. well 2. good 3. well

Fill in the blank to complete the statement with the appropriate word. Applicants should know the requirements of a job before filling out the application. If a job requires extensive interaction with children, an employer may require that -Press Space to openapplicantsyou undergo a background check.

applicants

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the appropriate word. Richard Linklater, _____ directs films about complicated personal relationships, faced a unique challenge in casting the actors and actresses for his film Boyhood.Because the film was to be shot over twelve years, Linklater could cast only people to _____ the project was meaningful enough that they were willing to see it through.Although Boyhood is primarily the coming-of-age story of Mason, its main character, it is also a story that will move anyone _____ has experienced adolescence or parenting.

1. who 2. whom 3. who

Drag each of the sentences below into the appropriate box based on whether the modifiers are well placed or poorly placed.

Modifiers well placed Published in 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense made the case for independence. Writing in 1776, Thomas Paine made the case for independence in a pamphlet titled Common Sense. Modifiers poorly placed Writing in 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense made the case for independence.

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. In the video game Angry Birds, the mission is straightforward: ____ up to each player to wipe out pigs by launching birds directly at them and at structures that collapse on and kill the pigs.

it's

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. In an effort to stop bullying, New Jersey instituted the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. Which requiresPress Space to openRights, which requiresRights, it requiresRights. Requiringstudents to report bullying.

Rights, which requires

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers: "One of Facebook's main selling points is that it builds closer ties among friends and colleagues. But some who steer clear of the site say it can have the opposite effect of making them feel more, not less, alienated."—Jenna Wortham, "The Facebook Resisters" Paying attention to punctuation and capitalization, edit the sentence below so that it correctly quotes from the article. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Wortham observes that although Facebook is known for creatingPress Space to opencreating,"closer ties among friends and colleagues,"alienated." closer ties among friends and colleagues,Press Space to opencreating,"closer ties among friends and colleagues,"alienated." for many people "it can have the opposite effect of making them feel more, not less, alienated".

1. "closer ties among friends and colleagues," 2. alienated."

In the statement below, it is unclear what the pronoun "They" refers to. Drag each of the altered versions of the statement into the appropriate box based on whether each new statement is clear or unclear. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. They did not see any change in overall health.

Clear The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The patients and doctors did not see any change in overall health. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The doctors did not see any change in overall health. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results. The patients did not see any change in overall health. Unclear They did not see any change in overall health. The new medical treatment's clinical trial had inconclusive results.

Drag the modifier only to the correct blank based on the context of the sentences. According to the World Bank, in 2012, about 12 percent of Press Space to openonly the world's population lived on Press Space to openonly $1.90 per day. The World Bank noted, however, that some progress in reducing extreme poverty had been made, given that 37 percent of the world's population lived on this amount of money in 1990.

only belongs in blank #2

Click or tap on sexist language that should be replaced. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. A presidential candidate will usually focus more of his attention on swing states (states where no one political party is assumed to win) in order to come out ahead. A candidate usually dedicates his time and budget to these states.

his; more attention his; Candidates usually dedicate their

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the appropriate word. In-N-Out Burger, a chain primarily found along the West Coast with a few Texas locations, _____ famous for its Double-Double burger.

is

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the appropriate word. Someone interested in attending a concert with friends often -Press Space to openlooklooks into getting a group rate.

looks

In 2014, the United States Supreme Court ruled bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, this decision forced states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples who apply.

Correct answer: unconstitutional; this

In the sentence below, it is unclear what the pronoun "it" refers to. Drag each of the altered versions of the sentence into the appropriate box based on whether each new sentence is clear or unclear. On the local news station, it said the winter storm would last until Tuesday.

Clear On the local news station, the meteorologist said the winter storm would last until Tuesday. The local news station said the winter storm would last until Tuesday. Unclear It said the winter storm would last until Tuesday on the local news station. On the local news station, they said the winter storm would last until Tuesday.

Consider the following passage from a book: "Talking with children, parents, partners, siblings, and other relatives about how everyone envisions their life in later years—and their death—cannot start early enough. Discussions about aging and death need to become simply part of the fabric of family life." —Ai-jen Poo, The Age of Dignity, page 128 Drag each of the following sentences into the appropriate box to identify whether or not the quoted material fits smoothly into the rest of the sentence.

Fits smoothly Ai-jen Poo states in The Age of Dignity that individuals need to "[talk] with children, parents, partners, siblings, and other relatives about how everyone envisions their life in later years—and their death" (128). In The Age of Dignity, Ai-jen Poo cautions, "Talking with children, parents, partners, siblings, and other relatives about how everyone envisions their life in later years—and their death—cannot start early enough" (128). Doesn't fit smoothly "Talking with . . . relatives about how everyone envisions their life in later years—and their death—cannot start early enough" discussing death and dying can sometimes be uncomfortable (128).

Drag each of the sentences below into the appropriate box based on whether the modifiers are well placed or poorly placed.

Modifiers well placed "Is Google Making Us Stupid?," an article by Nicholas Carr, argues that the internet may be changing the way we read. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?," written by Nicholas Carr, argues that the internet may be changing the way we read. Modifiers poorly placed "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" argues that the internet may be changing the way we read, an article by Nicholas Carr.

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers: "Famously, Twitter began as a one-to-many SMS broadcast service, so it imposed technical limits on how long a tweet could be. One of these limits was the 140-character length requirement. By keeping tweets under 140, Twitter could tack a 20-character username into a text and keep within the 160-character SMS text limit."—Robinson Meyer, "Twitter (Sort of, Sometimes) Expands the 140-Character Limit" Referring to the quotation above, click or tap on any sentence in the passage below that incorrectly punctuates or capitalizes quoted material. If the passage doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. In "Twitter (Sort of, Sometimes) Expands the 140-Character Limit," Robinson Meyer explains why a tweet is limited to 140 characters. Meyer reports, "Twitter began as a one-to-many SMS broadcast service, so it imposed technical limits on how long a tweet could be." At the time, according to Meyer, there was a "160-character SMS text limit."

No errors

Consider the following passage from a book: "Beyond virtue, wise leaders have the ability to display their virtues in their actions and their speech; they communicate well; they are trusted and, as a result, they build mutual respect." —Paul Woodruff, The Ajax Dilemma, page 158 Referring to the quotation above, click or tap on any sentence in the passage below that contains quoted material that is not incorporated smoothly. If the passage is correct as is, click the "No Errors" button.

Woodruff goes on to say that such leaders "are trusted and build mutual respect" (158).

Drag the modifier only to the correct blank based on the context of the sentences. Each year, the student affairs association selects one accomplished senior to give a speech at graduation. Both the valedictorian and the class president hoped to be selected, but ______ the valedictorian was _____ chosen _____.

1. (only) blank one

Click or tap on any word or words that should be followed by a comma. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. The characters and plot lines of 30 Rock as most of the show's fans know grew out of Tina Fey's experiences at Saturday Night Live.

1. 30 Rock, 2. know,

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the appropriate word. Tibetan Buddhist monks, often residing in secluded Himalayan monasteries, live without many of the conveniences that many of -Press Space to openuswe technology users take for granted today.The creation of large, intricate sand designs (mandalas) is a common practice of Tibetan Buddhist monks; they believe that creating these works of art while praying and chanting releases healing energies to the surrounding environment and to -Press Space to openuswe viewers.The extremely disciplined lives of Tibetan monks can seem difficult to -Press Space to openuswe nonmonks.

1. us 2. us 3. us

Edit the following sentence to correct any pronoun reference errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. There were only fifteen people signed up to take the class, whichPress Space to openclass; itclass; the low enrollment was a result of poor online reviews.

class; the low enrollment

Edit the following statement to correct the error. The growth of independent news programs allows people to hear alternative perspectives manyPress Space to openperspectives, however, manyperspectives, but manyperspectives, manyperspectives. Though manygroups still choose mainstream media.

perspectives, but many

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. The quality of rehabilitation programs in prisons affects inmates' options after they are released. And also impactsPress Space to openreleased. Also impactingreleased; which also impactsreleased and also impacts the rates at which criminals fall back into criminal activity.

released and also impacts

Click or tap on any word or words that should be followed by a comma. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. The Indian Removal Act the Compromise of 1850 and the Mexican-American War represent three dark moments in America's history.

1.Act, 2. 1850,

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers:"Strikingly, many high achievers told me music opened up the pathways to creative thinking."—Joanne Lipman, "Is Music the Key to Success?"Paying attention to punctuation and capitalization, edit the passage below so that it correctly quotes from the article. If the passage doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Lipman's research suggests there is a link between music training and success. In fact, many high achievers said thatPress Space to openthat,"musicthinking." "MusicPress Space to openthat,"musicthinking." opened up the pathways to creative thinking".

"music opened up the pathways to creative thinking."

Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence with the appropriate word. If there is intelligent life in galaxies outside our own, is it likely that there will ever be communication between _____ humans and those other life forms? In 2015, a study of 100,000 nearby galaxies revealed that none of them contain any obvious signs of what ______ Earth dwellers would consider advanced forms of life. Astrobiologists, the people who study extraterrestrial life, predict that _______ humans will discover life, in the form of small organisms, on other planets in the next few decades. (The missing pronoun should be in the subject case (we) because it is the subject (along with Earth dwellers) of the verb would consider.)

1. us 2. we 3. we

In the sentence below, it is unclear what the pronoun "he" refers to. Drag each of the altered versions of the sentence into the appropriate box based on whether each new sentence is clear or unclear. In The Great Gatsby, Tom shows Nick that he is careless.

Clear Tom is careless, and he reveals his carelessness to Nick in The Great Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby, Tom shows Nick that Tom is careless. Unclear In The Great Gatsby, Tom shows Nick how careless he can be. In The Great Gatsby, Tom shows Nick his carelessness.

Edit the following sentence to correct any errors. If the sentence doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Despite breaking the app store record for most first-week downloads, Pokémon GO was already becoming less popular only one month after its'Press Space to openitsit's release.

its (Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it. This sentence is talking about Pokémon GO's release, so you should use the possessive form of it.)

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers: "Up to one in five people with chronic anorexia may die as a result of their illness, either due to the direct effects of starvation and malnutrition or due to suicide, making it the deadliest of all psychiatric disorders." —Carrie Arnold, "The Challenge of Treating Anorexia in Adults" Referring to the quotation above, edit the passage below so that the quoted material is incorporated smoothly. If the passage is correct as is, click the "No Errors" button. Arnold highlights the seriousness of anorexia,Press Space to openHighlighting the seriousness of anorexia, Arnold explains,According to Arnold, anorexia must be taken seriously "Up to one in five people with chronic anorexia may die as a result of their illness, either due to the direct effects of starvation and malnutrition or due to suicide, making it the deadliest of all psychiatric disorders."

Highlighting the seriousness of anorexia, Arnold explains,

Consider the following passage from an online article with no page numbers: "Human activity has turned the living and fertile carbon system in our dirt into a toxic atmospheric gas."—Debbie Barker and Michael Pollan, "A secret weapon to fight climate change: dirt" Paying attention to punctuation and capitalization, drag each of the following sentences into the appropriate box based on whether or not it correctly quotes from the article.

Quotes correctly According to Barker and Pollan, we have changed "the living and fertile carbon system in our dirt into a toxic atmospheric gas." Quotes incorrectly According to Barker and Pollan, "Human activity has turned the living and fertile carbon system in our dirt into a toxic atmospheric gas". According to Barker and Pollan, "human activity has turned the living and fertile carbon system in our dirt into a toxic atmospheric gas."

Consider the following passage from a book:"Ironically, school quality itself may help explain the increased residential segregation, because most parents now pay close attention to it when deciding where to live." —Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, page 163 Referring to the quotation above, edit the passage below so that it accurately quotes from the original. If the passage is correct as is, click the "No Errors" button. Putnam, author of Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, highlights the fact that "most parents now pay close attention to school quality when decidingPress Space to openattention to [school quality] when decidingattention to the quality of schools when deciding where to live" (163).

attention to [school quality] when deciding

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence with the appropriate word. If caffeine _____ banned on college campuses, more assignments would be turned in late.

were

Consider the following passage from a book: "Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise. Human appetite, it turns out, is surprisingly elastic, which makes excellent evolutionary sense: It behooved our hunter-gatherer ancestors to feast whenever the opportunity presented itself, allowing them to build up reserves of fat against future famine."—Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma, page 106 Referring to the quotation above, click or tap on any sentence in the passage below that incorrectly punctuates or capitalizes quoted material. If the passage doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan writes "Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise." This finding illustrates, as Pollan says, that our appetites are "surprisingly elastic," which makes sense given the way we have evolved. In the past, he says, it made sense for "our hunter-gatherer ancestors to feast whenever the opportunity presented itself, allowing them to build up reserves of fat against future famine." (106)

1. In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan writes "Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise." 2. In the past, he says, it made sense for "our hunter-gatherer ancestors to feast whenever the opportunity presented itself, allowing them to build up reserves of fat against future famine." (106)

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. In terms of energy conservation, learning to use energy more efficiently is the key challenge for consumers, developing; while developing more sustainable forms of energy is the challenge for scientists and industry leaders.

consumers. Developing

Edit the following statement to correct any errors. If the statement doesn't contain any errors, click the "No Errors" button. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common health problems affecting college students, however, eatingPress Space to openstudents. While eatingstudents, eatingstudents; however, eating disorders are also on the rise.

students; however, eating