Class Notes for Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition

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Chapter 1 ExercisesFollowing is a variety of beginning writing exercises. Try to apply the principles outlined in thischapter as you complete the exercises. Remember that presenting information is more importantthan telling how you feel about thesubject. Also remember that you should write as simply aspossible, using words and phrases that everyone will understand.1.1 Autobiography 1Write a 350-word summary of your life. Tell the most important things that have happened toyou. Also talk about the things that interest you the most.1.2 Letter to MomWrite a letter to your mother, father, or other close relative. The main part of your letter shouldbe about the course that requires this assignment. Include some information about the professorfor the course, what the course is about, the procedures forthe class, the grading and attendancepolicies, and anything else you think is important. You will also want to give the name of yourlab instructor. The letter should be at least 250 words long.1.3 Describe Your NeighborDescribe the person sitting nearest to you. Be specific. Give the reader a lot of details about theperson’s physical appearance, including hair and eye color, height, shape of the face, the clothesthe person is wearing, and so on. Write at least 200 words.1.4 An IncidentWrite about something that happened to you in the last week. It could be something dramatic,such as being in an automobile accident or meeting a famous person, or something common,such as eating a meal or taking a ride on a bus. You should include some dialogue (quotingsomeone directly) in the description of this incident. Write at least 250 words.1.5 ActionDescribe a person or a group of people doing something. It could be something like a couple ofcarpenters building a house or your roommate trying to type a paper. Be sure to focus on thephysical activity and on how people are doing it. Don’t try to describe how the people feel orwhat they may think about what they are doing. Simply write about what you can see and hear.Write at least 350 words.

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1.6 Autobiography 2Write a 200-word autobiography in the third person; that is, do not use I, me, or any other first-person pronoun. Use only simple sentences. Here’s an example of how it might begin:John Smith was born on April 15, 1983, in Decatur, Illinois. He is the son of Adele and WayneSmith. John’s parents moved to Chicago when he was 3 years old.1.7 Autobiography 3Write a 300-word autobiography, but confine it to a single aspect of your life. Write in the thirdperson.Select the aspect of your life that you want to write about. Think about all of the different waysin which that aspect of your life affects you. Think also about how it began and what it means toyou now. Construct your essay around the points that you think are the most important. In yourfirst sentence, let the reader know immediately what you are writing about, and try to use anactive, descriptive verb. Here’s an example:Playing the piano always lifts the spirits of John Smith.From the first sentence, there should be no doubt about the subject of this essay.1.8 BiographyWrite a 300-word biography of one of your classmates; as in Exercise 1.7, confine it to a singleaspect of his or her life. Everything you write in this essay should be accurate, so you will haveto talk with that person. Make sure you spell that person’sname correctly, and accurately recordall of the details you will include in your essay. Remember that you are writing about only oneaspect of that person’s life, not a complete biography. Leave out information that does notpertain directly to the specific subject about which you are writing. As in the previous exercise,let the reader know immediately what your subject is, and try to use a strong, active verb in thefirst sentence.1.9 Instructions 1Tell step by step how to do one of the following things:Build a fireChange the oil in a carApply lipstickMake a sandwich

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Brush and floss your teethChange a tireDo a load of laundryUse simple terms andsimple sentences so that anyone who can read could understand it.Following is an example of such a set of directions.To drive a nail into a piece of wood, follow the steps below:1.Lay the wood flat on a solid surface.2.Check the nail that you are using to make sure it is straight; if it is bent, discard it andchoose another.3.Hold the pointed end of the nail against the wood with the thumb and the first finger. Etc.The activity that you describe should have at least seven steps.1.10 Instructions 2Describe the procedure for tying a shoelace in 100 words or less. You might approach theassignment this way: Write the procedure without regard to how many words you are using.Once you have finished the first draft, edit it to take out as many words as possible. What doesthis tell you about the way you write?1.11 BuildingDescribe the building in which this class is being held. Don’t go outside and look at it, butdescribe it from what you remember. Write at least 150 words.1.12 RewritingRewrite the following letter using simpler language. Make sure that you include all of theinformation that is contained in the original letter.Dear Stockholder:In accordance with company policies and the federal law, this letter is to inform you of thegeneral annual meeting of the stockholders of this company which will be held on the 30th dayof March of this year. The place of the meeting will be in the ballroom of the Waldorf Hotel,which is located at 323 Lexington Avenue, in New York. The beginning time of the meeting willbe at nine o’clock in the morning on the 30th of March.The agenda for this meeting includes a number of items and actions of great importance to thecompany and its stockholders. The election of officers for the company’s board of directors will

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take place beginning at approximately half past ten o’clock. This election follows the annualreports on the company’s activities and financial position, which will be presented by thepresident of the company and the chairman of the board of directors. Other items on the agendainclude discussions of the company’s operations in the foreign arena and the possibilities forinvestments in new areas of technology. Time will also be appropriated for discussions ofgeneral concerns of stockholders and for the answering of questions from stockholders directedto the company’s officers. It is the sincere wish of the company’s board of directors and officersthat you will be able to attend this most important and hopefully informative meeting. The inputof the company’s stockholders is an important part of this company’s operation and planning forthe future.Sincerely,The Company President1.13 BrevityEdit all unnecessary words from the following expressions:1.wore a white goatee on his chin2.throughout the length and width of the entire nation3.was positively identified4.appeared to be ill5.a dead body was found6.in the city of Los Angeles7.cost the sum of ten dollars8.broke an existing rule9.for the month of May10.for a short space of time11.an old pioneer12.the present incumbent13.will draw to a close14.at the corner of Sixth and Elm streets15.for the purpose of shocking1.14 WordinessThe following sentences use too many words. Edit them carefully to reduce the number ofwords, but do not cut out important information. If necessary, rewrite the sentences completely.1.There was never any doubtwhatsoever that Hannah would one day—and not too far inthe distant future—become a famous and internationally known jazz singer who wasrecognized by jazz fans around the world.

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2.Midville is not a large town, but rather a fairly small place with a really small townatmosphere that offers a lot of safety and security to its residents and citizens and all wholive there, especially to those who are raising families with small children.3.Ed spent many long and tedious hours drawing the detailed map that charted and tracedthe growth of the church denomination to which he belonged from its beginnings to thepresent day.4.At this point in time, Erin could not see any point at all in continuing to pay tuition to acollege where she was absolutely convinced that she was not receiving the best educationor her money’s worth for the tuition she was spending.5.Always confused by any kind of mathematical problem, Sally, for no reason that anyonecould ever figure out, signed up for one of the hardest and most difficult math courses inthe entire curriculum.6.Owing to the fact that the prerequisite courses had not been taken by John, he was havinga great deal of difficulty and had to spend a lot of time figuring out his schedule for thesemester that is coming up.7.There is little consideration given by our professors to the very real problem that ourtextbooks are often extremely costly and expensive.8.Alex said that the thing to do if he wanted to improve his writing would be to read asmany good books as he could possibly read in the time available to him.9.Baseball has always been thought of as the national pastime, but for all intents andpurposes, football has replaced baseball as the favorite sport for many people across thiscountry.10.During the period of time that included most of February, Laura stayed cooped up in herroom and tried to fight off the effects of a very bad and debilitating cold.11.Basically, I have a disinclination and a disinterest in helping people who are not willingto do some things such as show up for work on time and put forth the effort that it oftentakes to succeed in this life.1.15 Autobiography 4: Your life story, in oneminute, out loudWrite your life story using 150 words. Use sentences that are 10 words or shorter. Read what youhave written out loud in class or into a voice recorder. If parts of the autobiography made youstumble in reading it aloud, you may want to rewrite those parts.

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Chapter 2 ExercisesThe following section contains a variety of exercises that will help you to use the language moreprecisely. You should follow your instructor’s directions in completing them.2.1 Writing Skills 1The following sentences are takenfrom newspapers and television broadcasts. Correct the errorsyou find by either copy editing or rewriting the sentences. Underline your corrections. Some ofthe sentences are correct, in which case you should write “correct” in the margin.1.He is one of the greatest choreographers who has ever lived.2.The general assumed what was then described as dictorial powers.3.The couple has two children.4.Inside the box was a man and a woman.5.Absent from the meeting were the mayor and two councilmen.6.Every fireman in the city, 250 in all were called out.7.A total of 650 eskimos was examined and tested.8.Only two in four were urgent cases, a group that included cardiacs, asthmatics and thosefound unconscious.9.The chairman stated that response to the committee’s activities has convinced him thatthe money for renovation can be raised.10.Business administration and journalism courses provide the student with goodbackground for work in public relations.11.Here comes the famous Kilgore College Rangerettes onto the field to perform at halftime.12.Leading the United States’ show of strength were Arthur Ashe and Clarke Graebner.13.The investigation revealed that none of the team members were involved in illegalendorsements of sports clothing.14.“There’s two knocked out cold on the floor!” the sportscaster shouted.15.Every one of us have asked that question sometime in our lives.2.2Writing Skills 2Correct the following sentences.1.Their rival forces meanwhile prepared to meet Wednesday to patch up peace.2.Pasadena California is the site ofthe Rose Bowl.3.It was O. J. Simpson (who, whom) the coach praised so highly.4.The tomb of the pharaoh had (laid, lain) buried in the desert for centuries.5.I heard the train whistle at the crossing that was going to Denver.6.She borrowed an egg from a neighbor that was rotten.7.For a year we almost heard nothing from our former neighbors.8.There was a canary in a cage that never sang.

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9.We hope that you will notify us if you can attend the banquet on the enclosed post card.10.Come here Mary and help us.11.I know she (swum, swims) the channel regularly in this weather.12.The children looked forward to celebrating Christmas for several weeks.13.After setting foot on the uninhabited island of Europe, off Africa, to direct the filming ofthe sea turtles, a hurricane whirled across the Indian ocean and hit the island.14.He ran swiftly the dog in front of him and plunged into the forest.15.The casings had (tore, torn) (loose, lose) from their bearings.2.3Punctuation 1In the following sentences, insert the correct punctuation.1.I subscribe to theNew YorkerHarper’s Magazineand theNew Republic2.Seven legislators from the southern part of the state changed their votes and with theirhelp the bill was passed.3.Do you like your steak rare medium or well done?4.A tape recorder gives very accurate reproduction and it has the great advantage that it canbe used at home as well as at the studio.5.The gun went off and everyone jumped6.The new cars are certainly more powerful but it is doubtful that they are any safer7.Light entered the roomthrough cracks in the walls through holes in the roof and throughone small window.8.Hundreds of church bells ringing loudly after years of silence announced the end of thewar9.The book was lying where I left it10.The advisor who is never in his office makes registration difficult11.Some years ago I lived in a section of town where almost everyone was a Republican12.Hearne was still disclaiming with great eloquence but no one in the crowd was listening13.I bought a large bath towel14.We were sitting before the fire in the big room at Twins Farms and Lewis had rudelyretired behind the newspaper15.The ranchmen rode with their families into the little town and encouraged their sons todemonstrate their skill with broken horses2.4Pronouns and VerbsIn the following sentences, underline the correct pronoun or verb.1.He is the player (who, whom) probably will play shortstop.2.Is this the person (who, whom) you want?3.Each of the three quarterbacks (is, are) (a) good runner(s).4.Both Baylor and Arkansas (has, have) won six games and lost two.5.Either of the two players (are, is) eligible.

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6.Each of the members (was, were) in (his or her, their) seat(s) when the session began.7.(Who, Whom), then, would the tax hurt?8.Do you know to (who, whom) that notebook belongs?9.(Who, Whom) isgoing with the reporter to get a picture of the crash?10.He declared that everybody must play (his or her, their) part.11.This story is between you and (I, me).12.No matter how you look at it, it was (she, her) (who, whom) they opposed.13.Bryan is the kind of man (whom, who) always thinks before he acts.14.This is the only one of the typewriters that (is, are) working.15.Everyone was on (their, his or her) best behavior.2.5VerbsIn the following sentences, underline the correct form of the verb.1.What (lays, lies) in the future for Alaska?2.He had been (lain, laid) on a stretcher.3.“(Lay, Lie) down and be quiet for an hour,” he ordered.4.The 6-year-old boy was just (setting, sitting) there in the ruins, trying not to cry.5.The Ohio State football team (sat, set) back and enjoyed the movie of its game withMichigan.6.The men worked all night (raising, rising) a monument in spite of the (raising, rising) tideof the river.7.After lunch she had (laid, lain) down for a nap.8.The hard tackling by the Georgia Bulldogs had really (began, begun) to show.9.Suddenly a cloud of dust (rises, raises) in the west.10.Had the tight end simply (fell, fallen) on the ball, he would have (catched, caught) it.11.Spillane (led, lead) you to believe that the butler was the murderer.12.Chris Gilbert had (proved, proven) to be the outstanding player.13.He said that he could (loose, lose) his fortune, but he had (chose, chosen) to gamble all hehad.14.The Smiths (use, used) to live in San Francisco.15.The man was lucky he wasn’t (drown, drowned).2.6ClausesInthe following sentences, underline the independent clause and circle the subordinate(dependent) clause.1.They agreed to open negotiations when both sides ceased fire.2.If he had known, he would never have said that.3.Since the current was swift, he could not swim to shore.4.The horse came up to the first jump, when he stumbled and threw Jean off.

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5.This is called the cryptozoite stage, after which the plasmodia break out of the liver cellsand float about in the bloodstream.6.An especially big wave rolled in, when I finally managed to get my line unsnagged.7.While walking past the building, the night watchman noticed the door was unlocked.8.Harkey’s injured knee has failed to heal completely; therefore, he may see little actionagainst Notre Dame on Saturday.9.The Ace Manufacturing Company, where I used to work, went bankrupt.10.This last semester, if it has done nothing else, has given me confidence in myself.Write five correct sentences containing independent and subordinate clauses.1.2.3.4.5.2.7Punctuation 2In thefollowing sentences, insert the correct punctuation.1.Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen nobody knows but Jesus.2.The responsible reporter one who is scrupulously honest will still encounter problems.3.Abraham Lincoln died on April 15 1865 after being shot while attending a play at FordsTheater.4.My son was born on Nov 15 1980 It was a Saturday so I didnt get to go to the footballgame5.Why don’t you come over to my place6.Writing for the mass media takes much skill perseverance and hard work.7.Wow I couldnt think of any place better to eat myself.8.According to my professor the world is absolutely positively flat and you should neverforget it.9.Where are the carpenters where are the bricklayers and most of all where are thegardeners when we need them the most.10.I couldnt come to class today Jan said because I had the flu.11.Joe got a new computer which set his parents back a good bit and hes been dying to telleverybody about it.2.8Word ChoiceIn the following sentences, fill in the blanks with one of the words that appears in parentheses.The definitions of many of the words can be found inAppendix C.1.aregood reasons why about to sell house. (there, their, they’re)

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2.not late give the cat milk. (its, it’s, to, too)3.If going home, take books with you. (your, you’re)4.Do you know the is pleasant ?(whether, weather, there, their, they’re)5.They known for a long time that you would gone if you had heard the game in time.(have, of, ’ve)6.Where are many opinions, most people feel justified in holding on to own; and whilethere are several scientific explanations for stubbornness, be few changes unless we canconvince men that they ought to be more open-minded. (there, their, they’re, there’ll)7.My objection to the of that school is that he is a man of no . (principal, principle)8.Not until will you be able to tell whether you have more you need. (than, then)9.If strap is , you may your books. (lose, loose, you’re, your)10.Not even in the would I the table before eating . (desert, dessert)11.going to punch nose? (whose, who’s)12.We the ruling without protest, although we all those over 45. (except, accept)13.His speech the audience greatly. (affected, effected)14.50,000 people attend the opening game of the World Series. (Over, More than)15.He was always one to do things . (different, differently)16.The bomb, which was to havoc on the whole block, killed so many people that theirbodies soon began to . (reek, wreak)17.The news magazine she subscribed to never seemed to tell her all that she needed toknow. (that, which)18.When he put the book down, he decided that he had just read something very . (unique,unusual)19.The of Queen Victoria was a long and prosperous one. (rein, reign)20.He decided to his bike down to the town square to see if he could the things that he hadmade. (peddle, pedal)21.The priest chose not to the clothes that were spread across the . (alter, altar)22.We visited the building, where we saw the state legislature in session. (Capital, capital,Capitol)23.All of the fraternities on campus came together to form a voting that could not beovercome by the independent students. (block, bloc)24.He the poor child’s way of speaking. (flouted, flaunted)25.The professor tried her best to make the grading system more . (equal, equitable)26.I did not make it to the movie last night all the homework I had to do. (due to, because of)27.She was irritated by the tone he used when he said, “And what have you been doing allweek long?” (official, officious)2.9Writing ProblemsCorrect any problems that appear in the following sentences.1.Gilligan was so charmed by the desert aisle that hedecided to marry the movie star.2.Like that nice Professor said, we should always study for our exams.3.The cantaloupe-throwing contest was canceled due to averse weather.

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4.Rushing to the sight of the crime, the prosecuting attorney was horrified at the grizzlymurder scene.5.The criminal alluded police by hiding under a Toyota Corolla.6.Faining illness, the President refused to make the trip to Tulsa.7.Morgan canceled the funeral service after the dead man turned out to be alive.8.Less than 100 pumpkins were piled in Smith’s car.9.Hurricane Bubba ravaged the Gulf Coast, causing $10 billion in damages.10.The dancing troupe refused to buy their tights at wholesale.11.The restaurant owners upped the price of rutabagas by 100 percent whenever MarkArnold came to town.12.The journalist’s cannon of ethics prohibits taking gifts from sources.13.Journalists should be guided by one principle: Always be accurate.2.10AgreementIn the following sentences, underline the correct word.1.The team, consisting of three boys and three girls, (has, have) a tough schedule thisseason.2.None of the candidates (has, have) accepted the invitation to the forum.3.The faculty (has, have) a meeting scheduled for this afternoon to discuss (its, their)grievances.4.The drug he took and his lack of sleep (was, were) beginning to have an effect.5.All of the students in the class tried hard to pass (its, their) final exam.6.The neighborhood association had certain issues (it, they) wanted to address at the citycouncil meeting.7.Every journalist should try towrite news stories that are as accurate as (they, he or she)can make them.8.The U.S. Supreme Court normally begins (its, their) annual session on the first Mondayof October.9.Many people in the audience (sees, see) this commercial and (reacts, react) negatively toit.10.Each parent had (his or her, their) own way of dealing with unruly children.2.11Comma Splices and Run-On SentencesMake sure that each sentence is punctuated correctly. Make whatever changes are necessary todo so. If the punctuation is correct, do not make any marks.1.I don’t know of anyone who went I didn’t go myself.2.The horses came loping into the barn but there was no food for them.3.There, I said it again, don’t do that any more.4.Many are the times the farmer wished he had bought more land because years ago it wascheap, it was plentiful.

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5.The trees in that forest were doomed, they had to be cut down.6.The St. Louis Cardinals won the National League pennant, while the New York Yankeestriumphed in the American League; they will meet in this year’s World Series.7.Where was the truck going, which direction was it heading.8.He has just finished his seventh mystery novel and he has yet to have one published, hejust keeps on trying.9.John bought a cheap set of watercolors thinking one day he would be a great painter hejust wanted to be like Picasso.10.He has an unusual hobby, he transplants trees, but he says he likes doing it because itgives him a chance to get outside most of the time.

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Chapter 3 Exercises3.1AP Style 1For each of the following sets of items, select the one that is correct according to AP style.Answers are at the end of the exercise.1.a.The cats belong to a woman who lives on Fourth Avenue.b.The cats belong to awoman who lives on Fourth Ave.c.The cats belong to a woman who lives on 4th Avenue.2.a.December 18, 1994b.Dec. 18, 1994c.Dec. 18th, 19943.a.Jim Folsom, governor of Alabama, was late to an election meeting today.b.Jim Folsom, governor of Ala., was late to an election meeting today.c.Jim Folsom, gov. of Alabama, was late to an election meeting today.4.a.The Mardi Gras parade will be on March 4th this year.b.The Mardi Gras parade will be on March 4 this year.c.The Mardi Gras parade will be on Mar. 4 this year.5.a.One of my least favorite cities is Muskogee, Oklahoma.b.One of my least favorite cities is Muskogee, Okla.c.One of my least favorite cities is Muskogee, OK.6.a.The 2-year-old child was the flower girl in their wedding.b.The two year old child was the flower girl intheir wedding.c.The two-year-old child was the flower girl in their wedding.7.a.11 a.m.b.11 a.m.c.11 a.m. this morning8.a.Did they win the 10 million dollar sweepstakes?b.Did they win the $10,000,000 sweepstakes?c.Did they win the $10 million sweepstakes?9.a.1990’sb.the 90sc.the ’90s10.

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a.The university claimed that 55 percent of its population was male.b.The university claimed that 55% of its population was male.c.The university claimed that fifty-five percent of its population was male.11.a.They drove from Nashville, Tennessee, to Fairhope, Alabama, in less than sevenhours.b.They drove from Nashville, Tenn., to Fairhope, Ala., in less than seven hours.c.They drove from Nashville, Tenn. to Fairhope, Ala. in less than seven hours.12.a.Pres. Bill Clintonb.president Bill Clintonc.President Bill Clinton13.a.42 students went to the museum.b.Forty two students went to the museum.c.Forty-two students went to the museum.14.a.5 poundsb.5 lbs.c.five pounds15.a.Mrs. Mandy Finkleab.Mrs. Finkleac.Mandy Finklea16.a.The moving men took the tables, chairs, beds, and couches.b.The moving men took the tables, chairs, beds and couches.c.The moving men took the tables; chairs; beds; and couches.17.a.the United Statesb.the U.S.c.the united statesi.(Assume that this is used as a noun.)18.a.The eight-foot clock wasdifficult to move.b.The 8-ft. clock was difficult to move.c.The 8-foot clock was difficult to move.19.a.the College of Communicationb.the college of communicationc.the college of Communication20.a.I moved to 1803 4th Ave.b.I moved to 1803 Fourth Ave.c.I moved to 1803 Fourth Avenue.

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Answers:1.a;2.b;3.a;4.b;5.b;6.a;7.a;8.c;9.c;10.a;11.b;

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12.c;13.c;14.a;15.c;16.b;17.a;18.c;19.a;20.B3.2AP Style 2For each of the following sets of items, select the one that iscorrect according to AP style.Answers are at the end of the exercise.1.a.The young man went to the girl’s house and encouraged her to go out with him.b.The young man went to the girl’s house, and encouraged her to go out with him.c.The young man went to the girl’s house, encouraged her to go out with him.

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2.a.Fob James, Governor of Alabama, began his term in office this week.b.Fob James, governor of Alabama, began his term in office this week.c.Fob James, Gov. of Alabama, began his term in office this week.3.a.Thethree foot tall man was the smallest recorded in history.b.The 3-foot tall man was the smallest recorded in history.c.The 3 foot tall man was the smallest recorded in history.4.a.The politician is affectionately known as John “Crook” Smith.b.The politician is affectionately known as John (Crook) Smith.c.The politician is affectionately known as John, Crook, Smith.5.a.Spring graduation is set for Saturday, May 13.b.Spring graduation is set for Sat., May 13.c.Spring graduation is set for May 13.6.a.I went to the store and bought eggs, milk and bread.b.I went to the store and bought: eggs, milk and bread.c.I went to the store and bought eggs, milk, and bread.7.a.He always reads “USA Today” to prepare for the news quiz.b.He always reads USA Today to prepare for the news quiz.c.He always reads USA Today to prepare for the news quiz.8.a.The business is based in Birmingham.b.The business is based in Birmingham, Alabama.c.The business is based in Birmingham, Ala.9.a.She gave a large donation to NOW.b.She gave a large donation to N.O.W.c.She gave a large donation to the National Organization for Women.i.(Assume that this the first reference to the organization.)10.a.Smith is the professor for this course.b.James Smith is the professor for this course.c.James G. Smith is the professor for this course.i.(Assume that this is the first reference to the man.)11.a.This lab section begins at 10:00 a.m.b.This lab section begins at 10 a.m.c.This lab section begins at 10 in the morning.12.a.You are enrolled in the department of journalism in the College ofCommunication.

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b.You are enrolled in the department of journalism in the college ofcommunication.c.You are enrolled in the department of journalism in the department ofcommunication.13.a.Moby-Dick was Herman Melville’s most famous book.b.“Moby-Dick” was Herman Melville’s most famous book.c.Moby-Dick was Herman Melville’s most famous book.14.a.One of my least favorite cities is Galesburg, Illinois.b.One of my least favorite cities is Galesburg, Ill.c.One of my least favorite cities is Galesburg, IL.15.a.One of my favoritecities is Austin, Texas.b.One of my favorite cities is Austin, Tex.c.One of my favorite cities is Austin, TX.16.a.The store is located on McFarland Boulevard.b.The store is located on McFarland Boulvd.c.The store is located on McFarland Blvd.17.a.My husband was born on Nov. 26, 1965.b.My husband was born on November 26, 1965.c.My husband was born on Mon., November 26, 1965.18.a.Last night, Tuscaloosa experienced its first Winter storm.b.Last night, Tuscaloosa experienced its first winter storm.c.Last night, Tuscaloosa experienced its first wntr. storm.19.a.The store is located at 1520 Main Street.b.The store is located at 1520 Main Str.c.The store is located at 1520 Main St.20.a.Democrats are supportive of Pres. Clinton.b.Democrats are supportive of president Clinton.c.Democrats are supportive of President Clinton.Answers:1.a;

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2.b;3.b;4.a;5.c;6.a;7.c;8.c;9.c;10.c;11.b;12.a;13.

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b;14.b;15.a;16.a;17.a;18.b;19.c;20.C3.3Using the Stylebook 1Correct thefollowing items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.He was charged with trafficing in drugs.2.The Rev. Billy Grahm said God was alive and His will would triumph.3.The flag, which Francis Scott Key saw, has been preserved.4.life-like,outfielder, inter-racial, IOU’s (plural)5.Pianoes, nation-wide, P.T.A., Viet-nam War6.The train will arrive at twelve noon on Tues.7.The US Census Bureau defines the south as a Seventeen-state region.8.The judge ruled that because of his oral skills he had entered into a verbal contract.9.She had an afternoon snack of some Oreo cookies and Coke.10.harrass, accomodate, weird, likeable11.Circle the correct form:

Class Notes for Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition - Page 22 preview image

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odonut, doughnutpants suit, pantsuitplow, ploughU.S. Weather Bureau, National Weather Service3.4Using the Stylebook 2Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.The defense department is about to propose a new missele system.2.F.C.C., hitch-hiker, three dollars, 4 million3.The three most important people in his life arehis wife, son, and mother.4.part-time, 10 year old child, 5 PM, 53005.The cardinals won the last game of the world series, 7 to 5.6.spring (season), fall (season), south (point on compass), south (region)7.November 15, the last day of Feb., Mar. 168.13 people travelled to Austin, Tex. for the rally.9.He had ten cents left in his pocket.10.home-made, well-known, Italian-American, questionnaire3.5Using the Stylebook 3Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.The U.S. is sometimes not the best market for U.S. products.2.Circle the correct form:oupward, upwardsoBritish (Labour, Labor) PartyoRiverside (Ave., Avenue)ocupsful, cupfulsoeying, eyeing3.The Republican differed from the democrat many times during the debate.4.Dr. JohnSmith and Dr. Mary Wilson performed the operations.5.Circle the correct form:ogood will, goodwill (noun)oUSS Eisenhower, U.S.S. Eisenhowerocigaret, cigaretteomidAmerica, mid-America6.He said he was neither a Communist or a member of the Communist Party.7.After her surgery, she had to wear a Pacemaker.8.“What a hair-brained scheme!” she exclaimed.

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9.preempt, speed-up (noun), 55 miles per hour, hookey10.The underworld, or mafia, was responsible for the murder.3.6Using the Stylebook 4Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.The first annual rutabaga eating contest was canceled because of averse weather.2.Its not alright to drink an access of beer before going to the football game.3.Like Einstein said, all knowledge is relative.4.The state capital of LA is located at 3722 Dagwood Rd.5.The Mayor refused to go along with the City Council vote. “I descent,” he stated.6.Madonna certainly has a flare for fashion; she always wears expensive outfits.7.The bomb totally destroyed Senator Kitsmoot’s bird cage.8.My bright-green Chevrolet which is in the garage needs a new transmission.9.Knopke’s hilarious joke illicited laughter from the Midville city council.10.Jones laid on the floor waiting for the job interview to begin.11.Horowitz, an ethics major, vowed never to compromise his principals.12.At the end of the book report, Haynes sited the World Book as a source.3.7Using the Stylebook 5Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.The twenty-five-year-old man wept as he left Hattiesburg, Mississippi.2.This November 10th will mark our anniversary.3.Don’t park the car on Rodeo Dr. Instead, park it at 12 Davies Street.4.They spent 130 dollars to buy a new set of nose rings.5.Smoots moved to the North because the people there are so nice.6.At 7 p.m. this evening, the rodeo will begin in the Town Square.7.Yesterday, the Terrorists blew up their home at 123 Melrose St.8.22 seamstresses were needed to mend the prom dresses.9.About 5 percent of the professors have lost their hair.10.After 2 feet of snow fell at his home in Columbus, Ohio, Jones decided to leave.11.Miss Smith bet fifty dollars that her brother weighed more than a 1964 Chevy.12.John Smith, the Governor of Calif., set his trailer on fire September 1.13.A fire began at 3325 McDonald Dr. when an oven full of rutabagas exploded.14.During the 1970’s, everyone wore bell-bottom blue jeans to church.3.8Using the Stylebook 6Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standarddictionary.

Class Notes for Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition - Page 24 preview image

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1.In Aug. 1985, Davies rented a rutabaga stand in Augusta, Georgia.2.Pomerantz tied the beehive to Senator Gramm’s cowboy hat.3.About 1200 easter rabbits were killed in the explosion at Big Dave’s Bunny Warehouse,located at 2525 Hackensack Drive.4.In the 1980’s, Davies left the Midwest and moved to the Loire Valley in France.5.Smoots brought two cups of coffee to the Governor.6.About eight percent of the cantaloupes have been stuffed with rutabagas.7.Jones bet 40 dollars that his roommate had hidden the sandwich.8.The 3 university professors share a house at 613 25th Avenue.9.After 2 feet of snow fell at his home in Columbus, Ohio, Davies decided to leave themidwest and move to the South.10.On December 11th, all classes will be canceled.11.Yesterday morning, the Mayor skipped her aerobics class.12.Davies drove 2,000,000 miles in his old Toyota Corolla before it blew up.13.Doctor Kildare said he had filed a malpractice suit against Marcus Welby.14.At eight p.m. in the evening, Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas will give a shortspeech in front of the Gorgas library.3.9Using the Stylebook 7Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.Estalene Smoots dropped her french class the 1st day of school.2.Sadie Hoots won 3,200,000dollars on Wheel of Fortune.3.Frustrated that their professor required them to eat fried rutabagas, the students walkedout of class at 9 a.m. this morning.4.The office manager had twenty-one plants, sixty-two cats and two puppies.5.President Aubrey Lucas is originally from Compton, California.6.On October 25th, Ruth Ann Bobetski will turn 41.7.Goober Hicks lives at 10 West Hardy St. He used to live in a run down shack at 2803Williamsburg Rd.8.Abby gave birth to a nine pound baby boy.9.The President invited me to dinner at the white house, but I could not fit it into myschedule.10.Senator Davies said his earnings had increased 10% in the 1980’s.11.Barney the dinosaur will be executed on Tuesday, November 2.12.25 vagabonds attacked me from behind in front of the hub.13.Miss Snarkle found a 10 inch bug crawling in her spaghetti. “Great! Now I won’t needseconds”, she exclaimed.14.All the men in the R.O.T.C. chapter wore red, white, and blue pantyhose to class in Jan.1991.15.The Bay City baseball team lost their final game two to one and climbed dejectedly backonto their bus.

Class Notes for Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition - Page 25 preview image

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3.10Using the Stylebook 8Using theAP Stylebook, answer the questions or correct the following sentences or phrases.1.What is the acceptable form of abbreviation for miles per hour?2.What is thedifference between civil and criminal cases?3.Correct this sentence: The eye witness found himself in an eye to eye confrontation.4.If GMT is used on second reference, what must accompany it?5.When do you capitalize grand jury?6.Which is correct: Scenetwo, Scene 2, scene two or scene 2?7.Correct the spelling of “cuetips.”8.Which one of these refers to the building where government resides: capital, Capital orcapitol?9.What use of the term working class needs a hyphen?10.Which term is correct: Christian Science Church or Church of Christian Scientists?3.11Using the Stylebook 9Using theAP Stylebook, answer the questions or correct the following sentences or phrases.1.The United States (constitutes, composes, comprises) 50 states.2.How would you write “In the year of the Lord 33”?3.What is the correct title for Russian leaders before 1914?4.What is an acceptable abbreviation for the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II?5.Which of the following is incorrect: court-martials or cupfuls?6.What is the long name for the machinists’ union?7.How should the term NROTC be used correctly in journalism?8.Which of the following is not an acceptable term for the journalist to apply to a religiousgroup: evangelical, Pentecostal or liberal?9.Which of these words has to do with flowing water: pour or pore?10.Where are the headquarters for Delta Airlines?3.12Using the Stylebook 10Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.His solution turned out to be the most equal of the two.2.Ga. Sec. of StateGeorge Smith testified at the Congressional hearing.3.tis, the Gay 1890’s, a South America country, 1492 A. D.4.Write the plurals for the following words: Eskimo, ; chili, ; memorandum, ; ski, .5.The ballif opened the court by saying, “Oyes, oyes, oyes!”6.He spread out his palate and went to sleep.7.carry-over (adjective), nitty-gritty, nit-picking, know-how

Class Notes for Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition - Page 26 preview image

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8.What do the following abbreviations stand for?Which, if any, of these abbreviations isacceptable for first reference?oUSIAoGOPoESToTVA9.The pan had a teflon surface.10.He was graduated from a teacher’s college in the north.3.13 Using the Stylebook 11Correct the following items to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary.1.Write the plurals for the following words: referendum, ; court martial, ; 1920, ; deadend, .2.Daylight savings time begins on the last Sun. in April.3.He made the Dean’s List after Dean Smith talked to him.4.The game, that was scheduled for to-night, was rained out.5.He said the car would go further on premium gas.6.The movie whichstarred Sam Jones received an r rating.7.He had run the gauntlet of criticism and abuse for his views.8.The woman who the article referred to was a German Jewess.9.judgement, naval orange, resistible, self-defense10.He played semi-pro baseball for 3 years.3.14Using the Stylebook 12Correct the following story to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary. The story containserrors other than style errors that you will need to correct.Baseball GameThe Bay City Bluebirds rallied from a 3-run defict last night to defeat the Carmel Cardinals 6–3and win the Western Tri-state division championship.The bluebirds are now assured a place int eh Tri-state playoffs which begin next week. Theiropponent will be determined tonight in a game between the Santa Ana Gnerals and the RedwoodKnights.The cardinals led the bluebirds for most of the game, and they hasa 3–0 lead in the eighth inniny.

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In the bluebird hafl of the eighth, Tim Story, the first baseman, walked and stole second. Leftfielder Biff Carbosi was walked intensionally, and both runner moved up a base on a wild pitchby cardinal started ronnie Miller. Miller was then relieved by Chuck Nelson.Bluebird secondbaseman Carbo Garbey lined Nelson’s first pitch into deep centefield, scoringboth baserunners. Two pitches later, Garbey stole home to tie the game.Nelson got the next 2 hitters out, but then Carey Clark, the bluebird catcher, homered to put thebluebirds ahead. The bluebirds added two more runs in the ninth to insure their victory.3.15Using the Stylebook 13Correct the following story to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary. The story containserrors other than style errors that you will need to correct.Guilty VerdictA jury found a Midville man guilty of Second-Degree Manslaughter after an hour’s worth ofdeliberations on Tuesday.Johnny Gene Garber was convicted at the end of a 3-day trial which featured his mothertestifying against him. He was charged in the death of a thirty-nine year old brickmason, GardnerJackson, of Number Twelve, Ninth Street in Jonesville.Mr. Garber stood sliently as the jury read the verdict. The Presiding Judge, Jonas T. McMillan,set a sentencing hearing for next Monday at eight o’clock in the morning.Garber was charged with being druck while driving down highway 69 last March. His car servedout of control and ran head on into a car driven by Mr. Jackson, who had been attending servicesat the Midville Baptist church.During the trial, the Prosecution Attory, Able Sasson, called Garber’s mother, Mrs. Minnie LeeGarber, to testify that her son had been drinking heavily at there home that evening before theaccident occured.Garber could recievea sentence of two to five years in prison for the crime he committed.3.16Using the Stylebook 14Correct the following story to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary. The story containserrors other than style errors that you will need to correct.

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City CouncilThe city council passed an ordinance last night requireing people convicted of their second drunkcharge to serve a minimum of thirty days in jail and to have their driver’s license suspended forsix months.The ordinance was passed by a vote of five to three. Councilman Clarissa Atwell sponsored thechange in the law which wil take effect on December 31st of this year.“I think this new law will save the lives of a lot of people, Miss Atwell said.The council chamber was filled to overflowing with people interested in the law. Many of thepeople there were members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.)One Councilamn who voted against law, Les Honeycutt, said he felt the laws against drunkdriving were strong enough and that they needed to be inforced for rigidly. His commentsreceived hoots and jeers from the crowd, and at one point the council president, Harley Sanders,trhreatened to have some of the audience removed and evicted.3.17Using the Stylebook 15Correct the following story to conform to AP style and a standard dictionary. The story containserrors other than style errors that you will need to correct.Power FailurePower was cut off to nearly a 3rd of the residents of Midville, last night, after a violent stormripped through the city around six o’clock.Police chief Robert Dye said that power was restored to most homes within about two hours, but“a substantial number of people,” had to go without power for most of the night.Chief Dye said that many of the city’s traffic lights were knocked out by the storm, and traffickproblems developed on several of the more busy streets.Chief dye says that everything should be back to normal today.A Power company official said that more than 1500 homes were without electricity for some partof the night. They said that crews worked throughout the entire night to get people’s powerturned on.The storm dumped over 2 inches of rain on the city in about 30 minutes. The power failure wasdue to lighting hitting one of the power companys substations in the Western part of the city.

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3.18Writing ProblemsBefore beginning this exercise, review the discussion of writing problems and principles in thischapter. The following sentences contain a variety of problems, such as wordiness,jargon,clichés, redundancies, and errors in AP style. Edit or rewrite them as necessary.1.The coach is noted for and has the reputation for welcoming back players, who, he saysin his own words, he “didn’t want to give up on” and whom just happened to have gamebreaking talent.2.Over a year after the zoo bought her for the price of $500,000, Ruby the elephant stillcannot be in full physical contact with the two other African elephants that the zoo hasacquired.3.The five officers were fired Monday night after the sheriff and the chief deputy reviewedthe preliminary findings of a state investigator’s report into the illegal abuse andunjustified incarceration of suspects in a drug raid.4.Ezer is a parrot of a South Asian variety that the Humane Society is trying to put up foradoption and find a good home for. The society said a man offered to adopt Ezer lastweek but that he was a long distance truck driver. They did not feel his home would besuitable for Ezer’s need because of the strain and confinement.5.The mayor said the city lacked the necessary monetary resources and revenue toconstruct a new facility that could house many of the services that it offered to the public.These services include the offices for business license renewals and rezoning petitions.6.Musick was the second person to plead guilty since an indictment was handed up in thecase during the month of March. He is charged with being part of a conspiracy thatbought dozens of kilograms of cocaine into the area over the course of a roughly two yearperiod.7.A traffic department official surmised that the closure of the parkway caused a great dealof inconvenience to local residents and visitors, particularly during the last two monthswhich is the height of the tourist season. He said he was glad all that isbehind us.8.The day after county commissioners received their first form look at the long-term needsstudy, county officials hashed out jail issues in an effort to reach consensus on whatactions the county should take and the direction it should be heading.9.Smith offered that he had built up his mom-and-pop family business, which originallystarted as a diner when Binfield Road was unpaved and is now listed as a four-starrestaurant, into a thriving business.10.Better salaries, retirement benefits and educational opportunities are among incentivesthat might help stem the tide, defense officials said as they met with lawmakers to discussways to keep forces who have become so crucial to the war on terror.

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Chapter 4 Exercises4.1 PlagiarismWrite a 250-to 300-word essay on plagiarism. Use as your sources the following websites onplagiarism:Avoiding Plagiarism (Purdue University)Academic writing in American institutions is filled with rules thatwriters often don’t know howto follow. A working knowledge of these rules, however, is critically important; inadvertentmistakes can lead to charges of plagiarism, or the unacknowledged use of somebody else’swords or ideas. While other cultures may notinsist so heavily on documenting sources,American institutions do. A charge of plagiarism can have severe consequences, includingexpulsion from the university. (www.depauw.edu/files/resources/avoiding-plagiarism.pdf)Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It (Indiana University)In college courses, we are continually engaged with other people’s ideas: we read them in texts,hear them in lecture, discuss them in class, and incorporate them into our own writing. As aresult, it is very important that we give credit where it is due.Plagiarism is using others’ ideasand words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information.(www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml)Your essay should demonstrate that you understand the major concepts that the articles discuss.The essay will also demonstrate your ability to present information clearly and coherently and toput together information from different sources (without plagiarizing, of course).You may bring these articles with you to your lab session and use them in writing your essay. Ifyou quote directly from any of the articles, you should put the name of the university and pagenumber of the quoted passage in parentheses immediately after the quotation. You should notquote directly more than two or three times in the essay. This should be in your own words.Follow your instructor’s guidelines for referencing or footnoting for this essay, but you will needto turn in your copies of the articles along with your essay. You may use only these two articlesas references for your essay.4.2Planning an InterviewPlan an interview with the mayor of your city. First, you will need to decide the central reasonwhy you want to conduct the interview. It could be that there is some issue currently facing thecity that you will want to build your story around. If no suchissue exists, you may want to talk tothe mayor about what it is like to be mayor—duties, responsibilities, daily schedule, and so on.

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Or you may want to do a personality profile on the mayor, asking about family, friends,recreation, and so on.Once you have decided what the interview is to be about, what background research will youhave to do? How will you go about getting the information you need? Be specific about whatinformation you will need and where you can get it.Finally, formulate a list of tentative questions that you will want to ask during the interview. Thislist of questions should be in the approximate order of how you would like to ask the questions.Review the section on interviewing for ideas about the types of questions to ask and the order inwhich to ask them.4.3ParaphrasingRewrite the following by paraphrasing the direct quotations. Make what you write no more thanhalf the length of the original quotation. Try to include most of the information that is in thequotation. The first quotation has been paraphrased to give you an example of what is expected.ExampleTom Nelson, president of the citywide Parent Teachers Association: “Our major concern thisyear will be security in the schools, particularly in the high schools. We will be working withschool officials on ways we can help create a safer environment for the education of ourchildren. A number of incidents in the past year have been very disturbing to many parents. Weare going to try to provide a way for those parents to make a real difference in their localschools.”ParaphraseTom Nelson, president of the city Parent Teachers Association, said that the chief concern of theorganization this year would be security, particularly in the highschools. Nelson said parentswould be working with school officials to make the schools safer.Quotation 1Martin Goldsmith, general manager of the local public radio station: “Our goal in this year’sfund-raising effort is to raise $100,000, which will be about 15 percent more than we raised lastyear. The money we are seeking—this $100,000—will go toward ourprogramming efforts. Wespent about $130,000 buying programs each year for the station, and those costs are going upeach year. There is a lot that our audience would like to have on the station, and this is the wayfor them to help pay for it.”

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