Classwork/Homework: Wordy and Redundant DO NOW: For each of the words below, brainstorm of as many words or phrases that have the same meaning and list them in the space provided for you. Ready… GO! 1. happy
2. angry
3. hurry
4. hungry
5. tired
Subject: Avoiding Wordiness and Redundancy Wordiness is having ______What is wordiness? ______
Wordy: My teacher who instructs me in English is Mr. Johnson.
Better: My English teacher is Mr. Johnson.
Rewrite this sentence:
The reason Fabio likes Olga is because she has a kind heart.
______What is ______redundancy? __
Redundancy is ______
______What is ACT Redundant: The student left and went out of the classroom. style? Better: The student left the classroom.
The ACT values writing that is ______
______
Make sure sentences are ______Classwork/Homework: Wordy and Redundant ______
Often the ______is the correct answer.
What is concise If you ______language? ______, it is probably correct.
Concise means ______
Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. Like bad employees, words that don't accomplish enough should be fired.* As you revise your writing ______. Don’t be wordy, redundant, and irrelevant.
REDUNDANCY DIRECTIONS - 1: Read the sentence and answer the questions.
I woke up this morning and saw the sun shining, so I felt happy, perky, joyful, glad, cheerful, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
1. What’s wrong with the way that this sentence is currently written? ______
______
2. Why do you think that good writers would want to avoid writing like this?
______
______
3. If you had to edit the sentence and re-write it, what would you write down?
______
______
REDUNDANCY DIRECTIONS - 2: Read each of the following sentences and first identify any sentences that have redundancy issues. Then, underline the words and phrases that are redundant and explain why you believe that they are or are NOT redundant.
4. He found his neighbor Allecia to be beautiful and stunning. Is this redundant? YES NO If YES, go back and underline the words and phrases that are redundant. Why do you believe that these words/phrases are or are NOT redundant? ______Classwork/Homework: Wordy and Redundant ______5. The teachers were impressed with how intelligent, mature, and articulate their students acted by senior year. Is this redundant? YES NO If YES, go back and underline the words and phrases that are redundant. Why do you believe that these words/phrases are or are NOT redundant? ______6. Marcel was furious that his parents would accuse of him of a false and untrue lie. Is this redundant? YES NO If YES, go back and underline the words and phrases that are redundant. Why do you believe that these words/phrases are or are NOT redundant? W&R PRACTICE 1: Cross out anything that is unnecessarily wordy or redundant. You are trying to be as clear and concise as possible. Next to each sentence, write the number of words you deleted. Then, write the total at the bottom.
Example: There are many theories that people have created and believe about the existence and reality of aliens. 8
7. I find coffee so tasty and delicious that I have difficulty limiting myself to one and only one cup a day. ____
8. Vassar College was founded in 1861, and was established in the nineteenth century. ____
9. I, myself, am in a condition of being worried about the exam commonly referred to as the ACT. ___
10. Today’s current high school students are often lacking and missing the basic skills necessary to do well in the
institution known as college. ____
11. Roast turkey is the traditional food eaten at most American Thanksgiving dinners for the meal. ___
12. Debbie needed a plan and strategy to make her dreams an actual reality. ____
Total number of words deleted: ____
W&R PRACTICE 2: Decide if the underlined portion of the following sentences is wordy or redundant and rewrite the sentence.
Example:The school was established and founded in 1906. Redundant:_The school was founded in 1906.
13. He utilized an automobile to transport his friends home.
______
______Classwork/Homework: Wordy and Redundant 14. Riding the roller coaster was an exciting thrill.
______
______
15. We were in agreement with each other that Max was an unsuspecting old fool.
______
______
16. I felt a sense of anxious nervousness before the curtain rose.
______
______
17. The supply of musical instruments that are antique is limited.
______
______
18. Many people know and are aware of the fact that doughnuts are filled with fat and calories, but they eat them
anyway.
______
______
19. For a great many hundreds of years, this beautiful city of such loveliness has been a major tourist attraction.
______
______
20. The reasons why people go to Venice are because they want to see its priceless art and palaces, famous bridges, and
canals that serve as streets.
______
______
W&R PRACTICE 3: Cross out anything that is unnecessarily wordy or redundant. You are trying to be as clear and concise as possible. Next to each sentence, write the number of words you deleted. Then, write the total at the bottom.
Example: There are many theories that people have created and believe about the existence and reality of aliens. 8
21. The members and players of the baseball team did not play for money or for compensation.___
22. Terrence is truly unique and one of a kind. For example, he often wears two completely different, mismatched socks. ____ Classwork/Homework: Wordy and Redundant
23. Swimming laps is a type of exercise that exercises your arms, legs, and abdominals. ____
24. During the third trimester of pregnancy, many mothers notice and become aware of the fact that their babies kick and wiggle in response to music or loud noises. Researchers at New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center have found that fetuses’ heart rates drop when the people who are their mothers speak a simple phrase aloud. ____
25. Spring break is coming and arriving soon. Everyone, all of us, needs and is desperate for a relaxing time away from the requirements and expectations that cause stress at school. ___ Total number of words deleted: ____