Lab Activity 13: Choosing the Best Words

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 13: Choosing the Best Words

Objective To practice recognizing slang, clichés, overly formal language, and wordiness and to use appropriate words.

Step 1: In each item below, write two sentences as instructed about the topic given. You may refer to Chapter 13. Two examples have been done for you.

Example:
Write a sentence about seeing a stand-up comedy routine.
Using overly formal language: On the previous day from this very day, I made my presence known in an entertainment establishment in which a jocular person was reciting a disquisition.
Using standard English: Yesterday, I went to a club and saw a comic doing a stand-up routine.

Example:
Write a sentence about someone who loves to watch baseball.
Using slang: Lily is a hard-core baseball aficionada.
Using standard English: Lily is an avid baseball fan.


		1. Write a sentence about knowing a subject very well. Using slang: Using standard English: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2. Write a sentence about visiting a relative you like. Using overly formal language: Using standard English: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Write a sentence about shopping for a car. Using clichés: Using standard English: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		4. Write a sentence about a place you do not like. Using wordiness: Using standard English: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		5. Write a sentence about not having enough time for all you need to do. Using slang: Using standard English: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Now, select the topic of one of the sentences you wrote in Step 1. Write a paragraph of at least five sentences using that topic. Include at least one slang expression, one cliché, one example of overly formal language, and one example of wordiness. Then, correct the inappropriate language by changing the poorly chosen words to standard English. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 3:* For each item below, select the sentence that uses the best words in standard English. 1. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English? [Hint]

		2. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		4. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		5. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		6. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		7. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		8. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		9. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		10. Which of the following sentences uses the best words in standard English?

		*Step 4:* Now that you have practiced recognizing slang, clichés, overly formal language, and wordiness, think of a person who is living life the way you would like to do it. The person may be famous or not, a historical figure or alive today, or totally fictional. Write a paragraph of at least five sentences explaining why you feel the way you do about that person. Include in your paragraph one sentence using slang, one sentence using clichés, one sentence using overly formal language, and one sentence using wordiness. Then, write the paragraph a second time using standard English. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

Answer choices in this exercise are randomized and will appear in a different order each time the page is loaded.