Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011
Worksheets
Part 2. Writing the Draft
Writing the draft can be the most difficult part of the writing process. The worksheets included in this section are designed to give you practice in the techniques that make writing a draft easier. The skills covered on the worksheets are the foundation of good writing. Try to use these skills in your writing.
The Answer Key offers possible answers to the worksheets.
2.1 Kinds of Sentences
Directions: Follow the instructions below and write examples of the four kinds of sentences. Be sure to use correct end punctuation.
1. Write a declarative sentence using each of the following.
A. puppy ...
B. clouds ...
2. Write an interrogative sentence using each of the following.
A. homework ...
B. lunch ...
3. Write an imperative sentence using each of the following.
A. window ...
B. room ...
4. Write an exclamatory sentence using each of the following.
A. car ...
B. ice ...
2.2 Expanding Sentences
Directions: Use the phrases at the bottom of the page to expand each simple sentence. (Some sentences can be expanded with more than one phrase.)
1. The dog barked . . .
2. Tom slipped . . .
3. Brianna almost cried . . .
4. The little girl waited . . .
5. The thunder rumbled . . .
6. Paulo smiled . . .
7. Lila practiced . . .
8. The river flooded . . .
Phrases
the flute each night because of the heavy rain
inside the house during the storm
in pain after dinner
when she stubbed her toe after finishing the test
on the icy sidewalk at the thought of no homework
through the night in relief
for her grandparents to come
2.3 Combining Sentences
Directions: Use and, but, or or to combine and rewrite each pair of sentences.
1. Carl came home from school. He did his homework.
2. It snowed all night. School was canceled.
3. Susan likes to dance. Staci, her sister, likes to sing.
4. The clouds grew darker. The wind began to gust.
5. Amanda enjoys basketball. She enjoys softball too.
6. It might rain tonight. It might snow.
7. Tom could do his math homework. He could work on his science project.
8. The puppy growled at the toy. It was a playful growl.
2.4 Varying Sentences
Directions: Rewrite each sentence. Use the given word or phrase to vary the form of the sentence. The first one is done as an example.
1. The sun set and daylight faded. (as) As the san set, daylight faded.
2. Luis finished his homework and then watched TV. (after)
3. It rained all night, and the river was rising. (because)
4. The computer crashed, and Rashad was almost done with his science project. (when)
5. Carla had a terrible cold, but she still went to dance practice. (even though)
6. The rain ended, and the sky quickly cleared. (once)
7. It was raining, and Trish finished reading Charlotte’s Web. (while)
8. It was the worst part of the storm, and lightning flashed and thunder exploded. (during)
2.5 Understanding Paragraphs
Directions: Read the article below. It should be written in five paragraphs. Place the symbol L before the first word that starts each paragraph. Explain your reasons for marking the paragraphs on the lines at the bottom of the page.
Do you know the difference between meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite? Many people find these words confusing. Meteoroids are chunks of rock or metal that speed through space. Some are very large and may be hundreds of feet wide. Others may be the size of a small stone. Most meteoroids orbit the sun. Sometimes a meteoroid will enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Friction with the atmosphere will cause it to heat up and burn. When a meteoroid begins to burn in the atmosphere, it leaves a streak of light. This is called a meteor, or shooting star. Most meteors burn up before they hit the ground. If a meteor does not burn completely, it will hit the Earth. A meteor that hits the Earth is called a meteorite. If a meteor is big, this will cause a great explosion and much destruction. Most meteoroids stay safely away from the Earth. Of those that enter the atmosphere, most burn up long before reaching the ground.
2.6 Writing Topic Sentences
Directions: Read each paragraph. Write a topic sentence for each one. Then answer the question at the bottom of the sheet.
1. ...
Although he reads many different kinds of books, Dan likes science fiction the best. He enjoys reading about how people might one day travel to the stars.
2. ...
She stars on her school’s soccer, basketball, and softball teams. She also is a fast runner and swimmer. In fact, Jenna is great at every sport she has ever tried.
3. ...
He looked at all the books piled on his desk. His math book, history book, science text, and language arts folder were waiting for him. Bradley didn’t know where to begin. But he knew that if he was to finish his homework tonight, he had better start soon.
4. ...
First she looked in the kitchen drawer. That was where she usually put her keys. They weren’t there. Next Christy checked her jacket pocket. They weren’t there either. Then she searched her room. About to give up, she remembered—her knapsack.
5. Choose one of the paragraphs. Explain what clues helped you to decide on the topic sentence. ...
2.7 Writing Supporting Details
Directions: Write at least three supporting details for each topic sentence.
1. Carlita knew there was much to do to get ready for the birthday party.
2. As the storm approached, the sky darkened.
3. Marc enjoyed helping his father around the house.
4. It was the worst heat wave in years.
2.8 Showing and Not Telling
Directions: Rewrite each sentence to show the action and not tell about it. The first one is done as an example.
1. Sara was a good student. The first thing Sara did when she got home from school was to begin her homework.
2. It was a bad storm.
3. The puppy was playful.
4. Kevin was the winner of the fifth-grade race.
5. The winds of the storm were powerful.
6. Jess was scared by the strange noises.
7. Miguel is an excellent baseball player.
8. It snowed heavily.
2.9 Choosing Adjectives
Directions: Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with an adjective. Use adjectives that help to paint a picture in the reader’s imagination. Choose adjectives from the list below. (Not all of the adjectives will be used.)
1. The ... sun baked the land with heat.
2. Everyone listened as the ... guide told the ... story of the ghost wind.
3. Shari looked at the ... pile of books on her desk.
4. A ... porch surrounded the ... house.
5. ... roses were at the center of the ... garden.
6. The ... puppy bounded across the room after the ... ball.
7. Josh enjoys playing ... video games.
8. The ... mountains rose into the ... sky.
9. As he walked to school, Tim pulled up his collar to block the ... wind.
10. The wolf’s ... howl filled the ... woods.
Adjectives
red tiny icy playful blazing beautiful
lonely chilling blue old stately silly
huge tall spongy exciting great empty
2.10 Choosing Adverbs
Directions: Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with an adverb. Choose adverbs from the list below. (Not all of the adverbs will be used.)
1. The little boy believed the story ...
2. ... it would be time to leave.
3. Tara ... updated her computer with new software.
4. The leaves rustled ... in the light breeze.
5. Travis studied ... for the history test.
6. Before giving her speech, Kim practiced it ...
7. James ... finishes his homework on time.
8. Not wanting to miss the start of the game, Michael ate his dinner ...
9. Vanessa likes numbers and finishes her math homework ...
10. Jon read the directions ... and got several problems wrong.
Adverbs
recently often soon carelessly hard
clearly usually softly very easily
completely personally quickly carefully loudly
2.11 Writing Descriptions
Directions: Choose a place or thing. For example, this might be the street in front of your home, a big tree in your backyard, or a shopping mall. Think of your senses and list words that describe this place or thing. Then write a descriptive paragraph about this place or thing.
1. Place or thing: ...
2. Sight words: ...
3. Sound words: ...
4. Touch words: ...
5. Smell words: ...
6. Taste words: ...
7. Paragraph: ...
2.12 Understanding the Order of Ideas
Directions: Each set of sentences below belongs to a paragraph. But the sentences are out of order and do not follow one another correctly. Rewrite each of the paragraphs so that the ideas are in order. Use a separate sheet of paper.
1. She could not stop fussing. She took a deep breath and walked toward the piano at the front of the room. Jill was nervous. When her piano instructor called her name, Jill stood. But she still felt nervous. When her mother tried to assure her that she would do fine, Jill smiled. This was her first piano recital, and she was afraid she would make mistakes.
2. He knew it was going to be a busy day. After dinner Alvaro went online to find information for his science report. He came back from practice around four p.m. He watched his little brother until dinner, because his parents went shopping. That morning, he helped his father clean the garage. By the time Alvaro went to sleep that night, he was very tired. In the afternoon Alvaro went to soccer practice. Alvaro woke up early on Saturday.
2.13 Using Active Constructions
Directions: Each sentence is a passive construction. Rewrite each to make it an active construction. The first one is done as an example.
1. The ball was hit by Robbie. Robbie hit the ball.
2. The kite was whipped about by the wind.
3. The dishes were washed by Eduardo.
4. The speech was given by Gina.
5. The cover for the class magazine was designed by Clare.
6. A solo in the fifth-grade concert was sung by Carlos.
7. The bird was sneaked up on by the cat.
8. Dangerous driving conditions were caused by the storm.
2.14 Using Strong Verbs
Directions: Each sentence below uses a weak verb and an adverb to show action. Rewrite the sentences. Use the strong verbs at the bottom of the page that do not need the help of adverbs. The first one is done as an example. (Not all of the verbs will be used.)
1. The fox walked sneakily toward the chicken coop. The fox crept toward the chicken coop.
2. The little girl spoke softly during the movie.
3. Tommy cried loudly when his toy broke.
4. The eagle flew gracefully over the valley.
5. Jason moved quickly out of the ball’s way.
6. Melissa went across the room quietly.
Strong Verbs
whispered tiptoed pounced raced laughed
dodged soared crashed screamed crept
2.15 Using Verb Tenses Correctly
Directions: Identify whether each of the following sentences is written in the present tense, past tense, or future tense.
1. Liz walked to school with Heather this morning.
2. Michael is a good student and a good athlete.
3. Alyssa watches her little brother each day after school.
4. The magician will be the last act in the show.
5. The old dog played like he was still a puppy.
6. Roberto will study for his science test after dinner.
Directions: Write three sentences of your own. Write one in the present tense, another in the past tense, and the third in the future tense.
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...
2.16 Subject-Verb Agreement
Directions: Complete each sentence by writing the correct form of a verb. Choose from the verbs at the bottom of the page. Each verb should be used only once. (Remember to use the correct form.)
1. Tara ... chocolate ice cream.
2. Wil and Raymondo ... baseball every day in the summer.
3. Most children ... playing computer games.
4. Erin ... her flute every evening.
5. A squirrel ... in the big tree in our backyard.
6. The Smith twins ... exactly alike.
7. Tina ... her little sister with homework.
8. Each day birds ... to the bird feeder in my yard.
9. The flowers ... Aunt Janet’s garden with color.
10. Antonio ... hard for every test.
Verbs
play fill enjoy study help
look come like live practice
2.17 First Person Point of View
Directions: Rewrite the story from the third person point of view to the first person point of view. Pay close attention to the use of pronouns.
Samier sighed, thinking of all the homework he had. He did not know where to begin.
He looked at the pile of books on his desk. He knew he had better start if he wanted to meet his friends later.
Samier opened his math book first. After he finished ten division problems, he did his spelling. Next he did his history.
Finished at last, Samier went to see his friends. They were waiting for him at the basketball court.
As soon as Samier got there, they chose teams and started a game.
2.18 Third Person Point of View
Directions: Rewrite the story from the first person point of view to the third person point of view. Pay close attention to the use of pronouns.
Too excited to sleep, I woke up early. This was the day my father and I were going on a ten-kilometer bike tour. The goal of the tour was to raise money for charity. I thought it would be a great day.
By the time the tour began, I wasn’t so sure. The sky had grown dark and a cool wind was blowing. I was worried that it would rain.
All the time we rode, I kept looking at the sky. Just as we came to the finish line, the first drops started to fall on us.
I smiled. It had been a great day after all.
2.19 Comparison and Contrast
Directions: Read the article about African elephants and Indian elephants. List how they are alike and different.
The elephant is the largest living land mammal on Earth. There are two species of elephants: the African elephant and the Indian elephant. Both elephants have trunks and eat grass and leaves. But there are important differences, too.
The African elephant is found mostly in the tropical forests and grasslands of Africa. It is the bigger of the two kinds of elephants and can reach a height of thirteen feet. The African elephant also has larger ears. From the top to the bottom, an African elephant’s ears may reach a length of five feet.
The Indian elephant is found mostly in India and Southeast Asia. It is usually smaller than the African elephant, but it is taller at the arch of the back.
Compare
How the African elephant and Indian elephant are alike: ...
Contrast
How the African elephant and Indian elephant are different: ...
2.20 Figures of Speech
Directions: Complete each sentence to form a simile or metaphor. In the blank after each sentence, write S for each simile and M for each metaphor.
1. The hawk soared like a(n) ... in the sky.
2. The moment the race began, Jared ran as fast as a(n) ... toward the finish line.
3. The giant was a(n) ... . ...
4. The burglar sneaked around the house like a(n) ... . ...
5. The shark was a(n) ... streaking for its target.
6. The sound of the smoke detector was a(n) ... that woke everyone up.
Write a sentence that shows personification for each of the following.
7. The sky ...
8. The flowers ...
9. The fireflies ...