Your Task

Part of the Homework portion of your course grade

Revise the passages in this quiz to improve the phrasing. The examples each include one or more of these errors:

• use of persuasive language, rather than objective language.
• use of wordy language, rather than concise language.
• use of jargon and overly technical phrasing, rather than plain language.
• use of long sentences, rather than a list.
• use of vague claims, rather than specific details.
• use of impersonal or bureaucratic language, rather than reader-friendly you-attitude.

Review Markel & Selber Chapters 5 and 10 for help with this project.

Assignment Learning Objectives

After working on this assignment, you should be able to:

• identify errors in the use of objective language, plain language, clarity, details, and you-attitude.
• revise passages to improve their phrasing and make their more reader-friendly.

Success Tips

• Trust your instincts. If something looks funny, you can probably improve it.
• If you’re struggling to find an error, read the passage out loud. If you stumble or misread, you have probably found the error.
• Give it your best try. It’s okay if you make mistakes.

No Use of AI

Do not use AI on this activity.

The goal is to practice revising to improve your message. If AI revises for you, you aren’t practicing.

How You’ll Be Graded

Canvas will automatically give you credit for your submission.

I spot-check the work to ensure the grade is accurate.

If you shouldn’t have earned credit, I change the grade. This situation usually happens when answers are missing or incomplete. If time allows, I may ask you to try again.