Practice in Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to Sentences

Practice in Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to Sentences A common way of expanding a simple sentence is with modifierswords that add to the meanings of other words. The simplest modifiers are adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. For instance, in the sentence below, the adjective sad modifies the noun smile (the subject of the sentence). The clowns sad smile touched us deeply. In this same sentence, the adverb deeply modifies the verb touched. Used carefully, adjectives and adverbs can make our writing clearer and more precise. Arranging Adjectives Adjectives most often appear just in front of the nouns that they modify: The old, cranky caretaker refused to answer our questions. Notice that when two (or more) adjectives precede a noun, they are usually separated by commas. But occasionally adjectives follow the nouns they modify: The caretaker, old and cranky, refused to answer our questions. Here the commas appear outside the pair of adjectives, which are joined by the conjunction and. Placing the adjectives after the noun is a way of giving them added emphasis in a sentence. Adjectives sometimes appear in a third position in a sentence: after a linking verb such as am, are, is, was, or were. As their name implies, these verbs link adjectives with the subjects they modify. See if you can identify the adjectives in the sentences below: His voice was rough.Your children are cruel.This seat is wet. In each of these sentences, the adjective (rough, cruel, wet) modifies the subject but follows the linking verb (was, are, is). Arranging Adverbs Adverbs usually follow the verbs they modify: I dance occasionally. However, an adverb may also appear directly in front of the verb or at the very beginning of a sentence: I occasionally dance.Occasionally I dance. Because not all adverbs are this flexible in all sentences, you should try them out in different positions until you find the clearest arrangement. Practice in Adding Adjectives Many adjectives are formed from nouns and verbs. The adjective thirsty, for example, comes from thirst, which may be either a noun or a verb. Complete each sentence below with the adjective form of the italicized noun or verb. When youre done, compare your answers with those on page two. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought great destruction to the Gulf coast. It was one of the most _____ hurricanes in recent decades.All of our pets enjoy good health. Our collie is exceptionally _____, despite its advanced age.Your suggestion makes a great deal of sense. You have a very _____ idea.Google made record profits last year. It is one of the most _____ companies in the world.Dr. Krafts job requires patience and skill. He is a _____ negotiator.All through high school, Giles rebelled against his parents and teachers. Now he has three _____ children of his own.Telling jokes that will not offend others can be difficult. Some comedians are deliberately _____. Practice in Adding Adverbs Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective. The adverb softly, for instance, comes from the adjective soft. Note, however, that not all adverbs end in -ly. Very, quite, always, almost, and often are some of the common adverbs that are not formed from adjectives. Complete each sentence below with the adverb form of the italicized adjective. When youre done, compare your answers with those on page two. The exam was easy. I passed _____.Leroys careless act set the warehouse on fire. He _____ tossed a cigarette into a tank of gasoline.Paige is a brave little girl. She fought _____ against the poltergeists.Howard is a graceful dancer. He moves _____.Toms apology sounded quite sincere. He said that he was _____ sorry for misusing the tax funds.Paula made a generous contribution to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. She gives _____ every year.The lecture was brief. Dr. Legree spoke _____ about the importance of flossing after every meal. Answers to the Exercise:Â  Practice in Adding Adjectives 1. destructive; 2. healthy; 3. sensible; 4. profitable; 5. patient; 6. rebellious; 7. offensive Answers to the Exercise:Â  Practice in Adding Adverbs 1. easily; 2. carelessly; 3. bravely; 4. gracefully; 5. sincerely; 6. generously; 7. briefly

Definition and Examples of Research

Definition and Examples of Research Research is the collection and evaluation of information about a particular subject. The overarching purpose of research is to answer questions and generate new knowledge. Types of Research Two broad approaches to research are commonly recognized, though these different approaches may overlap. Put simply, quantitative research involves the  systematic collection and analysis of data, while qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials, which may include case study, personal experience, introspection, life story, interviews, artifacts, [and] cultural texts and productions (The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, 2005). Finally, mixed-method research  (sometimes called triangulation) has been defined as the incorporation of various qualitative and quantitative strategies within a single project. There are other ways of classifying different research methods and approaches. For example, sociology professor  Russell Schutt observes that [d]eductive research begins at the point of theory, inductive research begins with data but ends with theory, and descriptive research begins with data and ends with empirical generalizations(Investigating the Social World, 2012). In the words of psychology professor Wayne Weiten, No single research method is ideal for all purposes and situations. Much of the ingenuity in research involves selecting and tailoring the method to the question at hand(Psychology: Themes and Variations, 2014). College Research Assignments College research assignments are an opportunity for you to contribute to an intellectual inquiry or debate. Most college assignments ask you to pose a question worth exploring, to read widely in search of possible answers, to interpret what you read, to draw reasoned conclusions, and to support those conclusions with valid and well-documented evidence. Such assignments may at first seem overwhelming, but if you pose a question that intrigues you and approaches it like a detective, with genuine curiosity, you will soon learn how rewarding research can be.Admittedly, the process takes time: time for researching and time for drafting, revising, and documenting the paper in the style recommended by your instructor. Before beginning a research project, you should set a realistic schedule of deadlines.(Diana Hacker, The Bedford Handbook, 6th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2002) Talent must be stimulated by facts and ideas. Do  research. Feed your talent. Research not only wins the war on  cliche, its the key to victory over fear and its cousin, depression.(Robert McKee,  Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting. HarperCollins, 1997) A Framework for Conducting Research Beginning researchers need to start by using the seven steps listed below. The path is not always linear, but these steps provide a framework for conducting research...(Leslie F. Stebbins, Student Guide to Research in the Digital Age. Libraries Unlimited, 2006) Define your research questionAsk for helpDevelop a research strategy and locate resourcesUse effective search techniquesRead critically, synthesize, and seek meaningUnderstand the scholarly communication process and cite sourcesCritically evaluate sources Write What You Know I refer to [the writing motto] Write what you know, and problems emerge when it’s interpreted to mean that first-grade teachers should (only?) write about being a first-grade teacher, short-story writers living in Brooklyn should write about being a short-story writer living in Brooklyn, and so forth...Writers who are intimately familiar with their subject produce more knowing, more confident and, as a result, stronger results...But that command is not perfect, implying, as it does, that one’s written output should be limited to one’s passions. Some people don’t feel passionate about one given subject, which is regrettable but shouldn’t consign them to the sidelines of the world of prose. Fortunately, this conundrum has an escape clause: you can actually acquire knowledge. In journalism, this is called reporting, and in nonfiction, research... [T]he idea is to investigate the subject till you can write about it with complete confidence and authority . Being a serial expert is actually one of the cool things about the very enterprise of writing: You learn ’em and leave ’em.(Ben Yagoda, Should We Write What We Know? The New York Times, July 22, 2013) The Lighter Side of Research   Poking a dead raccoon is not research. (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)  Google is not a synonym for research. (Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, 2009)I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way. (Franklin Pierce Adams, quoted in Readers Digest, October 1960)