Editing for Punctuation

Answer Key

Changes are shown in boldface type.

Exercise 10A Historians and Archeologists

20 punctuation marks are missing from the original paragraph. They are inserted below.

1 Both historians and archeologists studymankind\+ 's\ past. 2 Historians depend on the written word and focus on documents from the past. 3 In contrast, archeologists study the past in terms of things that people made and left behind. 4 While the historian concentrates on the nonmaterial aspects of a culture\+,\ the archeologist focuses his attention on the material aspects. 5 Material culture consists of artifacts like tools, weapons\+,\ charms\+,\ art objects\+,\ utensils\+,\ and buildings. 6 Even a human burial in a grave is an artifact. 7 The grave pit is an artifact\+,\ and the skeleton arranged in a particular way is considered an artifact. 8 A paved road is an artifact\+,\ and a stone knife is an artifact. 9 Each artifact is important in an archeologist\+'\ s explanation of the past. 10 Because the kinds of artifacts from past cultures are so different\+,\ there are many divisions and specializations within archeology. 11 Some divisions concentrate on ancient civilizations like the Greek\+,\ Roman\+,\ Egyptian\+,\ Chinese\+,\ or Aztec. 12 Others are regional divisions that study the civilizations of Europe\+,\ Africa\+,\ North America\+,\ South America\+,\ or Asia. 13 Because of the diversity of archeology, it is difficult to classify\+,\ but only archeology provides a scientific overall view of human existence from mankind\+'\ s earliest beginnings to the present.

Exercise 10B Earthquakes

20 punctuation marks are missing from the original paragraph. They are inserted below.

1 Early people had many explanations for earthquakes. 2 In one theory, the Earth was attached to a platform. 3 The sun\+,\ moon\+,\ and stars revolved around the Earth and \it's > its\ platform. 4 When the platform moved\+,\ earthquakes happened. 5 In one culture, this platform was a great spider; in other cultures, this platform was a giant catfish, tortoise, or whale. 6 Artistotle\+'\ s four elements of the universe - air\+,\ earth\+,\ fire\+,\ and water - were also used to explain earthquakes. 7 As hot masses of underground air struggled to escape\+,\ the ground shook. 8 According to scientists today, most of the world\+'\ s earthquakes are caused by the mobility of the Earth\+'\ s surface. 9 It is estimated that there is 1 great earthquake\+,\ 10 major earthquakes\+,\ 1,000 damaging shocks\+,\ and 100,000 minor shocks each year. 10 In addition\+,\ any area that has had earthquakes in the past can expect others in the future. 11 In rugged areas, landslides occur with earthquakes. 12 However\+,\ when an earthquake occurs near a city\+,\ fire is often much more destructive to life and property than the tremors themselves. 13 For example, in the San Francisco earthquake of April 18\+,\ 1906\+,\ property damage of the quake was estimated at $20 million\+,\ but the fire that followed was estimated at $40 million in damages. 14 Earthquakes still frighten many people today.

From Improving the Grammar of Written English: The Editing Process, Beverly Benson and Patricia Byrd

[Ex 10A-B] [Go to class at cvc.blackboard.com] [marsha_chan@wvmccd.cc.ca.us]


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