English 11.67
Writing Exercise: Active Voice & Concision

Modify your assigned sentences so that they employ active voice. Think up at least TWO ways of changing your sentence. You may use one of a few strategies: change the verb and/or shift around the syntax (sentence structure).

Example:

This act of drinking alcohol is found in a social atmosphere, where many people mingle and relax.
--This act of drinking alcohol appears in a social atmosphere, where many people mingle and relax (verb changed).
--A social atmosphere sets the stage for this act of drinking alcohol, where many people mingle and relax (syntax changed).

1) The picture in appendix 1 is a classic example of the Irish leprechaun.

2) A sociologist is a person that studies society and with it the complex issues and behaviors individuals or groups result to.

3) His pose shows that he is not scared of his opponent, thus demonstrating the strength of his character.

4) Today, the shillelagh is a symbol of a very important rivalry in college football.

5) The four leaf clover is a symbol of good luck.

6) The piece can be symbolic of an event of a past historical event.

7) The shillelagh is a Gaelic walking stick made of oak or blackthorn saplings.

8) It is only natural to clue in on things that one finds important in their everyday life.

9) The first aspect of the image one notices is the bright green suit of the character.

10) The harp in the print is an ancient Gaelic harp.

11) The gold of leprechauns is very appealing to American society due to its association with riches and money . . .

12) Brightness in the right side of the bottle indicates that the light is coming from the right.

13) Complex as this process is, millions of people perform this task every day, without even knowing it.

14) Throughout time, we have tended to associate certain things with Irish culture without bothering to interpret further.

15) The picture also shows a side of their culture that is often over looked.

16) A very neat aspect of this photo is that it could be from any period in history.

17) This picture of the typical scene of a shepherd over his sheep is a beautiful depiction of this everyday occurrence.

18) The position of his hat is also unrealistic.

19) These grains are first malted before they undergo the reaction.

Do these sentences contain examples of active or passive voice?

1) Does the color symbolize a personal mood or a common color of that current time period?

2) The trophy opens itself to many interpretations, which can come from different perspectives such as sociology, art, and science.

3) Do they have mines in their country or do they have a trade agreement with another nation that has the resources?

4) The color of the lake appears to be brown because of the sand at the bottom.

5) The shadow of the glass represents the discrimination happening in Ireland.

6) The picture gives off a quiet and a peaceful setting.

Paul Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu