identify the grammatical and stylistic errors present in the News Release. First, use Track Changes to correct the errors you find in the News Release. You may find it helpful to view the "Deadly Sins...

identify the grammatical and stylistic errors present in the News Release.

• First, use Track Changes to correct the errors you find in the News Release. You may find it helpful to view the "Deadly Sins of Writing" resources for guidance on the kind of errors you should find (refer toQUICK LINKSabove for information aboutComma Splices,Apostrophe Errors,Sentence Fragments, andVerb Agreement Errors).


• Second, use the 'comments' functionality toidentify any errors (for example "comma splice") anddefine/explain the errors. Why is this an error? How can it be corrected?


• Note: you need to explain an error only the first time it appears in the document. For other occurrences, simply correct the error in the text and identify it in a side comment (for example: comma splice, corrected).


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  WRITEa brief summary comment (300-word limit) to your colleague (your TA) at the end of the revised piece. Open by very briefly outlining what errors you have identified, but then move on to explain both why you thought the errors were significant and how they affect the transmission of ideas. As you are writing your summary, avoid simply restating what you’ve already gone over in your comments (where you have identified and defined the errors). Instead, ground your critique in PAT (purpose, audience, and tone). Ask yourself questions like: how do these errors distract from the mainpurposeof the piece, give the wrong impression to theaudience, and/or disrupt the release’s intendedtone?

  
  

  You may wish to focus on one or two specific errors to use as examples to illustrate your points. Ex: "In your press release, the first sentence has an apostrophe error. By not including the apostrophe in 'Prime Ministers cabinet,' we might confuse our audience into thinking there is more than one Prime Minister, instead of correctly conveying possession. Since this is an official communication from the Canadian government, it is important that we convey information accurately, and these types of errors can disrupt that goal."

  
  

  Try to relate to your colleague (your TA) in a helpful and positive way. Your goal is to help your colleague (your TA) understand what an effective press release entails while also encouraging them to improve. Try to model the type of feedback that you would like to receive from your instructors and peers.

  
  

  
  Part 1 - Step 4
  

  
  

  Make sure your comments are clearly written and edited for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, particularly the errors you're commenting on in your colleague's (your TA's) writing!

  
  


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Assignment 1will help you practice the following skills:

• Identifying and correcting grammatical and stylistic errors


• Explaining the basic conventions of grammar and style


• Tailoring your writing to a specific intended audience


• Writing with an awareness of purpose and tone


• Writing to colleagues in a professional setting

These writing processes are extremely valuable, as they will improve the quality of your writing as a whole.

For this assignment, you are the Communications Coordinator for a federal government department. Your colleague (played by your TA!) has written a news release and submitted it to you for feedback before it is released to the public.

PART 1 - Revising the Press Release and Providing Summary Comments