Jerz > Writing > Grammar and Syntax > Active and Passive Verbs
Active verbs form more efficient and more powerful sentences than passive verbs. This document will teach you why and how to prefer active verbs.
For a detailed explanation, see my handout, “Active and Passive Verbs.”
For a more colorful introduction to the concept, with self-quizzes, and Legos, see the slideshow “Troy Sterling and the Active and Passive Verbs.”
(The slideshow will appear in the space below.)
I originally created this with Impress, the Open Office slideshow presenter, and exported it as a Shockwave file. I’m amazed at how tiny the resulting file is. It looks like a few effects didn’t make the transition, but they were just eye candy.
I designed this as a simple linear slide show, for me to present in the front of the room. In this online version, all you can do is click to advance to the next page. It should at least have multiple-choice questions, in order to ensure that a bored reader isn’t just clicking through on autopilot. (At any rate, it’s more entertaining than my more traditional online guide to Active and Passive Verbs.)
This is just a bit of practice, as I continue to experiment with various media production tools.
I’ve also downloaded Jahshaka, an open-source video editing tool, but it crashed on my little wimpy laptop. I’ll try it again when I get some time at the office.
Update. 22 July 2011: I’ve de-emphasized the original Flash version (which is still online), and replaced it with the WordPress slideshow version (which runs on iPads and other non-Flash machines).
Post was last modified on 15 Oct 2021 3:05 pm
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Love this! I'm going to use it, too!
Dennis, I love this new tool you found for handouts and using Legos is a stroke of genius! It is also great to see your IF characters back in action - Huzzah!
Now if I can just convince you to make the switch to Ubuntu...
Glad to see you find open-source software useful. There is an open-source flash editor (http://f4l.sourceforge.net/) available if you really wanted to get carried away...
I have been developing some Impress presentations on grammar points lately but I never thought of using Legos! How cool!
I am going to have to see how I can be more creative with my presentations. You have certainly raised the bar!
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Evan, I'll definitely check out that software tip.
This is great! I am going to add it on as a link in my developmental writing class at http://collegeenglish.wikispaces.com/spark
Thanks for all the great stuff you are doing!!!
Glad you liked it, Holly. If I get the time, I'll post a different slide show on punctuation and proofreading.
Impress is just a clone of PowerPoint, so yes, it's very easy to use. I'm a textual person, so I wrote out the script first, and just described in brackets what photos I wanted at each stage. I took more photos because the original storyboard was longer, but the week I needed this for class I was too busy to make the whole thing. I figure I'll expand it the next time I need it.
Making the Legos and setting up the photos was the hardest part, but it got my son (who is 8) intersted in active and passive vebs. My wife thought I was crazy when I set up all those legos on the floor, but it was fun.
I wonder whether students who play The Sims or draw comics might also be interested in drawing on those resources to help storyboard a similar tutorial.
Really cool! I'm going to link to this on the CCE blog. It's such a great example of using technology in the classroom. Is the software easy enough to use that students could create this sort of mini-tutorial on their own?