PR-0794UK Proofreading and Editing - Upper

Pupil pages
Teacher information
• A specific text type is identified and presented for the pupils to read. The text has
punctuation, spelling and grammatical errors for the pupil to identify.
There are also opportunities presented for the pupils to work in the areas of grammar,
vocabulary and writing as specified by the worksheet or teacher.
• The texts are presented in two ways. One allows pupils to become familiar with formats
they may encounter in some standardised tests; both follow a similar format for
identifying and correcting proofreading and editing errors.
The pupil activities follow a common format.
Format 1
Annie the witch
Editing skills
Read this narrative.
Youre crazy, mike Old annies a witch—everyone knows that
Rubbish, ian My mum and dad say shes just a lonley old lady.
Im telling you shes a witch
ian shook his head, his eyes behind the thick lenses opened
wide and round. He dropped his voice to a wisper.
And she killed her husband—she served him poisned cookies and milk. Homemade
choc-chip cookies. And you want to go there by yourself—youre a nutcase
But nothing could shake mike.
Im going to weed her garden for her—and shes going to pay me cash. And when I
have that cash, Ill have saved enugh for a new engine for my model aeroplane. And if
youre very lucky, I might let you play with it sometimes.
Yeah, if you’re alive, you mean …
1 Punctuation
Speech marks are put at the beginning and
end of what has been spoken.
(a) There are 6 separate speeches in the
text. Add the missing speech marks.
(b) Write in 5 missing exclamation marks
where the sentence suggests strong
feelings.
(c) Find 7 capital letters needed for proper
nouns.
A hyphen (-) is used in some compound
words to connect smaller words; for example,
choc-chip.
(d) Use a dictionary to find three other words
associated with food that also use a
hyphen.
Apostrophes are used in grammatical contractions.
They show that letters have been left out.
(e) In the text, add the missing apostrophes
in 11 contractions.
(f) Write the 5 different contractions used in
the text in full below.
2 Spelling
(a) Underline 4 spelling mistakes in the text
and write them correctly below.
3 Grammar
(a) Indicate the tense of these verbs from
the text by writing ‘past’, ‘future’ or
‘present’ after each.
(i) knows
(ii) shook
(iii) dropped
(iv) am going to weed
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Headings indicate which punctuation,
spelling, grammatical, vocabulary and
writing mistakes need to be identified and
corrected by the pupil. Extra practice is
given in particular areas.
The title of the text is given.
The specific text type is
given and the text presented.
Viewing Sample
Format 2
Pupil instructions are written in a consistent format to encourage pupils to concentrate on
the activity.
Where an instruction requires pupils to ‘find capital letters etc.’, teachers should select
their own method for pupils to use; for example, circle, highlight with a coloured marker,
underline or write over the error. Some proofreading and editing marks may be used. (See
teachers notes page iv.)
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