These writing prompts are followed by text boxes for your input. If you are working online and your instructor has given you the go-ahead, you can e-mail your work to him or her and also to yourself by copying your answers (CTRL-C on most systems) and pasting them (CTRL-V) into an e-mail or document.

1			Activity 1 Directions: Contractions are common in speech, but less typical in formal writing. Why do you think this might be? Read some articles online from a magazine like Macleans or The Walrus. Does the author use contractions? How would the article be different if the author used more contractions? Do you think there should be a difference between the way people speak and the way they write?
2			Activity 2 Directions: For additional help with using an apostrophe, visit The Purdue University Online Writing Lab and take notes during your visit.