Do-Now Ideas for English Classes

From the Marshall Memo #445

Here’s an idea for Do-Nows (short, substantive, independently-done tasks for students for the first 3-4 minutes of class) for middle- and high-school English: selecting material from Richard Lederer’s humorous books Anguished English (Dell, 1987), More Anguished English (Dell, 1993), and Fractured English (Pocket Books, 1996). The idea would be for students to find the mistake, explain why it’s a mistake, and write the sentence correctly. Here are a few samples:

• A triangle which has an angle of 135 degrees is called an obscene triangle.

• His death leaves a void in the community which will be hard to replace.

• He sees things from an unusual vintage point.

• In the early Sixties, we were strong and virulent.

• (In a Paris elevator) Please leave your values at the front desk.

• A rainstorm reduced attendance at the parade and acted as a detergent to the crowds.

• We saw many bears driving through Yellowstone Park.

• Emily Dickinson was a wreck loose in society.

• The Oregon Republican admits he harassed women but vows not to quit.

• We sell children’s clothes and babies too.

• Children on school buses less than 10,000 pounds must be restrained.