Chapter 6. Thinking Critically: Eliminating We, One, and I (Chapter 6)

Eliminating We, One, and I

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Thinking Critically: Eliminating We, One, and I

Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, John O’Hara

Activity Objective: Rewrite the sentences provided to eliminate unnecessary uses of I, we, one, and other gratuitous statements of opinion. Below is an example of the kind of rewriting you should do.

Original sentence: I think fracking is the best way to achieve energy independence and to create jobs.

Rewritten sentence: Fracking is the best way to achieve energy independence and to create jobs.

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In our country, we believe in equality and freedom.

Rewrite the following sentence to eliminate unnecessary uses of I, we, one, and other gratuitous statements of opinion.

Original sentence: In our country, we believe in equality and freedom.

Question Your rewritten sentence:

MuCQmxGZfSWJ5jjvkZoXIOgpTJrM/HgdnJu1hT2QtoEXQvlkyRqn5jhPZ8FLa4Ja2DA1k+ZR0aHXEfPYRSpy0WmZHxpsyYdX27VlXfiaq0Ynlb/v
Your response has been provisional accepted and will be graded by your instructor.

6

One should consider one’s manners at formal dinner parties.

Rewrite the following sentence to eliminate unnecessary uses of I, we, one, and other gratuitous statements of opinion.

Original sentence: One should consider one’s manners at formal dinner parties.

Question Your rewritten sentence:

MuCQmxGZfSWJ5jjvkZoXIOgpTJrM/HgdnJu1hT2QtoEXQvlkyRqn5jhPZ8FLa4Ja2DA1k+ZR0aHXEfPYRSpy0WmZHxpsyYdX27VlXfiaq0Ynlb/v
Your response has been provisional accepted and will be graded by your instructor.

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In my opinion, the government should not regulate the sizes of sodas we can order.

Rewrite the following sentence to eliminate unnecessary uses of I, we, one, and other gratuitous statements of opinion.

Original sentence: In my opinion, the government should not regulate the sizes of sodas we can order.

Question Your rewritten sentence:

MuCQmxGZfSWJ5jjvkZoXIOgpTJrM/HgdnJu1hT2QtoEXQvlkyRqn5jhPZ8FLa4Ja2DA1k+ZR0aHXEfPYRSpy0WmZHxpsyYdX27VlXfiaq0Ynlb/v
Your response has been provisional accepted and will be graded by your instructor.

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6.1 It is clearly the case that the new policy treats employees unfairly.

Rewrite the following sentence to eliminate unnecessary uses of I, we, one, and other gratuitous statements of opinion.

Original sentence: It is clearly the case that the new policy treats employees unfairly.

Question Your rewritten sentence:

MuCQmxGZfSWJ5jjvkZoXIOgpTJrM/HgdnJu1hT2QtoEXQvlkyRqn5jhPZ8FLa4Ja2DA1k+ZR0aHXEfPYRSpy0WmZHxpsyYdX27VlXfiaq0Ynlb/v
Your response has been provisional accepted and will be graded by your instructor.