Copy the first sentence with no deletions. Then select a word at random in the second sentence. Delete this word and every fifth word thereafter until fifty words have been deleted. Finish the sentence containing the fiftieth blank, and copy the next sentence with no deletions. The blanks should be typed as lines five spaces long and numbered from one to fifty.
Students record their responses on numbered answer sheets.
Why Synonyms Won't Do 1. If synonyms are allowed, scoring for the teacher becomes a much longer and more tedious process. Have students score their own papers with an allowance for synonyms based on class discussion of reasonable alternatives to the exact word deleted. Ideally the teacher gives the rubric for a writing assignement to each student along with the topic. Encourages students to self evaluate and internalize the standards.