The story is presented first as it was to the class as an exam. Following the plain version is a marked-up version with the correct words following each paragraph. I'll leave it to you to find out why the words are wrong. That's called studying. But if you can't figure it out, e-mail me.

Subject-verb agreement; sentence structure and essential-nonessential clauses

Directions: Edit the following story to correct all the errors in subject-verb agreement; sentence structure and essential-nonessential clauses.

Use the correct proofreader's marks to make your corrections.

DO NOT REWRITE the story -- you might remove sections containing errors you should change for credit. In some cases, you may need to change the verb because of the form of its subject. If you believe you have to remove words to correct the sentence, ask me.

There are between 12-15 errors in in subject-verb agreement; sentence structure and essential-nonessential clauses.

IMPORTANT: Grammatical errors that are contained inside direct quotations should be changed just as in all other parts of the story.

 Just weeks before Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement received warnings that the number of Islamic terrorists living in the United States were growing and that they were seeking to strike government buildings, documents show.

The series of reports, though never linked to McVeigh and his conspirators, were stark enough that the Clinton administration urged increased security at federal buildings nationwide, including those in Oklahoma.

The federal government, as well as state and local officials, were slow to fortify buildings with cement barriers like those hurriedly installed after McVeigh detonated his truck bomb at the Murrah building on April 19, 1995,officials said.

Islamic extremists are determined to strike inside the U.S. against objects which symbolize the American government in the near future, said one warning obtained by The Associated Press. Separately, the General Services Administration received a warning from the FBI and asked hundreds of federal buildings to increase security details, officials said. One of the agencies -- the GSA, the CIA or the FBI -- checkdaily on the threats received.

More than two dozen law enforcement officials interviewed by AP said the period of spring 1995 was a time of heightened "chatter" among terrorists, seeking to strike the United States.

FBI and CIA officials exhaustively investigated whether McVeigh could have been aided by Mideast terrorists, however neither of the investigative agencies were able to find credible evidence linking him to any Islamic extremists, including those which prompted the 1995 warnings.

John Gannon, former deputy CIA director for intelligence under President Clinton, said a handful of periods in the 1990s stand out as times when intelligence on terror threats peaked.

U.S. intelligence monitored a series of meetings and conferences between senior officials of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other terror organizations in mid-February 1995 in which the subject of killing Americans on U.S. soil came up, officials said. The Federation of United Arab Emirates were also observed by intelligence forces.

Around the same time, the FBI received intelligence from the Philippines that two men later convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was arrested for plotting to blow up U.S. airliners.

According to the documents, the terrorists believe that a suicide bombing that kills hundreds of people draw enough reporters to make the terrorist's death worthwhile. "The media makes the difference," the document said. --30--

ANSWERS: Remember that a strikethrough, such as is used here, is NOT a correct proofreader's mark.

Just weeks before Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement received warnings that the number of Islamic terrorists living in the United States were growing and that they were seeking to strike government buildings, documents show.

… the number … was growing …

The series of reports, though never linked to McVeigh and his conspirators, were stark enough that the Clinton administration urged increased security at federal buildings nationwide, including those in Oklahoma.

The series … was stark enough …

The federal government, as well as state and local officials, were slow to fortify buildings with cement barriers like those hurriedly installed after McVeigh detonated his truck bomb at the Murrah building on April 19, 1995, officials said.

The federal government … was slow …

Islamic extremists are determined to strike inside the U.S. against objects which symbolize the American government in the near future, said one warning obtained by The Associated Press.

… against objects that symbolize …

Separately, the General Services Administration received a warning from the FBI and asked hundreds of federal buildings to increase security details, officials said. One of the agencies -- the GSA, the CIA or the FBI -- check daily on the threats received.

One of the agencies … checks daily …

More than two dozen law enforcement officials interviewed by AP said the period of spring 1995 was a time of heightened "chatter" among terrorists, seeking to strike the United States.

…"chatter" among terrorists seeking to strike … (take out comma after terrorists)

FBI and CIA officials exhaustively investigated whether McVeigh could have been aided by Mideast terrorists, however neither of the investigative agencies were able to find credible evidence linking him to any Islamic extremists, including those which prompted the 1995 warnings.

… terrorists. However, …

… neither of …. was able …

… including those that prompted the …

John Gannon, former deputy CIA director for intelligence under President Clinton, said a handful of periods in the 1990s stand out as times when intelligence on terror threats peaked.

… a handful … stands out

U.S. intelligence monitored a series of meetings and conferences between senior officials of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other terror organizations in mid-February 1995 in which the subject of killing Americans on U.S. soil came up, officials said. The Federation of United Arab Emirates were also observed by intelligence forces.

The Federation … was also observed …

Around the same time, the FBI received intelligence from the Philippines that two men later convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was arrested for plotting to blow up U.S. airliners.

… two men … were arrested

According to the documents, the terrorists believe that a suicide bombing that kills hundreds of people draw enough reporters to make the terrorist's death worthwhile. "The media makes the difference," the document says.

… bombing … draws enough reporters …

"The media make the difference …

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