Exercise for Session 3

Improving Activity Statements

Working alone and using your imagination, please (a) list the faults and then (b) improve
three activity sentences, to make them comply with the following suggestions:
 Use “will”
 Use the active voice
 Don’t use “we”
 Specify in each sentence who will do what, when, where and for how long.

Example: Five samples would be obtained from each farm and tested for presence of
rice streak virus; farmers would be notified of the results.

List of faults:
(a) use of “would”
(b) use of passive
(c) no details of who will obtain samples, who will test, and who will notify the
famers
(d) no information on when, where or for how long

Improved activity statement: In Year 2, Month 5, the Principal Investigator will take five
samples from each farm in Western District to test for the presence of rice streak virus at
the NARS laboratories. The PI will notify the Communications Officer of the partner
NGO about the test results, and she will travel to Western District to discuss the results
with the farmers at the beginning of Month 6.

You will be in four groups: A and C people, please work on the following sentences:

1. As soon as the associations are formed, two selected farmers from each will be
trained to act as bookkeepers and treasurers of the micro-credit scheme.
2. In Site A, farmers and their families will be asked to inter-crop maize and pineapple
in at least one field each year; if this is unsuccessful, we will introduce other fruits to
the Site A maize farmers in Year 3.

B and D people, please work on these sentences:

1. Market research studies will continue during Year 2, covering such potential export
crops as flowers, green beans, spices, and sweet corn.
2. A literature search will be followed by an analysis of existing projects that specifically
targets the role of youth in on-farm activities; the publication of results will be widely
disseminated to government officials, NGOs, and donors.

Now discuss your sentences with your neighbor, and see if you can improve each others
improvements.