Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 4 (February 11)

 Greetings!

We had an fun class today -- we covered a lot of material .  We started with our Quick Write.  As I told them last week, the plan was to write letters of encouragement and gratitude.  to someone.  They wrote their letters, put them in sealed envelopes, and handed them in.  If need be, they can bring the addresses next week if they forgot to bring them today.  I will mail them.

Our Words of the Day came from the class contributions:

thalassophile -- fr. Greek, thalasa, "sea" -- a lover of the sea

geminate --  fr. Latin, geminatus, "twinned, divided, equal" -- duplicated, found in pairs; something arranged in pairs

susurrate -- fr. Latin, susurare, "to hum, murmur, mumble" -- to make a whispering or humming sound

costermonger -- fr. French, costard, a large variety of apple; Old English mangare, "merchant, broker" -- a vendor of vegetables

I handed back the rough drafts of the Narrative Essays.  These were very enjoyable essays to read.  Many students wrote more than they usually did, and they told interesting stories in the contexts of their essays.  As per my practice, I go over common mistakes and use these for grammar instruction.  The most common errors I found in their write had to do with punctuating dialogue, paragraph formation, comma splice sentences, and compound sentences with commas.  Students are to revise their rough drafts into final drafts for next week.  In addition to their final drafts, they must fill out a form titled, "First Five Mistakes" on a Google Classroom assignment.

We had a short discussion about Richard Hannay and The Thirty-Nine Steps.  We talked about how Hannay was so quick to share his story with those he met, even though dangerous spies were on his trail.  We discussed employing a "willing suspension of disbelief."  In other words, some parts seem unbelievable, and they will remain just that -- unbelievable.  We accept it and go on.  In the chapters that they will read for next week, the spy aspect of the story will evolve, so that by the end, there is a solution to the whole mysterious situation.  For next week, they will read Chapters 7 & 8 and take a quiz.  If they want, they can do the study guide questions for extra credit.

Our Grammar instruction centered on prepositional phrases.  These phrases function as either adjectives or adverbs.  It is important to identify them in sentences so that they can be eliminated as other sentence parts (e.g. subject, direct object, etc.)  Students have 2 sides of one worksheet to do for next week.

A note on homework:  last week with 46 rough drafts from Writing 1 and Writing 2, I only corrected student papers.  The other grammar and literature homework will be graded and entered into Track My Grades this week. Again, if you are not able to get into Track My Grades, let me know.  We discovered today that I had the wrong email entered for one student, and I was able to correct it.

Assignments for next week

• Narrative Essay Final Draft

• First Five Mistakes (GC)

• Read Ch. 7 & 8 of The 39 Steps

• Quiz:  Ch. 5 – 8 (GC)

• Ch. 7 & 8 Study Guide Questions (Extra Credit)

• Grammar – Wk4:  Prepositional Phrase Practice

• Grammar -- Wk4: Prepositional Phrases as Adj/Adv

• Remember to bring your address for your envelope.

Links for This Week

Class Notes

The Thirty-Nine Steps (Librivox)

The Thirty-Nine Steps (YouTube)

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Commas and Items in a Series

Use a comma to separate words and phrases in a series.  Present usage advocates the use of the comma before and connecting the last two words of a series; some writers, however, prefer to omit the comma before and.  This comma is called the “series comma” or the “Oxford comma.”  When etc. ends a series, it should be preceded and followed by a comma.  Use commas to separate pairs of words in a series.  Use a comma between adjectives preceding a noun when they are coordinate qualifying words.

Examples:

·         The vendor sells hot dogs, pretzels, hamburgers, and soft drinks.

·         For my birthday I got a sweater, a pair of gloves, a hat, and several other items.

·         Last week a sale of chairs, beds, desks, etc., was advertised in the newspaper.

·         Official and nonofficial, national and state agencies attended the convention in Boston.

·         The boss agreed on a form for a shortened, simplified uniform report.

EXERCISES

1.      It makes me wild  mad  crazy and frustrated when teachers give too many assignments about commas.

2.      Your brother dropped by with your suitcase blanket lamp books and box of junk.

3.      The corn beans squash tomatoes and various things I don’t recognize are coming up in the garden.

4.      If you’re going upstairs please carry this basket of clothes the pile of mail and whatever those things are over there in the corner.

5.      He collected stamps from Great Britain Ireland Spain France Italy Switzerland and Germany.

6.      We toured the quaint old mining town in Flagstaff, Arizona.

7.      For our picnic, I packed peanut butter and jelly ham and cheese and egg salad sandwiches.

8.      My mother washed by favorite brown flannel shirt.

9.      I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go to Florida California Texas or Mexico for spring break.

10.  My parent’s cousins neighbors Mr. Smith and Miss Larson came to my recital.

Commas with Introductory Elements

NAME _____________________ CLASS ___________ DATE ________

Use a comma after certain introductory elements.

(1) Use a comma to set off a mild exclamation such as well, oh, or why at the beginning of a sentence. Other introductory words, such as yes and no, are also set off with commas.

EXAMPLES

Oh, I see.

Yes, she has that book.

(2) Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause.

EXAMPLES	At the bend in the road, turn right. [two prepositional phrases]
	Signaling carefully, she changed lanes. [participial phrase]
	To water the garden, use the sprinkler. [infinitive phrase]
	When the artists painted, they followed several rules. [adverb clause]

EXERCISE A In the following sentences, insert commas where they are needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C to the left of the item number.

Example

1.      On the shores of the Nile, a great civilization was born.

1.     No the Egyptians were not just farmers.

2.     Concerned with the afterlife Egyptian rulers built great tombs for themselves.

3.     Built for monarchs and nobles many great stone tombs contained supplies for use in the afterlife.

4.     While he was alive the king had his picture painted.

5.     On the wall of his tomb a picture shows the king hunting.

6.     Well it shows how the king once hunted.

7.     When I saw the jewels I thought the kings were rich.

8.     Why they believed they could take jewels to the next life.

9.     Based on things found in tombs the assumption can be made that they believed they could take almost everything!

10.  In Egypt great riches have been found in these tombs.

Comma Usage At A Glance

Punctuation, one is taught, has a point: to keep up law and order. Punctuation marks are the road signs placed along the highway of our communication -- to control speeds, provide directions and prevent head-on collisions.

1.1 – Compound Sentences

Two or more sentences held together with coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) form a compound sentence.  A comma must be used before the conjunction.

1.2 – Complex Sentences

Complex sentences contain on complete sentence and at least one fragment of a sentence.  Do not separate these parts with a comma.

1.3 – Compound/Complex Sentences

A compound/complex sentence contains two or more complete thoughts joined with coordinating conjunctions along with at least one sentence fragment.  Compound sentences require commas before the conjunctions.

1.4 – Introductory Elements

Some sentences begin with phrases.  Separate these phrases from the main part of the sentence with a comma.

1.4a – Using Transitional words

            1.4b – Dependent Adverbial Phrases

1.5 – Restrictive Clauses

Some phrases or clauses limit the meaning of the words they are referring to.  Because they are necessary to the meaning of the sentence, they should not be set off with commas.  

When you use who, which, whom, when, or where, decide whether the sentence would be unclear if you omitted it.  If omitting the phrase makes the sentence unclear or changes the meaning, then that part is necessary to the sentence, and you should not use commas.

1.6 – Appositives

An appositive renames the noun or pronoun it follows.  If omitting the appositive would change the meaning of the sentence, then do not set it apart with commas.  If the “renaming” does not change the meaning, then use commas.

1.7 – Parenthetical Comments

Parenthetical comments are those which can be left out but are included to add color or personality to the sentence.

1.8 – Items in a Series

Use a comma to separate words and phrases in a series.  Present usage advocates the use of the comma before and connecting the last two words of a series; some writers, however, prefer to omit the comma before and.  This comma is called the “series comma” or the “Oxford comma.”  When etc. ends a series, it should be preceded and followed by a comma.  Use commas to separate pairs of words in a series.  Use a comma between adjectives preceding a noun when they are coordinate qualifying words.

1.9 – Names

Use a comma to set off inverted names in bibliographies, in indexes, in directories, or in other reference lists.  Use a comma to separate a name from a title or a degree that it follows.  Use a comma to separate a name from a title or degree that follows it.

Do not use a comma to separate compound personal pronouns from the words they emphasize.  Omit the comma when an appositive has become part of the proper name.

1.10 – For similar or identical words

Use a comma to separate similar of identical words standing next to each other, even when the sense or continuity does not seem to require it.

1.11 – In direct quotations

Use a comma to set off direct quotations.  Not that no comma is needed in an indirect quotation.

1.12 – Short Phrases

A comma should follow yes, no, why, well when one of these words is used at the beginning of a sentence.  Use a comma to set off light exclamations.

1.13 – In Addresses

Use a comma to set off a phrase denoting residence or positions but not before ZIP codes.  Omit the comma before the ZIP code number in an address on an envelope; place the number two spaces after the two-letter state abbreviation.

1.14 – In Dates

Use a comma in dates.  A comma may be used to separate the month from the year when the date is omitted; in some current usage, the comma between the month and year is omitted.

1.15 – In Digits

Use a comma to set off figures in groups of more than four digits.

Use a comma to separate two figures or words indicating figures in order to make their meaning clear.

Comma Usage

Punctuation, one is taught, has a point: to keep up law and order. Punctuation marks are the road signs placed along the highway of our communication -- to control speeds, provide directions and prevent head-on collisions.

1.1 – Compound Sentences

Two or more sentences held together with coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) form a compound sentence.  A comma must be used before the conjunction.

1.2 – Complex Sentences

Complex sentences contain on complete sentence and at least one fragment of a sentence.  Do not separate these parts with a comma.

1.3 – Compound/Complex Sentences

A compound/complex sentence contains two or more complete thoughts joined with coordinating conjunctions along with at least one sentence fragment.  Compound sentences require commas before the conjunctions.

1.4 – Introductory Elements

Some sentences begin with phrases.  Separate these phrases from the main part of the sentence with a comma.

1.4a – Using Transitional words

            1.4b – Dependent Adverbial Phrases

1.5 – Restrictive Clauses

Some phrases or clauses limit the meaning of the words they are referring to.  Because they are necessary to the meaning of the sentence, they should not be set off with commas.  

When you use who, which, whom, when, or where, decide whether the sentence would be unclear if you omitted it.  If omitting the phrase makes the sentence unclear or changes the meaning, then that part is necessary to the sentence, and you should not use commas.

1.6 – Appositives

An appositive renames the noun or pronoun it follows.  If omitting the appositive would change the meaning of the sentence, then do not set it apart with commas.  If the “renaming” does not change the meaning, then use commas.

1.7 – Parenthetical Comments

Parenthetical comments are those which can be left out but are included to add color or personality to the sentence.

1.8 – Items in a Series

Use a comma to separate words and phrases in a series.  Present usage advocates the use of the comma before and connecting the last two words of a series; some writers, however, prefer to omit the comma before and.  This comma is called the “series comma” or the “Oxford comma.”  When etc. ends a series, it should be preceded and followed by a comma.  Use commas to separate pairs of words in a series.  Use a comma between adjectives preceding a noun when they are coordinate qualifying words.

1.9 – Names

Use a comma to set off inverted names in bibliographies, in indexes, in directories, or in other reference lists.  Use a comma to separate a name from a title or a degree that it follows.  Use a comma to separate a name from a title or degree that follows it.

Do not use a comma to separate compound personal pronouns from the words they emphasize.  Omit the comma when an appositive has become part of the proper name.

1.10 – For similar or identical words

Use a comma to separate similar of identical words standing next to each other, even when the sense or continuity does not seem to require it.

1.11 – In direct quotations

Use a comma to set off direct quotations.  Not that no comma is needed in an indirect quotation.

1.12 – Short Phrases

A comma should follow yes, no, why, well when one of these words is used at the beginning of a sentence.  Use a comma to set off light exclamations.

1.13 – In Addresses

Use a comma to set off a phrase denoting residence or positions but not before ZIP codes.  Omit the comma before the ZIP code number in an address on an envelope; place the number two spaces after the two-letter state abbreviation.

1.14 – In Dates

Use a comma in dates.  A comma may be used to separate the month from the year when the date is omitted; in some current usage, the comma between the month and year is omitted.

1.15 – In Digits

Use a comma to set off figures in groups of more than four digits.

Use a comma to separate two figures or words indicating figures in order to make their meaning clear.

10 Uses for the Colon

One of my favorite grammar resources is Grammar Girl.  She gives "Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing."  Her comments and instruction are brief, concise, and to the point.  On her page for colons, she quotes a book, Punctuate it Right, as saying that the author calls it the mark of expectation or addition because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence.  One of the key points to remember is that you use colons only after statements that are complete sentences.  Never use a colon after a sentence fragment.  A colon is used to indicate a list but also for miscellaneous uses.

10 Uses for the Colon

1.  Use a colon after an independent clause to tell the reader that a list will follow.
     Ex.  She brought her school supplies to class:  notebooks, pens, and textbooks.
            His writing teacher explained to him how he could improve:  write, write, write.

2.  Use a colon to introduce something that the independent clause preceding it has promised by has not yet delivered.  Colons deliver material hinted at previously or gives asnwers to questions the reader has after reading the words before it.
     Ex.  We finally understood why we couldn't communicate:  he talked to much, and I never listened.

3.  Use a colon before a series of items.
     Ex.  As we put the program together, we asked ourselves:  Who is the audience?  What do they need to know?  How many people will attend?

4.  A colon is used before a quotation that is referred to in the preceding independent clause.  It is included as a part of the sentence.
     Ex.  "Was it Patrick Henry who said this:  'Give me liberty or give me death.'?"

5.  After an independent clause, a colon is often used to lead into a direct quotation.
     Ex.  The sign on the grocery store read:  "Ample parking in the back."

6.   Use the colon in salutations in formal letters to those you don't know very well.
     Ex.  Dear Mr. Downhill:          Dear Dr. Overhill:          Sirs: 

7.  Colons are used for ratios.
     Ex.  a ratio of 12:1          a slim margin of 6:5

8.  A colon separates a title from a subtitle.
     Ex.  Plain English:  Grammar for Dummies          Pirates of the Caribbean:  Dead Man's Chest

9.  A colon separates chapters and verses in biblical references.
     Ex.  Luke 4: 31 - 44           Genesis 2: 6 - 9

10.  Bibliographies require a colon between the city in which the book was published and the publishing company.
     Ex.  New York:  Random House, 2001.          Boston:  Little, Brown, 1998.

Remember this general rule:  If a full sentence comes after your colon, capitalize the first letter in that sentence.  If a list or a fragment comes after your colon, do not capitalize the first word.

 

4 Uses for the Semicolon

People who use the semicolon correctly may appear to be more skilled and mature than their counterparts.  The well-placed semicolon says, "I know what I'm doing."









4 Uses for the Semicolon

1.  Use the semicolon to join independent/main clauses.  Individual sentences (independent clauses) can be joined in two ways.  Firstly, you can use a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and a comma. (Ex.  I like to read, and she likes to write.)  Another method of joining two sentences is with a semicolon.  (Ex.  I like to read; she likes to write.  Sentences joined with semicolons should be closely related, and the writer wants to combine the two complete thoughts into one.
     Note:  In class, I have compared joining two sentences into one using the semicolon with a Reeces's peanut butter cup.  You have two distinct flavors that combine in one mouthful of delicious goodness.

2.  Use the semicolon to join independent clauses when you want to use transitional elements like furthermore, however, moreover, etc.  Transition words are not required to use the semicolon (see #1.)  Using semicolons with transition words helps you to move smoothly between ideas.  You can use conjunctive adverbs (ex. also, anyway, besides, finally, however, nevertheless, therefore, consequently, etc.) or transition phrases (ex.  as a result, for example, in fact, in other words, in summary, on the other hand, etc.)
     Ex.  Elizabeth was sick; otherwise, she would have been in class.

3.  Semicolons are used when linking lists after a colon when the items in the list are phrases or have internal punctuation.
     Ex.  I had a great breakfast:  eggs with spinach, onions, and peppers; hickory-cured bacon; pancakes with blueberries from Maine; Belgian waffles, my mother's signature recipe;  and quick-cooked grits made with garlic and cheddar cheese.

4.  Semicolons join a short series of sentences.
     Ex.  I came; I saw; I conquered.
            One flew east; one rode west; one hid in the barn.

PS.  I love it when writing and math collide!

10 Uses for the Period

“...punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop.” 
― Lynne Truss "Eats Shoots Leaves"

One of my goals for the class this semester has been to make them "Masters of the Comma."  That elusive little bit of punctuation causes the most trouble in their writing.  Contrary to popular opinion, you don't just throw one in every time you would pause or take a breath.  We have some pretty clear guidelines about its usage that also involves knowing more about other grammar topics.

The period, on the other hand, is much more straightforward.  Below are the 10 uses for the period.  And, yes, there will be a test on these.

1.  Place a period at the end of a declarative sentence, at the end of an indirect questions, and at the end of an imperative sentence that does not express strong emotion.

2.  Place a period after a request.  A question mark is not used.

        Ex.  May I have your opinion on the subject.

3.  Place a period after an abbreviation that stands for a single word.

     Ex.  John Jones and Co.          Mrs. Jameson

            Jan. 6                               Wireless, Inc.

     Note:  The trend is to eliminate periods in abbreviations, especially in measurements:

          lb or lb.          hr or hr.          oz or oz.          mph or m.p.h.          yd or yd.

     Note:  When the last word in a sentence is abbreviated, one period will suffice.

          Ex.  We plan to meet at 9 a.m.

     Note:  Before a colon or semicolon, the period for an abbreviation is omitted.

          Ex.  The instructions came from Fox Bros. Ltd:  Never use the materials without the proper equipment.

                 

4.  Periods are used after initials representing full names. (ex.  John Q. Smith) For some famous names, the periods may be omitted. (ex.  FDR, JFK)  In monograms periods are always omitted.

5.  Place periods after letters or figures in an outline when they mark the chief division of a subject.  Omit the periods when the letters or figures are in parentheses.  Periods are also used when making lists with either numbers or letters.

     Ex.  I.

              A.

                  1.

                     a.

                        (1)

                            (a)

6.  Place a period before a decimal.

     Ex.  $20.58          .05          12.6           .8398798

7.  A period may be used in place of the colon when denoting hours and minutes or in dates

     Ex.  10.15 for 10:15          4.03.13 for 4-3-13 or 4/3/13

8.  Place a period inside the parentheses when they enclose an independent sentence.

     Ex.  The firm was founded a few years ago.  (I am not sure about the exact date.)

9.  Use three periods separated by spaces to denote an omission in quoted matter.  When the omission occurs at the end of a sentence, the sentence period is retained as well.  Use seven periods spaced across the page to denote the omission of one or more paragraphs of quoted material.

     Ex.  Henry Clay declared that the proposal was agreeable . . . if respectable and efficient.

10.  Periods are used in web addresses and e-mails.

     Ex.  myname@funmail.com          www.google.com

  

Grammar -- Week 1 Worksheet

Week 1 Grammar Worksheets

1.1 – Compound Sentences

Insert the comma in the proper place.

1.       I am going to bed and I am planning on reading this book.

2.       She did not eat the cookies nor did she eat the candy.

3.       Paul is going to the movie and John is going but Sally is not going.

4.       Did Mom go to the concert or did Dad go alone?

5.       Debbie was upset for she wanted to go on that trip but her mother was sick.

6.       Melissa was sick so she left the party early.

7.       It was midnight but it did not seem so late so we went out for dinner.

8.       Cathy caught the heel of one of her shoes in a crack on the sidewalk and the heel broke off.

9.       Susan thought the lemonade was good yet it was a bit too sweet.

10.   Michael threw a fit for he was upset with the dog that had eaten his shoes.

11.   Did Paul go to the movie with Michael or did Michael ask John to go?

12.   Cathy had forgotten to set her alarm so she was late for work.

1.2 – Complex Sentences

Either remove the unnecessary comma or add one where it is needed.

1.       She did not eat the cookies, nor did she chew the gum that Jane made for her.

2.       I am going to bed to read the book, that Elizabeth wrote.

3.       Paul is going to the movie, and may not come home until late.

4.       Did Mary go along, with her parents to the game?

Put the complete sentence in parentheses and underline the fragment.

5.       George could not find his son’s bat or his glove.

6.       Julia ate half of her sandwich and left the other half on the plate.

7.       I was tired of doing homework and went to bed early.

8.       Did the students bring their books or leave them at home.

1.3 – Compound/Complex Sentences

Insert commas where needed.

1.       She wanted to go to bed and read her new book but she didn’t realize that it had fallen behind the sofa.

2.       Jack is going to the movie about World War II so he may be home late because it a three hour long movie.

3.       Denise was upset that she could not go to London but she chose to save her money in order to pay for college.

4.       I told her not to eat the fresh bread but she didn’t pay attention because she was so hungry.

Put the complete sentence in parentheses and underline the fragment.  Add the necessary commas.

5.       Chris had tried to find his puppy but it had run around the house and hid under a bush.

6.       My father told me that he was proud that I had improved my  grades and I celebrated with pizza.

7.       Peter found a part-time job around the corner so it was easy for him to get to work.

8.       I am planning to take the children to the park so that we can have a picnic because their father has the day off.

9.       We took warm clothes with us on the trip because it was supposed to be cold but we didn’t take them out of the suitcase.

Grammar -- Commas (1.1 - 1.3)

WEEK 1

1.1 – Compound Sentences

Two or more sentences held together with coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) form a compound sentence.  A comma must be used before the conjunction.

1.2 – Complex Sentences

Complex sentences contain on complete sentence and at least one fragment of a sentence.  Do not separate these parts with a comma.

1.3 – Compound/Complex Sentences

A compound/complex sentence contains two or more complete thoughts joined with coordinating conjunctions along with at least one sentence fragment.  Compound sentences require commas before the conjunctions.

How to End a Sentence

In a conversation with a college-graduated son, we discussed whether it was still necessary to put two spaces after the period at the end of a sentence.

Below are three links to articles about this point of grammar:

About.com and Desktop Publishing

A Slate article

Grammar Girl article

Read the articles and tell me what you think.