Objective 2: Identify the purpose of dashes and understand the situations when they are appropriate

 By the time you finish taking notes on this resource, you should understand: What a dash is What a dash is used for How to use dashes

 What is a dash? This punctuation mark is the one known as a dash: —  Dashes are generally used to add emphasis to parts of a sentence, though there are some other uses.

 To add emphasis to information that is particularly important or dramatic To prepare a diverse group of students for success in college and to become thoughtful, contributing members of society — this is our mission. He ran and ran but he knew it was pointless — the tiger was going to catch up to him.  To indicate interrupted speech or a sudden change in thought “Hello, my name is —” he started, but stopped suddenly when he saw my face.  To off-set a list or series from the rest of a sentence My dinner that night — roast beef, potatoes, and broccoli — was delicious.

 Identify a particularly important or dramatic part of the sentence. Take one of the examples from the last slide and take out the dash.  He ran and ran but he knew it was pointless the tiger was going to catch up to him. The dramatic moment is the reveal that the character is being chased by a tiger. Therefore, the dash should go next to that dramatic moment (in between “pointless” and “the tiger”)

 Identify where speech or a thought is being interrupted. Take one of the examples from the last slide and take out the dash.  “Hello, my name is” he started, but stopped suddenly when he saw my face. The character clearly hasn’t finished his sentence. We need to put a dash after “is” to make it even more clear that this is the case.

 Identify a list or series in the sentence. Take one of the examples from the last slide and take out the dash.  My dinner that night roast beef, potatoes, and broccoli was delicious. The narrator lists the elements of her dinner in the middle of the sentence. You need to put dashes around the things in the list (roast beef, potatoes, and broccoli).

 Where should dashes be added to the following sentences? Thomas Lana’s obsessive and controlling boyfriend purchased concert tickets for all of us. Are you paying attention this is very important! All three of her sons Anthony, Francis, and Marco studied abroad their junior year. “What’s that falling out of the” he asked, but was tragically crushed before he could finish.

 Check your answers! Thomas — Lana’s obsessive and controlling boyfriend — purchased concert tickets for all of us. Are you paying attention — this is very important! All three of her sons — Anthony, Francis, and Marco — studied abroad their junior year. “What’s that falling out of the — ” he asked, but was tragically crushed before he could finish.