Let’s talk about punctuation…
Why is punctuation so important??? It adds clarity to your writing. Sentences without punctuation are confusing, lack order, and all thoughts and ideas run together.
Has the tiger been fed Bill? Has the tiger been fed, Bill?
After we had finished raking the dog jumped into the pile of leaves. After we had finished raking, the dog jumped into the pile of leaves.
Children, disabled and elderly are at risk of being scalded. Children, disabled, and elderly are at risk of being scalded.
The yellow dress made her skin look pale she wore it anyway. The yellow dress made her skin look pale, but she wore it anyway.
When you learn to correctly vary your sentence style and structure. When you learn to correctly vary your sentence style and structure, your writing will immediately improve.
What writing error occurs when we end a sentence too early and we’ve not written a complete thought? In your text, read pages Stop when your get to Oral Practice
piece Avoid FRAGMENTS! A fragment is an incomplete thought… it’s just a piece of a sentence. Looking out the window. Because of the rainy weather. Since you are here. Taking time out of his busy schedule.
How do I know if I have a fragment? Say “It is true that” before your sentence. If it doesn’t make sense, it’s a fragment!
It is true that Looking out the window. Because of the rainy weather. Since you are here. Taking time out of his busy schedule. I am tired.
TThe movie and the book. WWaiting for the phone to ring. BBecause of the rain. HHe was exhausted. GGoing to the store. WWhen I was walking my dog. It is true that…
FfragmentSsentence Write F for fragment and S for sentence. Rewrite each fragment so that it is a complete sentence. You may make up necessary information. 1. Many of the radium experiments done by Marie Smith. 2. Believing that she was right. 3. Mr. Thomson felt that he was right. 4. Mr. Jones continued to argue the point. 5. George, having been on vacation last week. 6. The staff was on vacation last week. 7. The team that won all the games in Oklahoma City last year. 8. That team won all the games in Philadelphia last year. 9. That have hazardous products. 10. Because there were inadequate safety measures at the plant.
Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up Note Card Activity…
So, what happens when we combine two complete sentences and do not use punctuation? Read pages 454 – 455 in your text. Stop at Exercise 5
Sticks and stones may break my bones words may never harm me. Sticks and stones may break my bones. Words may never harm me. The indicted police chief submitted his resignation the mayor accepted it. The indicted police chief submitted his resignation. The mayor accepted it. Business is part of our society there is no escape. Business is part of our society. There is no escape.
I know it’s crazy, but I want you to now write three run-on sentences! This will be the last time you may legally do this!
So, what’s a Comma Splice ? Two sentences joined with ONLY a comma. DO NOT DO THAT!
Sticks and stones may break my bones, words may never harm me. The indicted police chief submitted his resignation, the mayor accepted it. Business is part of our society, there is no escape.
What is SENTENCE COMBINING and why should we learn to incorporate this concept into our writing? Read Combining Sentences on pages in the text. In your own words, explain why it is essential to combine sentences & vary your sentence structure.
And another really bad paragraph: Jane loves living in the city. She doesn’t like the noise at night. Her neighbors are always slamming doors. She is never able to catch them in the act. She has thought about moving. That would be a logical solution. Jane may eventually do so. It would be expensive.
Coordination - Coordination - joins two closely related sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
The Coordinating Conjunctions FanboysForAndNorButOrYetSo
Sticks and stones may break my bones words may never harm me. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never harm me.
How can we combine these sentences using COORDINATION? All of Mrs. Gibson’s students are brilliant. They love to combine sentences using coordination. All of Mrs. Gibson’s students are brilliant, and they love to combine sentences using coordination.
In your notes, combine correctly combine this run-on sentence using COORDINATION: Business is part of our society there is no escape. Business is part of our society, and there is no escape.
Using COORDINATION, combine sentences in this paragraph to make it more effective. I love living downtown. and I have a wonderful view. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I can find wonderful food from just about every country. I don’t like the traffic in the city.
Next Rule: Subordination joins two sentences together with a subordinating conjunction, making one idea dependent on the other.
Some common Subordinating Conjunctions: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.
Two Important Rules… BEGINS 1. When the sentence BEGINS with the subordinating conjunction, put the comma after the dependent clause. (Just like this sentence!) Example: Whenever you actively participate in class, you receive points.
2. When the subordinating conjunction is placed between two sentences, no comma is needed. Example: You receive points whenever you actively participate in class.
Because because Because they could paint with their hands, the class was fun for the children. The class was fun for the children because they could paint with their hands.
When When their grades arrived in the mail, the students discovered they passed the test. when The students discovered they passed the test when their grades arrived in the mail.
If If Patricia manages it, the new branch office will be successful if The new branch office will be successful if Patricia manages it.