English III 13 October 2015

Non-essential clause quiz results Period 3: Highest score: 92.5% Lowest score: 40% Class Average: 72% Period 8: Highest score: 100% Lowest score: 47.5% Class Average: 76%

Most missed question 10. The free-jazz musician Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn. Most students put in commas like so: The free-jazz musician, Sun Ra, claimed to be from Saturn.

But do we need these here? Two ways to check your work: Number 1: Ask yourself: Does the sentence seem to intend to talk about a particular jazz musician? Or does it seem to be making a claim about an unspecified jazz musician? The answers to these questions will help you determine if you need commas around the word or phrase in question.

Answer: You bet it does! Number 2: Remember our rule: If you leave out the phrase in question or put it somewhere else in the sentence, does the essential meaning of the sentence change? If so, the element is essential; if not, it is nonessential. Question: So, if we get rid of “Sun Ra,” does the meaning of the sentence change? Answer: You bet it does!

The free-jazz musician Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn. This sentence is intending to talk about one particular free-jazz musician and no one else, thus it is essential information.

The free-jazz musician, Sun Ra, claimed to be from Saturn. If the commas here do not limit the meaning to just Sun Ra, what may that imply?

Bell-ringer: Tell me the “point” of this person’s message “Being an English teacher puts one in an interesting conundrum. Many people think that if you understand what they say or write, then they've said it or written it correctly and it needs no correction or improvement. For example, if a student walks into a math class and says, "Five times five equals 20," then of course it's the math teacher's job to correct that student and the student won't take offense. However, if a student walks into my class and says, "I did that real good," and I correct her, then she'll roll her eyes and say, "Oh, whatever, you know what I meant.”

Directions 1) Read the article “The Most Comma Mistakes” silently. 2) As you’re reading, try to figure out the most significant points that Yagonda is making. (Hint: he makes more than one.) Remember to annotate! This is to be completed in absolute silence. You are to turn it in on my desk when you are done.

3) After you’re done reading, please write two to three MEL-CON paragraphs in which you address all of the following questions: **What is Yagonda’s argument, and what specific examples does he use to support his stance? ** Does Yagonda acknowledge any exceptions to the rules that he puts forward here? What are they, and how do they help or hurt his main argument? BE THOUGHTFUL AND DETAILED IN YOUR RESPONSES!