Commas & Workshop II

1. RWS 200 // 10-24-18 // Andrew Testa Commas & Workshop II

2. Announcements • Final draft due Thursday 11/1 by midnight on Bb. • Class cancelled Friday, Monday, and Wednesday for conferencing. • Conferencing is optional.

3. Unit 2 Student Learning Outcome • Construct an account of an author’s project and argument, focusing on its use of a significant source. Examine the original source material, and analyze how that argument makes use of it. Consider what was included and what was excluded and why.

4. Recap • Recap of last class.

5. Observation

6. Outline Commas Workshop

7. 1. Commas • Commas separate the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments. • Sometimes, comma rules can be broken.

8. Comma Rule 1 • Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. • I went to the bookstore and bought a textbook. • I went to the bookstore, and I bought a textbook.

9. Comma Rule 2 • Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. • In the end it doesn’t even matter. • In the end, it doesn’t even matter.

10. Comma Rule 3 • Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. • I learned a lot about different aspects of writing in my RWS class. • I learned a lot about different aspects of writing, such as commas, PIE, and timed writing, in my RWS class.

11. Comma Rule 4 • Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. • Going surfing is great for my mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. • Going surfing is great for my mental, spiritual, and physical wellbeing.

13. Oxford Comma? The documentary highlights his global tour, including encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector.

14. Comma Rule 5 • Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives. • The hungry, slimy, green Martian entered the classroom. • The hungry slimy green, Martian entered the classroom.

15. Comma Rule 6 • Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift. • He was merely ignorant not stupid. • He was merely ignorant, not stupid.

16. Comma Rule 7 • Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer back to the beginning or middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere in the sentence without causing confusing. • Nancy waved enthusiastically at the docking ship, laughing joyously. • Laughing joyously, Lisa waved at Nancy.

17. Comma Rule 8 • Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses (except the street number and name), and titles in names. • On April 29th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets. • I live in Carlsbad, California.

18. Comma Rule 9 • Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation. • I told her, “All you need is love.” • Post Malone asserts, “I feel just like a Rockstar.”

19. Comma Rule 10 • Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion or misreading. • To Paul, McCartney has been a sort of idol.

20. Questions? • Questions about commas?

21. 2. The Workshop • Spend some time reading/marking/answering the questions. • Spend a few minutes talking about each other’s paper. • Lather, rinse, and repeat.

22. Announcements • Final draft due Thursday 11/1 by midnight on Bb. • Class cancelled Friday, Monday, and Wednesday for conferencing. • Conferencing is optional.