Senior English

1. Senior English Mr. Briggs’s Class September 6, 2011

2. Objective • Review common grammar/punctuation errors made in your Descriptive Essays. • Demonstrate knowledge of literature by participating in class activities and assignments. • Standard: Reading 3.7: Evaluate philosophical, political, religious, ethical and social influences of the historical period that shaped the characters, plots, and settings.

3. Homework – no homeworkBut you must complete the handout in class

4. Returned Essays • 50 points – yes it’ll be on the Progress Grade • If you have individual questions, stop by and see me after school.

5. Take notes :: grammar/punctuation • For the next several days, we’ll be having a writer’s workshop. Your job is to participate and be on-task 100% of the period. • Today, we’re reviewing your essays and reviewing punctuation issues. grammar/punctuation issues Tuesday, 9-6-11

6. Common errors seen in your essays Run-on sentences Comma Splices Fragments Awkward sentences Apostrophes Wrong Words Missing words Commas and quotes Vague words Spelling errors Semicolons

7. Run-ons (RO)and Comma Splices (CS) • Run-ons and comma splices are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. • They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise. • They weren't dangerous criminals. They were detectives in disguise. • I didn't know which job I wanted, I was too confused to decide. • I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.

8. Fragments (FRAG) • Fragments are incomplete sentences or thoughts. Usually, they are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. • I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. • I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well. • Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. • Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

9. Awkward Sentences (AWK) • The awkward sentence is where grammar and style collide. • There has been an increase in the number of parking tickets being issued on campus this year. • Currently, more students are receiving parking tickets than last year. • Combining those chemicals could be dangerous, which is a good idea to wear goggles. • Combining those chemicals could be dangerous, so it is a good idea to wear goggles.

10. Apostrophes ( ‘ ) • Two uses: • to form possessives of nouns • the boy's hat = the hat of the boy • three days' journey = journey of three days • to show the omission of letters • don't = do not • '60 = 1960

11. Wrong Words (WW) • This error happens when an incorrect word is included in the sentence. It may or may not make the sentence grammatically incorrect. • We will continue to eat ice cream till we can’t eat it anymore. • We will continue to eat ice cream until we can’t eat it anymore. • Which shows that Hector is just a coward to his people. • This shows that Hector is just a coward to his people.

12. Missing Words (MW) • Often writers omit words from sentences in their writing. • In epic poetry there is always archetypical hero. • In epic poetry there is always an archetypical hero. • Sam and posse will perform as cheerleaders at the game. • Sam and his posse will perform as cheerleaders at the Power puff game on Thursday night.

13. Commas and quotes “ , ” or“ . ” • Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows. - He said, "I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.“ • Mullen, criticizing the apparent inaction, writes, "Donahue's policy was to do nothing" (24). • Place colons and semicolons outside closed quotation marks. • Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence. • Phillip asked, "Do you need this book?" • Does Mr. Perez always say to his students, "You must work harder"?

14. Vague words ( too vague ) • The goal of concise writing is to use the most effective words. Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. • There are many things that make an archetypical hero. • There are many personal characteristics that make an archetypical hero. • We were kind of pleased with the results. • We were rather pleased with the results.

15. Spelling Errors ( SP ) • There really isn’t a good excuse for misspelling words in your essays. Always use spell check. • Harret ≠ Herot • Grendle ≠ Grendel • Baywolf ≠ Beowulf • Ravun ≠ Raven • Geet ≠ Geat • Edger ≠ Edgar

16. Semicolons ( ; ) • Use a semicolon when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words. • What’s an independent clause? - A clause in a complex sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence. - I am going home; I intend to stay there. • It rained heavily during the afternoon; we managed to have our picnic anyway.

17. About your grades . . . • Progress Report Ends this Friday, 9/9/11 • Mailed on Thursday, 9/15/11 • Your grades have all be updated – nothing outstanding to grade • Tomorrow we’ll begin PENS: a writing strategy

18. Grammar/Punctuation Sheets • Complete the handout. These are (pretty much) actual sentences I read in your essays. • Fix each sentence.