Conventions for the Undead

1. Conventions for the Undead Avoiding the potential apocalypse of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and word usage mistakes…

2. Simple Sentences A simple sentence is a complete thought. • Subject(s) + Predicate(s) (the verb and any additional information) Examples: • Zombieshave feelings. • Zombies and humanshave feelings. • Zombies and humanshave feelings and crave food.

3. Your Tourniquet: Simple Sentences On a fresh sheet of tree flesh, complete the following sentences. 1) The most experienced morticians in the department ______. 2) A track of muddy footprints ______________. 3) No one else in the town ____________________. 4) Those rusty scissors _____________.

4. Compound Sentences A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (*FANBOYS). Examples: • The explosion erupted loudly, and the city turned into darkness. • Screams echoed through the streets, yet not a soul was heard. • The outbreak followed, for the radiation spread with the aftermath. *FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

5. Your Tourniquet: Compound Sentences On the same sheet of tree skin, complete the following sentences. Don’t forget to use a FANBOYS. • My heart began to race, _____. • A foul stench came from the basement, ______. • Broken glass lined the hallway, __________. • Faint carousel sounds entered the closet, ______________.

6. Fragments A fragment is an incomplete thought, lacking either a subject OR predicate. Examples: • The smell of death. • Drudging through the streets. Yes, it’s your tourniquet… Transform these fragments into complete thoughts. *Fragments can be beneficial when used for dramatic purpose!

7. Run-Ons • A run-on sentence is when your sentence continues forever and ever and you never stop but you just can’t help it so you continue on and on because it’s the way you talk and you think that’s okay but your reader runs out of breath like being chased by a zombie and getting bitten and turning undead forever. Get the picture?

8. Double Tap the Double Negatives • A double negative occurs when you word your sentence in a way that contradicts the intended meaning. Example: • I have not never been bitten by a flesh eating corpse. • The man didn’t do nothing to prevent his own son from being bitten. Now, smash these imposters and save these sentences!

9. Comma Usage (Part 1) • Direct Address: When directly addressing an individual or a group, use commas to “trap” the specified person(s). Example: • Let’s eat Grandma. OR Let’s eat, Grandma. • Dear Mr. President,

10. Comma Usage (Part 1) • When describing something with coordinating adjectives, or adjectives in a row,place a comma between the descriptive words. Example: • The dark, mysterious room creaked with each step. • An unsightly, repugnant creature jumped down from the skylight. *Two tests to check for accuracy: Place the word and between the two adjectives. Try reversing them.

11. Comma Usage (Part 1) • Use a comma to separate three or more words (or phrases) in a series. Example: • I gasped for breath, picked up the pipe, and lunged into the darkness. • He decided to eat, sleep, and eat some more.

12. Your Tourniquet: Comma Usage (Part 1) Place commas in the appropriate locations based on the rules previously covered. • I feel like taking an extended relaxing nap to regain my strength. • He stumbled down the stairs broke his leg and began to cry. • “Will you carry me to the hospital Johnny?” • His crippled broken limbs were shaking bleeding and tearing at the tendons. • Let’s sneak into the store find some food and get out of here Grandpa.

13. Comma Usage (Part 2) *Correct this error by using a comma and coordinating conjunction, or by separating into separate sentences. • A comma splice is similar to a run-on sentence, consisting of two or more improperly joined sentences. Avoid this fatal mistake! Example: • Wilfred sniffed the zombie, he couldn’t sense a heartbeat. (incorrect) • Wilfred sniffed the zombie, but he couldn’t sense a heartbeat. (correct) • Wilfred sniffed the zombie. He couldn’t sense a heartbeat. (correct)

14. Comma Usage (Part 2) • Remember our AAAWWUBIS words! This is how to begin or end your complex sentence. • After • Although • As • When • While • Until • Because • Before • If • Since • A complex sentencerequires the use of a comma, combining a dependent and independent clause, making them rely on each other. Example: • After sprinting for hours, I stopped briefly to catch my breath. • As I slowly turned my head around, a rancid smell wafted to my bloodied nose. • While a zombie attack was sure to follow, I rallied my gang of helpless hoodlums to make a final stand.

15. Your Tourniquet: Comma Usage (Part 2) • Place commas in the appropriate locations based on the rules previously covered. (Comma Usage Part 1 will also be incorporated!) • While running through the deserted streets I tripped on a putrid scattered pile of trash. • Humphrey couldn’t get back on his feet he saw the gang of zombies drudging closer and closer. • “Blake help me or I will soon become one of them!” he urgently begged. • “It’s every man for himself bro. Sorry,” Blake reluctantly replied. • As Humphrey watched him dash away into the woods he decided to surrender himself to the abominable repelling life of zombies.

16. Brush Stokes (Revisited) • An absolute brush strokeconsists of a noun and an “-ing” verb to show action and description. Example: • Mouth foaming, wounds oozing, the zombie said, “Hello.” • An appositive is a descriptive phrase placed after a noun or pronoun, setting it off with commas. Example: • The young boy, an innocent being, could not respond out of fear for his life. After each example, create your own, using a brush stroke to enhance your sentence!

17. Brush Stokes (Revisited) • A participle brush stroke consists of an “–ing”word (or an “–ing”phrase) tagged onto the beginning, middle, or the end of a sentence. Example: • Drooling profusely, the undead corpse smiled. • The terrified boy, cradling in fear, closed his eyes in hope of survival. • To use adjectives out-of-order, place two or more consecutive adjectives after a noun or pronoun. Example: • The zombie, unapologetic and hungry, crept closer and closer. After each example, create your own, using a brush stroke to enhance your sentence!

18. Apostrophes • Use apostrophes when combining words into contractions. Example: • The grotesque creature couldn’t fight the urge to attack. (could not) • Don’t make a sound, or they’ll find you. (do not; they will) • Use apostrophes when showing ownership or relationship through possessive nouns. Example: • The Zombie’s breath was overbearing. • Unfortunately, the girl’s foot slipped on the bloodstained floor.

19. Quotations Marks: Direct vs. Indirect Quotes • A direct quote, the exact words of a person, requires quotation marks. Example: • Stumbling through the woods, the terrified girl screamed, “Somebody, help me!” • “Hurry! Come over here,” whispered a dark figure in the night. • “What’s your name?” questioned the fearful girl, crouching into the thorny brush. • An indirect quote, words paraphrased into your own words, does NOT require quotation marks. Example: • Stumbling through the woods, the terrified girl screamed for help. • A dark figure whispered to quickly hide in the thorny brush. NOTE: Punctuation goes inside quotation marks. Also, use quotation marks around the title of a song, short story, episode, and newspaper.

20. Your Tourniquet: Apostrophes and Quotation Marks • Place proper punctuation in the appropriate locations based on the rules previously covered. (commas, apostrophes, quotation marks, etc.) • Whispering quietly the boy answered my name is Gerrard. • The girl panicked and afraid said im Leah. Nice to meet you. • Sorry its under such dire circumstances Gerrard sighed. • Gerrards eyes gazed down at Leahs arm. • Noticing the bloody gash Gerrard screamed Leah youve been bitten!

21. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • affect (verb; to change or influence) vs. effect (noun; result) Practice: • David’s gruesome death had a great _________ on his wife, Francesca. In fact, the death _________ her sanity, driving her to madness. • accept (verb; to receive/agree) vs. except (preposition/conjunction; other than) Practice: • Everyone was able to ___________ death these days _____________ for Francesca, who dragged David’s stiff corpse everywhere she went.

22. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • bring (to carry from a distant place to a closer one) vs. take (to carry from a nearby place to a distant one) Practice: • Before his death, David would often __________ her flowers home from work after a long week. Now, she would ___________ his corpse to the river for a bath, using the flowers by the shore to mask the stench. • its (possessive pronoun) vs. it’s (it is; it has; it was) Practice: • A deer, observing the scene, shook _____ head in disbelief. After all, _____ an unusual practice for both humans and animals alike.

23. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • lose (verb; to misplace) vs. loose (adjective; not tightly attached) Practice: • It was apparent that Francesca was beginning to _________ her mind, wandering aimlessly. Tired and lost, she tied a ___________ rope around David, propping him against an oak while she closed her eyes. • of (preposition; indicating distance or relation) vs. have (verb; to own or possess) Practice: • She should not _______ been so careless. For in the middle _______ the night, hungry hordes of Zombies often lurked through the forest.

24. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • than (comparing) vs. then (indicating time) Practice: • Awoken by a pungent stench, Francesca jumped to her feet, _______ diving for a sturdy, pointed stick. Though mentally unstable, no one was quicker, more skilled _________ Francesca when it came to one-on-one combat. • there(location) vs. their (possession) vs. they’re (they are; they were) Practice: • Surrounded by undergrowth, __________ wasn’t much room to maneuver. Anxiously awaiting, she felt __________ presence. “___________ close,” she thought.

25. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • to (preposition/infinitive) vs. too (adverb; very or also) vs. two (number) Practice: • Alarmed but confident, she glanced back at the oak tree, whispering, “It’s okay. I love you ____, David.” ______ Zombies then appeared from the shadows. Ready _____ fight, Francesca let out a terrifying scream. • we’re (we are) vs. were (plural past-tense verb) vs. where (location) Practice: • “Calm down, lady! ____ just passing through. Gary and I didn’t know we ____ going to be attacked with a big, scary twig. By the way, _____ is that smell coming from?” asked the undead version of Frank, searching the site.

26. Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes • who’s (who is; who has) vs. whose (possessive pronoun) Practice: • “Hey, lady, ______ the dead guy?” the undead version of Gary, ______ mouth was leaking maggots, inquired. • your (possessive pronoun) vs. you’re(you are) Practice • Francesca, speechless, dropped her stick and sobbed, “Well, what would you do if you lost ________ spouse?” • Without another word, the Zombie horde decapitated Francesca. “_______ welcome,” Gary sneered, looking at David, whose face now held a crooked smile.