Writing Conventions

1. Writing Conventions Mr Ortiz 2013-2014

2. Writing Conventions 1: Capitalization • Almost all the words we capitalize are going to be nouns: people, places, and things. • There are two kinds of nouns: common and proper. • Common nouns are general types of things. • Proper nouns are specific, often unique things. • We usually do not capitalize common nouns (unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence, of course). • We usually capitalize proper nouns.

3. Writing Conventions 1: Capitalization • Examples: Common NounsProper Nouns street Market Street car Toyota Corolla company Microsoft city New York City nation Japan region the Southwest lake Lake Michigan president President Obama

4. Writing Conventions 1: Capitalization • Practice: • to get to the pacific northwest from los angeles, you must drive north. • who got your vote for president, obama or romney? • you can’t park on this street; park on union instead. • did you watch breaking bad last wednesday? • i read the path to freedom to my dad.

5. Writing Conventions 1: Capitalization • Answers: • To get to the Pacific Northwest from Los Angeles, you must drive north. • Who got your vote for president, Obama or Romney? • You can’t part on this street; park on Union instead. • Did you watch Breaking Bad last Wednesday? • I read “The Path to Freedom” to my dad.

6. Writing Conventions 2: Quotation Marks • We use quotation marks for basically two reasons: • To set off a direct quote: Spider-Man said to the captured thief, “You can just hang around until the police get here.” • To indicate the title of a short work of literature (such as a poem, short story, or essay): “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allan Poe • People also often use quotation marks to imply falsehood or dishonesty: This “essay” is only three sentences long, and two of those “sentences” are actually sentence fragments. • Remember that periods and commas go inside the quotation marks: When Epictetus said “…only the educated are free,” what was he talking about?

7. Writing Conventions 2: Quotation Marks • We only quote the actual words that a person said out loud: • My mother said that we can go to the mall on Saturday. • My mother said, “You guys can go to the mall on Saturday.” • The first sentence is really just paraphrasing what she said(no quotation marks); the second sentence is giving her exact words (needs quotation marks).

8. Writing Conventions 2: Quotation Marks • Practice: • brian asked do you know how to get to seattlewashington • i heard that amanda said that she’s failing two classes • we read the poem poetry by pabloneruda on monday • i enjoy pabloneruda’s poetry

9. Writing Conventions 2: Quotation Marks • Answers: • Brian asked, “Do you know how to get to Seattle, Washington?” • I heard that Amanda said that she’s failing two classes. • We read the poem “Poetry” by Pablo Neruda on Monday. • I enjoy Pablo Neruda’s poetry.

10. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • Commas are used with a conjunction (think FANBOYS) to connect two independent clauses (basically two sentences that can stand on their own): Jesse ran to the gas station, but he forgot his money. Rene works long hours, and she is on her feet all day. Commonly Used Conjunctions: For And Nor But Or Yet So

11. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • Commas are also used to set off “extra” information in a sentence: Rosa, who is usually shy, was the life of the party last night. We saw the movie World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, yesterday.

12. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • We often use commas to set off an introductory expression: In that case, you can turn in your essay on Friday. However, I will not accept it after Friday.

13. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • We use commas to separate items in a series: Please pick up some milk, eggs, and flour. Frank, Charlie, and Brian had their phones taken away. TIP: To figure out if you should use commas in a series, try inserting “and” instead of a comma. If it makes sense, then you can use commas. EXAMPLE: I bought a new Apple computer. Does it make sense to say “I bought a new and Apple computer?” Of course not, so we would not use a comma here. EXAMPLE: Mr. Waller is fair, friendly, and tolerant. Could you say “Mr. Waller is fair and friendly and tolerant?” Yup, so we can use commas here!

14. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • Practice: • after all Mary hadnt promised to come to the party • daniel a talented goalie blocked every shot that came his way • elwood did not remember his name nor could he recognize his wife • the cold dark wet cave which had never been explored was home to a colony of bats

15. Writing Conventions 3: Commas • Answers: • After all, Mary hadn’t promised to come to the party. • Daniel, a talented goalie, blocked every shot that came his way. • Elwood did not remember his name, nor could he recognize his wife. • The cold, dark, wet cave, which had never been explored, was home to a colony of bats.

16. Writing Conventions 4: Pronouns and antecedents • A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun; I, we, us, they, them, their, you are all examples of pronouns. • The antecedent of a pronoun is the word to which a pronoun refers. Before our class visited the tide pools, we studied them in class. • In the above sentence, them is a pronoun and tide pools is the antecedent of that pronoun. • Usually, the antecedent should come before the pronoun (not always), but either way, they should not be too far apart in the sentence.

17. Writing Conventions 4: Pronouns and antecedents • It is important to include the antecedent of a pronoun near the pronoun itself; otherwise things can get confusing. Before we visited them, we studied them in class. • Who are we? What is them referring to? We can’t tell.

18. Writing Conventions 4: Pronouns and antecedents • The same thing happens if we use too many pronouns or if we are not clear about the antecedents the pronouns refer to. Before our class visited the tide pools, we studied them in class. The tenth grade students also studied them. They studied them for two weeks before their teacher took them to see them. They found them to be interesting and they really enjoyed them. Better: Before our classvisited the tide pools, we studied them in class. The tenth grade students also studied them. The tenth graders studied the tide poolsfor two weeks before their teacher took them to see them. The studentsfound the tide poolsto be interesting and they really enjoyed them.

19. Writing Conventions 4: Pronouns and antecedents • Practice: • sports and clubs are important and _______ should be offered at gertzressler high school • ______ parents gave annie everything _______ wanted • luis loaned _____ car to _____ friends because _____ trusted _____ • _____ is the closest university to our school and _____ is very competitive

20. Writing Conventions 4: Pronouns and antecedents • Answers: • Sports and clubs are important and they should be offered at Gertz-Ressler High School • Her parents gave Annie everything she wanted. • Luis loaned his car to hisfriends because he trusted them. • USC is the closest university to our school and it is very competitive.

21. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • When we list words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence, it’s important to use similar structure for each item. • This is what we call parallel sentence structure, or parallelism. Think parallel lines: ______________________________________ ______________________________________

22. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Examples of sentences using parallel sentence structure: We pleaded, begged, and prayed – to no avail. So, your date was obnoxious, loud, and cheap; no doubt he thought you were gorgeous, personable, and witty. “For taking away our Charters, abolishing our laws, and altering the Forms of our Government…” “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.”

23. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Examples/Non-Examples #1 • Not Parallel: To avoid getting hit by lightning, never seek protection under a tree, lying down on wet ground, or not staying on a bike. • Parallel: To avoid getting hit by lightning, never seek protection under a tree, lie down on wet ground, or stay on a bike. • Because the phrases “match” in the example, the sentence sounds better and is more logical.

24. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Examples/Non-Examples #2 • Not Parallel: During a thunderstorm, people who are inside should not talk on the telephone, standing near open windows, and using large appliances. • Parallel: During a thunderstorm, people who are inside should not talk on the telephone, stand near open windows, or use large appliances. • Once again, now that the sentence is parallel, it’s less wordy and sound better.

25. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Practice #1: • When you’re in college, make sure you pay attention to the teacher, you listen to the lectures, and pass tests. • Grandma enjoys gardening, cooking, and to go to the store. • We couldn’t decide what was you and what was mine. • They stripped the paint, was sanding the wood, and refinished the dresser by themselves.

26. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Answers #1: • When you’re in college, make sure you pay attention to the teacher, you listen to the lectures, and you pass the tests. • Grandma enjoys gardening, cooking, and going to the store. • We couldn’t decide what was yours and what was mine. • They stripped the paint, sanded the wood, and refinished the dresser by themselves.

27. Writing Conventions 5: Parallel sentence structure • Answers #2: • Groucho Marx said to one of his leading ladies: “Martha, dear, there are many bonds that will hold us together through eternity: your savings bonds, Liberty bonds, and government bonds.” • In addition to being a puppeteer, the late Jim Henson was also a painter, animator, and sculptor. • Contrary to legend, Ringo Starr never sang, “She’s 16, she’s beautiful, and she’s mine.” • The typical member of the Book-of-the-Month Club is well educated, about 40 years old, and a moderate Democrat. • If you happen to be stranded at sea with a group and you see a shark, bunch together to form a tight circle, use shark repellent, stay dressed, and float to save energy.