DASH – (an informal mark of punctuation used for stylistic effects)
USES:
1) Set off a word or group of words introduced unexpectedly.
EX: That looks like smoke coming from – help! Fire!
2) Abrupt breaking off of one thought into another, or the discovery of an unexpected thought or idea.
EX: When you see Ann—here she comes—act as if nothing had happened.
You drink Brawls—you do, don’t you?—you’ll love Spike; it has 33,333% of daily B12.
From Eudora Welty: “Powerhouse is not a show-off like the Harlem boys, not crazy—he’s in a trance; he’s a person of joy.”
3) Use a dash to separate two identical or almost identical words.
Ex: I can do the job—the job of gangstering the Brady Bunch.
Dole and Nixon—these men where his idols.
4) Use a dash before a list that explains in detail some word or phrase in the first part of the sentence.
EX: Bring some romantic item—among other things roses, champagne, and candles.
5) Many authors use the dash as a method of a pause when a character is speaking. An example from Rudolph Fisher’s “Common Meter” exists: “Oh, her got her the job, did he?—Well, I’m going to fix it so she won’t need any job.”
6) James Joyce uses the dash instead of quotations.
--O, Mr. D’Arcy, cried Mary Jane, it’s downright mean of you to break off like that when we were all in raptures listening to you.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Commas
Rules for Commas:
1) They divide items in lists, but are not require before the “and” on the end.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange, lemon, strawberry and lime.
The rule here is that the comma is correct if it can be replaced by the word “and” or “or”.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange and lemon and strawberry and lime.
Note: It is not incorrect to put a comma before the “and” at the end.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange, lemon, strawberry, and lime.
2) Commas are used when two complete sentences are joined together using such conjunctions as “and”, “or”, “but”, “while”, and “yet”.
The boys wanted to stay up past midnight, but they had a race to run the next day, and their coach told them “no”.
Note: A comma splice occurs when you use a comma when a semi-colon is called for.
Example: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday, she received a lot of presents.
It should be written: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday; she received a lot of presents.
Or: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday, and she received a lot of presents.
3) Commas fill gaps where other words might go.
Example: Annie had dark hair; Sally, fair.
4) Commas before direct speech.
The queen said, “It’s my birthday and I want lots of presents.”
Note: Many authors use colons: these days. Joyce used dashes –.
5) Commas set off interjections.
Stop, or I’ll scream.
6) Commas set aside non-essential information.
John Keats, who never did any harm to anyone, is often invoked by grammarians.
1) They divide items in lists, but are not require before the “and” on the end.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange, lemon, strawberry and lime.
The rule here is that the comma is correct if it can be replaced by the word “and” or “or”.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange and lemon and strawberry and lime.
Note: It is not incorrect to put a comma before the “and” at the end.
Example: The four refreshing fruit flavors of Opal Fruits are orange, lemon, strawberry, and lime.
2) Commas are used when two complete sentences are joined together using such conjunctions as “and”, “or”, “but”, “while”, and “yet”.
The boys wanted to stay up past midnight, but they had a race to run the next day, and their coach told them “no”.
Note: A comma splice occurs when you use a comma when a semi-colon is called for.
Example: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday, she received a lot of presents.
It should be written: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday; she received a lot of presents.
Or: It was the Queen’s birthday on Saturday, and she received a lot of presents.
3) Commas fill gaps where other words might go.
Example: Annie had dark hair; Sally, fair.
4) Commas before direct speech.
The queen said, “It’s my birthday and I want lots of presents.”
Note: Many authors use colons: these days. Joyce used dashes –.
5) Commas set off interjections.
Stop, or I’ll scream.
6) Commas set aside non-essential information.
John Keats, who never did any harm to anyone, is often invoked by grammarians.
Semi-Colons
From: “The Proper Use of the Semi-Colon, Colon, and Dash, from the Illicit Manuals of Outlaws, Short Stories of Jazz, and Authors of Revolutionary Letters.”
“The dash is great refuge of those who are too lazy to punctuate.”
--Bernard Shaw
SEMI-COLON – A stylistic mark that is never necessary: it takes the place of a comma or period.
USES:
1) To join two or more closely related sentences or complete statements. EX: The black Saturn slid into a snow bank; the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither of an eighth note.”
I went to work; I had a quick lunch; I came straight home.
NOTE: Both of these sentences could be written with a comma.
The black Saturn slid into a snow bank, and the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither or an eighth note.”
2) To connect interrelated ideas or thoughts. EX: In France, we brought tea; in Amsterdam, coffee; in America, coke-cola; in Ireland, apple juice.
We brought tea in France, coffee in Amsterdam, coke-cola in America, and apple juice in Ireland.
3) A semi-colon may replace a comma to separate items of a list when additional commas may confuse the reader. EX: The winning numbers were 1,273; 3,663; 8,462; and 2,370; Dean had all of them.
Mr. Green, the plumber (who did it with the wrench); George Jefferson, the laundry-mat owner; and Scooby Doo, the rabid mutt, were all at the school cookout.
“The dash is great refuge of those who are too lazy to punctuate.”
--Bernard Shaw
SEMI-COLON – A stylistic mark that is never necessary: it takes the place of a comma or period.
USES:
1) To join two or more closely related sentences or complete statements. EX: The black Saturn slid into a snow bank; the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither of an eighth note.”
I went to work; I had a quick lunch; I came straight home.
NOTE: Both of these sentences could be written with a comma.
The black Saturn slid into a snow bank, and the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither or an eighth note.”
2) To connect interrelated ideas or thoughts. EX: In France, we brought tea; in Amsterdam, coffee; in America, coke-cola; in Ireland, apple juice.
We brought tea in France, coffee in Amsterdam, coke-cola in America, and apple juice in Ireland.
3) A semi-colon may replace a comma to separate items of a list when additional commas may confuse the reader. EX: The winning numbers were 1,273; 3,663; 8,462; and 2,370; Dean had all of them.
Mr. Green, the plumber (who did it with the wrench); George Jefferson, the laundry-mat owner; and Scooby Doo, the rabid mutt, were all at the school cookout.
Colons
Colon—Stylistic mark, never necessary, takes the place of a comma
USES:
1) Introduce a List.
Example: Bob excels in the following activities: wrecking his car while driving blindfolded; drinking bottles of hot sauce; watching football and scratching his ringworm foot bloody; and flunking English 060.
WARNING: A list must be introduced to use a colon. A similar sentence could be written: Bob excels in football, baseball and basketball. There is no introduction of a list and therefore a colon could not be used. It would be wrong to write: Bob excels in: football, baseball, and basketball.
2) After a statement that introduces a quotation.
Example: He began the meeting with this warning: “Gentlemen, Art Bell says the world will end in three years!”
We were at the pizza station when John shouted: “That girl is in my class.”
3) Many writers use the colon to define or expand on some object or subject within a sentence. Here is an example from Eudora Welty’s story “Powerhouse” (from Hot and Cool: Jazz Short Stories): “Powerhouse reads each one, studying with a secret face: that is the face which looks like a mask—anybody’s; there is a moment when he makes a decision.”
Here Welty is defining “secret face”. Another example from James Joyce’s “The Dead”: “So she had had that romance in her life: a man had died for her sake.” Here Joyce is defining
USES:
1) Introduce a List.
Example: Bob excels in the following activities: wrecking his car while driving blindfolded; drinking bottles of hot sauce; watching football and scratching his ringworm foot bloody; and flunking English 060.
WARNING: A list must be introduced to use a colon. A similar sentence could be written: Bob excels in football, baseball and basketball. There is no introduction of a list and therefore a colon could not be used. It would be wrong to write: Bob excels in: football, baseball, and basketball.
2) After a statement that introduces a quotation.
Example: He began the meeting with this warning: “Gentlemen, Art Bell says the world will end in three years!”
We were at the pizza station when John shouted: “That girl is in my class.”
3) Many writers use the colon to define or expand on some object or subject within a sentence. Here is an example from Eudora Welty’s story “Powerhouse” (from Hot and Cool: Jazz Short Stories): “Powerhouse reads each one, studying with a secret face: that is the face which looks like a mask—anybody’s; there is a moment when he makes a decision.”
Here Welty is defining “secret face”. Another example from James Joyce’s “The Dead”: “So she had had that romance in her life: a man had died for her sake.” Here Joyce is defining
Monday, 12 December 2011
What to STUDY?
1) Review questions from DAWN
2) Notes/Rules on the following:
Commas
Semi-Colons
Colons
Dashes
Simple Sentences
Compound Sentences
Complex Sentences
Be able to write each of the above - example: Be able to write a sentence using a semi-colon that connects to related, but independent, clauses.
2) Notes/Rules on the following:
Commas
Semi-Colons
Colons
Dashes
Simple Sentences
Compound Sentences
Complex Sentences
Be able to write each of the above - example: Be able to write a sentence using a semi-colon that connects to related, but independent, clauses.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
12/7
A) Sentence Combining
Breakfast is my favorite meal. I like hot food for breakfast. I prefer eggs and bacon to oatmeal. A good breakfast always starts my day off right.
B) Punctuation
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, where ever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
2. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
3. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
4. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.
5. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
C) Read DAWN 60-70. Look and answer study questions.
Breakfast is my favorite meal. I like hot food for breakfast. I prefer eggs and bacon to oatmeal. A good breakfast always starts my day off right.
B) Punctuation
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, where ever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
2. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
3. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
4. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.
5. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
C) Read DAWN 60-70. Look and answer study questions.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Study Questions / Guide for DAWN
Here are questions for the last two chapters of DAWN. You test will come from all these questions (as well as questions on rules for commas, semi-colons, colons, dashes).
CHAPTER FIVE
1. What does Elisha imagine that the room is filled with?
2. What does the beggar tell Elisha about this night?
3. What does the little boy tell him?
4. Why is it significant that it is the boy who speaks?
5. How did John Dawson react when told he would die?
6. Why does Elisha not want to see Dawson eat?
7. What problem does Elisha think is worse than fear?
8. In what way does Ilana say that war is like night.
9. What other observations of war does she make?
10. After the war ends, what does Elisha think will remain?
11. What does he think the silent dead do?
12. What does he say the freedom nation is built upon?
13. Elisha says he is not a murderer but an idealist. How is this true?
14. In what way did he, as a youth, try to follow any idealist dream?
15 What do the presences symbolize as far as what makes a man?
16. What does the revolver symbolize for Elisha?
17. Why does he say that in an hour everything will be different?
CHAPTER SIX
1. What is ironic about the meaning of Elisha's name?
2. What does Elisha think the next day will bring him?
3. Why does John Dawson understand Elisha better than any human being?
4. What two burning sensations does Elisha feel?
5. Whom does Elisha picture when he tries to picture David Ben Moshe?
6. What experiences did Dawson's artistic hands make Elisha think of?
7. Is he right in saying, "Now our only chance lies in hating you, in learning the necessity and art of hate"?
8. What is the meaning of, "I've killed Elisha"?
9. What does he hear his mother say to him?
10. Explain the last line of the novel.
Monday, 5 December 2011
12/6
Grammar Exercises
A) John owns a hat. John loves to wear hats. John's girlfriend likes to see John in cowboy hats. John's hero is John Wayne.
B) My shoes are Nikes. My Nike shoes are designed to play tennis. My Nikes have air soles. I like their weight.
READ 44-60.
A) John owns a hat. John loves to wear hats. John's girlfriend likes to see John in cowboy hats. John's hero is John Wayne.
B) My shoes are Nikes. My Nike shoes are designed to play tennis. My Nikes have air soles. I like their weight.
READ 44-60.
Journal for DAWN
DUE: Wednesday - write a journal that contains three parts:
1) A summary of the book up to page 44.
2) A PREDICTION about what you think will happen.
3) What you would do if you were in Elisha's situation.
1) A summary of the book up to page 44.
2) A PREDICTION about what you think will happen.
3) What you would do if you were in Elisha's situation.
Sentence Combining and Grammar Exercises
Today - we're going to review punctuation, do some grammar exercises and write a journal about DAWN.
Combine each of the following into one sentence.
1) The bear was big. The bear broke open the garbage. The bear ate the left over pizza. Dan's father shot the bear. Dan cried.
2) Espionage is the secret collection of intelligent information. The history of espionage goes back over two thousand years. Espionage was started in China by Sun Tzu.
For the following correct the punctuation:
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, where ever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
2. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
3. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
4. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.
5. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
Combine each of the following into one sentence.
1) The bear was big. The bear broke open the garbage. The bear ate the left over pizza. Dan's father shot the bear. Dan cried.
2) Espionage is the secret collection of intelligent information. The history of espionage goes back over two thousand years. Espionage was started in China by Sun Tzu.
For the following correct the punctuation:
Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, where ever they are needed in the following sentences.
1. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
2. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.
3. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
4. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.
5. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Grammar Exercises
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)