Pre-Writing Exercise
Review Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 in Correct Writing
Read More about Sentence Fragments:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/620/01/
Read More about Independent and Dependent Clauses:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/01/
In Word, list important words/ideas from your readings (at least 30)
Include a number beside each concept denoting its importance to you (1 least important, 10 most important)
Paste your list into
Wordle.net
Add your Wordle to the class blog
Clause Review
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence.
A dependent clause, or subordinate clause, contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence.
A dependent clause must always be combined with an independent clause.
A dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (before, although, after, while, because, since, etc.)
Adverbial Clause
Adverbial clause: these function as adverbs in a sentence.
Adverbial clauses answer the questions how, why and to what extent.
They are introduced by a relative adverb (when, where, and why).
They function as an adverb, and are not separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions include: and, or, but, for, nor.
These conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses of equal value.
Clauses of equal value are called independent clauses and can stand on their own as separate sentences.
Example: John is running in this race and I am carrying his water bottle.
(Each clause can stand alone: John is running in this race. I am carrying his water bottle.)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone as a single sentence. In fact, the clause is dependent on the rest of the sentence for its meaning.
Example: Since I will not be home, Tina will answer the phone.
"Since I will not be home" doesn't make sense by itself. It is dependent on the rest of the sentence for its meaning.
Most commonly used subordinating conjunctions include: although, because, as, while, until, whether, since, after, so that, when, before, if.
Answer the Following Questions in the Comments Section here:
Find the conjunctions in the following sentences. Label them coordinating or subordinating.
1. He listened to the man’s story and reported it to the policeman on duty.
2. I haven’t seen my brother since he left for college.
3. Your aunt or your uncle will pick you up from school today.
4. Tom, Jane, Sue, and Tim will be going on the trip.
5. I remember the old school book, for it was once mine.
6. Sarah did not feel well, but she went to class anyway.
7. Although the old man was hungry, he never said a word to anyone.
8. I think I heard that on the television or radio, although I am not sure.
Punctuation Rules
Independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) are separated by a COMMA
Independent clauses joined without a coordinating conjunction require a SEMICOLON
If the sentence has a lot of commas, then even with a coordinating conjunction use a SEMICOLON
A series of elements (three or more) uses a COMMA
Style Activity: Due 20th October, 5:00pm
- Review “Thx for the IView!” Essay
- Read “2b or not 2b?” by David Crystal: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/05/saturdayreviewsfeatres.guardianreview
- Write a short paragraph response on some of the differences between standard and non-standard (txt) English usage. Please post this to the blog as a comment on Lecture 5.
- Choose a news report from the front page of any Canadian newspaper: http://broadcast-live.com/newspapers/canadian.html
- Rewrite the article in txt spk. If the article is long, choose a page (250-300 word) extract to rewrite.
- Post both a link to the original article AND your txt spk version in your own blog post.
- Include a comment on the differences between the two styles.
NB: Image from Writing Resources.
