Conventions/Grammar

1. Conventions/Grammar 6 Traits of Good Writing

2. Active v. Passive Voice Grammar

3. Read the passages & choose the most successful. 1:The zombie was awoken by the hunger gnawing its gut. The hunger was driven by the only thought that was still possessed by the zombie: BRAINS. Brains were eaten every day if the zombie wished to keep walking—except that not much was wished for by the zombie these days. So, more correctly, the zombie was kept forever salivating over cerebellum by instinct. This morning, so strong was the instinct that munching on its own brain was considered by zombie the to quench the overwhelming hunger. 2:The hunger gnawing the zombie’s gut awoke it. BRAINS—the only thought the zombie still possessed—drove the hunger. The zombie had to eat brains every day if he wished to keep walking—except that he didn’t wish for much these days. So, more correctly, instinct kept the zombie forever salivating over cerebellum. This morning, the instinct was so strong that the zombie considered munching on its own brain to quench the overwhelming hunger.

4. Active voice When the subject does or “enacts” the verb in the sentence, the sentence is in the ACTIVE voice.

5. Passive voice A writer can change the word order of most active voice sentences so the subject is no longer active, but passive (inactive). These sentences are in the passive voice.

6. To change a sentence from active to passive voice… 1.  Move the subject to the end of the sentence. If there is a direct object move it to the beginning. Marilynmailed the letter.  The letter mailed Marilyn. SUBJECT DIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT SUBJECT 2. The sentence now makes no sense. In order to bring sense to the sentence, place a preposition in front of the subject. The letter mailed Marilyn. The letter mailed by Marilyn. SUBJECTPREPOSITION+ SUBJECT 3.  Add a form of the helper/auxiliary verb be to the verb. (Change the main verb's form if needed.) The letter mailed by Marilyn.  The letter wasmailed by Marilyn. VERB HELPER+VERB

7. To change a sentence from passive to active voice… Simply reverse previous steps. • Switch the subject and direct object. • Remove the auxiliary verb and preposition from the sentence. • Fix any verb tenses necessary.

8. General Rule It is generally preferable to use the ACTIVE voice. PASSIVE voice should be used for variety and, even then, very purposefully. • Because passive voice sentences add words and change the expected word order, they may make the reader work harder to understand the intended meaning. • A sentence in active voice flows more smoothly and is easier to understand.  • Passive voice is not ideal when being brief and concise is necessary.

9. Exceptions Passive voice can be used to deemphasize the role of the subject in the action. EX: The lamp was broken this afternoon. EX: The rules were developed by the principal. In the first sentence, the lamp was broken, but we don’t have to admit by whom. In the second sentence, it is stated that the principal set the rules, but word order emphasizes the RULES. Passive voice can be useful when the subject is unknown or unimportant. EX: The ballots have been counted. We do not care who counted the ballots, only that they’ve been counted.

10. Assignment Your paper has numbers on it that correspond to numbers on the Grammar Card. Using the grammar card explanations, this information, and your essay, correct the errors. Please take this time to ask questions if you do not understand why something was marked or how to fix it.

11. Run-on Sentences Grammar

12. What is a run-on sentence? • A sentence in which two complete sentences are joined without the appropriate punctuation or conjunction. EX: • I am a woman I am a chef. • I am a woman, I am a chef.

13. Think of sentences as HEAVY sections of a bridge. I am a chef. I am a woman I am a woman, I am a chef. “I am a woman I am a chef.” is like two very heavy pieces of a bridge with no supports in the middle. Just like the bridge, the sentence will just collapse. “I am a woman, I am a chef.” adds a comma in the middle. Commas, however, are not strong enough on their own to support the weight of two full sentences.

14. How to fix a run-on! I am a woman. I am a chef. . I am a woman; I am a chef. ; OPTION 1: Add a period or semi colon between the sentences. I am a woman. I am a chef. I am a woman; I am a chef.

15. How to fix a run-on! I am a woman, and I am a chef. , and OPTION TWO: Add a comma and a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) I am a woman, and I am a chef.

16. How to fix a run-on! OPTION THREE: Reword the sentence to avoid having two complete thoughts. I am a woman and a chef. I am a woman and chef. I am a female chef.

17. Sentence Fragments Grammar

18. What is a sentence fragment? • A sentence fragment is a sentence that is incomplete.

19. What causes fragments? The sentence may be incomplete for any number of reasons: • A subject is missing • Going to the mailbox. • Dancing the night away. • A verb is missing • The homecoming dance next week. • John, who lives at the store. • Subject and verb are present, but a word is present that makes the sentence incomplete • Because the doctor was injured. • Since school started.

20. Interrupters Grammar

21. Interrupters • Definition: Interrupters are side comments and necessary information that interrupt normal sentence structure. These are added to show emotion, tone or emphasis. • When using an interrupter in the middle of the sentence, it should be emphasized with commas. Without the commas, the flow of the sentence may be unclear/awkward for the reader. • Interrupters are easily identified by saying the sentence out loud; you’ll naturally pause where the commas should be.

22. Common Interrupters in fact to say the least However generally speaking Sadly Happily Unfortunately indeed

23. Examples EX: Queen Victoria was, as they say, a formidable woman. EX: Jeremy, my brother, is an idiot. The interrupters as they sayand my brother need commas before and after them to emphasize their separation from the rest of the sentence.

24. Examples FIND THE INTERRUPTER and ADD COMMAS: • John Steinbeck the author of several short stories also wrote Of Mice and Men. • Students must in fact pass four years of English to graduate. • I Mrs. Renchen need coffee.

25. Using Dashes If you want to emphasize the break more strongly, use dashes to separate the interrupter from the rest of the sentence. The pattern looks like this: EX: That chocolate-broccoli muffin—though a good source of vitamin C—will upset Frank's stomach this early in the morning. EX: My brother's seven-foot python—aptly named Squeeze—slithered out the open back door and frightened Mrs. Russell, our next-door neighbor, nearly to death. EX: That nuclear orange jacket—believeme—fails to complement your lime green pants.

26. Modifiers—essential/nonessential, Grammar

27. Essential and Nonessential Modifiers • Essential Modifiers—give information that is fundamental to the grammar and content of a sentence • Are not set off using commas • Often begin with “that” • Nonessential Modifiers—can be removed from the sentence without hindering the grammar or the specificity of the statement • Are set off using commas • Often being with “which”

28. Examples ESSENTIAL • The desk that the sleeping student occupied was covered in drool. • The man who sells shoes has soul. • My aunt who crochets can really spin a yarn. NONESSENTIAL • The desk, which no one occupied, was broken. • The man, who sells shoes on the side, is named Tom. • My aunt, who is older than I am, has a birthday next week.

29. Choose the correct sentence The senior course that is most helpful is CCC. The senior course, which is most helpful, is CCC

30. Choose the correct sentence The Rock who used to wrestle has expressive eyebrows. The Rock, who used to wrestle, has expressive eyebrows.

31. Choose the correct sentence The squirrel, that gathers nuts, lives in a tree. The squirrel that gathers nuts lives in a tree. The squirrel, which gathers nuts, lives in a tree. The squirrel which gathers nuts lives in a tree.

32. Choose the correct sentence The man, who wears a tie, is in business. The man that wears a tie is in buiness.

33. Modifiers—misplaced/dangling Grammar

34. What does that mean?? Modifiers should go directly before or after the words they modify. A dangling modifier is a modifier that has no noun to modify. A misplaced modifier is a modifier that has wandered away from its noun.

35. Dangling Modifiers EX: Driving down the road, a deer darted in front of my car. This sentence is confusing. Obviously I was driving, but since I am not mentioned, it appears as though the deer was driving (because it is the noun nearest to the modifier). FIXED: As I drove down the road, a deer darted in front of my car.

36. Misplaced Modifiers EX: Exhausted, my mother cheerfully tried on another dress while I slumped in a chair outside the dressing room. • This sentence, as is, indicates my mother is exhausted. Yet, I wanted to convey that I was exhausted. FIXED: My mother cheerfully tried on another dress while I slumped, exhausted, in a chair outside the dressing room.

37. Right or Wrong? F lying over the countryside, the cars and houses looked like toys. The messenger spoke to the receptionist who delivered the package. The golfer made a hole-in-one with the green-and-white umbrella. Without thinking what might be on the menu, Hugh told his hostess that he hated broccoli. After studying hard, the test was a breeze.

38. Right or Wrong? • With my small allowance, the tickets were too expensive. • The right belongs to every American to vote in elections. • The house was rebuilt by the new owners destroyed by the fire. • At camp, home seemed very far away. • After finishing the dishes, we were ready to relax for the evening.

39. Commas Grammar

40. LISTS • If there are 3 or more items in a list, always put a comma between each item and before the word “AND.” You should follow the same rule for a list of 3 or more items that uses the word “OR.” EX: • I ate pizza, popcorn, and chips. • The student got a good night’s sleep, ate a healthy breakfast, and arrived on time. • You may listen to music, work on homework, or ask questions during Study Hall.

41. LISTS • If there are only two items in the list and there is no “AND” in between, there is a comma. EX • I like new, interesting-sounding songs. • Her long, brown hair was tied into a braid.

42. LISTS • If there are only two items in the list with an “AND” in between, there is NO COMMA. Ex: She listened to Lady Gaga and the White Stripes. I like swimming and running.

43. FANBOYS For And Nor But Or Yet So

44. FANBOYS A comma by itself can’t connect two complete ideas. INCORRECT USE: I went to the store, I bought shoes. However, if you use a FANBOY (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) with a comma before it, you can separate two complete thoughts. CORRECT USE: I went to the store, and I bought shoes. He smells like cologne, but the smell is better than B.O. Do NOT use commas with the word “BECAUSE” EX: I like puppies because they are cute.

45. LINKING INCOMPLETE AND COMPLETE THOUGHTS • Commas can link incomplete and complete ideas, in either order. Example: • Before I called the repair company, I had to find their number. • The neighbor’s baby cried all night, making me want to scream in frustration. • Having finished the test, the student checked all his answers.

46. Other DATE • February 12th, 2011 • Monday, February 12th, 2011 STATE AND CITY • Rantoul, IL • Champaign-Urbana, IL • New York City, New York

47. TO EMPHASIZE INTERRUPTERS Example: The rain, indeed, dampened my festive mood.

48. Introductory phrases • Especially if/then statements, phrases that tell the time/place, and modifiers Examples: • On Monday, I ate three pizzas • If it rains on Thursday, I’ll wear boots. • In June, students get to have fun! • Walking quietly, I tried to sneak up on Joe. • At school, students turn off their cell phones.

49. TO SEPARATE NON-ESSENTIAL INFORMATION • Non-essential information is information that can be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning. Example: • Tuesday, which happens to be my birthday, is the only day I can meet with you. • The restaurant has an nice atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bad. • I usually like fruit. This apple, however, tastes rotten to me. • The man, who looked rather like my uncle, got off the train at the next stop.