Dash —

1. Café Salmonella was located in the Fish District, which was a part of the city that looked, sounded, smelled and—if you were to kneel down and lick its streets—probably tasted like fish. Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator I knew it wasn't any use though—the fast walking, I mean— even before the Corvair pulled up beside me and five Socs got out. I got pretty scared— I'm kind of small for fourteen even though I have a good build, and those guys were bigger than me. I automatically hitched my thumbs in my jeans and slouched, wondering if I could get away if I made a break for it. I remembered Johnny— his face all cut up and bruised, and I remembered how he had cried when we found him, half-conscious, in the corner lot. Johnny had it awful rough at home— it took a lot to make him cry. S.E.Hinton, The Outsiders

2. Dash — Purposes: • Used to set off information with a dramatic flair. • To show a break

3. The difference? Dash — • in the introduction. • as an interrupter. • as a closer. • to set off a list. Hyphen - • in compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine • in certain compound nouns: father-in-law, great-uncle • in words with the following prefixes ex, self, great, half, and all: ex-president, self-employed A dash is twice the size of a hyphen.

4. Dash? What comes to mind when you hear the word “dash”? Fast? The Incredibles? Rushed?

5. DARKNESS—COLD—CHURNING WATER—roaring, like a thousand lions—spinning around and around—bashing into rocks—arms wrapped around my face to protect it—tucking up my legs to make myself smaller, less on target. -Darren Shan, Cirque Du Freak #6: The Vampire Prince. Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripty—Good. His dad had the pickup going. He could get up now. Jess slid out of bed and into his overalls. -Katherine Paterson, Bridges To Terabithia

6. Dash “Rules” • Dashes are not to be used commonly. If your paper has a whole bunch of dashes, make sure to check them over and see whether they are all necessary and the best punctuation choice. • If you have a dash where a comma would work better, use the comma! A dash is for strength in a sentence.

7. Sentence Patterns for Dash Usage Sent — interrupter — ence Sent — list — ence Sentence — Closer

8. The first thing the lazy employees did when they arrived at work—besides slowly drinking their coffee—was to turn on their computers so the boss would think they were busy at work. Darry is six-feet-two, and broad-shouldered and muscular. He has dark-brown hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back—just like Dad's—but Darry's eyes are his own. S.E.Hinton, The Outsiders “When you’re my age” —Leslie gave a little sigh—”you just play with paper dolls anymore. My grandmother sent me these…” Katherine Paterson, Bridges To Terabithia "I never thought that—," he began to say.

9. Sentence Pattern Sent — interrupter — ence He began to paint, while the stars behind him glittered for all they were worth which was considerable and every single one of them held its place in the night’s sky without falling.

10. He began to paint, while the stars behind him glittered for all they were worth—which was considerable— and every single one of them held its place in the night’s sky without falling. • Gary D Schmidt, Lizzie Bright and the Buckmister Boy

11. Most of the car companies—GM, Ford, and Chrysler—are having financial problems because of the bad economy. The siblings—Carl, Dirk, and Ashleigh—want to go to the water park today instead of tomorrow. He began to trot across the yard. His breath was coming out in little—puffs cold for August. But it was early yet. Katherine Paterson, Bridges To Terabithia She also wondered whether cats could all talk where she came from and just chose not to, or whether they could only talk when they were here—wherever here was. Neil Gaiman, Coraline

12. Sentence Pattern Sent — list — ence “More to the point,” said the tallest of the group the one with most expensive frock coat, the most expensive top hat, and the most expensive shiney shoes. Sentence — Closer He wouldn’t go for the double just a single.

13. “More to the point,” said the tallest of the group — the one with most expensive frock coat, the most expensive top hat, and the most expensive shiney shoes. -Gary D Schmidt, Lizzie Bright and the Buckmister Boy • He wouldn’t go for the double — just a single. -Gary D Schmidt, Lizzie Bright and the Buckmister Boy

14. When I got to my locker, Renee Albert said hi to me from about a foot away, her locker has always been next to mine, and I realized I hadn’t brushed my teeth. Perfect. Rushing, rushing, rushing, waiting, waiting, waitingswinging.

15. When I got to my locker, Renee Albert said hi to me from about a foot away — her locker has always been next to mine — and I realized I hadn’t brushed my teeth. Perfect. -Jordan Sonnenblick, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie Rushing, rushing, rushing, waiting, waiting, waiting—swinging. -Gary D Schmidt, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

16. Write the sentence that includes your favorite use of a dash from your writing this week. Be ready to share!