Today’s Agenda

1. Today’s Agenda • Daily Starter • Writing Clear Sentences • Dangling Modifiers • Homework • Write a paragraph (7+ sentences) describing an awkward or embarrassing classroom experience. Try to write it without using introductory elements. Now, go back and add useful information in the form of introductory elements. Add at least three, and put a comma after each one. Use the Illogical Action Tip to make sure you avoid dangling modifiers. • Continue work on research paper – draft due on Monday for workshop!

2. Daily Starter Write five sentences about your favorite mythical creature. Check to make sure you are using active voice!

3. Dangling Modifiers • Modifiers are words that describe other words. • Can be simple, such as adjectives – big house. • Can be complex – Suddenly feeling sick, Barry went home. • Dangling modifiers occur when complex modifiers are not placed close enough to the word they modify. • Studying for hours, my eyes grew tired.

4. Dangling Modifiers • Illogical Action Tip: Look for introductory elements that involve an action and check to see whether these elements are making illogical claims about the nearest noun or pronoun. If so, the introductory element is a dangling modifier. • After leaving the theater, Makayla stopped by my apartment. • Damaged beyond repair, Nina threw her watch away.

5. Let’s Practice! • Being well prepared, passing the test was easy for me. • While sleeping on the couch, my back began to hurt. • Since arriving at this school, Jeff’s study habits have changed dramatically. • Hurrying to answer the phone, her knee hit the table. • Understanding the importance of outlining, I developed a plan for writing the next paper.

6. More Modifier Fun! • The writer read from his new book wearing glasses. • You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday. • As we begin, I must ask you to banish all information about the case from your mind, if you have any. • For sale: An antique desk suitable for a lady with thick legs and large drawers. • Wanted: Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.

7. Your Turn! Combine the two short sentences by making the second sentence into a phrase or clause that can be moved in front of the underlined subject. Punctuate appropriately, and avoid dangling modifiers. The chicken was injured by a speeding truck. The chicken was crossing the road. The chicken looked both ways. The chicken was concerned about the heavy traffic. The chicken decided never to cross the road again. The chicken was frightened by her near-death experience.

8. Homework Introductory elements can always be deleted because they are not grammatically necessary. However, they are commonly used because they add useful information. Write a paragraph (7+ sentences) describing an awkward or embarrassing classroom experience. Try to write it without using introductory elements. Now, go back and add useful information in the form of introductory elements. Add at least three, and put a comma after each one. Use the Illogical Action Tip to make sure you avoid dangling modifiers.