FREEWRITE MICROTHEME On a piece of paper, with your name & date on it, write 80-100

words on:

an event that lasted no more than 5 minutes . . .

that brought you either pain or sadness OR

pleasure or joy See next slide for example

Writing 90 Dr. Martha J. Bianco 2

I received a phone call from my aunt, saying, “Martha, Uncle Alan is dead.” “What?” I responded, in shock. And she went on to explain that he had been sick with some disease for a long time. I had not even had any idea he was sick! But apparently, they had seen this coming, as he had been ill with a lung disease for a very long time. I was so shocked that my aunt said, “Martha? Hello? Are you there?” I didn’t even know how to respond, because I had not known he was ill.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 912345678910

Estimate total word count by counting the number of words on your first line and multiplying that by the number of lines. For example, this essay is 9 x 10 ≈ 90. [actual count = 96]

Martha Bianco Microtheme #1 10/3/08

Week 2 Grammar:Subjects, Verbs, andTypes of Sentences

Subjects

GrammarWarm Up Activity

SUBJECT AND VERB

The verb indicates an action

Carolyn speaks Spanish.

or state of being

Carolyn is Mexican.

FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT

The subject tells who or what is doing the action:

Carolyn speaks Spanish.

or being something

Carolyn is Mexican.

TO FIND THE SIMPLE SUBJECT . . . Ask who or what is doing or being

something.

Mike’s expertise at the Halo videogame series was something all of his friends admired.

Mike’s expertise at the Halo videogame series was something all of his friends admired.

COMMON NOUNS AS SUBJECT. . .

animals, plants, things, qualities, ideasThe dog barks too much.Her petunias almost died.That table is crowded.Fairness is an important virtue.Happiness can be difficult to achieve.

PROPER NOUNS AS SUBJECTS

Specific people, places, things, conceptsLittle Sparky barks too much.Beautiful Springfield is losing population.

When October begins, the air is cool.

The girls and John decided to play.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS AS SUBJECTS

Personal pronouns stand for specific persons or things:The dog barks too much.

It barks too much.Her petunias almost died.

They almost died.Beautiful Springfield is losing population.

It is losing population.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS AS SUBJECT. . .

Personal pronouns stand for specific persons or things:John called the girls.

He called the girls.The girls and John decided to play.

They decided to play.Anne and I ate lunch.

We ate lunch.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS SUBJECT. . .

Indefinite pronouns stand for general persons or things:Each of them contributed some money.Everybody gave their most.Nobody thought to call.Somebody arrived late.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS AS SUBJECTS

Subject form of a relative pronoun stands alone.Otherwise, it’s an adjective.

This is my friend. These are my friends.This friend is mine. These friends are mine.

That is your dog. Those are your dogs.That dog is yours. Those dogs are yours.

QUESTION PRONOUNS AS SUBJECTS

Who is my friend? Which is your dog? What are your favorite songs? Whose is that?

SINGLE VS. COMPOUND SIMPLE SUBJECT Single subject

My friend brought a present.

Compound subjectMy friend and I have much in common.

Jane, Susan, and Maria met for lunch.

THE IMPLIED “YOU” IN A COMMAND:Read the notes.

= (You) Read the notes.

Please have a seat.= (You) Please have a seat.

SUBJECT-VERB SEPARATION

in the student in the back of a friend of mine on the book on the table at the price at the bookstore for a poem for my friend

preposition object of the preposition

preposition object of the preposition

Interrupter (prepositional phrase) may separate subject from verb

OBJECT OF PREPOSITION CAN’T BE SUBJECT The student in the back raised her hand.

The student in the back raised her hand. A friend of mine has the same shirt.

A friend of mine has the same shirt. The book on the table belongs to me.

The book on the table belongs to me. The price at the bookstore is higher.

The price at the bookstore is higher. A poem for my friend is a nice gift.

A poem for my friend is a nice gift.

FILLER WORDS “HERE” AND “THERE” ARE NOT SUBJECTS!

There were birds in the tree.

There is a nest in the tree.

Here are the birds in their nest.

There and Here are never

subjects!

STOP AND PRACTICEExercises 1 & 2, p. 44

Verbs

VERB PHRASES Single verb:He led the charge.

Verb phrases use helping verbs:is • can • has • did • may • should

(etc.)She is leading the charge. He can drive to work.They did give to the charity.

COMPOUND VERBS ARE JOINED BYCONNECTOR WORDS LIKE AND OR OR

He studied or worked all his adult life. She worked for twenty-five years and retired.

Elena had immigrated to the U.S. and had raised a family.

DON’T CONFUSE VERBS WITH VERBALS!

Verbals look like verbs – but aren’t!Gerund = verb + ing: singing, laughing

Singing is fun. Singing = noun

Infinitive = to + verb: to be, to singI want to sing. To sing = noun

DON’T CONFUSE VERBS WITH VERBALS!

Present participle = verb + ing: breakingWe listened for breaking glass. Breaking =

adjective

Past participle = verb + ed, en, etc.: brokenWe cleaned up the broken glass. Broken =

adjective

WORDS LIKE NEVER, NOT, AND HARDLY ARE ADVERBS, NOT VERBS...

We never eat dessert before dinner. We never eat dessert before dinner.

I do not like lima beans. I do not like lima beans.

They hardly knew Aunt Mary. They hardly knew Aunt Mary.

The adverb “not” often separates a helping verb from the main verb.

STOP AND PRACTICE

Exercises 3 & 4, p. 47

SUBJECTS MAY FOLLOW VERBS:

Birds were in the tree.

There were birds in the tree.

There is a nest in the tree.

Here are the birds in their nest.

There and Here are never

subjects!

IN QUESTIONS, THE SUBJECT OFTEN COMES BETWEEN PARTS OF VERB PHRASE

Where had the defendant gone on that fateful night?

Do you like chocolate?

FOR SENTENCE VARIETY AND WRITING STYLE, SUBJECTS MAY COME AFTER VERBS

“I am innocent!” cried the defendant.

Quietly into the night go we.

STOP AND PRACTICE

Exercises 5 & 6, p. 48-49Review 1 & 2, p. 51-53

Microtheme: Underline subjects and circle verbs in the first two sentences. Put your name on your paper

and turn in!

Sentence Types

WHAT IS A SENTENCE?

A group of words that1. has a subject + verb2. starts with a capital letter3. ends with a period (.), question mark

(?), or exclamation mark (!)4. makes sense on its own (with no

added words)

CORRECT SENTENCES OR NOT? WHY?1. A Starbucks just opened in our neighborhood.2. did it just open.3. The manager who asked about parking.4. A brand-new Starbucks!5. It did?6. Time on our hands.7. The overtired baseball team finished its

practice.8. While you were sleeping on the couch.9. The idea you had.10. Sit.

WHAT IS A PHRASE?

A group of words eitherWithout a subject and/or verb orWith a subject and verb but makes no

sense

PHRASES OR COMPLETE SENTENCES?

1. The dog in the back yard continues to bark.2. The dog, who is in the back yard, barks.3. John, running down the street.4. John ran down the street.5. The final pages of the book.6. The supervisor liked what he saw.7. Hurrying away from the car.8. About the future.9. Worries about the future.10. We worry about the future.

WHAT IS A CLAUSE? A group of words that has a subject and a verb

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE?1. Independent clause (aka “Main

Clause”): Has a subject and verb Stands on its own Makes sense by itself

1. Susan began using a spell checker.2. John used a spell checker, too.

WHAT IS A DEPENDENT CLAUSE?1. Dependent clause (aka “Subordinate

Clause”): Has a subject and verb (or verbal), but Cannot stand on its own Doesn’t makes sense by itself Depends on another group of words to make

sense

1. Because she was having trouble with her spelling.

2. Although he was a good speller.

INDEPENDENT OR DEPENDENT?

1. While you are waiting.2. You might want to look at this magazine.3. The project is really exciting.4. Although the tasks seem boring.5. The client rang the bell.6. Because she wanted faster service.7. As soon as the mail arrives.8. I’ll see if the check is there.9. If you can come.10. Call me.

SIMPLE AND COMPOUND SENTENCES

A. Simple sentence

Consists of one independent clause:

1. Susan was having trouble with her spelling.

2. John used a spell checker, too.

SIMPLE AND COMPOUND SENTENCES

B. Compound sentence

Consists of two or more independent clauses:

1. Susan was having trouble with her spelling, so she began to use a spell checker.

2. John was a good speller, but he used a spell checker, too.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONAS

FANBOYS

• For •And • Nor• But • Or • Yet • So

SIMPLE OR COMPOUND? CIRCLE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:1. My boss dictates the memo, and Marlene types it.2. We filled out the correct forms.3. He hasn’t called me, nor has he written.4. He hasn’t called nor written.5. She left work early, for she was not feeling well.6. She wasn’t feeling well when she left work early.7. She wasn’t feeling well, so she left work early.8. Our customers can wait in line.9. They can order over the phone.10. They can wait in line, or they can order over the

phone.

COMPLEX SENTENCES A. One or more dependent clauses + one

independent clause1. Because she was having trouble with her

spelling, Susan began using a spell checker.2. Although he was a good speller, John used a

spell checker, too.

COMPLEX SENTENCES B. Dependent clause beings with a

subordinating conjunction. Examples:

TIME CAUSE / EFFECT

CONDITION

CONTRAST / COMPARE PLACE

beforeafterwhilewhenwheneveruntilas soon asas long as

becausesinceso thatin order that

ifunlesswhether

althoughthoughas thougheven thoughwhereasas if

wherewherever

COMPLEX SENTENCES? UNDERLINE ANY DEPENDENT CLAUSES & CIRCLE SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:

1. Please plan to fill out some forms before you see the doctor.

2. We want to serve you better, so we have a toll-free number.

3. Although it was raining, the picnic was held outside.4. It was raining, and the picnic was held inside.5. The contract expired on December 31.6. With that résumé, you will definitely find a job!7. I wasn’t planning to come because you don’t want me

to.8. Come to my office after you finish the report.9. Stay in your office to finish the report.10. We’ll be ready when the time comes.

STOP AND PRACTICE

Exercises 6 - 9, p. 62-63Review 1, 2 & 3 p. 67-69

Week 2 Writing Process:Warm-Up

LAST WEEK’S HOMEWORK REVIEW

Evaluate the summary on p. 17:

Exercise 4:

“Summary About One of My Favorite Garments”

DISCUSS & WRITE Discuss “American Space, Chinese Place, ”

reacting with:your own experienceyour own opinions (can you back them up?)a critical analysis:

Do you agree with the writer’s perspective?Why or why not?

Using your best writing skills, write a reaction and turn it in (don’t forget your name!)

Week 2 Writing Process:Stage One: Prewriting

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH? A group of sentences Each sentence has a function:

To state a topic sentencecontains the controlling idea

To support the topic sentence

TWO PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH:

Topic sentence containsSubject (topic)Treatment (what you will do with the topic)

Supporting sentence(s) containEvidence or reasoning DetailsExamplesExplanations

COMMON COLLEGE PARAGRAPH PATTERNS:

Pattern ATopic sentenceSupporting sentences

Pattern BTopic sentenceSupporting sentencesConcluding sentence

EXAMPLE

See “Magic Johnson, an NBA Great,” by Cyrus Norton, p. 269 of text.

Some NBA (National Basketball Association) players are good because they have a special talent in one area. Magic Johnson was a great NBA star because he was excellent in shooting, passing, rebounding, and leading.

WRITING PROCESS: STAGE ONE Your Writing Topic

assignedunassigned

Exploration & Information Gathering Use different graphic organizer techniques

STUCK?

Surf the Internet for IdeasLeads IssuesQuestions

BEST WEB SITES FOR GETTING STARTED

PCC Research Libraryhttp://www.pcc.edu/library/research/Databases by Subject

Opposing Viewpoints

BEST WEB SITES FOR GETTING STARTED

Googlehttp://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

Book SearchEarth ImagesNewsScholarWeb Search

BEST WEB SITES FOR GETTING STARTED

Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org

LanguagesCitations

WIKIPEDIA WARNINGS . . . Reliability & bias:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#Reliability_and_bias

“Tertiary source,” not as good as:Primary source

Original thing, like the ConstitutionSecondary source

Academic book or article about the original thing, like a book about the Constitution

THE PREWRITING PROCESS Freewriting

Brainstorming Clustering

FREEWRITING Freewriting is:

writing without stopping, letting your ideas tumble forth

Freewriting helps you break mental barriersgenerate topicsdiscover & explore ideas

There is really no wrong way to freewrite!

BRAINSTORMING: THE BIG SIX1. Who?

American adults2. What?

Mandatory voting in political elections3. Where?

In counties, cities, states4. When?

Election time (mainly presidential?)5. Why?

Civic responsibility, duty, privilege, requirement?6. How?

Mailed like tax form? Enforcement issues?

BRAINSTORMING: LISTING Words

Elections Turnout Consequences

Phrases Mandatory voting Right vs. privilege vs. duty Same as taxes? Other countries doing this?

CLUSTERINGA graphic way of showing connections & relationships

Main Topic

Idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

Idea 4

Idea 5

THE FUNNEL

Should voting be mandatory?

Will I vote?

right or privileg

e?

voting

THE RADIAL LIST

Voting

•Right?•Privilege?

Elections

•Democratic?•Not really democratic?

Civic Duty

•My vote matters•My vote doesn’t matter

Should voting be mandatory?