Writing Boot Camp

Day OneSentence Structure and Punctuation

What is a sentence? A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete

thought. Every sentence has a subject and a predicate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM

What are the parts of a sentence? Subject: the noun or noun

phrase that tells whom or what the sentence addresses

Mr. Morton walks down the street.

Almost all college freshmen take ENGL 103.

Predicate: the verb or verb phrase telling what the subject does or is.

Mr. Morton talks. Mr. Morton talks to his cat.

What is a Clause?

a part of the sentence that contains its own subject and predicate.

Independent Clause: a clause that could function as its own sentence.

When Dan’s band is playing, the club is full.

Dependent Clause: a clause that cannot function on its own as a sentence. A dependent clause relies on an independent clause to complete its meaning.

When Dan’s band is playing, the club is full.

What is a comma? A punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list.

When and how do I use a comma? after elements in a seriesShe needed eggs, milk, and sugar.

to connect two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, yet, so.)

Beth went to the grocery store, and she bought the ingredients for dinner.Henry cleaned the kitchen, but he forgot to vacuum the living room. to set off introductory elementsSitting by the river, Hannah unpacked her lunch.Upon further inspection, it was clear Andrew didn’t understand the prompt. to set off parenthetical elements.The Holmes Student Center, on the corner of Lucinda and Normal, is the tallest structure on the DeKalb skyline.Nathaniel Hawthorne’s first novel, The Scarlet Letter, changed the face of American Literature.

The Oxford Comma

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

What is a semicolon?A punctuation mark (;) indicating a pause, typically between two independent clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma.

When and how do I use a semicolon? to connect two independent clauses that are closely

relatedMost people have switched to writing on a

computer; Lydia prefers to write with pen and paper. to connect clauses with transitional phrases to closely

related ideasClaire rarely looks both ways before crossing the street; as a result, she has been involved in several near-accidents.

to connect lengthy sentences with commas to avoid confusion between clauses

Some people make cookies with eggs, butter, and milk; vegans, for personal reasons, choose to avoid animal

products when baking.

What is a colon?A colon informs the reader that what follows the mark proves, explains, or lists elements of what precedes it.

When and how do I use a colon? to indicate a list or clarification; also, the information

before a colon must be a full sentence.

I have three sisters: Andrea, Kelly, and Beth.

Sam can think of only one thing: getting home to his family.

What are some common sentence errors? Comma Splices

Run-on/Fused Sentences

Sentence Fragments

Dangling Modifiers

Comma Splices A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses

are jammed together with a comma, rather than standing on their own.

Incorrect: It is almost sundown, we cannot reach town before dark.Correct: It is almost sundown, and we cannot reach town before dark

Incorrect: The next chapter has some very difficult information in it, you should start studying now.Correct: The next chapter has some very difficult information in it; you should start studying now.

Run-on/Fused Sentences A run-on sentence can be cause by

A lack of punctuationChris ran all the way to the park but he forgot to bring his

bat and glove.

A comma spliceThe Parkers went to Orlando this year, they came back happy

and sunburned.

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. They

may be lacking a subject, a predicate, or both. Many fragments take the form a dependent clauses that look like a full sentence, (they have a subject and a verb) but they don’t form a complete thought.

Because his car was in the shop.(What did he do?)

After the train comes. (What then?)

When you finally take the test. (What will happen?)

Dangling Modifiers a modifying word or phrase that is not properly matched with

the word it modifies. Dangling modifiers often occur at the beginnings of

sentences.

Traveling north, the trees get smaller.

In this sentence, traveling north is meant to describe the person who travels, but instead it describes trees, which don’t travel at all. One correct version would be:

Traveling north, I notice that the trees get smaller.

Some Useful Websites Grammar Girl: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

Sparknotes Grammar: http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/writing/englishgrammar/

The Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Grammar Nazi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM