Writer’s Notebook Entry # and date Word of the Day You may write about whatever you’d like You may choose to use the word of the day for inspiration. You must write from the moment I tell you to begin until the time my timer stops. Your writer’s notebooks will be graded based on the “weight” of the writing that you create within the designated time. Use your minutes to be creative, to vent, to become something else, to become someone else, to write to someone or for someone…to just practice writing so that your rate from your brain to the page increases. format for all papers and works cited pages:
A Work with Two or More Authors The point of the argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Keller and Leer 65–67). Two or More Works by the Same Author with Author’s Name in Text The point of Keller’s argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Business Facts 65–67). A Work by an Author Whose Name Is Attributed in the Sentence Keller draws the conclusion that quantity is less important than quality (65–67). A Work from a Web Site with a Known Author The point of the argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Doe, screen 1). Parenthetical Citations for Directly Quoted Information A Work by a Single Author “Quality is more important than quantity” (Keller 65–67). A Work with Two or More Authors “Quality is more important than quantity” (Keller and Leer 65–67). A Work by an Author Whose Name Is Attributed in the Sentence According to Keller, “Quality is more important than quantity” (65–67). Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources SOURCE: The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008. Here are some common features you should try to find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every Web page will provide all of the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible both for your citations and for your research notes:
explains illustrates notes observes points out records relates reports says sees thinks writes Author infers or suggests analyzes asks assesses concludes finds predicts proposes reveals shows speculates suggests supposes Author argues claims contends defends disagrees holds insists maintains Author agrees admits agrees concedes concurs grants Author is uneasy or disparaging belittles bemoans complains condemns deplores depreciates derides laments warns Signal phrase precedes Lyman insists that “a good reporter does not fail to separate opinions from facts” (52). Signal phrase interrupts “However,” Lyman insists, “a good reporter does not fail to separate opinions from facts” (52). Signal phrase follows “[A] good reporter does not fail to separate opinions from facts,” Lyman insists (52). Author Named Harold Lyman grants that “news reporters, like everyone else, for impressions of what they see and hear.” But, Lyman insists that “a good reporter does not fail to separate opinions from facts” (52). Title Given Harold Lyman, in his book The Conscience of the Journalist, grants that “news reporters, like everyone else, for impressions of what they see and hear.” But, Lyman insists that “a good reporter does not fail to separate opinions from facts” (52). MARKER VERBS FOR ESSAYS OF ANALYSIS COMMUNICATES EXAMINES RELATES COMMENTS Concludes Analyzes Depicts Asserts Connects Compares Describes Clarifies Declares Contrasts Expresses Criticizes
Implies Explores Narrates Explains Informs Investigates Presents Mentions Introduces Questions Reports Notes Provides Reveals Points out Reports Shows Remarks Reveals Signifies States Suggests DESCRIBES DEVELOPS CLAIMS Depicts Explains Illustrates Expands Asserts States Argues Expresses Explains Reasons Portrays CONVEYS SYMBOLIZES Expresses Illustrates Relates Personifies Reveals Represents USES Shows Employs Signifies Utilizes REVEALS Clarifies Demonstrates Displays Illustrates REINFORCES Adds to Backs up Confirms Defends Proves Stresses Supports ENCHANCES Exaggerates Reinforces
Strait: Strait means “a water passageway.” Than: Than is used in making comparisons. Then: Then means “at that time” or “next.” Their: Their is possessive. There: There indicates location. They’re: There is the contraction of they are. Threw: Threw is the past tense of throw and means “tossed.” Through: Through means “finished” or “passing from one point to another.” Though: Though means “if.” (Although) To: To means “toward” or is used with a verb. Too: Too means “also” or “very.” Two: Two is a number. Waist: Waist means “the middle of the body.” Waste: Waste means “discarded material.” Weak: Weak means “not strong.” Week: Week means “Sunday through Saturday.” Wear: Wear means “have on one’s body.” Were: Were is the past tense of be. Where: Where refers to a place. Weather: Weather refers to outdoor conditions. Whether: Whether expresses possibility. Which: Which means “one of a group.” Witch: Witch means “a sorcerer.” Who’s: Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has. Whose: Whose is a possessive pronoun. Your: Your means “belonging to you.” You’re: You’re is the contraction of you are. This list was compiled from a number of college English textbooks and a dictionary.
Common Errors Spelling List a lot a/an/and accept/except affect/effect all right alone along although always among apart/a part are/our/or athlete be able benefit breath/breathe buck naked cannot choice choose/chose/chosen/ choosing clothes/cloths college/collage colonel coming convenient/convenience converse/conversation definitely different dining during eighth else embarrass environment escape especially even though everyday/every day exercise experience familiar fifteenth fill/feel/fell finally financial fourth/forth freshman/freshmen frustrate furthermore government grammar grateful high school I’m/I am idea/ideal in case in front of interest its/it’s know/no lose/loose losing mathematics may be maybe meant millennium nervous ninety ninth no one nowadays obstacle occur/occurs/occurred paid pass/passed/past/pasted patient/patience/patients perform prefer principal/principle probable/probably pursue quit/quite/quiet receive remember restaurant said scientists (any plural) semester separate similar since/sense/cents/scents sophomore stereo stopped strict studying suite surprise than/then there/their/they’re think/thank to/too/two tomorrow truly trying twelfth until/till used to/supposed to usual/unusual utmost vacuum weather/whether were/we’re/where whose/who’s writing/written your/you are/you’re No-No’s: we was he don’t would have went had did went ate I seen
Notes on Subject Verb Agreement Rules Subject AGREES with verb in NUMBER Singular subject -> Singular Verb A boy walks Plural Subject -> Plural Verb The boys walk Each } Indefinite (N) Either } Pronouns Every -one } Any -body } No -thing } Some } TAKE SINGULAR VERBS Collective Nouns A group takes a singular verb Examples: Team, committee, tribe, class, jury, Individuals takes a plural verb A number of takes a plural verb One of these takes a plural verb Present Tense Singular Verb ENDS in -s Examples: he says student does she calls person works it falls Jim talks Present Tense Plural Verb Does NOT END in -s Examples: they say students do lawyers call people work Count or MASS WORDS some all most any none FRACTIONAL EXPRESSIONS half of a part of a percentage of a majority of The verbs of these subjects depend on the noun reference. (take singular or plural verbs) EXTRA! EXTRA! Time, Measurements, Mathematical expressions and Money > AMOUNTS titles "the number" "many a" "every" "more than one" TAKE SINGULAR VERBS Singular Helping Verbs Has } Active Does } Verbs Is } Passive Was } Verbs COUNT WORDS THAT TAKE PLURAL VERBS several few both many If your subject functions as a unit, it will usually take a singular verb. Examples: Macaroni and cheese is my favorite food. Here is the fifty dollars I owe you. THERE and HERE are ADVERBS Never subjects The subject follows the verb in inverted sentences. V. S. Ex. Here is the book. COMPOUND SUBJECTS Subject(1) or Subject(2) (N)either Subject(1) (n)or Subject(2) The verb agrees with closest subject Example: Either the earrings or the necklace is enough. Either the necklace or the earrings are enough. Considered---> Singular Plural Civics scissors Politics slacks Linguistics pants News pliers Measles tweezers Economics "a pair of" IN QUESTIONS Helping verbs agree with the subjects Does she go? Do they go? Be aware of inverted sentence patterns: Near the tree sits the rabbit. COMPOUND SUBJECTS Subject(1) and Subject(2) take a PLURAL VERB Both [S] and [S] + plural verb Interrupters like prepositional phrases clauses appositives DO NOT CHANGE THE AGREEMENT
Greek andLatin Roots Science/Social Studies Many English ords are madeup of word parts from other languages, especially Greek and Latin. These wrd parts ae called roots. A root cannot stand alone, but knowing its meaning helps you figure out te meaning of the whole word. A group of words with the same root is caled a word famly. Study the chart of Greek roots below. Root eaning Example Root Meaning Example log wod, reason, stuy geology theo god theology graph/gram wrie, draw, desribe paragraph ortho straight, correct orthodox scope See telescope dem people democracy photo Ligh photograph geo earth geology phon soud phonograph turb confusion disturb geo Eart geology div separate divide tele far, istant television liber free liberty phob Fear claustrophobia ques ask, seek question psych min, soul, spirt psychic mort death mortal cycl circle, ring bicycle cede, ceed, cess go, yield, give away secede therm heat thermometer form form or shape uniform mech machine mechanical rupt break disrupt bio life biography poli city police chron time chronological cycl circle, ring recycle opt visible optical mob, mot, mov move movie cardi heart cardiac duc, duct lead conduct hydr water hydrophobic ven, vent come convention meter, metr measure meter jud judge judgment phys nature physical loc, locat place locate