Warm Up—Writing Conventions(Copy AGENDA and LG!)

Answer the Questions Below1. When Tom arrived

at school he was carrying all his books with him.

A. arrived at school, he

B. arrived, at school he

C. arrived at school he,

D. Leave as is.

2. While Sara visited with Sam: she finished her science project.

A. with Sam. She finished

B. with Sam; she finished

C. with Sam, she finished

D. Leave as is.

Warm Up—Writing Conventions(Copy AGENDA and LG!)

Answer the Questions Below1. The moment he

puts seeds in the birdhouse birds, come to feed from miles around.

A. in the birdhouse. Birds come

B. in the birdhouse, birds come

C. in the birdhouse, birds have come

D. Leave as is.

2. In the summertime Irving is covered in freckles. But in winter he doesn’t have a mark on him.

A. covered in freckles, but

B. covered in freckles; but

C. covered, in freckles but

D. Leave as is.

Today’s Learning Goal

I will be able to identify characteristics of the CAHSEE Writing Conventions strand, and I will be able apply correct uses of grammar and punctuation by completing the CAHSEE practice lessons in my work packet.

Notes: Writing Conventions to Know

• Main/(Independent) and Subordinate/(dependent) Clauses

• Gerund phrases

• Infinitive phrases

• Participial phrases

• Parallel Structure

• Modifier Placement

• Verb Usage: Tense Consistency/Subject Agreement

• Pronoun Usage

• Comparative vs. Superlative Usage

QUICK SELF-ASSESSMENT: Go through this list of English Conventions and see how many of them you can explain in your own words. ALL OF THESE RULES ARE TESTED ON THE CAHSEE!

Grading Your Packet

• For each question in this packet, identify the ENGLISH CONVENTION that is being tested.– Example:

While the clothes were _______ to get to the grocery store and back.

A. In the dryer: Federico had time

B. In the dryer; Federico had time

C. In the dryer, Federico had time

D. In the dryer. Federico had time

Main/Subordinate Clause

HomeworkLook through the WRITING CONVENTIONS portion of your packet and define the rules for each CONVENTION listed in your notes on a separate sheet of paper. I will collect this paper in class:

Main/(Independent) and Subordinate/(dependent) Clauses

Gerund phrases

Infinitive phrases

Participial phrases

Parallel Structure

Modifier Placement

Verb Usage: Tense Consistency/Subject Agreement

Pronoun Usage

Comparative vs. Superlative Usage

Main Main (Independent) and Subordinate Subordinate (Dependent) Clause Clause

• A main clause—sometimes called an independent clause—must contain a subject and a verb as well as express a complete thought. Look at the examples below:

– Diane kicked the soda machine.• Diane = the subject; kicked = the verb.

– A giant spider has made its home behind the stacks of newspaper on the shelf.

• Spider = the subject; has made = the verb.

Exception to the Rule

• When you place a subordinate conjunction or preposition in front of a subject and verb, you will no longer have a complete thought. The group of words becomes a subordinate clause, like these examples:– When Diane kicked the soda machine ...– Because a giant spider has made its home behind the

shampoo bottle in Neil's bathroom ... – Even though Sima and Michele are skipping their

chemistry class to sit by the lake and watch the sun sparkle on the water ...

A sentence may contain any number of GRAMMATICAL GRAMMATICAL

PARTSPARTS• While dissecting a cow heart in her anatomy and

physiology class, Shenicka realized that a cheeseburger, her favorite lunch, was no longer appetizing.– While dissecting a cow heart = participle phrase.– In her anatomy and physiology class = prepositional

phrase.– Shenicka realized = the essential main clause.– That a cheeseburger was no longer appetizing =

subordinate clause.– Her favorite lunch = appositive.

Copy each sentence and identify the Main Main (Independent) and Subordinate Subordinate

(Dependent) Clause Clause

• While I was driving, I noticed the leaves had begun to turn autumn colors.

• Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese, Emily refused to eat it.

• Unless Christine finishes her calculus homework, she will have to suffer Mr. Nguyen's wrath in class tomorrow.

GerundGerund Phrases

• A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an ing word, and will include other modifiers and/or objects. Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subjects or objects in the sentence. Read these examples:

– Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy experience if you have long, untamed hair.

• Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the verb “can be.”

– A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down.

• Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down = subject of the verb “is.”

GERUNDGERUND WARNING!Don't mistake a gerund phrase for a present participle phrase.• Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because

they both begin with an ing word. The difference is that a gerund phrase will always function as a noun while a present participle phrase describes another word in the sentence. Check out these examples:

• My dog's most annoying habit is hogging the middle of the bed.– Hogging the middle of the bed = gerund phrase, the subject

complement of the linking verb is.

• Last night I had to sleep on the couch because I found my dog Floyd hogging the middle of the bed.– Hogging the middle of the bed = present participle phrase describing

Floyd.

ParticipialParticipial Phrases

• A participle phrase will begin with a present or past participle. If the participle is present, it will dependably end in ing. Likewise, a regular past participle will end in a consistent ed. Irregular past participles, unfortunately, conclude in all kinds of ways (eatate). See the examples below:– Crunching caramel corn for the entire movie– Washed with soap and water

Copy each sentence and underline the GerundGerund Phrases and ParticipialParticipial

Phrases

• The children, crying and exhausted, were guided out of the collapsed mine.

• Crying will not get you anywhere.

• The children's singing and laughing woke me up. • There are many ways of breaking a heart.

• I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner

Infinitive PhrasesInfinitive Phrases

• An infinitive phrase will begin with an infinitive [to + simple form of the verb]. It will include objects and/or modifiers. Here are some examples:– To smash a spider– To kick the ball past the dazed goalie– To lick the grease from his shiny fingers

despite the disapproving glances of his girlfriend Gloria

Copy each sentence and underline the InfinitiveInfinitive Phrases

• I don't like to speak in public unless I'm getting paid for it.

• Jill loves to dance, she is a very talented ballet dancer.

• The officer returned to help the inspectors.

• Help me to build the project model after school.

Parallel StructureParallel Structure

• When two or more actions are being described in the same sentence, all verbs or verb phrases must be in the same form.

• Example:– Incorrect: My dog Oreo loves running and to chew stuffed animals.

– Correct: My dog Oreo loves running and chewing stuffed animals.

OR

My dog Oreo loves to run and to chew stuffed animals.

Parallel StructureParallel Structure

• When two or more descriptions are listed in a single sentence, all parts of speech must match (adjectives, nouns, or verbs).

• Example:– Incorrect: Most people don’t like public speaking, high

heights, and to take long tests.

– Correct: Most people don’t like public speaking, high heights, and long tests.

Copy each sentence and Correct the Errors in Parallel StructureParallel Structure

• Two things that were hard to learn as a freshman were studying for tests and to make new friends.

• My parents like to read, to paint, and watching old movies on the weekends.

• My friends were always jogging in the park or to play a game of tennis.

ModifierModifier PlacementPlacement

• Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences. • Typically, you will find a modifier snuggled right next to—either in front of or

behind—the word it logically describes. Take the simple, one-word adjective “blue.” If we add it to the sentence that follows, where should it go?

– At a downtown dealership, Kara bought a truck from a salesman with a comb over.

• Should we locate blue next to dealership? A blue downtown dealership? A blue Kara? A blue salesman? Of course not! Logic dictates that blue can describe only one word, “truck,” so we must place the modifier next to that word:

– At a downtown dealership, Kara bought a blue truck from a salesman with a comb over.

• Multi-word phrases and clauses work just as one-word adjectives, they often go right next to the word they describe. Here are some examples:

– Gazing out the window, Paul missed the homework assignment that Prof. Zuromski wrote on the board.

• Gazing out the window is a participle phrase describing Paul, the noun that follows.– As the hurricane approached, we watched the tree branches waving in the strong

breeze.• Waving in the strong breeze is a participle phrase describing branches, the noun in

front.

Misplaced ModifiersMisplaced Modifiers

• Sometimes a writer places the modifier too far away from the word it should describe. A misplaced modifier causes confusion and is a grammatical error.Example:

As the hurricane approached, waving in the strong breeze we watched the tree branches.

[Waving in the strong breeze is a participle phrase. In the current sentence, it is describing the pronoun we. How illogical! We weren’t the ones waving in the strong breeze!]

Copy each Sentence and Correct the ModifierModifier Placement.Placement.

• Swinging wildly through the trees, the children were delighted by the monkeys.

• I like to listen to rock music doing my homework.

• The jacket just wasn’t the right color in the store.

Verb Tense ConsistencyVerb Tense Consistency

• When two or more actions are being described in a sentence, all VERBS or VERB PHRASES describing the same time period must be written in the same tense…– Incorrect: While I waited for the movie to begin, I

was realizing that I’d forgotten all about my sister’s ballet recital.

– Correct: While I waited for the movie to begin I realized that I’d forgotten all about my sister’s ballet recital.

Copy each sentence and correct the errors in Verb TenseVerb Tense

• Correct the underlined portions of each sentence below by (1) identifying the correct tense using context clues (2) changing needed verbs:1.When I was eight, I joined a baseball team and was

playing first base.

2. I predict that Joe met the girl of his dreams.

3.Jane is expecting a friend over last night.

4.When she opens your gift, she has loved it.

5. I was eating five apples today and everyday.

Subject Verb Agreement

• Grammatical rule stating that the VERB must agree in number with its SUBJECT.– Singular vs. Plural Subject

• Example:– The elephant trumpets for peanuts.(singular subject)

– The elephants trumpet for peanuts.(plural subject)

Subject = 1 elephant

Subject = more than 1 elephant

Singular vs. Plural Verbs

• In the present tense, singular verbs end with an “s”, plural verbs do not. (need/needs, like/likes)

• “is” = singular“are” = plural

• “has” = singular“have” = plural

• “was” = singular“were” = plural

Remember to Count your Subjects Carefully in each

sentence:• Single Subject: The elephant is entertaining

the crowd.

• Plural Subject: The elephant and the monkey are entertaining the crowd.

Pay attention to CONJUNCTIONS when counting subjects:

• Two or more subjects joined by “or”= singular/plural depends on which subject is AFTER “or” and CLOSEST TO THE VERB:– The elephant or the monkey is…= Singular– The elephant or the monkeys are…= Plural

• Two subjects joined by “and”= always plural– The elephant and the monkey = plural– The elephant and the monkeys = plural

Practice Subject Identification:

• John or Jim… (singular/plural)

• Neither Carol nor Ted… (singular/plural)

• Neither the teacher nor the students...(singular/plural)

• Either the apples or the orange… (singular/plural)

• Whether Jane or her dogs… (singular/plural)

• The teacher and the student (singular/plural)

Beware Prepositions: in, on, at, with, without, in front, behind, along,

etc.• The book on the shelves (singular/plural)

• The desks behind the building (singular/plural)

• The window below the posters (singular/plural)

• The students in the classroom (singular/plural)

Copy each sentence and choose the Correct VerbVerb that matches

each SubjectSubject• Neither the oranges nor the apples (was/were)

expensive.

• All of the dogs in the neighborhood (has/have) leashes and collars.

• A high tax, not to mention unemployment, (influence/influences) political votes.

• Not only the students, but also the teacher (is/are) unhappy.

• Jeff and Janie (need/needs) help with their project.

• Short adjective + ERShort adjective + ER old older young younger

• Short Adjective + ER (the final Short Adjective + ER (the final consonant is doubledconsonant is doubled)

big bigger hot hotter

• Short adjective ended in “Y” Short adjective ended in “Y” - -IERIER

easy easier heavy heavier

We use the COMPARATIVE to compare TWO people, places or things.

• Long adjective: Long adjective: MORE + long MORE + long adjectiveadjective

exciting more exciting beautiful more beautiful

• Irregular adjectivesIrregular adjectives good better bad worse

• We use the word “THAN” after the comparative form of the adjective.

– John is taller than Mary.

– A Ferrari is more expensive than a Fiat.

We use the SUPERLATIVE to compare MORE THAN TWO people, places or things.

• Short adjective + ESTShort adjective + EST old the oldest young the youngest

• Short adjective + EST (the Short adjective + EST (the final consonant is doubled)final consonant is doubled)

big the biggest hot the hottest

• Short adjective ended in –Y Short adjective ended in –Y -IEST -IEST

easy the easiest heavy the heaviest

• Long adjective: Long adjective: THE MOST + long THE MOST + long adjectiveadjective

exciting the most exciting beautiful the most beautiful

• Irregular adjectivesIrregular adjectives good the best bad the worst

We use the word “THE” before the superlative form of the adjective.

John is the tallest. A Ferrari is the most

expensive car .

Change the Adjective into its ComparativeComparative or SuperlativeSuperlative form to

write each sentence

• Monday's weather is supposed to be (more hot/hotter) than yesterday's.

• Shelby is (more good/better) at crossword puzzles than I am.

• Raj arrived at the movie theater (earlier, earliest) than Derek, so he bought

the tickets.

• Hannah's backyard is (larger, more large) than mine.

• JoAnn swam the (fastest, most fast) in the race.

• Tham is the (precisest, most precise) with his calculations.

• The (best, more better) price offered in the catalog was $9.99.

• This glass of iced tea is (sweeter, sweetest) than the other one.

Writing Strategies Strand

Skills Tested:• Identifying Active/Passive Voice

• Precise language—specific vocabulary

• Identifying Main Idea—first and last ¶

• Choosing the best research sources

Passive Voice(PASSIVE: Accepting or allowing what happens without responsive action)

• Occurs when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence.

– Whoever or whatever is performing the action is not the grammatical subject of the sentence.

• Example: Why was the road crossed by the chicken?

Examples of Passive VoiceExamples of Passive Voice

• The table was set by the waiter.

• The bone was chewed by the dog.

• In order to be successful, changes had to be made by the manager.

Active Voice

• When a verb is in the active voice, the subject of the sentence is also the doer of the action.

– Example: Why did the chicken cross the road?

– In this example, the subject—the chicken—is also the doer or the thing performing the action. It is NOT the passive receiver of the action.

Examples of Active VoiceExamples of Active Voice

• The waiter set the table.

• The dog chewed the bone.

• In order to be successful, the manager had to make changes.

Write each sentence using the ACTIVE VOICE. If the sentence is correct, copy it down and identify

the action and the doer of the action.• Seven days a week, Paul ventures onto the subway with his

clarinet.

• Alexa completed her homework diligently while keeping her goals in mind.

• The award for best picture was given to the film Avatar by the Academy leaders.

• Seven days a week, Paul ventures onto the subway with his clarinet.

• The meal was made by chef Mario and it was scrumptious.

Exit Reflection

In brief paragraph written in your own words, explain the difference between a MAIN CLAUSE and SUBORDINATE CLAUSE.

Exit Reflection

In brief paragraph written in your own words, explain parallel structure.