Welcome to Our Welcome to Our Lecture: Lecture:

Strengthening Strengthening GrammarGrammar

We will begin on We will begin on time.time.

Meanwhile, Meanwhile, enjoy chatting!enjoy chatting!

TonightTonight

Tonight we are going to discuss ways Tonight we are going to discuss ways you can improve and strengthen your you can improve and strengthen your grammar and writing.grammar and writing.

Can you tell me…Can you tell me…

What are some grammatical errors What are some grammatical errors you tend to make when writing?you tend to make when writing?

Tonight..Tonight..

I’m going to go over some of the I’m going to go over some of the most common writing mistakes I see most common writing mistakes I see to hopefully help you avoid these to hopefully help you avoid these mistakes in the future!mistakes in the future!

What (if anything) is wrong with this paragraph? Owning a boat starts out by being the first

happiest day of your life. At first, having a boat is great. You can get to places that other people can’t. Then you realize how much work it is. I had trouble learning how to get my boat out of the dock without hitting my neighbor’s boat like I did the first time. Then when you get back, you have to get it back into the dock. That doesn’t include the time cleaning it and maintaining it. After Hurricane Charlie hit, and we used the boat only twice in nine months, we decided to sell. The second happiest day of a boater’s life is when you sell your boat.

Inconsistent Point of View Owning a boat starts out by being the first happiest day of your life.

At first, having a boat is great. You can get to places that other people can’t. Then you realize how much work it is. I had trouble learning how to get my boat out of the dock without hitting my neighbor’s boat like I did the first time. Then when you get back, you have to get it back into the dock. That doesn’t include the time cleaning it and maintaining it. After a while, we noticed that we weren’t using the boat much, so we decided to sell. The second happiest day of a boater’s life is when you sell your boat.

1. The topic is “Owning a boat.” The entire paragraph should discuss “owning a boat.”

2. Owning a boat = “it” [It starts out by being the first happiest day.] (3rd person singular) = point of view for paragraph

3. you (2nd person) It’s not about “you.” It’s about “owning a boat.”

4. “I, we” – If this is a personal example, it should all be in the first person

Common Writing Errors: Point of View Maintaining a consistent point of view

means that you establish the person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person) in the first sentence of your paragraph and then continue to use that same person throughout the paragraph unless there is a logical reason to change.

Consistent 3rd Person Point of View Owning a boat starts out by being the first happiest day of a

boater’s life. At first, having a boat is great. Boaters can get to places that other people can’t. Then boat owners discover how much work owning a boat really is. Many have trouble learning how to get their boats out of the dock without hitting their neighbor’s boat. Some actually hit their neighbor’s boat the first time they take their boats out. Then after a fun day on the water, the boat owner has to get the boat back into the dock. Much time is spent cleaning the boat and maintaining it, sometimes more time than actually sailing it. After a while, many boat owners find that they are not using their boats as often as they had thought they would, so they decide to sell. The second happiest day of a boater’s life is when he or she sells the boat.

Consistent 1st Person Point of View The first happiest day of my life was owning a boat. At

first, having a boat is great. I could get to places that other people couldn’t. Then I discover how much work owning a boat really is. I had trouble learning how to get my boat out of the dock without hitting my neighbor’s boat. I actually hit my neighbor’s boat the first time I took my boat out. Then after a fun day on the water, I had to get the boat back into the dock. I also found that I spent a lot of time cleaning the boat and maintaining the boat, sometimes more time than actually sailing it. After a while, I found that I was not using my boat as often as I had thought I would, so I decided to sell it. The second happiest day of my life was when I sold the boat.

Now it’s all about MY experiences.

Can anyone figure out how to make two completely opposite letters out of this paragraph by using only punctuation?

DEAR JOHN I WANT A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT YOU ARE GENEROUS KIND THOUGHFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LIKE YOU ADMIT TO BEING USELESS AND INFERIOR YOU HAVE RUINED ME FOR OTHER MEN I YEARN FOR YOU I HAVE NO FEELINGS WHATSOEVER WHEN WE’RE APART I CAN BE FOREVER HAPPY WILL YOU LET ME BE YOURS SUSAN

Why We Need Punctuation

Dear John, I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy. Will you let me be yours? Susan

Dear John, I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Susan

Which are the Which are the correct answers?correct answers?

Each of the students Each of the students (have, has) (their, his (have, has) (their, his

or her) own locker.or her) own locker.

The Correct The Correct AnswersAnswers

Each of the Each of the students HAS HIS students HAS HIS

OR HER own OR HER own locker.locker.

Common Writing Errors: Subject/Verb Agreement & Pronoun/Referent Agreement

Subject must “agree” or match their verbs in number (how many are we talking about?).

Pronouns must also match the words that they refer to. Again, how many are we talking about?

Common Writing Errors: Pronoun Agreement

The word to which a pronoun refers is called its antecedent. The pronoun must match or agree with its antecedent in number. Number simply means singular or plural.

The boy played with his bike. “His” refers to “boy.” Both “boy” and “his” are singular, so

they agree in number. The boys played with their bikes.

“Their” refers to “boys.” Both are plural, so they agree.

Common Problems with Pronoun Agreement 1. Singular Indefinite Pronouns are always singular.

Another everybody nobody Anybody everyone nothing Anyone everything somebody Each someone one

Incorrect: Each of the students has their own locker. Each (one) = 1 person Their = 2 or more people

Correct: Each of the student has his or her own locker. Each (one) = 1 person His or her = 1 person

Pronoun Agreement (continued) 2. Singular noun – plural pronoun Incorrect: If a person wants to graduate from

college, they must have good study habits. A person = 1 person They = 2 or more people

Correct: If a person wants to graduate from college, he or she must have good study

habits. Correct: If students want to graduate from college,

they must have good study habits.

Semicolons ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; A semicolon can be used where a period can

be used.The dog barked. The mailman ran.The dog barked; the mailman ran.

Error: A comma can not be used where a period can be used.Comma Splice (error): The dog barked, the mailman ran.

Comma Rules , , , , Introductory Elements Use a comma after introductory words &

transitional expressions Yes, that’s a good idea. First, get out your paper. Next, take notes.

Transitional Words: Consequently, in fact, nevertheless, moreover, in addition, etc. I studied for the test; in fact, I studied all week.

Comma Rules: Use a comma after introductory phrases.Introductory prepositional phrases: P O After a very big dinner, dad always falls asleep.

Introductory infinitive and participial phrases: Covered with mud, the little boy ran into the house. Crying loudly, the little boy ran to his mother. To help clean the house, the little boy poured

water on the floor.

Comma Rules: Use a comma after introductory clauses.

Introductory subordinate clause (Begins with a subordinator)

Rules: S, M [subordinate clause, main clause]

After I finished my homework, I called my friend. MS [main clause subordinate clause]

I called my friend after I finished my homework.

Comma Rules: Compound Sentences The dog barked. The cat ran. Comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Note1: The comma goes BEFORE the “FANBOYS.” Note2: You must have two separate subject and verbs.

S V, FANBOYS SV The dog barked, so the cat ran. The dog ran after the cat, but he couldn’t catch her. The dog ran around the house looking for the cat, and then he ran

around the house again. The dog was confused, for (because) he could not find the cat. The dog was tired, yet he still continued his search. The dog could not find the cat, nor could he find his bone.

Sentence Errors: Run-On Sentences Rule: You can not join two sentences without any

punctuation. Raoul drove by his uncle’s house. He waved at his

cousins. Run-on (error): Raoul drove by his uncle’s house

he waved at his cousins. [no punctuation between]Corrections: Raoul drove by his uncle’s house. He waved at his cousins. Raoul drove by his uncle’s house; he waved at his cousins. Raoul drove by his uncle’s house; in addition, he waved at

his cousins. Raoul drove by his uncle’s house, and he waved at his

cousins. When Raoul drove by his uncle’s house, he waved at his

cousins. Rauol waved at his cousin as he drove by his uncle’s house.

Sentence Errors: Comma Splices Rule: You can not join two sentences with a comma.

I wanted a dog for Christmas. My parents gave me a cat.

Do not use a comma where you could use a period. Comma splice (error): I wanted a dog for

Christmas, my parents gave me a cat. Corrections: I wanted a dog for Christmas. My parents gave me a cat. I wanted a dog for Christmas; my parents gave me a cat. I wanted a dog for Christmas, but my parents gave me a

cat. I wanted a dog for Christmas; however, my parents gave

me a cat. Even though I wanted a dog for Christmas, my parents

gave me a cat.

Exercise

Let’s go to this website: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

You are going to see a number of categories with dropdown boxes. Pick one you think you could use some help with.

Glance over the information and the quizzes.

What do you think?

What do you think of this website? Do you think this might be a good place to go to get some grammar practice and advice?

Another Website

I’ve already pushed this website on a few of you, but not this specific place. Go to: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/

Pick one of the exercises you think you could use some help with and look it over.

What do you think?

Do you think this could also be a helpful website? Why or why not?

Discussion

How can being aware of the grammar mistakes you make help to improve your writing?

Discussion

What are some of the differences between formal and informal writing?