.Copyright, Terry Gibson, BA, MEd . .
Be Grammar-Confident
Leisurely Crash Course in Written English
An oxymoron of course.
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Welcome to
. . . . . Grefs
Course A-2
Open GLOSSARY in Course C-1. . . . . . Start . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Task
A2 a (Clawing) Poetry, punctuating for effect and meaning and when not! . . . . . . A2a . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A2 b Poetry, An easy way to get rhythm
(By request) EASY Iambic meter . . . . . . . A2b
A2 c Fiction: Punctuating Assignment.
The run-on sentence to end all run-ons,
Direct and indirect quotations,. . . . . . . A2c
When, how and why change one to the other
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A2
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Swan's Practical English Usage, published by Oxford is the 1995 text that serves as reference. It is recent but will be replaced within
the next few years as we get more and more muddled.
. . . . . .Both British and American Forms are updated. e.g. dialog, US
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. . ... . . . . . . . ... . .. . . ..Assignment A2a
. . . . ... . . . . . . . ... . . ..MANY CHOICES FOR POETS.
. . ... . .. . . ... . .. . .. . .. . . . SUBTOPIC: Decay of the English Language
Note, capitals are used as in sentences in these poems.
. . . A verse from my poem: in Burns-metre
. . . I see the grammar lost and gone,
where wrong is right, then right is wrong.
. . . The result of this phenomenon:
. . . . .a precise language in decay.
. . It's leaving teachers woebegone
. . . . . . with nothing left to say.Be glad it is not too common, but it is hard to find that something
we had been taught as kids, by teachers who had passed on what they had been taught, is in fact, wrong. References therefore are needed. We have a good reference book: Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, published by Oxford, 1995.
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Why is correct grammar important? Not in informal uses, everyday stuff, but formally if you want to publish and be paid, publishers do not read what they consider illiterate.Check out the punctuation here.
"A comma is a pause in reading and must have good reason to be there. Omit when you can, but do not forget how they can focus meaning too."
Apply to the poem below.
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. . . . . Clawing Back Literacy
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1. Unaware, our entertainers, leaders,
2. our spokesmen, news commentators,
3. Joe Blow, politicians, and advertisers
4. all lack knowledge of common errors.
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5. Now, who's here to see mistakes
6. published every day in the media,
7. when few were old enough to learn?
8. When wrong sounds right, that is when
9. we reach the point of no return.
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10. More serious at school, are errors
11. innocently taught. How could it be
12. otherwise when younger teachers,
13. themselves taught by a generation,
14. of older ones, administrators,,
15. with no solid knowledge needed,
16. for our formerly proud language?
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17. Not their fault, anyone's fault what
18. "Progress" decreed they be taught,
19. substituted media, --and what not.
20. We look at progressive decay,
21. glad if destruction we can delay....Sorry, it's lame, but useful.
From "Clawing," locate and copy-paste your answer:
Number your answers.
#1. (Like line 1) items of a LIST, two more lines that each list several things pasted as your answer. [like red, yellow and blue] (comma before 'and' in US)
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#2. (like line 5) PAUSES in midline OR at ends,
four more lines, pasted as your answer to #2
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#3. Enjambments WITHOUT END-comma (like line 3)
four more pasted please, as your answer to #3
(Read these through to next line without pausing.)
... . . . . . . . . Assignment A2b
WRITE A SHORT UNRHYMED POEM loosely based on BACK ROADS or to provide content for meter as in A2bb, (below).IN your poem, INCLUDE at least one of each: a list, one midline pause, and one enjambment. (Just to see if you can apply the three rules of commas in verse. Try to get some focus not there without commas.
(Caution (N.B.)
When submitting by some E-mail software, be aware that
all blank lines will disappear, being compacted. It caused
separate stanzas that needed to be apart, to form one block.
How to prevent it:
<enter> and put a period in the space after the last line of each verse. . . Hit <enter> after the dot. Start the new stanza below the dot.
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Reading for Assignment A2bA2a-a
AND / OR DO BOTH POEMS separately or together as one,
at least 8 lines
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The run-on sentence...
Commonly seen in lower elementary classrooms with sentences not yet taught, too often still found elsewhere.
A Run-on sentence needs only punctuation.
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Generally we are told, before writing poetry, to get our ideas together, as in "BACK ROADS," one of the topics suggested above. (It puts the ideas up top in your subconscious and lets them "cook."). . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK ROADS
Well we reached home at last about three in the morning although during the trip I often thought we never would
the rain came down in torrents from the time we left the city several times as we had to detour around washouts I muttered Bob I told you we should have waited till morning but he just gritted his teeth they were the worst possible conditions imaginable with water right up to the axles and getting deeper all the time.Read also, before starting the poem, some pretty radical ideas about meter.
Because I had been writing singsong "verse" for years already my own way, it was not my favourite thing, to be counting syllables. It works for many perfectly well, and is not to be abandoned, but if poems "write themselves rhythmically," something else is happening.This is about that "something else." Legitimizing it...
What follows is an easy way to get smooth meter if you have struggled with counting syllables! Or, hey, just--try it!
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By request, introducing rhythm
(Thanks Rose! She asked me to share this with others too.)About meter:
( Method my invention even though so natural many may already write this way. )The rhythm comes first!
Example, iambic that follows.We have five fingers.
See them: taDA taDA taDA taDA taDA iambic pentameter,
(four fingers,)taDA taDA taDA taDA, iambic tetrameter...
(three fingers,) taDA taDA taDA iambic trimeter.
Many poets use the subconscious freely, letting the ideas flow into written words without attempting to control what is said. Editing it later will keep the best parts.)
Assignment A2b
(A ballad form with iambic meter.) [Metre in Canada, UK]
taDA taDA taDA taDA //
taDA taDA taDA. //
Repeat repeat.... 4 and 3, 4 and 3Using iambic meter, let a poem come.
Topics were suggested, or use the process of writing this to be to content. Enjoy!
You CLAP you TAP, and SING a LITtle BIT
Keep ON unTIL the NONsense WORDS beGIN to FIT!. . . . . . Relax, let it come, orally at first .Do not force it!
Need a little more help?
a Bit by Bit, a Bit by Bit, and IF not Yet, it WILL
Repeat until you feel the beat ...Remember that the nonsense words
will sometimes make good sense.
It really does not matter much
to have so much pretense ! --Keep going !
as-A2You may even use these as your first four lines.--------------------------------------
BEFORE SUBMITTING: We have no need to show the stressed syllables (as above) in your poem. The beat will be obvious.
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Put a dot in the blank between stanzas to keep software from compacting, running verses together into a solid block..
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Note, if you have already done poetry, there are bonus points for prose--and vice versa.. . ... . . . . . . . ... . ..
. . . . ... . . . . . . . ... . .For Prose-writers, Next
St
Repeating this...
Careful reading or reading again, whichever works for you-- these pages have the explanations that describe or tell facts that will help do the assignments. There is no harm in knowing what punctuation can do for you even if you never mean to use it in your own writing! Please follow instructions carefully to get full credit for your effort. If it still puzzles you, please IM or e-mail to ask for help. No charge, no complaint, and I hope, no delay! --Terry
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.PROS. . . .. . . . For Prose-writers,
PROSE. . . . REFERENCES for A2c
In A1, we saw how to punctuate direct quotations..Study these:
Indirect quotation: She said that there would be no typing.
Direct quotation: "There will be no typing," she said.
.PROS. .See what happens to the verb.
Using, punctuating direct and indirect quotations,
How and why change one to the others...
Below, the punctuation is red and enlarged to make it obvious. Repeat, each paragraph is single-spaced.
(Note, Fiction uses indented paragraphs.).
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When would you choose indirect quotation?
When are direct quotations better?.. . . . . .
Direct quotations usually have INDENTED paragraphs.
We introduced INDENTED paragraphs in #1
EXAMPLE: See how the punctuation works In fiction,OS. Shelly and her brother were quietly involved in own thoughts.
She was reading, 'when a character is reporting what someone else said, it would usually be an indirect quotation.'
I suppose that makes sense because he is not there to say it., she thought. And something I read, she thought, has apostrophes?
OS. I'm not sure I understand.
OS. No, they are single quotes--um, 'quotation marks' her teacher would have said. OK, I guess it makes sense. Hey, I think it is true: A person's private thoughts look direct but have no quotation marks. Not heard!OS. But as soon as I read it in a book, and write it down I am quoting what the writer wrote so it gets singles.... "I get it," she said dubiously, looking at her brother.
. . . . . He looked up from his game, his raised eyebrows asking silent questions.
. . . . . "The difference between single and double quote-marks.
But what happens if I tell you what was in the book?"
. . . . . "Give me an example."
. . . . . "Well I just figured out what 'when a character is reporting what someone else said, it would usually be an indirect quotation.'
means--I mean, that . . ." How can I say it, she stopped.
. . . . . "That you are quoting something and I hear you say it."
. . . . . "Yeah, like that."
. . . . . "if you write it, what you said is inside doubles and what you quote is inside singles inside your doubles."
. . . . . "Thanks." After a while she continued [ note 'a while' not 'awhile--' ] as he paused his game. One interruption after another.
. . . . . "When we hear the spoken words," she said, "those words
need quotation marks. And each change of speaker gets a new paragraph?" Then she looked below, and said, "Not only that,
but the paragraph she speaks begins with some blank spaces!"
. . . . . "Yes. That's right." he answered, glad she had noticed.
"We say the new paragraph is indented." He smiled. "As if someone took a bite out of it. Notice it has teeth?"
. . . . . "What teeth?"
. . . . . "--'dent'--"
. . . . . She looked confused. What on earth is he talking about?
There is nothing dented here. "Oh!" she said, "--Like dental floss--
Dentifrice. Dentist!"
. . . . . "Exactly. InDENTed."http://www.mattaweb.ca/web2008/CourseA-1.htmAll the main rules about punctuating are shown above.
- - - -- - - -- -ANOTHER EXAMPLE , Indirect quotations
- - - -Obviously his nosy neighbour was bursting with news. "You'll never believe what I just heard about You-know-who!"
- - - -Actually Bill did not know or care who, but to keep the peace, he asked, "What?"
- - - -Like a conspirator, eyes flitting left and right, her voice low, she said, "I was shooting the breeze with Irma and--" as if doubting she should tell, "The police took her husband away." Breathy excitement: "Irma told me he had some information for them, but you know, they don't cuff a person for that." Slyly, she continued, "I always wondered how they could afford to travel on what he makes, but she said that there had been an inheritance..."
Compare: Direct: For dramatic effect the punctuation is interesting.
- - - -Unfortunately, Bill knew more than he let on. Later with his wife, he just had to share what he knew. She listened in silence, wondering how she would feel to be the topic of gossip like that. "Poor Irma," she said.
- - - -"Yes, poor Irma." With obvious embarrassment, Bill mumbled,
"I still can't believe that he said, 'Sure help yourself. They'll never miss it.' My dad would kill me if I stole!"
- - - - - Single quotation marks inside double quotation marks clarify who said what.
- - - - - NOTE: Swan says it may also be double inside single (in UK)
Use whichever suits where you live, but be consistent. (If you do, please tell where you live.)
- The main quotation marks are ONLY around what is heard . - - - - - - -
Grefs2
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In professional nonfiction
- - - - - Technical works, description of scientific facts, financial reports,
- - law, and medical matters would less often include off-side comments
- - of any kind. It would distract from the serious purpose.
- - - - - If the item includes publicity for persons involved,
- - then indirect quotations would be more likely. There are exceptions:
..In nonfiction, journalism, both.
- - - - - - - -- -With permission:
- - - - - - - - - Quoted from North Bay Nugget, Sports page C1,
- - Ken Pagan in an interview with aerialist Steve Omischl at Lake Placid:"I""I"- - "I've done all the lead-up work, I'm right where I want to be,"
- - Omischl said. "I'm feeling super-confident again." The heel injury,
- - which forced him to take four months away in the off-season, is
- - still lingering, but is not a factor, he said.
- - - - - Combining both direct and indirect quotations works
- - - to provide variety and personality.
- - - - - Omischl added, "I've jumped with worse."
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- - - - In checking the newspaper, most news articles included
- - at least a few direct quotations as well as "just the facts, ma'am."
- - to avoid dull reading.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Official reports:
- - - Not intended to be leavened by wit, they are unlikely to
- - - have either kind.
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. . ... . . . . . . . ... . .. Assignment A2b has two parts.
. . . . ... . . . . . . . ... . ... . . . .For Prose-writers
. . . . ... . . . . . . . ... . ..Back Roads
Copy/paste this run-on sentence to plain text (Notepad)
Well we reached home at last about three in the morning although during the trip I often thought we never would the rain came down in torrents from the time we left the city several times as we had to detour around washouts I muttered Bob I told you we should have waited till morning but he just gritted his teeth they were the worst possible conditions imaginable with water right up to the axles and getting deeper all the time.
#1 Find the (one) direct quotation above and punctuate what we would hear spoken. Paste a copy here.Examples:
"Do you understand?" she asked.
"Yes," he said.#2 Add periods, commas and capitals where needed
throughout to have complete sentences. There is more than one way; but it must make sense.Preparation: Editing: Paragraphing,
(1)New paragraph for change of topic, time or location.
(2) New paragraph when speaker or point of view changes.
#3 Copy / paste the following OTHER run-on sentence as plain text into (Notepad) Edit it there and then submit, together with all of part A2 b, clearly identified.
DIALOG in a STORY (dialogue in UK. Canada)
Change to direct quotations for a more exciting story. Indirect is --um-- uh-- bland.... Decide, She is telling someone. Who is it?
Avoiding "To whom," which is correct but not heard much anymore. Page 435 With whom, to whom, by whom, whom must be used after prepositions, but is considered formal in most other places. Swan.
Study these again: Indirect quotation:
She said that there would be no typing.
Direct quotation: "There will be no typing," she said.
Preparation: (Pretend you are an editor at a magazine, and your job is to make "a famous personality"look good. The Star has limited skill, but the public need not know.)
Bob told me not to worry that his old Ford had seen worse but just then it coughed and stalled in the middle of a big one I said he spoke too soon and he just grunted as he reached for a rag and opened the door I asked where he was going and he looked at me funny some things need no answers he thought I took the umbrella and stood up to my knees in water trying to keep the rain off the motor while he wiped the spark plugs dry by then we were both thoroughly soaked and he tried to start it up again without success it was getting dark as we sat in the car wondering what to do because there had been no other cars on the road Bob said he thought we had passed farmhouse a while back and told me to wait there while he went for help.
(To be continued).
(Spellcheck, and proof-read for punctuation before sending.
Pretend it is being submitted to a publisher. Will it sell?
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Updated April 28 2008
Please submit graded answers to AP Class box if
not placed by Teacher, advancing to a higher level.
We have had trouble in the submit-box in AP toward the trophy when ungraded work has been submitted. By submitting graded works into the box, they cannot be lost!
Your five best assignments are now the minimum for a trophy. That means the pressure is off as you do the advanced #6, #7 and #8 worth a percentage of 60 bonus points dependent on your results.
For students achieving at least 90% and expecting to continue to complete all 8, after the first and last four,
there are two trophies.An evaluation form will be sent to get five submissions demanded by the software.
For full feedback, please send your E-mail address.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back to Top or onward to Part A3
. . . . . . . .. . Copyright: Tiled wallpaper drawn by Terry Gibson 1996