Tools+for+Writing

= Grammar Guides: = >>>> This next chapter has a lot of difficult information in it, you should start studying right away. >>> (We could put a period where that comma is and start a new sentence. A semicolon might also work there.) >>>> Mr. Nguyen has sent his four children to ivy-league colleges, however, he has sacrificed his health working day and night in that dusty bakery. >>> (Again, where that first comma appears, we could have used either a period — and started a new sentence — or a semicolon.) >>>> This computer doesn't make sense to me, it came without a manual. >>> (Although these two clauses are quite brief, and the ideas are closely related, this is a run-on sentence. We need a period where that comma now stands.) >>>> Most of those computers in the Learning Assistance Center are broken already, this proves my point about American computer manufacturers. >>> Again, two nicely related clauses, incorrectly connected — a run-on. Use a period to cure this sentence. >> **//lunch //**? >> B. Or should you remove the comma after >> **//cashiers //**? >>
 * ===An amazing, comprehensive grammar website with quizzes, guides, and more: []===
 * ===Run-on Sentences:===
 * Run-on sentences happen typically under the following circumstances*:
 * 1) **When an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause:**
 * 1) **When two independent clauses are connected by a transitional expression (conjunctive adverb) such as //however, moreover, nevertheless.//**
 * 1) **When the second of two independent clauses contains a pronoun that connects it to the first independent clause.**
 * ===Quotation Marks: Commas and periods go inside the quotation marks!===
 * ===Quiz to Practice Commas:===
 * 1. During **lunch **, at the campus cafeteria, Mildred noticed the dirty tables, the overworked **cashiers **, and the exorbitant price for a watery soda. A. Should you remove the comma after

>> A. Should you remove the comma after >> **//quiz //**? >> B. Or should you remove the comma after >> **//Mr. Spock //**?
 * 2. Melissa couldn’t study for her comma **quiz **, because she was joy riding on the //Enterprise //with **Mr. Spock **, whom the US Air Force chased with its fastest jets.

>> A. Should you add a comma after >> **//slimy //**? >> B. Or should you add a comma after >> **//burrito //**?
 * 3. The **slimy smelly **lettuce on my **burrito made **me ask the manager to return my 99 cents.

>> A. Should you remove the comma after >> **//atrium //**? >> B. Or should you remove the comma after >> **//suddenly //**?
 * 4. Sitting in the **atrium **, Marcus chatted pleasantly with a pretty student from his chemistry class, but then he had to leave **<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial;">suddenly **, because he noticed that he had only thirty seconds to get to Professor Spottke’s English class on time.

>> A. Should you remove the comma after >> **//<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial;">midterm //**? >> B. Or should you add a comma after >> **//<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial;">coffee //**? = Helpful Guides: =
 * 5. To study for his calculus **<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial;">midterm **, Brian drank seven cups of strong Turkish **<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial;">coffee which **kept him wide awake for the all-nighter.
 * ===MLA Formatting and Style Guide: []===
 * ===PSSA Writing Rubric: [|www.crsd.org/508208191525753/lib/.../PSSA_writing_rubric.pdf]===

= The Writing Process: =
 * ===Aim for 3 drafts for all of your pieces:===
 * The Down Draft- Get the words down.
 * The Up Draft- Clean it up.
 * The Dental Draft- Perfect it.
 * ===Fun rap on creating a thesis: []===

= General Tips: =
 * ===Limit "to be" verbs===
 * ======"to be" verbs are- am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been======
 * ======These verbs are not as powerful as other word choices could be and sometimes they add more confusions. For clarity and spunk, limit the use of these verbs.======
 * ======Tips for Limiting the use of "to be" verbs======
 * **Substitute**-Sometimes a good replacement just pops into your brain. For example, instead of “That cherry pie sure is good,” substitute the “to-be” verb is with tastes as in “That cherry pie sure tastes good.”
 * **Rearrange**-Start the sentence differently to see if this helps eliminate a “to-be” verb. For example, instead of “The monster was in the dark tunnel creeping,” rearrange as “Down the dark tunnel crept the monster.”
 * **Change another word in the sentence into a verb**-For example, instead of “Charles Schulz was the creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip,” change the common noun //creator// to the verb //created// as in “Charles Schulz created the Peanuts cartoon strip.”
 * **Combine sentences**-Look at the sentences before and after the one with the “to-be” verb to see if one of them can combine with the “to-be” verb sentence and so eliminate the “to-be” verb. For example, instead of “The child was sad. The sensitive young person was feeling that way because of the news story about the death of the homeless man,” combine as “The news story about the death of the homeless man saddened the sensitive child.”
 * ==Sentence Variety==
 * ===Variety in Modifier Placement===
 * **Using Initial Modifiers:**
 * 1) //Dependent Clause:// Although she wasn't tired, Maria went to sleep.
 * 2) //Infinitive Phrase:// To please her mother, Maria went to sleep.
 * 3) //Adverb:// Quickly and quietly, Maria went to sleep.
 * 4) //Participial Phrase:// Hoping to feel better, Maria went to sleep.
 * **Using Mid-Sentence Modifiers:**
 * 1) //Appositive:// Maria, an obedient child, went to sleep.
 * 2) //Participial Phrase:// Maria, hoping to catch up on her rest, went to sleep.
 * **Using Terminal Modifiers:**
 * 1) //Present Participial Phrase:// Maria went to sleep, hoping to please her mother.
 * 2) //Past Participial Phrase/Adjectival Phrase:// Maria went to sleep, lulled by music.
 * 3) Maria went to sleep, awakening to scary dreams, relieved when it was morning.
 * **Combining Modifiers:**
 * 1) Quickly and quietly, Maria, a young girl, went to sleep hoping to please her mom.

= Vocabulary: =
 * ===Practice your vocab for the SAT with this fun game: []===
 * ===Prefixes===
 * Prefixes Showing Quantity ||
 * Meaning || Prefixes in English Words ||
 * Half || __semi__annual, __hemi__sphere ||
 * One || __uni__cycle, __mon__archy, __mono__rail ||
 * Two || __bi__nary, __bi__monthly, __di__lemma, __di__chotomy ||
 * Hundres || __cent__ury, __centi__meter, __hecto__liter ||
 * Thousand || __milli__meter, __kilo__meter ||
 * Prefixes Showing Time ||
 * Before || __ante__cedent, __fore__cast, __pre__cede, __pro__logue ||
 * After || __post__war ||
 * Again || __re__write, __re__dundant ||
 * Prefixes Showing Direction or Position ||
 * Above, Over || __super__vise, __super__erogatory ||
 * Across, Over || __trans__port, __trans__late ||
 * Below, Under || __infra__sonic, __infra__structure, __sub__terranean, __hypo__dermic ||
 * In front of || __pro__ceed, __pre__fix ||
 * behind || __re__cede ||
 * Out of || __e__rupt, __ex__plicit, __ec__stasy ||
 * Into || __in__jection, __im__merse, __en__courage, __em__power ||
 * Around || __circum__navigate, __peri__meter ||
 * With || __co__exist, __col__loquy, __com__municate, __con__sequence, __cor__respond, __sym__pathy, __syn__chronize ||


 * ===Commonly Misused Words:===
 * ==== 1. affect and effect: ====

Effect means the influence or the outcome.
|| ==== 2. anxious and eager: ====

Eager means being zealous or enthusiastic.
|| ==== 3. comprise: ====

The internet comprises voice-to- voice talk.
||
 * 4. ensure and insure:

Insure is to protect against financial loss. (insurance)
|| 5. fate and faith:

Faith is belief or trust.
|| 6. fewer and less:

Less is used with anything you cannot count (less pride)
||
 * 7. hung and hanged:

Hanged is a way of execution or punishment.
|| 8. in behalf of and on behalf of:

On behalf means to represent.
|| 9 . regardless:

Irregardless should not be used.
||
 * 10. they're, their, there:

There introduces a sentence.
|| 11. unique:

Unique means one of a kind or unequalled. Most unique and very unique are wrong expressions.
|| 12. your and you're:

Youre is the contraction of you are.
||

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