Grammar Rules to Remember

(The following rules and examples are frequent on the ACT and expected in college)

The Semi-Colon (2 usages in high school)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_B4bXY9c8obfjrGSty0uWngwWYLcTURd/view

See link above for explanation

Rules:

1. ON ACT: Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by and, but, or, nor, for, yet.

ex.) Take with you only indispensable things; leave behind all heavy and bulky items.

ex.) Hiking invigorates me; I enjoy staying in shape and being healthy.

2. ON ACT: Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by such words as for example, for instance, that is, besides, accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, therefore, however, consequently, instead, hence.

ex.) Tension rose rapidly during yesterday's meeting; nevertheless, most of the Council members remained calm.

ex.) Crime rate has soared recently in New York City; consequently, the mayor has ordered a crackdown on certain behaviors.

3. A semicolon (rather that a comma) may be needed to separate independent clauses if there are commas with the clauses.

ex.) The Canby, the new theater on Bank Street, announced programs of Westerns, gangster pictures, and re-releases of horror and blood-and-thunder movies; and the crowds, surprisingly enough, were enormous.

4. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas.

ex.) The following are members of the new committee: Jan Bates, president of the Student Council; Allan Drew, president of the Senior Class; Helen Berger, vice-president of the Honor Society; and James Green, who, as a member of the Student Council, proposed that the committee be formed.

The Colon (3 usages)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CP1NxRj_I65E0AipWR6oKsDGIIj7BfpB/view

See link above for explanation

Rules:

1. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions like as follows and the following.

ex.) The car trunk was large enough for everything: rackets, golf clubs, fishing supplies, suitcases, a picnic basket, and heavy clothing.

2. Use a colon before a long, formal statement or quotation.

ex.) Dr. Stoddard made the following observation: The time is coming when a general college education will be as common as a high school education is today.

3. Use a colon between independent clauses when the second clause explains or restates the idea in the first.

ex.) These seat covers are the durable kind: they are reinforced with double stitching and covered with a heavy plastic coating.

ex.) I love a variety of ethnic foods: My favorites are Mexican and Indian.

4. Use a colon between volume and number or between volume and age number of a periodical.

ex.) Harper's 198:12 (volume and number)

ex.) Harper's 198:68-74 (volume and page numbers)

5. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.

ex.) Dear Ms. Green:

The Dash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPNOS1VX1kE&feature=youtu.be

Watch video above

Rules:

1. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought.

ex.) He might—and according to plans, should— have reinforced the Second Division.

ex.) The title— if, indeed, the poem had a title— has escaped me.

ex.) I invited Margie— she's the new girl in town— to Winter Carnival

ex.) The dog skidded on the floor— his nails acted like ice skates— and crashed into the kitchen table.

2. Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that is before an explanation.

ex.) The referees had it in their power to prevent the fracas—they could have stopped the game at any time. [the dash means that is]

(Important: In this use the colon and the dash are frequently interchangeable.)

The Hyphen

Rules:

1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line.

2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and with fractions used as adjectives.

ex.) Thirty-three students

3. Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex-, self-, all-, with the suffix -elect, and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective.

ex.) ex-president, self-imposed

4. Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the word it modifies.

ex.) a second-story room, an after-school meeting.

5. Use a hyphen to prevent confusion or awkwardness.

ex.) re-collect [prevents confusion with recollect]

The Comma (Introductory Clauses)

Rule 1. Use a commas before and, but, or, nor, for, and yet when they join independent clauses.

ex.) I have scissors, and I am holding them.

ex.) I did not study at all, yet I managed to get a good grade.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH COMPOUND PREDICATES

ex.) I have scissors and am holding them. (Loss of pronoun/noun and second part isn't independent)

ex.) I did not study yet managed a good grade.

Rule: 1. Use a comma after words such as well, yes, no, and when they begin a sentence.

ex.) Yes, you were elected.

ex.) Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that.

2. Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.

ex.) Behaving like a spoiled child, he pouted and threw a fit.

3. Use a comma after a succession of introductory prepositional phrases.

ex.) At the edge of the deep woods near Lakeville in Cumberland County, they built a small log cabin.

4. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clauses.

ex.) While Mario put the costume on, the accompanist played "Deep Purple."

The Comma (Appositive Phrases)

Rule: 1. Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas.

ex.) A syndicated column by Bernie Silverman, the noted writer, will appear in the Times-News, a local paper.

ex.) Not all viruses, however, straighten themselves out.

2. Words used in direct address are set off by commas.

ex.) I don't know, Alice, where your brother is.

3. Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.

ex.) My parents will, I am sure, let me have the car tonight.

Essay Rules

1. Never use First person in analysis: I, we, you, me, our

2. Never use the following words of profanity: IS, WAS, SHOWS, and USE

3. Never retell events in a piece: Place your reader at the precise point then analyze the theme or effect.

4. Never use the word VERY or CONTRACTIONS (can't, won't, don't, etc.)

5. Never heap praise upon an author. That is opinion. Just state the facts.

6 Never utilize a quotation longer that one or two lines of text.

7. There are A LOT of reasons not to utilize this phrase. See below

(myriad, plethora, multitudinous, innumerable, numerous, etc)

8. The words "quote" or "quotation" should never appear in the essay. BTW: quote is a verb and quotation is a noun.

9. ALWAYS give the author credit for everything......"Heinlein attacks liberals early in the novel at boot camp when....."

10. Don't use the word "says" or "said"; see the list of 100 alternatives below

This should be done instead of "johnny joins the MI and goes to boot camp and meets Zim......"

Wordcounttools ( Use this website!!!!!! www.wordcounttools.com )

https://youtu.be/Es5nB8ae7Po

Tips for using Word Count Tools in video above

UNIVERSAL RUBRIC

1. Words Per Sentence

a) 21 wps and up = 20/20 Points

b) 19-20 wps = 18/20

c) 17-18 wps = 16/20

d) 15-16 wps = 14/20

2. Readability Level:

a) College Graduate = 20/20 Points

b) College Student = 18/20

c) 11th-12th student = 16/20

d) 9th - 10th student = 14/20

3. GRAMMAR: Utilize one COLON, SEMI-COLON, and one DASH 10 points

4. 400-500 words 20 points (400 is 14/20 425 16/20 475 18/20 500 20/20)

5. STYLE AND TONE: Stay in 3rd person 10 points

6. QUOTATIONS: 4 quotes with MLA 10 points

7. INTRODUCTION: Broad, narrow, and thesis 10 points

8. QUALITY: How well did you address the prompt 10 points

9. DICTION: No is, was, shows, very 10 points

TOTAL: 120 points