Grammar & Essays
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 )
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
In the mid 20th century the population was exploding and legislation such as the Jim Crow laws oppressed and segregated African Americans. There were a lot of visible flaws in society, specifically the western world, where civilization grew more destructive. In George Stewarts Earth Abides he recognizes these flaws in which he creates a post apocalyptic society in the Western world. He uses a number of intercalary paragraphs to exaggerate these flaws. As he wrote this book he threw in many attacks on Western Civilization which he cared about immensely. In which he states, “He suddenly thought of all that had gone to built civilization--of slavery and conquest and war and oppression” (pg. 344). These attacks from stewart were concerning the people of our society who he wanted to wake up and start caring more about the survival of the human race as well as the living things we’re surrounded with.
2018-2019 College Essay: Political Propaganda of Science Fiction
1. Pick either Starship Troopers or Earth Abides
2. Analyze how George Stewart attacks Western World Society throughout Earth Abides?
Must use quotation from Crevecouer in the intro of your essay to set the tone page 147
Must use quotation from Stewart on 289 "You lived part of it, not as its dominating power."
3. Analyze how Robert Heinlein utilizes Mr. Dubois to promote his meritocratic utopian society in Starship Troopers?
Must use the Thomas Paine quotation "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly" in your intro
Must use Proverbs XXII:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when his old he will not depart from it" for your conclusion.
4. Essay must have Four paragraphs containing two quotations each followed by analysis.
500 words minimum and 750 words maximum
5. Intro and Conclusion should also have a quotation reflecting the mood of the author in the intro and the direction of the future in the conclusion
6. Essay must meet the following Wordcounttools objectives on readability: 11-12 (16/20); 13-15 (18/20); Graduate (20/20).
7. Five labeled and correctly utilized examples of polysyllabic diction (highlighted)
8. Grammatical examples: semi-colon, Colon, and dash
The Outline
Universal Essay Outline
Introduction: If this paragraph is bad, the essay is doomed at the start
Broad - Statement about time period surrounding author. You must contextualize the contents of the book. Answering the questions below put the subject of the novel into historical context.
When: (book was written, major events surrounding it)
Where: (culture, country, area)
What: (the central issue of the time)
Why: (it pertains to the novel)
Narrow - Statement relating the author and piece(s) to the issue of the broad
Author(s):
Piece(s):
Link: How does piece relate back to broad
Thesis - This statement is the “theme” of the essay. The reason for everything
Restated Prompt:
Direction: Take prompt and provide vision/direction as to the author’s intent
Body: Each paragraph should consist of a general pattern with at least 1 or 2 quotations tied directly to the THESIS
Transitional Statement: Move reader from thesis to point one or from point one to point two.
Lead/Placement: Your quotation has significance: what is going on when it is stated. Place reader into the piece so the context of quotation makes sense.
Quotation: The author says it better: find the best example for you point which ties back to the thesis
Analysis: You need sentences explaining how your quotation in relationship to the piece/book exemplifies the message of the author in regards to the time period
Extension:
Transition and Lead to another point
Quotation #2 can be worked into the paragraph for strength
Analysis again will confirm
Conclusion: Besides the obvious recapitulation (recap) of the thesis and point, the conclusion should offer some lesson or direction the reader or society can learn.
Restate and recap the author’s purpose and thus your point
Provide a lesson to take into a broader world. The next step
Work in a quotation that exemplifies the point.
Practice Introduction and Bibliography
The College Bubble as the example
Broad:
When: 21st century, 2012, today
Where: United States
What: college debt
Why: Debt has become destructive, not a good return on the investment
As the 21st century begins, young students leaving high school and entering the university are increasingly facing the destructive nature of college debt.
Narrow:
Author: Megan McArdle
Piece: "A College Bubble" Newsweek
Link: Analyzes the destructive nature of debt / return on investment
In the 2012 Newsweek article "A College Bubble", Megan McArdle analyzes the rising debt incurred by college students and its lack of return on a student's investment.
Thesis:
Restate Prompt
McArdle demonstrates throughout the piece that young people entering the college world need to be leery of the debt and beware of universities inflating the costs for items unrelated to a college degree.
Bibliography or Works Cited
1. McArdle, Megan. "The College Bubble". Newsweek. September 17, 2012. pages 24-26
Powerful Polysyllabic Diction for Utilization
(Good big words to use)
Weak verbs to avoid: ☹
Here is a list of verbs you should avoid on your resume where possible:
did make use get look take keep have
said told talk change start finish
GENERAL POWER VERB LIST
Here are some better alternatives to common weak words.
Weak Word: DID
act activate administer apply arrange carry out
conduct execute facilitate handle perform
Weak Word: MAKE
assemble compose create design develop devise engineer
establish fashion formulate generate produce synthesize
Weak Word: FIX
alleviate amended debugged detected diagnosed investigated
remedied repaired revitalized solved synthesized streamline
Weak Word: SHOW
demonstrate depict describe exhibit
highlight illustrate portray represent
Weak Words: TALK, SPEAK, WRITE, COMMUNICATE
addressed advocate briefed communicate composed convince
consulted collaborate correspond disseminate edited educated
explained highlight inform instruct interact negotiate present
publicize report specify verify welcome
Weak Word: KEEP
ensure maintain strengthen
Weak Word: USE
operate utilize
Weak Word: GET
achieve obtain procure
Weak Word: CHANGE, MAKE SOMETHING BETTER, GET RESULTS
accelerate accomplish achieve alter award attain
convert decrease eliminate expand excel generate
heighten improve increase minimize maximize receive
recognize for (passive verb = “is/was recognized for”) reduce transform
Weak Word: HELP
aid assist bolster enhance
enrich help provide
Weak Word: ADD
compile strengthen
Weak Word: START
initiate
