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Journalism short courseGrammar and writing
Spring 2011
Instructor Wendy M. Weinhold
Writing musts
• Style — Check spelling, grammar and AP style for conformity.
• Words — Make sure they agree and go together.
• Concision — Avoid using too many words.
• Punctuation — Learn the rules of punctuation and make your writing clear.
Why your stylebook is at your side, but style is something you
need to know:
Like a car manual, the stylebook is always available, but there are still some things you should know by heart about your car. For example, you don't need to know how to change your oil, but you at least need to know that your oil needs to be changed every 3,500 miles.
THE PARTS OF SPEECHä Nouns
Persons, places, things, ideas or qualities
ä PronounsSubstitute for nouns and function as nouns
ä VerbsActions, occurrences or states of being
ä AdjectivesDescribe or modify nouns or pronouns
ä AdverbsDescribe or modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole groups of words
ä PrepositionsRelate nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence
ä Conjunctions: link words, phrases and clausesCoordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions
ä InterjectionsExpress feelings or command attention
Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman PublishersFowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition
INDEPENDENT (MAIN) VS. DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES
– A main or independent clause makes a complete statement and can stand alone as a sentence: The sky darkened.
– A subordinate or dependent clause is just like a main clause except that it begins with a subordinating word: when the sky darkened, whoever calls.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICEActive Voice The Subject acts.
The city controls rents.
Subject = actor Transitive verb in active voice
Direct object
Passive Voice The subject is acted upon.
Subject = object of action
Transitive verb in passive voice
By Actor (optional)
Rents are controlled by the city.
Rents are controlled.
COMPLETE SENTENCE VS. SENTENCE FRAGMENT
A complete sentence or independent clause:– Contains a subject and a verb
Example: The sun shines.– And it is not a dependent clause
A sentence fragment:– Lacks a verb
Example: The sun shining.– Or lacks a subject
Example: And shines.– Or is a dependent clause not attached to a complete sentence.
Example: Because the sun shines.
TESTS FOR COMPLETE SENTENCES• In order to complete sentences, meet all three of the
following tests:
Find the verb. Find the subject. Make sure the clause is independent.
EXERCISERevising Sentence Fragments
• Correct any sentence fragments below.1. Scientists who study molds. They are very
different from other people.2. People from California and Nebraska wear
shorts. Pants that fall above the knee.3. People have thin skin. Compared to animals.4. The human equivalent of fur may be blankets.
Especially duvets made of down.
Assignment
In class: 1. Join class wiki: SIUCJournalism20112. Complete evaluation
Out of class:Register at newsu.org, complete the
following course and send a report to [email protected]
3. http://www.newsu.org/courses/cleaning-your-copy-grammar-style-and-more
