Twiducate Group Fall 2011

Objectives :The students will identify correct spelling and punctuation in sentences.

Sharpen Your Writing Skills

Comma Drama!When do I use a Comma?

#1 To separate the elements in a series (three or more things).

For dinner my mother made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green peas.

Next

Use a Comma… #2 Use a comma + a conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses

He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base.

Next

And also…

#3 Use a comma to set off an introductory element or phrase, Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked. If I had a million dollars, I’d go on the best vacation ever!

Next

Quick QuizClick on the correct sentence for each number.

1. My dog chewed my shoes hat and scarf.My dog chewed my shoes, hat, and scarf.

2. I was home alone, so I had ice cream for supper. I was home alone so I had ice cream for supper.

3. While the weather was warm we went swimming every day. While the weather was warm, we went swimming every day

Spelling RULES!Don’t get tripped up by homophones (word that soundthe same but look different).

their: of, or belonging to, made by, or done by themthere: at or in that placethey’re: contraction with they and are

to: in the direction of ; towardtoo: in addition; as well; besides; alsotwo: the number

i before e except after cThere are some exceptions to this rule so when in doubt check it out! (by using a dictionary!!!)

Here are just a few examples: When the vowel combination is intended to sound like a, the i should follow, not the e:neighbor weigh eightsleigh vein beige

And also in the following words:weird seize eitherNeither foreign caffeine

Quick Quiz 2 !Click on the correct sentence for each number.

1.I love you to pieces!I love you to peices!

2.I have too friends coming over too my house.

I have two friends coming over to my house.

I have two friends coming over too my house.

It is all about the DETAILS!A good writer also uses lots of details in their writing to paint a picture for the reader. Read the following excerpt from About.com . Notice the details that add to the story.

“The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide, white ruffle around its neck” (Nordquist, 2011).

All the words highlighted are the details that add to the story. Without them you would be left with this description of the clown.The clown had yellow hair and blue eyes. It had red cheeks, nose, and lips that had a grin.BORING!

1.Listen and watch the following VoiceThread: Narrative writing

2.Go to : The Mysteries of Harris Burdick and pick one image for your narrative writing.

Your Assignment

Assignment continued…3. After constructing your story upload to our class Twiducate page.

The End

Directions to upload to twiducate:1. Go to the twiducate page at http://www.twiducate.com/home.php2. Login using the appropriate username and password:

Username PasswordCourtney Cox Storyjumper 1 545697Marianne Faulk Storyjumper 2 815358Valerie Rollins Storyjumper 3 413241Jennifer Lewis Storyjumper 4 64680Delissa Hughes Storyjumper 5 255946

Back to Quick Quiz

Back to Quick Quiz 2!

OOPS!The correct answer was really…

1. My dog chewed my shoes, hat, and scarf.

Back to Quiz

OOPS!The correct answer was really…

2. I was home alone, so I had ice cream for supper.

Back to Quiz

OOPS!The correct answer was really…

3. While it was warm, we went swimming every day.

Back to Quiz

Try Again!

OOPS!

Back to quiz

Independent ClauseAn independent clause is, essentially, a sentence; that is even though it does not contain capitalization and punctuation it can stand alone as a sentence.

We didn’t go to the picnic because we were tired.

Sources

Loberger, G., Ph. D. and Welsh, K. S. (2002). Webster’s new world English grammar handbook. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Nordquist, R. (2011). Model descriptive paragraphs. Retrieved from http://grammar.about.com/od/developingparagraphs/a/samdescpars.htm