#14 - Bell Work Week 4

Monday, August 31

Quick Write

1. What makes a city or country worth defending? 

2. List three qualities and rank them.

Tuesday, September 1

Today's Rule

(Do not use the comma) Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.

Example

After Noun: The workload that Honors English II requires is more difficult than many students expect.

After Verb (expressing thought): Students quickly learn that Honors English II is more difficult than they expected.

Assignment

Each sentence below is either correct or incorrectly punctuated. Rewrite the sentence correctly on the line. If it is already correct, write the sentence and explain by it is correct.

1. The novel, that we annotated last week, still sits on my desk.

2. She believed, that the speaker's argument was built on fear rather than evidence.

Create your own.

1. Write one original complex sentence that uses an essential "that clause" after a noun.

2. Write one that uses an essential "that clause" after a verb of thinking (believe, know, remember, argue, realize). Do not use commas to set those clauses off.

Wednesday, September 2

Today's Rule

Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. In this class, use the Oxford (serial) comma before and or or.

Example

In his Funeral Oration, Pericles praises the courage of the fallen, the strength of Athenian democracy, and the duty of the living to honor both.

Assignment

Rewrite each sentence with correct series commas. Watch for missing commas, extra commas, and items that are not actually a series of three or more.

1. Whether he yields to fear whether he stands his ground or whether he walks away will define the character.

2. Job questions his friends challenges their certainty and refuses to curse God.

Create your own. 

1. Write one original sentence that lists three parallel phrases (not just three single words) and punctuate the series correctly with the Oxford comma.

Thursday, September 3

Today's Rule

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Never add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun. Do not use commas with non-coordinate adjectives (adjectives that must stay in a fixed order or that do not equally modify the noun).

Example

The bald short Cisco. → The bald, short Cisco.

Assignment

Decide whether the adjectives are coordinate. Rewrite the sentence with correct comma use. Hint: if you can put and between them or reverse their order without changing meaning, they are coordinate.

1. The poet chooses a cold precise diction that refuses comfort.

2. Harrison wears the heavy cumbersome handicaps the Handicapper General requires.

Create your own.

1. Write two original sentences: (1) two coordinate adjectives + noun, correctly comma'd

Friday, September 4

No bell work!