Saturday, August 31, 2013

Grammar WEEK 1 -- The Sentence

WEEK 1

THE SENTENCE
A sentence is
a unit of words
simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex
made of a subject and a verb, and a complete thought
Subject
The simple subject is the singular noun or plural nouns that do the action of the verb.
The complete subject is the simple subject with any modifiers.
Verb
The simple verb may consist of one word or a group of words.  These are the action words of the sentence.
The complete subject is also called the predicate.  It contains modifiers, direct objects, and indirect objects.
Fragment
A fragment often looks like a sentence with a capital letter and an end punctuation.  However, it is missing either a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
The Run-on
A Run-on sentence is two or more sentences improperly joined by wrong puncutaion, no punctuation, or a conjunction that needs help from some kind of punctuation. 
Correcting a Run-on sentence
1.       Make two sentences.
2.       Join the two clauses by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
3.       Join the two clauses with a semicolon.
4.       Join the two clauses with a semicolon and a connector with a comma (but not a coordinating conjunction.
5.       Subordinate one of the clauses.






8 PARTS OF SPEECH
Verb
Verbs are commonly action words.  Verbs are in the following categories:
            Action, State of being, Linking, Groups of words
Verbs have voice
            Active:  the action of the verb is performed by the subject of the sentence.
            Passive:  the action of the verb is performed upon the subject of the sentence.
Agreement in number
            Singular subjects and singular verbs; plural subjects and plural verbs
All sentences have verbs
            Imperative sentences may appear to be missing the subject, but it is an understood “you.”
All verbs have four principal parts:
            1) present stem – e.g. look
            2) past tense – e.g. looked
            3) past participle – e.g. looked
            4) present participle – e.g. looking
Noun
Nouns are words, phrases or clauses that name a person, place, thing, idea, or quality.
Categories for nouns:  common, proper, compound, collective, as adverbs, concrete, abstract, countable, non-countable, verbal nouns (gerunds),
A noun can be used in a sentence as a: subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, predicate noun

Pronoun
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.  An antecedent is a word or group of words to which a pronoun refers.  If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular.  If the antecedent is plural, then the pronoun must be plural.
The various types of pronouns:  Personal (Subjective case, Objective case, Possessive case), Reflexive or intensive, Demonstrative, Relative, Interrogative, Extended, Indefinite

Adjective
An adjective is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies (changes, limits, describes, transforms, qualifies) a noun or pronoun.
Adjectives anwer the following questions:  Which one? What kind of? and How many?
Adjectives may be placed before the noun, after the noun, or after a state of being or linking verb.

Adverb
An adverb is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies (changes, limits, describes, transforms, qualifies) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Adverbs answer the following questions:  How? When? Where? To what extent? How much? How often?


Preposition
A preposition is a word that links a noun or pronoun with some other word (usually a noun or a verb).
A preposition always comes before the noun (object of the preposition)
Prepositional phrases can be adjectival or adverbial.


Conjunction
A conjunction is a word or words used to join other words, phrases, or clauses.
Coordinating conjunctions:  for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (“FANBOYS”)
Correlative conjunctions:  either … or; neither … nor; not only … but also; both … and; etc.
Adverbial conjunctions:  although, if, because, since (these join subordinate clauses)


Interjection

An interjection is a word or group of words expressing emotion or feeling.

30 Steps to a Research Paper

30 Steps to a Research Paper


Week
Step
Discussion Topic
Assignment due
Week 1
1.            
Understanding the thesis-driven paper

2.            
Identify possible subjects
3.            
Read general sources
4.            
Narrow the subject

5.            
Select your topic
6.            
Form leading research questions
Week 2
7.            
Formulate working thesis
r List of 5 - 10 possible topics with a thesis idea for each.
r Narrow the topic to 2 options with leading questions for each.
8.            
Make research plan
9.            
Write proposal
10.        
Brainstorm/Cluster/Free-write
Week 3
11.        
Find sources (print & electronic)
r General Topic:  1 -2 pages describing your interest in your topic
r Write a Proposal & Research plan
12.        
Evaluate sources
13.        
Prepare working bibliography
Week 4
14.        
Research & take notes
r Initial list of sources
r General subtopics
15.        
Paraphrase, summarize, quote sources
16.        
Organize information
17.        
Make a running/ informal outline
Week 5
18.        
Develop detailed outline
r Informal outline
19.        
Write first draft #1
Week 6
20.        
Prepare works cited in MLA style
r Detailed outline
21.        
First draft of presentation plan
Week 7
22.        
Peer edit
r Rough Draft #1
Week 8
23.        
Revise rough draft #1
r Works Cited draft #1;
r Peer Edit
Week 9
24.        
Finalize presentation plans
r Initial Presentation plan
25.        
Prepare visuals for presentation
Week 10
26.        
Rough Draft #2
r Final presentation plan;
Week 11
27.        
Finalize works cited page
r Rough Draft #2
Week 12 – 13
28.        
Proofread
r Works cited draft #2 (Week 12)
Week 14 – 15
29.        
Presentation
r Presentations
r Final Draft
30.        
Final Draft


Research Paper Rubric

Research Paper Rubric
Criterion
Points
Insufficient
Limited
Adequate
Proficient
Exceptional
Format
10
Elements missing; incorrect margins, font, spacing, bibliography, endnotes.  (0 – 2 pt)
Some elements missing; flaws that detract from flow of paper
(3 – 4 pt)
All elements present with occasional mistakes
(5 – 6 pt)
All elements well-presented and flows smoothly
(7 – 8 pt)
All elements thoroughly presented, extremely well-organized, no flaws
(9 – 10 pt)
Student Scores






Mechanics
50
Frequent errors, seriously impairs flow & meaning of paper
(0 – 9 pt)
Regular errors; flow/meaning of paper breaks down
(10 – 19 pt)

Errors noticeable, and occasionally detract from flow or meaning of paper
(20 – 29  pt)
Some errors, which are minor in nature and don’t detract from overall meaning of paper
(30 – 39 pt)
Essentially faultless; errors may result from risk-taking and do not detract from meaning of paper.  (40 – 50 pt)
Student Scores






Organization
50
Elements missing; minimal organization and lack of flow; understanding seriously impaired
(0 – 9 pt)
Regular breaks in organization impede flow and meaning
(10 – 19 pt)

Occasional disorganization within paragraphs, but paragraph organization well presented.
(20 – 29  pt)
Well organized and flows smoothly; no distractions in organization;
(30 – 39 pt)
All sentences and paragraphs flow well; smooth and logical flow; crisp and clear
(40 – 50 pt)
Student Scores






Content
50
Little to no examination of data; failure to present relevant information
(0 – 9 pt)
Some examination of data; little evaluation of material; little understanding of relevant information
(10 – 19 pt)
Adequate understanding and examination of data; some attempts to incorporate material into paper
(20 – 29  pt)
Skillful examination shows strong degree of evaluation; strong understanding of various points of argument
(30 – 39 pt)
Demonstrates thorough examination of data; shows ability to evaluate; reveals mature insight
(40 – 50 pt)
Student Scores






Thesis/Position
15
Position incomplete; support ineffective; explanation minimal
(0 – 3 pt)
Positions partially presented; weak information; lack of relevant details.
(4 – 6 pt)
Position substantially presented; some imbalance in positions and missing or gaps in explanation.  (7 – 9 pt)
Position completely presented, relevant, accurate, clear and well-explained.   (10 – 12 pt)
All positions thoroughly presented; each point clearly explained; relevant and accurate support of positions
(13 – 15 pt)
Student Scores






Presentation
25
Unprepared; unorganized; no eye contact; too casual
(0 – 4 pt)
Shared minimal information; occasional eye contact
(5 – 9  pt)
Good organization; shared relevant and interested information
(10 – 14 pt)
Well-organized; material interests and engages audience; very good eye contact.  (15 – 19 pt)
Flawless presentation; covers key information; confident, engaging
(20 – 25 pt)
Student Scores








Total Score – 200 possible points