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