By Robert S. DeFrance - PowerPoint Presentation

By Robert S. DeFrance Learning Sentences and Commas using Literature and Theory

Batman on Grammar “Good grammar is essential, Robin,” explains original Batman Adam West Adam West as the original T.V. Batman

Bierce on Grammar “Grammar, n. A system of pitfalls thoughtfully prepared for the feet of the self-made man, along the path by which he advances to distinction,” as Ambrose Bierce defines it in his Dictionary

What is the Difference between Grammar and Syntax? Grammar The Cambridge English Dictionary defines grammar as, “the study or use of the rules about how words change their form and combine with other words to express meaning” Syntax In Revision Decisions (Anderson and Dean 2014), they define “ syntax [as] the flow of language—the order and the way in which we combine words” Syntax is “the grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence” (Cambridge)

Definition of a Sentence Aristotle defines a sentence as, “a form of speech which hath a beginning and an end within itself, and is of such a length as to be easily comprehended at once” (Blair 145) Aristotle

Key Terms and Abbreviations to Understanding Basic Sentences Clauses I.C. = INDEPENDENT CLAUSE D.C. = DEPENDENT CLAUSE Conjunctions C.C. =COORDINATE CONJUNCTION S.C. =SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION C.A. =CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

Pancake Theory

Pancake Theory Building sentences is like building a stack of pancakes. If you use syrup between the pancakes, you can avoid run-on sentences

Simple Sentences

Simple Sentences “A simple sentence includes a single independent clause made up of a subject and a predicate [verb]” (H-96)

A SIMPLE Sentence (ALSO CALLED A PHRASE OR CLAUSE)

Independent Clauses A simple phrase or clause ( S+V+O ) is also called an independent clause ( I.C. ) S+V+O= I.C. Example: Jose ( S ) rides ( V ) the bus ( O ). Prince William and Kate Middleton on the bus

Independent Clauses of Edgar Allan Poe “‘Truth is strange,’” from Poe’s “A Blackwood Article” (282) “The bird said ‘Nevermore,’” from Poe’s “The Raven” (84) “I was astounded,” from Poe’s “The Purloined Letter” (688)

Independent Clauses of Poe “‘Truth ( subject ) is ( verb ) strange ( object )’” “The bird ( subject ) said ( verb ) ‘Nevermore’” ( object ) “I ( subject ) was ( verb ) astounded” ( object ) John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe in “The Raven” (2012)

Compound Sentences

Compound Sentences “Writers often use coordinating conjunctions…to join related independent clauses—groups of words that can stand alone as complete sentences—to create compound sentences ” (290)

Coordinate Conjunctions There are 7 coordinate conjunctions: for , and , nor , but , or , yet , and so An easy acronym: FANBOYS: F ( for ), A ( and ), N ( nor ), B ( but ), O ( or ), Y ( yet ), and S ( so ) Coordinate conjunctions combine 2 or more independent clauses

Coordinate Conjunctions “A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it,” from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities (1859) Coordinate conjunctions are used to “bring together…elements of equal importance to the meaning” of the sentence

Using a Compound Sentence In Revision Decisions , Anderson and Dean explain, “When we have two ideas opposing each other and we want to join them in one sentence, we can form a compound sentence” (69)

Coordinate Conjunctions in Equiano “I was immediately handled and tossed up to see if if I was sound, by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had got into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me,” from Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Examples of Compound Sentences “It might be that to surrender to happiness was to accept defeat, but it was a defeat better than many victories,” from W. Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage (1915)

Examples of Compound Sentences “ And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good,” from John Steinbeck’s East of Eden (1952) Julie Harris and James Dean in the film “East of Eden” (1955)

Question: Can Coordinate Conjunctions Start a Sentence The answer is probably more complicated than you might expect…

About This Our Textbooks are Somewhat Vague In The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing it states they, “bring together…elements [that] can be words, phrases, or clauses” (H-42) However, neither text provides an answer to this question An answer may be implied, because in all the examples using coordinate conjunctions only one of them begins a sentence

According to Towson University, “No”

According to Estrella Mountain College, “No”

According to Pasadena City College, “No”

Yet the Oxford Dictionary Explains, “Yes” Grammar Myths #2: Please, miss, can I start with a coordinate conjunction?

According to Capital Community College, “Yes”

According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Yes”

This Advice from Illinois Valley Community College Seems about Right…

This Advice from Illinois Valley Community College Seems about right… “The short answer is no…These words are primarily used to join together parts of a sentence” “However, such sentences can be used effectively. Because sentences starting with these words stand out, they are sometimes used for emphasis”

Can a Coordinate Conjunction Start a Sentence? Academic/Formal Settings No (although sometimes it might be okay; ask first) Creative Writing/Journalism Yes (sparingly)

Can a Coordinate Conjunction Start a Sentence? In the opening pages of Thomas L. Friedman’s national bestseller The World is Flat (2005), he uses this technique to announce the thesis of his book, “ And this is why I argue in this book that around the year 2000 we entered a whole new era: Globalization 3.0.” (Friedman 10).

Complex Sentences

Complex Sentences “Writers create complex sentences by combining independent clauses with a subordinating conjunction (such as although or because ) or by linking two clauses with a relative pronoun (such as which or who )” (H-98) W. H. Auden

Dependent Clauses “If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me,” from W. H. Auden’s “The More Loving One” Typically, “ the dependent clause explains or qualifies the independent clause,” as explained in the St. Martin’s Guide to Writing (H-5) “The most important information appears in an independent clause” (H-42)

When to Use a Compound or Complex Sentence “Compound sentences suggest an equal relationship between ideas, while subordination suggests a prioritizing one, the subordinate clause being less important than the main clause” (85)

Dependent Clauses A dependent clause (S.C.+S+V+O) is connected to an independent clauseBy itself, a dependent clause is a fragment or incomplete sentence S.C.+S+V+O Example: Since ( S.C. ) the library ( S ) was ( V ) open ( O ) The Burke Library at Colombia University

Dependent Clauses of William Wordsworth “After the perils of his moonlight ride,” from Wordsworth’s “The Prelude, Book Thirteen” (1850) “Upon the moon I fix’d my eye,” from Wordsworth’s “Strange fits of passion have I known” (1800) British Author and Poet William Wordsworth

Dependent Clauses of William Wordsworth “ After the perils of his moonlight ride” (“after” is a subordinate conjunction, so it begins a dependent clause) “ Upon the moon I fix’d my eye” (“upon” is a subordinate conjunction, so it begins a dependent clause)

SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS Subordinate conjunctions introduce dependent clauses, which add detail about independent clausesSome useful subordinate conjunctions: AFTER ALTHOUGH AS BECAUSE BEFORE EVENTHOUGH IF ONCE PROVIDED SINCE THOUGH UNLESS WHEREAS WHETHER WHILE

Acronym for Common Subordinate Conjunctions AAAWWUBBIS : after, although, as, when, while, until, before, because, if and since

Compound-Complex Sentences

Compound-Complex Sentences “Clauses can also be combined to produce compound-complex sentences , compound sentences that contain dependent clauses” (H-98) Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Compound-Complex Sentences “The man who had had the room before, after having slept the sleep of the just for hours on end, oblivious to the worries and unrest of the recent early morning, awoke when the day was well advanced and the sounds of the city completely invaded the air of the half-opened room,” from Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Dialogue with the Mirror” Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS Conjunctive adverbs extend sentences by drawing important conclusionsSome common conjunctive adverbs: THUS HENCE HOWEVER MOREOVER FURTHERMORE NEVERTHELESS THEREFORE SIMILARLY FINALLY

Conjunctive Adverbs Three Uses of Conjunctive Adverbs: 1. To Introduce or Transition 2. To Pause 3. To Expand Examples 1. Moreover, the research by Williams proved otherwise. Therefore, it is plausible to conclude that… 2. Sam , however, could not swim. 3. Since the research concluded the initial findings were false, no credible organization should support this bill ; moreover, if an organization supports this bill, the people should organize a protest to stop them.

1. Conjunctive Adverbs Used to Begin a Sentence “ However, the ‘signs’ that construct such histories and identities—gender, race, homophobia, postwar diaspora, refugees, the international division of labour, and so on—not only differ in content but often produce incompatible systems of signification” (Bhabha 176).

2. Conjunctive Adverbs Used to Pause “She was , however, not easy to deal with” (Nabokov 184) Vladimir Nabokov

3. Conjunctive Adverbs Used to Expand Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explains in a summary of Ishmael Reed’s Mumbo Jumbo: “The Wild Woman is not at all civilized ; rather, she is adept only at dancing and dances the Charleston as if she invented it” (Gates 108-109)

SENTENCE TYPES SENTENCE TYPE EQUATION EXAMPLE SIMPLE SENTENCE I.C. James researched civil rights. COMPOUND SENTENCE I.C. + C.C. + I.C. James did award-winning research, so he received the Nobel Peace Prize. COMPLEX SENTENCE D.C. + I.C. or I.C. + D.C. Since James had a lot of help, he thanked his colleagues in his speech. COMPOUND-COMPLEX D.C. + I.C. + I.C. or I.C. + I.C. + D.C. After James received the award, he got a position at U.C.L.A., and he decided to write another book.

SENTENCE TYPES CONTINUED SENTENCE TYPE EQUATION EXAMPLE CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS D.C. + I.C. + I.C.; CA, I.C. As much as he tried to rebuild his report with his colleagues, they always felt he thought he was above them; thus, he decided to retire.

COMPLETE SENTENCES A complete sentence consists of a subject and a verb and usually an object Complete: Billy (S) studied (V). Complete: Billy (S) studied (V) literature (O).

FRAGMENTS OR INCOMPLETE SENTENCES An incomplete sentence either lacks a subject or verb, is a dependent clause, or begins with the wrong word like “which” or “especially” (which can be used correctly but is often mis-used)

RUN-ON SENTENCES A run-on sentence is a series of phrases or clauses without conjunctions If you have more than one clause, always use a conjunction Run-on Sentence : George wrote late at night sometimes he made mistakes. Corrected : George wrote late at night. Sometimes he made mistakes.

Pancake Theory Building sentences is like building a stack of pancakes. If you use syrup between the pancakes, you can avoid run-on sentences

Numbers Decimals : use numbers (i.e. “0.89”) 1-9 : use numbers (i.e. “9”) 10-99 : write them out (i.e. “ninety-nine”) 99 or above : use numbers (i.e. “1,000”) *However, other than for decimals, it is also correct to write out all numbers

Numbers Percent: use numbers (unless it starts a sentence) Time: Use numerals with a.m. or p.m. or with exact times, like 6:16 Rule : Do not start a sentence with a numeral (write it out)

Food for Thought “Punctuation choreographs and orchestrates thought,” wrote Jennifer DeVere Brody in Punctuation: Art, Politics, and Play

References Brothers Grimm. The Collected Works. Anderson and Dean. Revision Decisions . Stenhouse Publishers. Kirszner and Mandell. Foundations First . Poe, Edgar Allan. Poe: Poetry and Tales . The Library of America. The Bedford Handbook . “The Semicolon.” Capital Community College. Web. 7.19.2015. St. Martin’s Guide to Writing .