22 October - Commas, Vocab Practice

1. Turn in essays. Staple the final draft to the top. Rough draft in between. Prewriting (green packet) goes at the back.
2. Journal
3. Comma Uses #2 & 3
4. Vocabulary Practice & Review

Journal - "Excuses" People seem to create excuses for almost everything that goes wrong. How many excuses can you think of for getting mud on carpet? Write them.

Comma Uses: #2 & 3

#2 To set off most introductory elements, including subordinate conjunctions.
First, what are subordinate conjunctions? They join subordinate or dependent clauses to main/independent clauses. (Ex: after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, since, though, unless, ntil, when, whenever, where, while)

• Example using an introductory word
  First, I would like to thank my family for supporting me.
  Later, they went to the movies.
• Example using an introductory phrase
  First of all, I would like to thank my family for supporting me.
  After eating dinner, they saw a movie.
• Example using an introductory (subordinate) clause. These are called COMPLEX SENTENCES
  When he won an academy award, he thanked his family first.
  After we ate dinner, we saw a movie.
• When a sentence starts with the independent clause, you don’t use a comma.
  When he won an academy award, he thanked his family first. versus He thanked his family first when he won an academy award.
  After we ate dinner, we saw a movie. versus We saw a movie after we ate dinner.

Comma Use #3 between items in a series

• Example: I am studying history, geometry, chemistry, and language arts.
• This comma isn't always necessary, but you should be consistent with its usage.
• This is also correct:I am studying history, geometry, chemistry and language arts.
• When it’s important to put a comma before "and"
  Example: She enjoys dining out, long hikes in the woods, holding hands and playing the guitar. It doesn't make sense to "hold hands and play the guitar" - these need to be separated by a comma.
• When in doubt, USE THE COMMA!

Vocabulary Practice:

Students matched "Sinbad" vocabulary words with pictures on PowerPoint slides. They then wrote sentences using the words.

Vocabulary with introductory elements of sentences (7 sentences total)
Write a complex sentence using the following vocabulary words and subordinate conjunctions.
Vocab words: philosophy, educate, precocious, institute, hypocrisy, martyr, corpulent
Subordinate conjunctions: after, because, before, if, since, when, while

This vocabulary was turned in at the end of class. There is no homework.