NO NO RULES

• No second person (you, your) Use third person

• no something, anything, everything

• stay consistent with tense

• no first person

• 1-9 are written out (ex: one, two three), 10 and so on is written in roman numerals, but if you START with a number you have to write it out (six students…)

• no abbreviations, write out

• do not start with coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, not, for, so, yet)

• Do not start with “this, that, these, or those)

• no dead words (state of being verb) try to use action verbs

• who, which, that = people, “that” refers to animals or nonliving objects

  “which” refers to nonliving objects and animals

That or which should not be referred to people

• no get, got, gotten, very, I, me, my, we, you, your, thing, really, a lot, lots, stuff, shows, quote, says

• no contractions (can’t = cannot)

• no comma splice (seen below)

• no sentences start with the same word

• conclusion should not start with “in conclusion”, “to sum up”, or “this concludes this paper,” or repeating word for word

  A comma splice is a grammatical error that occurs when two independent clauses are joined together with only a comma, instead of a conjunction or a semicolon. For example: "I went to the store, I bought some milk." This should be corrected to: "I went to the store and bought some milk.”

• State of Being Verb

  State of being verbs, also known as linking verbs, are verbs that express a state of being or existence. They do not show action, but rather connect the subject of the sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames it.

  Examples of State of Being Verbs

  • am

  • is

  • are

  • was

  • were

  • be

  • being

  • been

  Usage of State of Being Verbs

  • They are used to describe a condition or state of being.

  • They are used to link the subject of the sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective.

  • They are used to form verb tenses, such as the present continuous tense (e.g. "I am eating") and the past continuous tense (e.g. "She was studying").

  Common Predicate Nouns and Adjectives

  • Predicate Nouns: a noun that renames the subject of the sentence (e.g. "She is a doctor").

  • Predicate Adjectives: an adjective that describes the subject of the sentence (e.g. "He is happy").

Outline for Writing Process

I. Pre-Writing

• Brainstorming

• Researching

• Outlining

II. Drafting

• Introduction

• Body Paragraphs

• Conclusion

III. Revising

• Content

• Organization

• Style

IV. Editing

• Grammar

• Spelling

• Punctuation

V. Proofreading

• Final check for errors

VI. Publishing

• Formatting

• Submitting

Note: This is a general outline and can be adjusted based on the specific requirements of the writing task.

A graphic organizer is a visual tool used to organize and represent information in a clear and concise manner. It can be used to help students understand and remember complex concepts, as well as to plan and organize their own writing.

Examples of graphic organizers include mind maps, Venn diagrams, flowcharts, and concept maps.

Good Writing

Good writing is clear, concise, and effective in conveying its intended message to the reader. It is well-organized, free of grammatical errors, and uses appropriate language and tone for its audience. Good writing also engages the reader and holds their attention, while effectively communicating the writer's ideas and arguments.

Skills to a presentation

You can apply writing skills to a presentation by creating a clear and concise outline, using proper grammar and punctuation, and incorporating effective transitions between ideas. Additionally, using descriptive language and engaging the audience with rhetorical devices can enhance the overall impact of the presentation.

How are visuals helpful in a speech?

Visuals are helpful in a speech as they can enhance the audience's understanding and retention of the information being presented. They can also make the speech more engaging and memorable. Visual aids such as graphs, charts, and images can help to illustrate key points and make complex information easier to comprehend. Additionally, visuals can help to break up the monotony of a speech and keep the audience's attention focused on the topic at hand.

What are the steps for writing a research based outline or presentation?

Here are the general steps for writing a research-based outline or presentation:

1. Choose a topic and research it thoroughly.

2. Organize your research into main points and sub-points.

3. Create an outline with your main points and sub-points.

4. Write a thesis statement that summarizes your research.

5. Develop your outline into a full presentation or paper.

6. Edit and revise your work for clarity and accuracy.

Remember to cite your sources properly and follow any specific guidelines given by your instructor.

How do you research?

1. Identify your topic: Determine what specific subject or question you want to explore.

2. Plan your research: Create a plan outlining the main areas you want to investigate and the types of sources you'll need. This can include books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, interviews, or other relevant resources.

3. Gather information: Start searching for information using different sources such as libraries, online databases, search engines, and academic journals. Take notes and record important details, including the author, publication date, and page numbers.

4. Evaluate sources: Assess the credibility and reliability of the sources you find. Consider factors like the author's expertise, the publication's reputation, and the accuracy of the information presented. Use critical thinking skills to determine the validity and relevance of the sources to your research topic.

5. Organize and analyze information: Once you've gathered relevant information, organize it in a systematic way. Create an outline or a structure for your research project, and identify key points or arguments that support your thesis or research question. Analyze the information critically and look for patterns, themes, or gaps in the existing knowledge.

6. Synthesize and document your findings: Use the information you've collected to develop your own understanding of the topic. Synthesize the data and present it in a coherent and logical manner. Properly cite your sources, using the appropriate citation style, to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors.

7. Review and revise: After completing your research, review your findings and ensure they align with your research objectives. Revise and refine your work, making sure your arguments are well-supported and your writing is clear and concise.

Six Writing Traits

1. Ideas: This trait focuses on the content or substance of the writing. It assesses the clarity, relevance, and depth of the ideas presented. Strong writing in this trait demonstrates originality, well-developed thoughts, and effective use of supporting details.

1. Organization: Organization refers to the structure and flow of the writing. It examines the logical progression of ideas, the use of transitions, and the overall coherence of the piece. Well-organized writing has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, with ideas presented in a logical and systematic manner.

1. Voice: Voice reflects the writer's unique personality and perspective. It encompasses the writer's tone, style, and individuality. Strong writing with a distinct voice engages the reader and conveys the writer's emotions, passion, and point of view.

1. Word Choice: This trait focuses on the selection of precise and appropriate words. It considers the vocabulary, figurative language, and use of specific details. Effective word choice enhances the clarity, vividness, and impact of the writing.

1. Sentence Fluency: Sentence fluency evaluates the rhythm, flow, and variety of sentences. It looks at the structure, length, and syntax of sentences and how they contribute to the overall readability and engagement of the writing. Well-crafted sentences in terms of fluency create a natural and pleasing rhythm.

2. Conventions: Conventions refer to the mechanics and grammatical correctness of the writing. It encompasses spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, and usage. Writing that demonstrates strong conventions is free from errors and follows the rules and standards of language usage.

Comma rules

1. Commas in a series: Use commas to separate items in a series or list. Example: She bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the grocery store.

2. Commas in compound sentences: Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) to join two independent clauses. Example: I studied for the test, and I passed with flying colors.

3. Commas after introductory elements: Use a comma after introductory phrases or clauses. Example: After finishing my homework, I went for a walk.

4. Commas with nonessential information: Use commas to set off nonessential information or phrases that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of the sentence. Example: John, who is my neighbor, helped me with my gardening.

5. Commas with appositives: Use commas to set off appositives (phrases that rename or clarify a noun).

6. Commas with direct address: Use commas to set off the name or title of a person being directly addressed. Example: Jane, could you please pass the salt?

7. Commas with quotations: Use commas to separate dialogue or quoted material from the rest of the sentence. Example: "I love to read," she said, "especially mystery novels."

8. Commas with coordinating adjectives: Use a comma to separate two or more coordinating adjectives that describe the same noun, but do not use a comma if the adjectives are cumulative or form a single idea. Example: It was a beautiful, sunny day. (Two coordinating adjectives) Example: He wore a bright red shirt. (Cumulative adjectives)

Italics

7 Rules For Italics

1. Emphasis Want a word or phrase to stand out in a block of text? Try writing in italics. Example: I went to grab pizza with friends today. It was so delicious that I ate an entire pie. (Notice how you read the word “so” with more emphasis than the rest of the words in that statement).

2. Titles Of Work The titles of works should be italicized (or underlined). Examples include:

Books – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Newspapers – The Los Angeles Times Movies – The Dark Knight Magazines – People Plays – A Streetcar Named Desire Works of Art – Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas TV/radio programs – Friends CDs/albums – Drake’s Views 3. Articles Based on the above, you may be questioning, “Are articles italicized?” Articles are shorter forms of work. As such, they are put into quotation marks rather than italicized. For example, you could write something like: In his article “A Mystery Explained” for The New York Times, the author exposed the details of the crime.

4. Foreign Words If you’re writing in one language but you want to introduce a word in another language, you may consider italicizing it. For example, “The word for war in Spanish is guerra.”

5. Names Of Trains, Ships, Spaceships Words that are names of transportation vehicles (with the exception of cars) are italicized. For example, the space shuttle Challenger is in italics.

6. Words As Reproduced Sounds If you want to write out the way something sounds, then you can leverage italics. To depict, “The bees went bzzz in my ear.” This doesn’t mean that you would write verbs that are sounds in italics. (i.e., “There was a loud thud.”)

7. Words As Words When you are writing a word to use it as a word for reference, then you can put it in italics. For example, “He defined close in context of the situation as being within 6 feet of each other.”

Apostrophes

1. Contractions: Apostrophes are used to indicate the omission of letters in contractions. Example: "I can't" (short for "I cannot") "It's raining" (short for "It is raining")

2. Possession: Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or ownership. Example: "John's car" (the car belongs to John) "The dog's bone" (the bone belongs to the dog)

3. Plural of letters, numbers, and symbols: Apostrophes can be used to form the plural of lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Example: "Mind your p's and q's" (plural of the letter "p" and "q") "He received all A's on his report card" (plural of the letter "A")

4. Showing omission in informal writing: Apostrophes can be used to indicate the omission of letters in informal writing, such as in slang or dialect. Example: "I wanna go" (short for "I want to go") "Gonna" (short for "going to")

Misplaced modifiers are grammatical errors that occur when a modifier (an adverbial or adjectival phrase) is not placed next to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. As a result, the modifier can create confusion or alter the meaning of the sentence. Here are some examples of misplaced modifiers:

1. Misplaced adverbial phrase: Incorrect: She only drinks coffee in the morning. Correct: She drinks coffee only in the morning. Explanation: In the incorrect version, "only" is placed next to "drinks," suggesting that she only consumes coffee but does not do anything else with it. The correct version places "only" next to "in the morning," clarifying that she drinks coffee exclusively during that time.

2. Misplaced adjectival phrase: Incorrect: I saw a dog with a telescope in the park. Correct: In the park, I saw a dog with a telescope. Explanation: In the incorrect version, it seems as though the dog has a telescope and is using it in the park. The correct version clarifies that the speaker saw the dog while being in the park and the dog was carrying a telescope.

3. Misplaced participial phrase: Incorrect: Running down the street, the bus was caught by the boy. Correct: Running down the street, the boy caught the bus. Explanation: In the incorrect version, it suggests that the bus was running down the street. The correct version properly places "running down the street" next to "the boy," indicating that the boy was the one running and caught the bus.

To avoid misplaced modifiers, it's important to ensure that the modifier is placed close to the word or phrase it modifies, making the intended meaning clear. By checking sentence structure and carefully placing modifiers, you can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

William Shakespeare, often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history, was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1564. While much of his personal life remains a mystery, some details are known about his background.

1. Birth and Early Life: Shakespeare was born on or around April 23, 1564, to John Shakespeare, a successful merchant, and Mary Arden, a local heiress. He was the third child out of eight in his family. Shakespeare likely attended the local grammar school, where he would have received a classical education.

2. Marriage and Family: In 1582, at the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than him. They had three children: Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet tragically died at the age of 11.

3. Acting Career: By the late 1580s or early 1590s, Shakespeare had established himself as an actor and playwright in London. He became a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a leading acting company, which later became the King's Men.

4. Playwright and Poet: Shakespeare wrote approximately 37 plays, including tragedies like "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," comedies like "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Twelfth Night," and histories like "Henry V" and "Richard III." He also wrote sonnets and narrative poems, such as "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Tempest."

5. The Globe Theatre: Shakespeare's plays were performed at the Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599 and located on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The Globe Theatre became the primary venue for his works.

6. Legacy: Shakespeare's works continue to be studied, performed, and celebrated worldwide. His contributions to English literature, language, and dramatic techniques are immense, and his plays are known for their depth of characterization, exploration of human nature, and poetic language.

It's important to note that there are gaps and uncertainties in Shakespeare's biography, leading to some speculation and debate among scholars. However, his impact on the world of literature and theater remains undeniable, making him an iconic figure in the realm of arts and culture.