How many times has someone asked you for something and they needed (or wanted) it done immediately? This could happen at work or at home.
How do you deal with it? Check out this blog post from the Bad Language site. Then, come back here & let me know if you found it to be interesting & helpful.
http://www.badlanguage.net/we-need-this-yesterday-how-do-you-react
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Writing-Using a Thesaurus
Have you ever used a thesaurus to find a similar word? Imagine that you're writing a paragraph (or more) about a specific topic, such as "running." However, you feel that you've used the term "running" too much and want to vary your terms. If you'd like some suggestions, a thesaurus is the perfect place to go!
Here's a link to an online thesaurus.
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
(Remember if you click on the link and it does not work you can copy and paste it to your URL)
Visit that site, type in a four different words-go up top, and click "search." The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what words you picked and what results the thesaurus gave for each word.
I'll start! My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)
Now you try!
Here's a link to an online thesaurus.
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
(Remember if you click on the link and it does not work you can copy and paste it to your URL)
Visit that site, type in a four different words-go up top, and click "search." The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what words you picked and what results the thesaurus gave for each word.
I'll start! My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)
Now you try!
Writing Terminology
No matter what test you're doing (GED, FCAT, SAT, TABE etc.), there are some basic terms associated with essay writing. In fact, if you've ever attended one of the online workshops about essay writing, you've probably heard these terms used.
Try this Quia "Rags to Riches" game that tests your knowledge of writing terminology. It's ok if you don't know all of the terms; for those that you don't know, however, consider writing them down and making flash cards to help you learn them!
Once you complete the game, come back here & blog about your results.
Was this a review for you or did you learn something new? What terms (if any) were you not familiar with, but learned after doing the activity? What was your final score? Did you enjoy this activity?Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/311270.html
(Please note that although this game is referencing the FCAT test, everything presented is still 100% valid for those who are not doing the FCAT. Feel free to share this with any friends or relatives who are working on their FCAT writing skills, as this can help them too.)
Have fun!!!
Try this Quia "Rags to Riches" game that tests your knowledge of writing terminology. It's ok if you don't know all of the terms; for those that you don't know, however, consider writing them down and making flash cards to help you learn them!
Once you complete the game, come back here & blog about your results.
Was this a review for you or did you learn something new? What terms (if any) were you not familiar with, but learned after doing the activity? What was your final score? Did you enjoy this activity?Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/311270.html
(Please note that although this game is referencing the FCAT test, everything presented is still 100% valid for those who are not doing the FCAT. Feel free to share this with any friends or relatives who are working on their FCAT writing skills, as this can help them too.)
Have fun!!!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Writing-Compound Sentences
The next type of sentence to discuss is the compound sentence.
To help you remember what this is, think of a compound word like "sandpaper." A compound word is made from two individual (or independent) words that are joined together. Similarly, a compound sentence has two parts to it and each is an independent clause.
Independent clauses are complete thoughts that could stand on their own (if separated).
There are two key things to remember with compound sentences. First, you will always have a comma used at the end of the first independent clause. Then, immediately after the comma, you will have a connector or conjunction (such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) used.
You can remember those connectors by using the acronym FANBOYS, which comes from the first letter of each of those connecting words. (Isn't that neat?!)
Let's look at some examples of compound sentences. These use the most common connectors.
1.) Today is Monday, and tomorrow I have off of work.
2.) Roxana was listening to the radio, but the power went out.
3.) The calendar is on the wall, so you can mark your birthday on it.
Notice that each sentence has two complete thoughts. For the first example, you could have separated the thoughts. If you did that, you could have written this. "Today is Monday. Tomorrow I have off of work." If you write the thoughts separately, you have two simple sentences!
If you keep the thoughts together and use the connector "and," then you need to have a comma before the connector. Plus, if you read that sentence out loud, you pause after the first thought, so that's another indicator that a comma is needed.
To practice joining the independent clauses, play this Quia game.
Then, come back here & write two compound sentences to tell us how you did and if you enjoyed it!
To help you remember what this is, think of a compound word like "sandpaper." A compound word is made from two individual (or independent) words that are joined together. Similarly, a compound sentence has two parts to it and each is an independent clause.
Independent clauses are complete thoughts that could stand on their own (if separated).
There are two key things to remember with compound sentences. First, you will always have a comma used at the end of the first independent clause. Then, immediately after the comma, you will have a connector or conjunction (such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) used.
You can remember those connectors by using the acronym FANBOYS, which comes from the first letter of each of those connecting words. (Isn't that neat?!)
Let's look at some examples of compound sentences. These use the most common connectors.
1.) Today is Monday, and tomorrow I have off of work.
2.) Roxana was listening to the radio, but the power went out.
3.) The calendar is on the wall, so you can mark your birthday on it.
Notice that each sentence has two complete thoughts. For the first example, you could have separated the thoughts. If you did that, you could have written this. "Today is Monday. Tomorrow I have off of work." If you write the thoughts separately, you have two simple sentences!
If you keep the thoughts together and use the connector "and," then you need to have a comma before the connector. Plus, if you read that sentence out loud, you pause after the first thought, so that's another indicator that a comma is needed.
To practice joining the independent clauses, play this Quia game.
Then, come back here & write two compound sentences to tell us how you did and if you enjoyed it!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Writing-Simple Sentences
The next few blog topics are going to focus on different types of sentences.
The first one that you'll use is the simplest out of all sentence types. The "simple sentence" is exactly what it sounds like. It has a subject and a verb, but no dependent or independent clauses to worry about.
Below are a few examples of simple sentences.
1.) The newspaper was delivered today.
2.) Sunday was Mother's Day.
3.) Sheridan Technical Center has a graduation ceremony in June.
4.) Blue is a good color for you.
5.) Melissa brought water and a snack to the marathon.
Notice that a simple sentence is not always a short sentence, as you saw in the third and fifth examples. However, a simple sentence has just one thought to it. There are no connection of thoughts with words like "and," "however," "but," etc. (You can have a connection of items in a simple sentence. This would be similar to what you saw in example number five.)
By using simple sentences, you can focus on the other important aspects of your writing: correct capitalization, punctuation, and subject-verb agreement.Tell me about what you did today. In two or three simple sentences, share your activities. Remember the characteristics of simple sentences as we discussed above and show me what you can do!!
The first one that you'll use is the simplest out of all sentence types. The "simple sentence" is exactly what it sounds like. It has a subject and a verb, but no dependent or independent clauses to worry about.
Below are a few examples of simple sentences.
1.) The newspaper was delivered today.
2.) Sunday was Mother's Day.
3.) Sheridan Technical Center has a graduation ceremony in June.
4.) Blue is a good color for you.
5.) Melissa brought water and a snack to the marathon.
Notice that a simple sentence is not always a short sentence, as you saw in the third and fifth examples. However, a simple sentence has just one thought to it. There are no connection of thoughts with words like "and," "however," "but," etc. (You can have a connection of items in a simple sentence. This would be similar to what you saw in example number five.)
By using simple sentences, you can focus on the other important aspects of your writing: correct capitalization, punctuation, and subject-verb agreement.Tell me about what you did today. In two or three simple sentences, share your activities. Remember the characteristics of simple sentences as we discussed above and show me what you can do!!
Writing-Using Contractions
You may find that you want to use a contraction of words in your writing. Below is a short list of some common contractions. For a more complete list of contractions visit this site:
http://edhelper.com/Contractions3103.htm
it is = it's
I am = I'm
they are = they're
do not = don't
does not = doesn't
would not = wouldn't
Some writing experts say that you should not use contractions in your formal writing. However, if you can use them correctly, you don't need to avoid them! Notice that all contractions need the apostrophe.
How well do you know your contractions? Try this Quia game to test your skills! Come back to the blog after you complete the game and write two sentences. First, tell us how you did. Next, correctly write two sentences using a contraction.
Quia game: http://www.quia.com/mc/366989.html
http://edhelper.com/Contractions3103.htm
it is = it's
I am = I'm
they are = they're
do not = don't
does not = doesn't
would not = wouldn't
Some writing experts say that you should not use contractions in your formal writing. However, if you can use them correctly, you don't need to avoid them! Notice that all contractions need the apostrophe.
How well do you know your contractions? Try this Quia game to test your skills! Come back to the blog after you complete the game and write two sentences. First, tell us how you did. Next, correctly write two sentences using a contraction.
Quia game: http://www.quia.com/mc/366989.html
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Writing-Subject Pronouns
An important part of writing is varying the words you use. To help accomplish this, you can use subject pronouns such as "he," "she," and "they." But, be sure you use them correctly!
Think about whose name you're replacing with the pronoun and then make sure the pronoun matches in both gender and number.
Try this Quia game about subject pronouns. Then, come back here & post how you did!
Remember to write your results in complete, correctly-written sentences.
http://www.quia.com/pop/51661.html
Enjoy!
Think about whose name you're replacing with the pronoun and then make sure the pronoun matches in both gender and number.
Try this Quia game about subject pronouns. Then, come back here & post how you did!
Remember to write your results in complete, correctly-written sentences.
http://www.quia.com/pop/51661.html
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Happy May! Tell me a story
There's nothing worse than writing because you're forced to do so. Not every writing task should be like that, so let's have some fun and do a "tell me a story" blog!
I'll give you some key terms that I'd like you to weave into your story. You can make your entries funny, serious, informative, or persuasive. It's up to you. The only "rules" are that you should write your entries correctly and, most importantly, you have to enjoy this task! :-)
Here are the key words to use:
May
Flowers
Sunset
Peace
I look forward to seeing what you submit!!!
I'll give you some key terms that I'd like you to weave into your story. You can make your entries funny, serious, informative, or persuasive. It's up to you. The only "rules" are that you should write your entries correctly and, most importantly, you have to enjoy this task! :-)
Here are the key words to use:
May
Flowers
Sunset
Peace
I look forward to seeing what you submit!!!
Use it or Lose it!
We're expanding our minds & vocabularies today with this installment of
"Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It."
Are you ready?
Take a look at the word list (shown below) and pick three words that you're not already familiar with in your day-to-day vocabulary.
Use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com) to define it. Post the words, its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.), and the definition.
Be sure to look through what others have posted! It'll help all of us improve our vocabularies! As an extra challenge, you can try using that word correctly in a sentence!
"Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It."
Are you ready?
Take a look at the word list (shown below) and pick three words that you're not already familiar with in your day-to-day vocabulary.
Use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com) to define it. Post the words, its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.), and the definition.
Be sure to look through what others have posted! It'll help all of us improve our vocabularies! As an extra challenge, you can try using that word correctly in a sentence!
- Abstain
- Blighted
- Credulous
- Enshroud
- Haughtiness
- Lachrymose
- Obfuscate
- Plethora
- Repudiate
- Tedium
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