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!

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!!

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

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!

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!!!

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!

• Abstain
• Blighted
• Credulous
• Enshroud
• Haughtiness
• Lachrymose
• Obfuscate
• Plethora
• Repudiate
• Tedium

Prepositions

Did you know that you use prepositions all the time in your writing & speaking? According to Wikipedia, a preposition indicates a relation between things mentioned in a sentence. In English, the most used prepositions are "of", "to", "in", "for", and "on." (Wikipedia link)

Think about it! Without prepositions, you wouldn't be able to give you reader that exact picture that you want to paint for them.Test your preposition skills by playing this short 8-question game by going here:

http://www.quia.com/pop/46312.html.

Once you're on that site, click the "Play this game" box to start the activity. Once you're done, return to the blog & post your results by using complete, correctly-written sentences!

Commas- The Best Trick!

The English language has so many rules and even more exceptions to those rules. This is especially true of rules relating to comma usage in writing. Rather than go over all of those rules, I'm going to share with you my favorite "trick" for writing. You're going to love it!

Writing and speaking are very closely related. If you have a sentence and don't know if a comma is needed, read your sentence out loud. Pay close attention to where you naturally tend to pause. That's where a comma is probably needed!!! Let's try it now.

Read the sentence (shown below) out loud and see where you pause.

While flipping channels I came across a new television show.

I bet you paused after the phrase "while flipping channels." That gives you an indication to put a comma at that point in the sentence. Doing so, you'd end up with this: "While flipping channels, I came across a new television show."The next time you're unsure if a comma is needed, try this trick!

In fact, reply to this post and tell me if you think it will help you.

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!

Usage- "A" versus "An"

In grammar, the terms "a" and "an" are referred to as indefinite articles. They're used before singular nouns. But what's the difference and how do you know which one to use? In most instances, the article "a" can be used. The exception, however, comes when the noun that follows starts with a vowel (the letters 'a,' 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' and 'u').

Let's look at some examples!

1.) I borrowed a book from the library.
2.) A thunderstorm is predicted for tomorrow.
3.) Did you see a movie this weekend?

4.) An elephant was part of the circus.
5.) My sister packed an umbrella in her car.
6.) Did you taken an English class this year?

How good do you think you are at using "a" and "an" correctly?

Test your skills by playing the "Rags to Riches" game found here: http://www.quia.com/rr/53245.html. Then, come back & report how you did. Don't forget to include your thoughts on the activity. Was it fun? Did you challenge yourself? Would you recommend this activity to others who'd like to practice their "a" versus "an" skills?

Writing-Political Cartoons

Have you ever heard the term "political cartoon" or seen one of these? With all that's going on in politics right now, I bet you have!

Wikipedia.com defines a political cartoon (sometimes called an editorial cartoon) as an illustration or comic strip containing a political or social message, that usually relates to current events or personalities.

Let's look at an example.

What does that image say to you? Look at the title shown on the image. It says "World Markets." So you know it's dealing with economics. Next, look down the left side. You see negative percentages. The shape that's used (a spiral) is also significant. To me, this political cartoon is expressing that the world markets seem to be in a downward spiral. Isn't that what you've been seeing & reading on the news lately?

Visit this site: http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/. Once you're there, be sure to scroll down to see all of the cartoons. Find one that you can relate to or maybe one that you've read about recently. Then, come back here and tell us about what the cartoon showed and what current event it was related to.

Commonly Misued Words: Been and Being

The words "been" and "being" have very different meanings & usages. Getting them confused and using the wrong one can really jump out at a reader. So let's spend some time focusing on each one and learning more about them.

Been: This word is pronounced like "bin." It is used as a helping (or auxilary) verb and is the past participle of the verb "be." Here are some examples of the word "been" in a correct sentence.

1.) I have been waiting for 5 hours.
2.) Terrance has been on the varsity football team for a while.
3.) My grandparents have been in the hospital.
4.) You have been a great student.
5.) She has been shopping already.
6.) The test has been completed as of yesterday.

Being: This word is pronounced like "bee-ing." It can be used in various formats including a noun and a present participle. Let's look at some examples of each.

1.) We are all human beings. (noun)
2.) The alien beings are shown in movies. (noun)
3.) I am being a cat for Halloween. (present participle)
4.) You are being a good student by studying. (present participle)
5.) They are being taken to the airport right now. (present participle)
6.) She is being given an award. (present participle)

Here are some helpful hints to use!

** The word "been" will always have either "has" or "have" in front of it. It' s used when talking about something that already happened.

** The word "being" might use "am," "is," "are," "was," or "were" in front of it. It will never have the words "has" or "have" used with it.

Can you correctly use the words "being" and "been" in a sentence? Give it a shot!!!

Writing: Let's End Hunger (Part 1)

Have you ever heard of a website called freerice.com? It's a great site with 2 main goals: to provide education to everyone for free and to help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. How nice would it be to help others while helping yourself?

On that site, you can play vocabulary games. For every question that you answer correctly, the freerice.com website will donate 20 grains of rice through the United Nations' World Food Program to help end hunger.

Your task is to visit the site (freerice.com), play a vocabulary game (or even a few of them), and then report back on your experience! Did you enjoy the site? Was the vocabulary easy or difficult? How many games did you play? How many games did you win by answering correctly

Writing-Word of the Day

I found a neat website called DailyWritingTips.com and on there they have a "word of the day" section. If you click that link above, you're brought to the archive area where you can see past words of the day.

There are tons of great words there that you may not know. I'd like you to visit that site (DailyWritingTips.com/), find a word you do not currently know (or know well), and click on it. When you do that, you'll see the word and its definition. Come back here & post the word plus its definition so we can all learn new words.

I'll start!

Word of the Day: MeritocracyMeritocracy (mĕr’ĭ-tŏk’rə-sē) is a system where the advancement of individuals is based on their performance and ability. American companies, for instance, are said to be more meritocratic than Italian ones, where nepotism (family connections) prevail.

Now you try!

Writing-Be Descriptive!

Did you know that October 10th is "National Cake Decorating Day?" Doesn't that sound fun?

Imagine that you were going to create and decorate a cake to represent you and your personality. What would it look like? What colors would you use? Why did you pick those colors? What kind of decorations (edible or not) would be included on the top? Be as descriptive as possible! Good writing should paint a picture in the reader's mind and that's your task for this blog topic. Are you up to the challenge?

The inside of my cake would be yellow since that's a bright, happy, cheery color. I would make a creamy light blue icing because that's my favorite color and is soothing to the eyes. Lastly, I'd include multi-color sprinkles on top. Sprinkles are fun and always make me smile. Like my cake, I think every day should include those things: happiness, fun, and smiles!

Now describe your cake to me! How delicious and wonderful can you make those words and images?

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 3)

Let's continue on with our examination of some problem phrases.

Knowing how to use these items correctly will make your writing and speaker even better!

Problem phrase: Couldn't care less

Rule: Be sure to make it negative.

The phrase "I could care less" is incorrect.

Here's an example of how that phrase is used correctly.
I'm not a fan of broccoli. I couldn't care less about how it's cooked. I know I will never like it.

Now you try!

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 2)

The next problem phrase that you should know about (and be able to use correctly) is below.

Problem phrase: Used to
Rule: Do not omit the "d."

The phrase "use to" is incorrect.

Here's an example of it being correctly used.

I used to love eating ice cream every night.

Now you try it!

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 1)

In writing (and even speaking), it's important to use your words and phrases correctly.

This next series of blog posts will focus on some commonly misused phrases. These items are ones highlighted on the Weber State University webpage.

Problem phrase: Supposed to
Rule: Do not omit the "d." The phrase "suppose to" is incorrect.

I was supposed to go running today, but the rain stopped me.

Try using it correctly in a sentence!

Commonly Misused Words: Shudder and Shutter

With hurricane season just around the corner, this next set of commonly misused words is quite appropriate. Even though the words "shutter" and "shudder" have similar pronunciations, they have very different meanings. Let's take a look!

The word "shutter" is generally used as a noun. Think of the shutters you put on your home when a hurricane is predicted to happen. (It can also be used as a verb if you're going to "shutter" something up.) Examples of both uses are below.

Example ("shutter" as a noun): We put metal hurricane shutters up on our windows.
Example ("shutter" as a verb): My neighbors are going to shutter their windows tomorrow.


The word "shudder" can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a small shake or vibration. As a verb, it means to shake.

Example ("shudder" as a noun): There was a shudder in the car as we drove on the bumpy road.
Example ("shudder" as a verb): Sitting in the very cold room, John shuddered.


Now it's your turn. Pick one of those words and use it correctly in a sentence.

Commonly Misused Words: Peace and Piece

Let's discuss two more commonly misused words: peace and piece. These words are homonyms. They are pronounced almost exactly the same, but have very different meanings and spellings.

The word "peace" means harmony, calmness, or a lack of fighting.
The word "piece" means a part of something.

Can you use those two words correctly? Try it now by writing two simple sentences that show the correct meanings of "peace" and "piece."

Here's an example.

1.) There is no peace when war is happening.
2.) I'd like to try a piece of the chocolate cake.

Commonly Misused Words: Which and Witch

Halloween won't be here for a while, but that's ok! This next blog post is about the words "witch" and "which." These words, like many others that we'll discuss during the "Commonly Misused Words" topics, are homonyms or homophones. They're pronounced almost identically, but have very different meanings. Let's look at each one a bit closer!

The word "witch" is meant to be used when describing the Halloween character who has the pointy hat, pointy shoes, and rides a broom. It can also be used to describe a nasty, mean-spirited person.

The word "which" can be used as a pronoun, as in the example below.
"Which of these should we buy?"

It can also be used as an adjective, shown in the example below.
"I spent the day at the mall, during which time my car was being fixed."

Probably the easiest way to remember this is to ask yourself if you're talking about a person or character, similar to what you see in the picture below. If that's not what you mean, then go with the word "which."


Can you write two sentences that show how to use the words "witch" and "which" correctly? Give it a try now!

Writing - Compound Words

A compound word is one that has two parts to it. Think of the word "pancake." That's a compound word made by combining the terms "pan" and "cake." So why is it important to know about compound words? Well, like many of the things we've discussed, the more correct your words and writing are, the more effective you'll be in getting your ideas across to the reader!

Test your knowledge of compound words. Try this activity and see how you do! Did you know all of them? Did you know most of them? Pick out your favorite compound word from the activity and use it in a sentence.

Writing Terminology

No matter what test you're doing (GED, FCAT, SAT, 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!!!

Commonly Misused Words: Break and Brake

Words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings are called "homonyms" or "homophones." In your writing, it's important to make sure that you use the right word. Remember that writing is a reflection of you and you always want to make a great impression, even with your readers!

The word "break" can be used as a verb or as a noun. Let's look at some examples. (The first two sentences use "break" as a verb, and the last two sentences use "break" as a noun.)

1.) If you drop the glass, it will break.
2.) The burglar was going to break into the neighbor's home.
3.) There will be a break between the morning and afternoon classes.
4.) Let's stop the car and take a break at the gas station.


Quite the opposite, though, is the word "brake." This word can also be used as a verb, noun, or adjective, but has very different meanings.

Verb Example: I had to brake hard to avoid hitting the skunk in the road.
Noun Example: Tim had the brakes replaced on his truck.
Adjective Example: Pep Boys will have brake pads on sale this week.

Notice that in all of those examples, there is some relation to a vehicle. (You could also talk about "brakes" on a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, dirt bike, etc.)

Can you use those words in two sentences and use them correctly? Give it a try now!

Writing-Handling Numbers

Sometimes when you write, you're going to need to include a mention of numbers of things. In formal writing, it's best to follow this simple rule: write the numbers from one (1) to ten (10) using letters; numbers eleven (11) and larger can be written using just the numbers.

Below are two examples illustrating this rule.

Terry bought nine types of soda for the party.
There were 45 people at the city council meeting.

Why does this rule for writing out the numbers using words only apply when going up to ten?

Well, first of all, those are sho rt, easy words to write (or type). Could you imagine having to write every number with wor ds? Gosh! It would be a pain to have to type one thousand five hundred twenty seven instead of 1,527. Secondly, remember that this is just for formal writing, such as essays. Other types of writing (informal emails, lists, or memos) can use numbers for any value.

Start to look for this when you read newspaper or magazine articles! I bet you'll begin to notice this more and more.

Give it a try. Write two sentences. The first one should use a number where the rule tells you to write it out using words. The second sentence should use a number that does not have to be written in words. Let's see how you do! I'll start!

I can run up to four miles. I hope to be able to run 13 miles one day!

Writing-Stay Away from "Fluff"

Look up into the sky and find the fluffiest cloud you can see. It's probably large and "poofy." But if you condensed it down, there wouldn't be much substance there. Well, fluffy writing is the same way! It's large (fills up a lot space on paper), but doesn't have much substance to it. Since your goal is to be an effective writer, you want to avoid the "fluff" as much as you can!

You're probably asking yourself, "What exactly is fluffy writing?" and that question is important. If you know what it is, you know what to avoid. Below are a few examples of "fluff."

The following phrases/sentences are things to stay away from in your writing.

1.) "Let me tell you..." (You're doing the writing, so it's understood that you'll tell it.)

2.) "Let me explain this." (It's expected in your writing that you'll explain your topic.)

3.) "As I will show..." (You're the author, so you're in charge! There's no need to state this.)

4.) "I believe that..." (Since this writing is coming from you, it's implied that this is what you believe.)

5.) "As I've shown..." or "As I've explained..." (There's no need to state this, unless someone else did the "showing" or "explaining," the reader knows that you showed/explained these things.)

Sometimes it may be hard to not use these phrases. But you're all good writers, so you can always find a different way to state what you're trying to say in a strong, effective, compelling way!

Now, look back at something you have recently wrote (email, homework, letter) and share where you may have found some "fluff" or share your thoughts on this topic.

Usage- "Like" versus "Such As"

Did you know that formal writing makes a very clear distinction between the terms "like" and "such as" when using them to cite examples? (Don't worry, I didn't know that either until I researched it a bit, but it does make sense!)

Both terms are used to make comparisons, and here is how to know when to correctly use each one.The term "like" is used if you're citing only one example. Look at the sentence below that demonstrates this.

Search engines like Google help people locate information quickly. Conversely, the phrase "such as" is used if you're citing more than one example. The sentence below shows this.

Search engines such as Google and Yahoo help people locate information quickly.

Try it out! Write two sentences where one uses the term "like" and the other uses the phrase "such as." Let's see how you do!

Writing - Common Misspellings

When writing, you want to focus on the ideas and how you're conveying them. But don't let your ideas get overshadowed by misspellings. To see a more complete list of the most common misspelled words, visit this link http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0781709.html.

I've picked a few words from that list. Now you get to practice using the word and spelling it correctly. Please select a word and use it in a sentence.

believe
changeable
definite
embarrass
government
grateful
guarantee
independent
knowledge
library

Writing - What's Your Purpose?

When you write, you always need to have a clear purpose or reason in mind. Are you trying to be serious and convey facts? Do you want to be persuasive and try to get someone to change his or her opinion? Would you like to be funny and make the reader laugh? No matter what you're trying to do, you always need to know your purpose before you even put your pen (or pencil) to the paper!

In previous blog posts, I've asked you to tell me a story where I gave you some items that you had to include. The story could have been funny, romantic, informative, or even scary. This time, I will give you some items to use, but your goal is to make your writing funny or whimsical. Your events, situations, and characters can all be as outlandish, crazy, or odd as you'd like!

As you write your story, be sure to include the following elements: yellow school bus, three packets of artificial sweetener (such as Splenda or Sweet-n-Low), a lawn chair, and Sam's parakeet named Lucille Ball.

I can't wait to see what you come up with! You've got your purpose, you've got your items, and you're ready to get creative!

The Semicolon

Semicolons can be thought of as being very, very similar to periods. They should only be used when what falls on either side of it is a complete thought. Let's look at an example of this!

Today has the most beautiful weather; I spent the whole day outside.

Each part is a complete thought (with a subject and a verb). You could say "Today has the most beautiful weather." That is fine. Then, you could start a new sentence and say "I spent the whole day in the pool." That is also fine. Each of those could be sentences on their own. However, if you'd like to keep them "connected," you can use the semicolon (like you see above).

Now it's your turn. I'd like you to write 2 separate sentences. Then, write those same thoughts as one sentence where there is a semicolon as the punctuation between them.

I'll start!
Separate: My cat is so tired. He spent the whole day sleeping on the comfortable chair.

Combined: My cat is so tired; he spent the whole day sleeping on the comfortable chair.

The Colon

The English language is interesting. There are countless ways to say the same statement. Many times, it just depends on your style of writing. Today, we're going to examine the colon, which is a type of punctuation. The colon looks like this : (two vertical dots). Generally, colons are used to show that a list will follow. Let's look at a two examples. You'll see that the same idea can be written with or without a colon. It just depends on the format you're most comfortable with!

Example 1.)
The guests brought many items: ice, soda, cookies, cake, and even napkins.
Or
The guests brought many items such as ice, soda, cookies, cake, and even napkins.
(Notice that the first sentence uses the colon to symbolize that the list of items will follow. The second sentence doesn't need a colon because it uses the phrase "such as." Both ways are correct.)

Example 2.)
Kevin had a lot to do tonight: study for his test, prepare lunch for his younger sister, and change the oil in his car.
Or
Kevin had a lot to do tonight. He was going to study for his test, prepare lunch for his younger sister, and change the oil in his car.
(Notice that the first sentence uses the colon to symbolize that the list of what Kevin has to do will follow. The second sentence doesn't need a colon because it has separated the thoughts into two complete sentences. Both ways are correct.)


Which way do you prefer? Take a moment and write a sentence that uses a colon. Then, write the same idea, but make your sentence (or sentences) so that no colon is needed.

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 4)

It's time to expand those minds & vocabularies. This next segment is the last section from part 1 of the Academic Word List. Please pick one word and post the definition. You may use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com.).

role
section
sector
significant
similar
source
specific
structure
theory
variables

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 3)

It's another installment of the "Academic Word List" to help improve your vocabulary skills! Please pick one word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com.)

Here are the next 10 words from that list.
occur
percent
period
policy
principle
procedure
process
required
research
response

You've got to love those adverbs!

Adverbs are words that help describe verbs. They tell how something was done. Like adjectives, adverbs help to paint a more exact picture in the reader's mind. Here are some examples of adverbs: quickly, quietly, gladly, angrily, sheepishly, slowly, and loudly.

Read this sentence and picture it.
Samuel ran down the track.

Have you pictured what that event looked like? Are you sure you were picturing it exactly as I had seen it? Well, without an adverb to describe Samuel's running, you can't be sure that your image is the same as what mine is. To make sure we're thinking of something similar, I'll use an adverb. Now read this sentence. When you're done, ask yourself if you have a better, more exact picture of the event and how it happened.
Samuel ran clumsily down the track.

With the inclusion of that one adverb, your vision of Samuel running is now better!

I want you to help me paint a better, more precise picture of some events. Take a look at the sentences below. In the blank, add an adverb that fits the situation. (It's helpful to remember that adverbs usually end in "-ly.") Pick any one sentence and fill in the missing adverb. It's possible that multiple adverbs could be used in one sentence, so don't feel as though there's only one right answer.

1.) Shenea _____ called her sister.
2.) The jack rabbit _____ ate the carrot in the garden.
3.) Melissa _____ cooked a Thanksgiving turkey.
4.) April's son _____ ran into the office.
5.) Spanky the cat _____ ate his food.

Vocabulary- Use It Or Lose It! (Part 2)

For the blog post on February 1, we were discussing the "Academic Word List" and the importance of vocabulary for good writing. Today's the second installment of vocabulary practice. Here's the next set of words from the list.

Please pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com.)

indicate
individual
interpretation
involved
issues
labor
legal
legislation
major
method

Stop & check the signal words!

When driving, people use signals all of the time. You turn your blinker on to turn left. Your brake lights illuminate when you brake to slow down or stop. The traffic light tells you when to go and when to stop.

In writing, too, signals are important. The signals come in the form of "signal" or "transition" words and those help the reader to follow the order of things. Here are a few examples of some signal words that you probably already use in your writing: "first," "then," "second," "next," "after that," "third," and "lastly." (That's not a complete list of signal words, but to see more of them, visit this URL: http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/intranet/reading/signalwords.html .)

Below you see some signal words that help with chronological order. Please look over that list, pick one or two of the words, and write a sentence for each that demonstrates how it could be used to help improve your writing.

after	afterward		when				not long after
during	finally		first				following
then	initially		later				meanwhile
next	before		now				on (date)
preceding	second		soon				immediately
third	today		until				as soon as

Vocabulary- Use It Or Lose It!

It's no surprise that vocabulary is a big part of writing. Without vocabulary skills, a person's writing will be average, at best. Of course, we all want writing that's better than average!

The "Academic Word List" is one of several vocabulary lists that does not connect directly with a single particular piece of literature. Instead, it includes ten units of sets of words most frequently found in school text books of all types. (If you're wondering where this word list came from, it was developed by Averil Coxhead, of Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand.)

I'm going to post half of the first set of the word list. I'd like you to look over that list, pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Please choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com)

This way, we all get to increase our vocabulary skills by working together! Be sure to check this post often, as new words and definitions will be added by the bloggers.

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analysis

approach

area

assessment

assume

authority

available

benefit

concept

consistent

constitutional

context

contract

create

data

definition

derived

distribution

economic

environment

established

estimate

evidence

export

factors

financial

formula

function

identified

income

Writing- Do you have a plan?

How many things in your life exist for which you have a plan? A few key examples come to mind, such as driving somewhere new, cooking a meal, and writing a good essay! Think about it this way: if you lived in Miami and had to drive all the way to Bunnell (FL), would you know all of the roads to take? If you've never been to Bunnell and you don't know where it is, you'd definitely need to have a plan in place before you hopped in your car and took off! Well, writing is no different!

Imagine that your goal is to write an essay about your most memorable trip. You can choose any type of planning, organizing, or pre-writing that you like. For this example, I'm going to stick to my favorite method: the outline! Look at what I have and ask yourself if you can see how my "plan" would then be turned into the essay. Then, show me your "plan" for your essay!

Topic: Memorable Trip (Utah)
Paragraph 1: Intro
Paragraph 2: First time out west
Paragraph 3: Amazing skiing
Paragraph 4: Unique landscape
Paragraph 5: Conclusion

What do you think? That wasn't too hard to do, was it?

The Dreaded Dangling Participle!

Have you ever heard of a dangling participle? It doesn't sound like a good thing, does it? Well, it certainly isn't something you want in your writing. Let's look at why that is the case.

First, we need to talk about what exactly a "participle" is. Every complete sentence will have a subject and a verb. Verbs can take many forms (past, present, or future, for example). A present participle verb is one that ends in "-ing." Some examples of present participle verbs are "running," "cooking," "sleeping," and "eating."

Here's a case of the dreaded dangling participle.
While sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of Tim's table.

Why is that not a correctly written sentence? Look at that phrase in the beginning of the sentence ("while sleeping"). Who or what is that phrase really meant to describe? It's meant to describe Tim. He's the one who was sleeping. However, here's where the problem occurs. Due to the way the sentence is written, it implies that it was the alarm clock that was sleeping! Isn't that silly?

To fix that dreaded dangling participle, you can reword your sentence. Here are a few examples of a correct way to express that statement.
1.) While Tim was sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of the table.
2.) The alarm clock fell off of the table while Tim was sleeping.
3.) While sleeping, Tim heard the alarm clock fall off of the table.


Now it's your turn! I'll give you 5 incorrect sentences, all with dreaded dangling participles. I'd like you to point out what the problem is and then rewrite the sentence to make it correct!
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.

The weekend is here!

Friday is that wonderful day each week filled with excitement and anticipation of the upcoming weekend! Let's practice some outlining skills. Make a brief outline that shows what you have planned for the weekend! You can use a format similar to the one I have shown below.

I.) Saturday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Watch TV
C.) Check email
D.) Work on homework

II.) Sunday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Do laundry
C.) Watch "Desperate Housewives"
D.) Prepare for upcoming week
E.) Finish homework

Describe It - Weather!

I'm going to stick to the "trend" I've had lately about descriptive writing. The great thing about this topic is that there's so much out there to use as inspiration! Today, we'll focus on the weather. But this doesn't have to be about the weather that's currently happening. Maybe you want to think about a place you've been or a weather event you've endured: a rainy day, a hurricane, a snow storm, an August day in Florida, etc.

I grew up in New Jersey and went through many snow storms. The most beautiful part was at night as the snow fell. If you turned on a light outside, you could see the dainty, delicate, crystal flakes just slowly falling from the night sky. Once you stepped outside, you'd hear this very faint, but distinct crackling of the flakes reaching the ground and piling on top of the snow that was already there.

What type of weather would you like to tell me about? Write a few complete sentences that describe this. Remember that a complete sentence has a subject and a verb. Use those adjectives, as that's what helps paint that vivid, detailed picture in your reader's mind!

Describe It More!

The last blog entry I did talked about descriptive writing. This is essential in any type of communication you do. This time, I'd like you to pick a color that you like and describe it as best you can!

Turquoise blue - light, bright, vibrant, warm, tropical

Describe It!

Have you ever had someone describe something to you that you could perfectly picture in your mind? That's what we should all strive to do with our writing. It should be detailed in a way that your reader has a clear vision of what you're discussing.

Pick some item and describe it with a few key phrases!

I'll start with what I'm having for breakfast, potato salad. (Yes, that really is what I'm eating for breakfast today!)

Potato salad: chunky potatoes, creamy mayo, small chive pieces, crunchy celery bits

With those descriptive phrases, can you picture (and almost taste) that in your mind?

Now you give it a try!

Word of the Day

If you're a regular blog reader & participant, you know that the Merriam Webster website has lots of great resources, including the Word of the Day feature. Let's visit the archive. Once there, pick any word listed in the section for December or January (which you may need to scroll down to see). Click on the word and review the information given. Please come back to the blog, post the date the word was originally used, the word you picked, definition, and the example sentence that was given. Be sure to check back often to see what other words were picked by fellow bloggers!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl

I'll start!

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December 11, 2009
namby-pamby
1.) lacking in character or substance : insipid
2.) weak, indecisive

Example sentence: The candidate criticized her opponent during the debate, calling him a namby-pamby flip-flopper who could not stand up for what he believed in.

New Year's Resolutions (Part 3)

Happy new year!!!

You've had a chance to learn what a resolution is and to see some of the top yearly resolutions. No matter what you have resolved to do in 2010, now is a good time to see some tips to help you be successful!

http://www.ehow.com/how_12076_keep-new-years.html

Once you've visited that site, tell me which of the 5 tips listed did you think would help you the most? Which one, if any, would help you the least?

New Year's Resolutions (Part 2)

So now that you have a better idea about what a resolution is, let's visit a site that discusses the top ten new year's resolution.

http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

Do you see any one that that you would like to make your own resolution for 2010? If so, tell us! If not, that's ok too. What would your preferred resolution be?

New Year's Resolutions (Part 1)

With 2009 coming to an end and 2010 about to begin, let's think about new year's resolutions. But let's start with something basic. What is a resolution? For more information, visit this link to Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution

Once you've read through what's there, come back to this blog & write about one fact that you found to be most interesting. Remember to focus on good writing, including correct capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.

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/

Visit that site, type in a word 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 word you picked and what results the thesaurus gave.

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!

Word of the Day

I love the Merriam Webster website & its "word of the day" archives. Check out this link (below).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl

Once there, scroll through what you see listed as words of the day for November and December (up through today). Pick any 1 word that you don't recognize and click on it. You'll see the word and its definition. (If you want to hear the word pronounced, click the red speaker icon (which looks like this: ). Once you've done that, come back to this blog, post the date that your word was the "word of the day," the word you selected, and its meaning. Here's an example.

Date: November 3, 2009
Word: Regimen
Meaning: a systematic course of treatment or training

Tell me a story - December's edition

Let's have some fun with creative writing! Practice good writing skills and pay close attention to your spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure. Tell a short story (4-7 sentences) that use the following items: sunshine, a single yellow daisy, laptop computer, baseball, and chocolate cake. Your story can be serious, funny, mysterious, or just plain silly! I look forward to seeing what you write!

AskOxford.com (Part 2)

If you're a regular blog reader, you probably already know that one of the best ways to improve your writing is not to try too hard to use big, fancy words! Almost always, simpler is better! In fact, this is another tip for better writing that is on the Oxford website!

Visit the site shown below and review what you see there, especially the 17 items at the bottom about how to keep your writing user friendly. Then, come back here & tell me the one or two tips that you found to be the most important!!!

http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/plainenglish/?view=uk

AskOxford.com (Part 1)

You may have heard of the Oxford dictionary. Their website has an area about better writing and has a great section that we'll focus on today about abbreviations and acronyms, especially those that you may see when doing text messaging.

*** Before going on, it's important to note that these abbreviations and acronyms are not appropriate for most writing that you'll do! This blog post is more of a "for your information" type so that you can be aware of what these items mean! ***

Visit this site (http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/emoticons/?view=uk) and look over the first part about abbreviations. Then, come back to this blog & tell me what new abbreviations did you learn (and don't forget to include what they mean too!).

Tell me a story - November's edition

This blog hasn't had any fun, creative writing topics in a while, so let's change that now! We'll return to the "tell me a story" theme where I give you a few items that you must somehow weave into your story. Have fun with it and remember to focus on all of those points of good writing: correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.

Your story can take any direction that you want. It can be serious, funny, mysterious, or even based on real-life events!

Here are your items to use: turkey, 4 pencils, a digital camera, and a fishing pole.

Writing: "We Need This Yesterday"

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

With Thanksgiving approaching, I wanted to take a minute & say "thank you" to all of the blog participants! Without you, there would be no blog! I appreciate you participating, trying new things, and working hard (even when you may be so tired that you don't want to do anything else other than close your eyes).

Please feel free to respond to this and tell everyone what you're thankful for. Remember to write your sentences correctly and pay attention to your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation!

Improve Your Writing By Learning Another Language!

Would you believe me if I told you that you can improve your writing by learning another language? It seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it? Well, check out this list of 10 reasons why this is true.

http://www.badlanguage.net/ten-reasons-why-learning-another-language-will-improve-your-writing

Which of the 10 tips did you find most interesting?

The Best Time to Write

Have you ever wondered when is the best time to write? Check out these 6 suggestions from the "Bad Language" site by clicking here. After you've had a chance to read that, come back here & tell me what you found most appealing!

Customer Service

As we approach a busy holiday season we become more aware of customer service skills offered by employees in all organizations (department stores, supermarkets, restaurants and businesses). It seems as most people tend to "stress out" during the season, which tends to bring about bad customer service experiences.

Last month (October 20th) we shared "10 important customer service words" that we should consider using. Today, we would like to share a two and a half minute movie that covers customer service.

Please watch the movie and share your thoughts (post your commment) on it. Did you like the movie? Can you think of ways to possibly provide better customer service in the future? Can you imagine being a better customer when you have to wait in a long line? Even if you do not deal with customers in your workplace, do you provide good (internal) customer service to your fellow co-workers? supervisor?

http://www.stservicemovie.com/index.html

Writing - Clichés

Have you heard of the term "cliché" before? Wikipedia defines it as "a saying, expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, rendering it a stereotype, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel."

BBC Magazine had a list of 50 office-speak phrases (clichés) that you love to hate. Check out the list by clicking here. In each of the examples, you will see the cliché shown in bold text. Which ones, if any, do you use? Which ones, if any, were new to you? Try to identify 2 items for each of those questions.

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(Please note that British words may have slightly different spellings than their American counterparts. For example, on that BBC magazine page for item #32, you will see the word "realised" used. In America, we would write that as "realized.")

Better Business Writing

In my search to bring you some good information about business writing, I came across a website called Bad Language (http://www.badlanguage.net/). In case you're wondering, it doesn't mean "bad language" as in curse words.

What drew my attention to that site was that there is a free e-book that you can either read online or print. It's called "30 Days to Better Business Writing." I'd like for you to visit that site and go to page 2 of the book, which is the table of contents. Look at the topics presented for each of the 30 days. Pick one that jumps out at you and go read that section. Then, report back on what section you picked (including what day number to which it corresponds). Tell us what you learned or found interesting.

I'll start!

Day 7: Analyze Bad Writing
I liked how it gave seven characteristics of bad writing. These are things that I'm going to try to stay away from doing when I write!

Writing & Social Networking (Part 2)

Let's talk more about social networking & social media sites. Check out the image below & review those important points.


Look at the third point listed! It says "You are what you publish on the web (so be cautious of your image!)." Remember that your writing reflects you! Good writing skills, including correct capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, are so important and should never be overlooked!

Do you agree? If you were an employer and saw a potential employee who had massive amounts of misspellings and other grammatical problems on a social networking site, what would you think?

Writing & Social Networking (Part 1)

Have you heard of the term "social networking" before? Do you use any social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or MySpace? Believe it or not, employers and schools might be looking at this information that you have online. Even your writing on there is important and is a chance to look professional!

Want to know more about social networking, what it is, and how it works? Check out this short Common Craft video for a great explanation!

http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking

After you've viewed the video, come back here & post your thoughts on it!

Spelling & Resumes (Part 2)

Yesterday's blog post talked about how bad a misspelling on a resume can be.  Have you wondered what are the most common misspelled words on resumes?  If so, check out these links!

http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/111/top-100-misspelled-words-in-resumes.cfm

http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/vws/resume/commonly_misspelled_words.asp

After visiting the second link shown above, which 5 words jumped out at you?  (HINT: A great way to learn the spelling of commonly misspelled words is to use a flashcard & to study it a few times a day.  Read the word out loud & then spell it, letter-by-letter.  If you do that 3-4 times a day, for 5-7 days, you will start to know that word by memory & be less likely to misspell it in the future!)

Spelling & Resumes (Part 1)

Do you know where the worst place (or one of the worst places) for a spelling mistake is? In my opinion, I'd say on a resume! Think about it: you're trying to put your best foot forward and to show a potential employer why they should hire you (and not someone else). A spelling mistake can jump out at a hiring manager and make him or her wonder if you didn't know how to spell the word or, possibly worse, if you didn't care enough to proofread your resume!

Check out this link with resume tips.

http://www.resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/2008/07/typos-and-misspellings-a-top-p.html

Of the 6 tips listed at the bottom, which one (or ones) did you find to be the most important?

Reading & Writing

Yesterday's blog post (http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-be-good-writer.html) gave you a link to a website that listed 15 steps that could help you become a good writer (or an even better writer than you are now)! The second step listed was to read more!

The Internet is home to so many great sites that you can read and some of my favorites are for newspapers. Why do I love the online versions of newspapers? Each day (and sometimes multiple times within one particular day) there are new stories to read and almost every subject is covered: politics, technology, entertainment, restaurants/cooking, real estate, health/wellness, and more! Everyone should read for at least 30 minutes each day and I find that the easiest (and cheapest) way to do that is to visit online websites for newspapers. A few links for you are below.

Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/
Sun-Sentinel: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Treasure Coast News: http://www.tcpalm.com/
Orlando Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
New York Times: http://nytimes.com/

Pick one (or two) of these sites and make it a "Favorite" or a "Bookmark" in your browser. Commit to visiting that site daily and reading there for 30 minutes!

Which site (or sites) did you pick?

How to Be a Good Writer

Would you like to be a good writer? Check out the 15 tips given on this website: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Writer. Out of those 15 tips, which one (or ones) do you currently do now? Which one (or ones) will you try to do in the future? Please post those thoughts in response to this topic so we can see them!

Did you notice that much of what those tips covered (writing a lot, reading a lot, using good spelling and grammar, etc.) are all things that have been covered on this blog?! That's no coincidence!

Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service

In almost every position, good customer service is invaluable. Whether you are a doctor, teacher, attorney, administrative assistant, clerk, technology representative, hair dresser, sales associate and on and on.....customer service is key! Remember you may not work with outside customers but even your fellow co-workers should/can be considered customers.

Please read these valuable customer service "words" shared by Steve Ventura in the book
Serve Right


TALKING YOUR WAY TO BETTER SERVICE

The 10 important words to say:
I apologize for our (my) mistake. Let me make it right.

The 9 important words to say:
Thank you for your business. Please come back again.

The 8 important words to say:
I’m not sure, but I will find out.

The 7 important words to say:
What else can I do for you?

The 6 important words to say:
What is most convenient for you?

The 5 important words to say:
How may I serve you?

The 4 important words to say:
How did we (I) do?

The 3 important words to say:
Glad you’re here!

The 2 important words to say:
Thank you.

The 1 important word to say:
Yes.

Share your comments on these customer service "words". What words work for you or have worked "on" you?

Inspirational Quotes

As we come to the end of our semester, we should reflect on our accomplishments and consider our long or short term goals. At times we may need some inspiration to get us to take that next step or keep the momentum going.

Please take 3 minutes and watch this inspirational movie below (click on link)

http://www.simpletruths.tv/movies.php?movie=GQGL

Once you have completed watching the movie please share your comments to the following questions: Did you enjoy the movie, Did any of quotes inspire you? Would you share this movie with someone else? Is it nice to know you can inspire yourself with a quick movie link at your fingertips?

Lastly, do you have a favorite quote you would like to share with us? If it is in a different language you can share it and translate it for us!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 13)

During December 2008, there was a big emphasis on prefixes. Many, many common words use prefixes and knowing the meaning of some common prefixes can help you figure out the meaning of a word. Take a look at all of the blog posts from December that discussed prefixes. Which two or three prefixes were you least familiar with? Post the prefix, the date it was discussed in the blog, and the meaning of the prefix.

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

Enjoy & happy learning!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 12)

November 2008 had the second highest number of blog topics presented in 2008. Lots of great topics were covered, including different types of sentences (simple, compound, complex), verbs, spelling, and more! Take a look!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Pick any two topics, read through the blog post for each, and then participate in the discussions to practice those skills. Come back & tell us what were the dates & topics you selected!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 11)

This next set of posts for this week will bring us through the end of blog from 2008!

October 2008 was the most active month in the eLearning blog. There were 30 total topics presented that month which means only one day didn't have a new topic added! Wow! Review what was covered and pick two topics in which to participate. Then come back, tell us the topics & dates of the things about which you blogged!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 10)

September 2008 was a good month at the eLearning blog. There were 2 big "series" of posts: using hyphens correctly and problem phrases. However, even outside of those topics, other helpful things were covered! Please visit the September 2008 blog posts, pick one of the "using hyphens correctly" topics, one of the "problem phrases" topics, and one other topic (other than something from either of those two series). Participate in all three of those discussions and then come back here to tell us what you learned!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

:-)

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 9)

During August 2008, the eLearning blog had 18 topics presented. Go check them out!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

Next, pick two of them, participate & tell us what you learned!!!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 8)

Our next stop on the "look back" tour is going to take us to July 2008. Like June 2008, there were 19 different topics covered that month, so you've got a lot to choose from when reviewing what's there! Take a look through the topics, find two that interest you, participate in them, and then come back to report the topic titles and dates of the original blog topics to which you responded (such as "Usage - Who Versus Whom" from July 30th).

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

Happy blogging!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 7)

During June of 2008, there were 19 different blog topics discussed. Go take a look, pick 2, participate in them, and come back here to tell us what you learned!!!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 6)

In May 2008, the eLearning blog had 14 different topics presented. I'd like you to review them, pick 2 and participate by responding to those topics. Then, come back here, let us know the topics & dates you selected (such as "Don't Confuse Your Homonyms" from May 31, 2008).

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

Have fun!

eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 5)

Let's take a look back at some of the great topics we've had on this blog!

April 2008 was when it all started! Even though there was only one post that month, it was a nice way to start the blogging experience! I'd like you to visit that topic, read through it, and participate. Then come back here & let us know what you wrote!

http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Writing & Typing (Part 3)

Have you ever been asked how many "words per minute" (WPM) you can type? Do you know the answer to that? Here's a website that can tell you!

Visit this link (http://www.typingtest.com/). Once there, you can select what time period you'd like (1, 2, or 3 minutes) and what you'd like to type. (The topic "Astronauts" will be listed first, but you can click that to see a list of other choices, including "Aesop's fables," "Rules of Baseball," or even "Today's Travel Headlines" from the NY Times.)

Once you've completed the timed task, see what your results are in the "Net Speed (WPM)" section. Then come back here, let us know what time period you selected, what topic you picked, and what your overall words per minute rate was. Don't worry - it's not a contest and if you don't have a high WPM, that's ok!

Writing & Typing (Part 2)

When you type, your spacing is important. Without proper spacing, it can be hard for the reader to follow your thoughts and understand your breaks & pauses.

Please visit this site (http://www.geocities.com/clefevre.geo/rules.html) for more information about correct spacing when typing. Of everything listed there, I think the first two items are the most important (and also the ones that you'll need to use the most often).

* All sentences begin with capital letters. Type one space after each word, and after commas and semicolons.

* Type two spaces after each end of sentence punctuation mark (periods, question marks, exclamation points). Type two spaces after colons.

Read over the rest of those typing rules. Then tell me the answers to the following questions. First, did you know about those 2 rules listed above? Secondly, which of those other rules listed on that site did you find interesting?

Writing & Typing (Part 1)

This week, our blog topics will focus on typing. Are you asking "why" we're going to do that? Well, almost everyone will need to type at some point, whether it's for a job or just for playing around on the Internet. Being a fluent typer will make this much easier (and enjoyable) for you!

Knowing how to "touch type" will help you get done typing your words, sentences, paragraphs, and essays faster than being a "hunt and peck" or a "search and peck" typer. But what's the difference? A "touch typer" can type most words without having to look at the keyboard. Instead, that person can focus on the screen. A person who does "hunt and peck" is looking at the keyboard, searching for each particular letter, and typically doing this for every single letter needed in each word. Sometimes this is referred to as being a "two finger typer."

Believe it or not, it's not super hard to learn how to become a touch typer. The most important part, though, is practice, practice, and even more practice!

I'd like you to visit this website: http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/. Look over the tips for success that they give. Then come back to this site, let me know whether you are a "touch typer" or a person who does the "hunt and peck" method. Lastly, tell what tip you found to be the most important!

Letter Writing (Part 6)

The last 5 blog topics have all given you links to different things covered at The Letter Writing Guide site. However, we focused only on a few things: apologies, requesting recommendations, letters of interest, interview thank you notes, and resignations.

Now it's your turn to visit the site and pick something that this blog did not focus on yet! Maybe you want to focus on how to write letters of appeal or maybe even love letters. Please visit The Letter Writing Guide and scroll through all of the various topics there. Pick one that this blog didn't cover, read through the material, and then come back here to tell us what you picked and what you learned about it!

Letter Writing (Part 5)

Well, you wrote a stellar letter of interest that then got you an interview. You followed-up after the interview by sending a thank you letter. What if you get the job? If you're currently employed, you'll need to let your employer know that you're leaving. But how do you write a letter of resignation that's well done?

Check out The Letter Writing Guide for help with this!

http://www.letterwritingguide.com/resignation.htm

Read over what's there and then view the sample letter at the bottom. What did you find to be the most interesting of what was presented about the letter of resignation? Do you think you could write one if you had to do so?

(Remember that you can share any of these blog topics with your family and friends if they're in need of letter writing information!)

Letter Writing (Part 4)

Ok, so let's say that you wrote a great letter of interest and got called for an interview. First of all, give yourself a pat on the back for that! Next, think about how you're going to make another good impression. You may think that your part is over and all you can do is wait. But that would be wrong! Take the time to write a thank you letter after your interview is complete!

Want to know more about what goes in to a good thank you letter? Visit "The Letter Writing Guide" site below.

http://www.letterwritingguide.com/thankyouletters.htm

Once you've read over the things there, be sure to review the sample thank you letter at the bottom. After that, come back to the blog & tell us what you found most important!

Letter Writing (Part 3)

There's so much to love about the letter writing site that we've been exploring (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/). Let's continue this week with a few types of letters that can help you (or someone you know) in the employment arena.

Have you ever heard of a "letter of interest" when it comes to seeking out a particular job? This can serve as your first opportunity to make yourself stand out in a good way!

Check out this site: http://www.letterwritingguide.com/interest.htm. Be sure to carefully read through the information there, including the 5 tips they give you. Then use the link at the bottom to see a sample letter of interest.

After looking over both items, come back to this blog & tell me what you felt was the most important thing that you learned about a letter of interest.

Letter Writing (Part 2)

This letter writing site (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/) has some great resources, so let's continue our exploration of different types of letters.

Many times, you may want (or need) a letter of recommendation. This could be to help you out in the search for new (or better) employment, to start or grow a personal business, to include with a school application, or just to put in your own personal file for future reference.

Check out this link (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/requestingrecommendation.htm). Once you've read through what's there, be sure to click the link at the bottom to look at a sample letter of recommendation.

What did you find to be most important? Have you ever had to ask for a letter of recommendation? If so, from whom did you request it? If not, do you ever see yourself having to ask for one in the future?

Letter Writing (Part 1)

I've been a bad blogger lately. While I had good intentions of doing 1 blog post per day, that just didn't happen last week. It's a good thing that I don't get paid per blog topic, isn't it? Just kidding!

However, this has actually inspired me to do today's blog post about letter writing. In fact, today we'll focus on writing an apology letter! (Yes, this is my way of apologizing for being a bad blogger.)

Visit this site (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/apology.htm). Did you know that there are two types of apology letters that you could do (business and personal/friendly)? Did you learn anything important about each type? Have you ever had to write an apology letter?

Tell me a story - August's edition

Normally, each month begins with a "tell me a story" blog post. This month, it's a little late. But that's ok because it's here now!

Get those creative juices flowing. I'd like you to write a short story (4-7 sentences). Your story must start with the portion of the sentence that I give you below. You can then take your story in any direction from there. Have fun with it, be creative, and focus on all of those good writing things that we've talked about in our blog: planning/pre-writing/brainstorming, subject-verb agreement, correct capitalization, correct punctuation, and more! (It sounds like a lot, but I know you can handle it!)

Ok, are you ready? Here's how you should start your story.

"One hot summer day, a few of the students at the school decided to. . . "