Regular Verbs

Three past blog posts dealt with different tenses of verbs (past, present, and future). This post is going to deal with the concept of "regular verbs." Have you heard of that term before? A regular verb is one that follows the "regular" rule when changing it to the past tense. Let's look at a few examples and then get into the specifics.

Present tense form: cook
Past tense form: cooked

Present tense form: paint
Past tense form: painted

Present tense form: use
Past tense form: used

What's so "regular" about that? Well, all past tense forms took the present tense form and just added "-ed" to the end. There was no change in the form of the original verb.

For a list of the 600 most common regular verbs, visit this site: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/regular-verbs-list.htm. When you get there, scroll through the list. Pick one regular verb, come back to this blog, type the verb in it's present tense form, and then type it in the past tense form. Can you then use that regular past tense form in a sentence? Give it a shot!

Example:
Present tense: calculate
Past tense: calculated
Sentence: I calculated the waiter's tip.

Test Your Skills - Subject-Verb Agreement

The last blog post challenged you to test your skills when it came to capitalization and punctuation. This entry is going to ask you to test your subject-verb agreement skills. As you know from previous blog posts, having sentences with correct subject-verb agreement is essential for good writing!

So stretch those brains and have some fun! After completing the Quia game, come back here and write a few sentences to tell how you did!

Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/pop/38406.html

Test Your Skills - Capitalization & Punctuation

Frequent bloggers on this site know that I love those Quia games! I found a great one so you can test your capitalization & punctuation skills, two things we've talked about in many different previous blog posts.

Try this "Rags to Riches" game (similar to the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game show). Then, come back to the blog and write just a few sentences to tell us how you did, if you enjoyed it, and if you learned anything new!!!

Have fun!

Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/90027.html

Writing - Complex Sentences

The last type of sentence we're going to discuss is the complex sentence. Recall that compound sentences (as discussed in the November 10th blog) have two or more independent clauses. A complex sentence is similar in that there will be one independent clause, but there will also be one or more dependent clauses.

Before we go on, let's look closer at those clauses. Independent clauses are parts of a sentence that could stand on their own as a complete sentence. They are complete thoughts with both a subject and a verb. On the other hand, dependent clauses (as the name implies) cannot stand on their own because they "depend" on the independent clause for completion.

In the examples below, you'll see a few complex sentences. For each one, the independent clause is shown in blue, and the dependent clause is shown in red.

1.) Because Sue got stuck at the bridge, she was late for work.

2.) I went to the mall although I had no money to spend.

3.) When studying for a test, try turning off all televisions.

4.) The house was sold after the price was dropped.

Notice a few key things. First, when the sentence begins with the dependent clause, a comma is needed after that clause. However, when the sentence begins with the independent clause, no comma is needed. The independent clauses could stand on their own. For example #1, that independent clause could have been written as a sentence on it's own. You could have typed "She was late for work." The dependent clause of that sentence ("Because Sue got stuck at the bridge") could not be a sentence on its own because you need more information to complete the thought.

For more information about complex sentences, visit this website from Empire State College in New York.

What have you thought about the sentence types that we've discussed so far? Did you know about them and the characteristics of each or is this something new?

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.) Robert 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 1 compound sentence 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.) Tuesday is Veterans' Day.

3.) Sheridan Technical Center has a graduation ceremony in May.

4.) Red is a good color for you.

5.) Peter brought soda and water to the soccer game.

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 used.

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 a sentence using a contraction.

Quia game: http://www.quia.com/mc/366989.html

Capitalization & Punctuation

Two of the most basic and most important parts of good writing are correct capitalization & punctuation. Without these items, sentences look sloppy and incomplete. Play this Quia game to test your capitalization & punctuation skills. Then, return to the blog and tell us how you did! Also, write a sentence or two stating who else you could share this game with so other people could work on these important things.

http://www.quia.com/rr/242194.html

Enjoy!

Word of the Day Websites

If you do a Google search for "Word of the Day," you'll get a ton of matches. There are so many resources out on the web for you to expand your vocabulary. Some of them even let you sign up so you get each word of the day emailed right to you! Here are 4 sites where you can see the word of the day and then sign up if you're interested in getting on their email list.

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/

http://wordsmith.org/words/today.html

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

http://www.oed.com/cgi/display/wotd

Visit one or more of those sites, come back here, and tell us what was your favorite word of the day that you saw! (Don't forget to include that word's definition so we can all learn together!) Also, if you added yourself to any of those word of the day email lists, let me know!

:-)

Tell me a story - November's edition

If you're a regular "blogger" on this site, you've probably done some of the "tell me a story" topics that we've had. They're fun because you can take the story in any direction.

For this installment, we'll all start with the very same beginning and from there, you should complete the first sentence and add another 3-5 sentences to complete your story. Remember to write those sentences correctly! (Did you know you can use an online spell checker to help you? Visit this site http://www.spellchecker.net/spellcheck/. You can type your story, check it, make any necessary corrections, and then post it!)

During the New York City marathon, Amber decided to . . .

Writing - Let's End Hunger (Part 3)

The eLearning blog has had two previous topics about how you can improve your writing and also help end world hunger. (To see those posts, click here: September 26th and October 2nd.)

For this post, I'd like you to go back to the FreeRice.com website, play their vocabulary games, and see how you can do! You'll notice that for every correct answer you give, 20 grains of rice will be donated through the United Nations World Food Program. Once you've played the game, come back here and write 2-3 sentences to state how you did!

Click here to play: http://freerice.com/

Have fun!!

Usage - The Pronoun "I"

Believe it or not, a little error like not capitalizing the letter "I" in your writing can overshadow your ideas. You never want your reader focusing on mistakes instead of your ideas.

Rule: The letter "I" will always be capitalized in your writing, no matter where it occurs.

Let's look at some example of this.

1.) I went to the grocery store today.
2.) Heather and I have been friends for years.
3.) Mr. Williams asked if I would watch his dog.

It's important that all of your writing (including emails, instant messages, and "formal writing" like essays) have this correctly done. There's no reason to lose points for something so easy to do correctly!

Now it's your turn to practice this. Write 2 sentences that use the letter "I."

Verbs - Future Tense

Perhaps your writing is telling someone about what is going to happen in the future. When using future tense verbs, you may use the helping verb "will" or you may use one of the verbs "am," "is," or "are" with the phrase "going to." Below are some examples of each.

I will go to the office tomorrow.
He will run the marathon next weekend.
Lauren and Brian will walk the dog tonight.

You are going to school next year.
She is going to sing in the concert on Saturday.
They are going to leave for the airport at noon.

For more information about future tense verbs, visit this site:http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html. To practice this, write 2 sentences that tell me about things you'll do in the next month! I'll start!

I will have my in-laws visit later this month. While they are here, we will go out to dinner.

Verbs - Past Tense

If you want to talk about something that already happened, you need to use the past tense of a verb. These verbs, combined with other phrases like "Three years ago," help the reader know that you're writing about things that are already done. Just like with present tense verbs, past tense verbs also need to correctly agree with the subject, whether it's singular or plural. Take a look at some examples below.

The palm tree fell over yesterday.
Last night, my husband cooked dinner.
We danced all night at the wedding.

Try these 15 questions to see how well you can work with past tense verbs. To use this fun Quia game, click here. When the page loads, click the "Play this game!" button. Then come back and state how you did! Is this an activity that you'd share with other people, maybe even your friends or relatives, if they wanted to practice using past tense verbs? Let me know!

Verbs - Present Tense

Part of good writing depends on your verbs. You always want to make sure that you're using the correct tense of the verbs you use so that your message makes sense. If you're talking about something happening now, you would use the present tense. Below are some examples of verbs in present tense.

I shop at the mall.
Sharon wraps the birthday presents.
Taylor and Robert walk their dog.
They prepare the spaghetti dinner.

Try your skills at picking out the correct present tense verb by playing this Quia game that's similar to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". Remember that your verbs will have be in the correct tense and also have the correct subject-verb agreement. Are you ready to give it a try? If so, click here. Come back & report your results by writing a few complete sentences.

Writing - Do you paint an "exact" picture?

If you've been outside in the last few hours, you know that it's "cold." But that word is not as descriptive as you'd like. If you said "cold" to different people, you'd get some different interpretations of what that means. Let's take a look!

Someone from Miami may say that "cold" to them means anything under 70 degrees.

Someone from New York may say that "cold" means anything under 40 degrees.

Lastly, someone from Alaska may say that "cold" means anything under 0 degrees!

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't use the word "cold" in your writing. However, with words like that where meanings can be different, be sure to add in those additional details to help paint that "exact" picture.

To practice this, tell me about how the cold weather feels to you. Is it really cold or are you thinking it's pretty nice? Give me those details to help me understand what you mean! In fact, I'll give you a short example.

Today I went outside and it was cold! The thermometer said 57 degrees, but I was sure it was colder than that. The air was crisp and the wind was strong. I decided to put on my sweater and get a jacket too. If it got any colder, I'd need my fleece gloves.

Now you try!

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!

Commonly Misused Words: Witch and Which

With Halloween right around the corner, this next blog post about the words "witch" and "which" is quite appropriate. These words, like many of the others that we've discussed 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!

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!

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 - Choosing the Right Word

How many times have words like "there," "their," and "they're" been confusing to you in your writing? Those words are called "homonyms" or "homophones" which means they sound the same when you say them, but they have different meanings and spellings.

In fact, we've had some past blog topics that dealt with these commonly confused words! (For a quick review, visit these links: May 31st, July 22nd, and August 12th.)

So let's continue on with our study of these words and have a little fun at the FunBrain.com site with a "Word Confusion" game. Click the link below to visit the site, play the game, and then report your results! If you get a part wrong, that's ok! Just write down the two words, make some flash cards to learn the different meanings, and review them daily.

Word Confusion Game

Writing - Parallel Structure

Have you heard of the term "parallel structure" when it comes to writing? It's certainly not something you hear of every day, but is an important part of good (and correct) writing!

If you're a fan of the Olympics and gymnastics, you've heard of and seen the parallel bars. Think about those for a minute and look at the image below of parallel bars.


What do you notice about those bars? Well, you could say that they are very similar to each other. They have the same form, style, and layout as each other. Believe it or not, this is true of good writing! Let's take a closer look at how.

Sometimes you may have a sentence that has multiple verbs in it. Just like those parallel bars, you want those verbs to be in the same format as each other and to follow the same layout. So if one verb is in the past tense, they all should be! If one verb is using the present participle form, they all should be! Below are some examples.

My sister was running, jumping, and playing all over the soccer field.
Bill ate dinner, slept for a bit, and then jogged.
The cat eats and sleeps throughout the day.

Did you see how each sentence had multiple verbs, but they were all similar in format and tense? That's something to pay attention to the next time you write!

Now you try it! Write a single sentence that uses two or three verbs and has correct parallel structure. I know you can do it!

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.

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 17)

Today's the day to learn a new word (or two)! Look at the list of words below. Pick one that you're not familiar with, visit the online dictionary, get the definition, and then come back here to post your findings!

Accolade
Bolster
Cryptic
Ephemeral
Hedonist
Lamentation
Obliterate
Plummet
Resolution
Tentative

You can use this link (http://www.merriam-webster.com) to get to the online dictionary.

It's helpful to see the part of speech of the word, so include that too & see if you can then use the word correctly in a sentence!

Writing - Know Your Word Parts

Yesterday's blog post sent you to the FunBrain.com site to play the "Grammar Gorilla" game. That one had you working on subjects and verbs. This next "Grammar Gorilla" game is a tougher version that will challenge you to correctly identify more parts of speech. Are you up for it?

Click here to play the game and then report back to share how you did & what you thought of it! If you played the previous game for subjects & verbs, how did this one compare?

Remember to write your sentences correctly and to have proper capitalization and punctuation!
:-)

Writing - Subjects & Verbs

A key part of avoiding sentence fragments (like we discussed in the October 18th blog entry) is knowing what's your subject and what's your verb for every sentence you write.

Here's a fun site that has a game called "Grammar Gorillas" and will have you test your knowledge of subject & verb identification. I think you'll enjoy it!

Click here to play the game and then report back to tell us how you did, if you liked it, and if you learned anything new!

Writing - Avoiding Sentence Fragments

Have you ever read something that wasn't a complete thought and you're wondering about the other information that was needed? In cases like that, the sentence was probably a fragment. This is something you definitely want to stay away from in your writing. Let's look at some examples of fragments and ways they could be fixed.

Example 1: Went to the mall.
Problem: This sentence is missing a subject. Who went to the mall?
Solution: Add the subject into the sentence.
Possible sentence: Sharon went to the mall.

Example 2: The basketball player at the gym.
Problem: This sentence is missing a verb. What did the basketball player do?
Solution: Add the verb into the sentence.
Possible sentence: The basketball player at the gym drank some water.

Example 3: Such as books and magazines.
Problem: This is a subordinate clause and actually needs a subject & a verb.
Solution: Add the subject and verb into the sentence.
Possible sentence: The library is filled with great things, such as books and magazines.

For more information about sentence fragments, how to avoid them, and how to fix them, please visit Lauren Scerbo's Elluminate session from 10/15/08. Navigate through the slides and then post here to state what part you found to be most helpful!

(If you're wanting more information about sentence fragments, visit Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_frag.html.)

Writing - Using the "Quia" Website

One of my new favorite websites is Quia (pronounced like the car company Kia). There, you can find tons of great educational activities for almost any subject out there! As I explore it more, I've found games that I love, especially vocabulary games.

Take a look at a few of them & see how you do!

Vocabulary Matching Game #1

Vocabulary Matching Game #2

Vocabulary Matching Game #3

Once you've tried them, report back & tell us in complete sentences how you enjoyed those games. Feel free to explore more of the site & to use it for other members in your family who may be looking for some fantastic educational web resources!

http://www.quia.com/shared/

Writing - Let's Celebrate Dictionary Day!

Today, October 16th, is "Dictionary Day!" Did you know such a thing existed? If you've participated in other blog topics, you've probably had a chance to use an online dictionary.

Fun Fact: Noah Webster, considered the Father of the American Dictionary, was born on October 16, 1758. Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43 and completed the dictionary 27 years later.

Take a look at this online dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com. On there, they have a "Word of the Day" category and even an archive where you can see past words of the day!

So, to celebrate "Dictionary Day" I'd like you to visit the Merriam-Webster online dictionary's word of the day. To get there, click this link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl. Pick any word or date you want & click on that word. You'll see the word, a definition, and an example sentence. Come back here & post those results!

I'll start!

kvell
\KVEL\
verb
to be extraordinarily proud, rejoice

Example Sentence: Critics kvelled over the violinist's triumphant return to the stage where she had made her debut many years ago.

Commonly Misused 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!!!

Vocabulary - Words with Multiple Meanings (Math)

The English language can be tricky because so many words have more than one meaning. This blog post is going to focus on some math terms that you know (and love) that have multiple meanings. Let's examine a few.

Fraction:
In math, a fraction would be represented by values like 1/2, 1/4, or 5/8.
In general terms, a fraction means just a portion of something.
Example sentence: Sally completed just a fraction of her work for the day.

Area:
In math, area is the amount of flat space that a figure covers. Depending on the figure, there are different formulas to use to calculate that specific value.
In general terms, area means a certain section of land or space.
Example sentence: This particular area of North Carolina is beautiful.

Volume:
In math, volume is the amount of 3-dimensional space that something takes up, such as a box or a basketball.
In general terms, it could mean the amount of sound.
Example sentence: The volume of his radio is too loud for me.

Can you think of more math words that have dual meanings? Take a look at the list found at http://www.mathwords.com/a_to_z.htm. Be sure to scroll down since there are a ton of words to see! Find a word that has a particular meaning in math, but then a different meaning when it's used outside of a math context. Post your word, the math definition, and then try to give your best definition of what the word means outside of math. Lastly, use that word's non-math version in a sentence (similar to what I showed you above).

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.

(In case you're wondering, political cartoons are included on the social studies part of the GED test!)

Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading (Part 6)

If you've been an active blogger on here, you've probably seen some of the previous "Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading" posts. (If you haven't or would like to review them again, go here: July 8th, July 26th, August 15th, September 11th, and September 30th. In fact, there's tons of great links provided in each of those posts!)

Do you want to be a good writer and a good reader? If so, an important part of that is staying "up" on all the latest events that are happening. This doesn't mean that you need to be an expert in world affairs, politics, the economy, or the environment, but does mean that you should be "well rounded" in what you know. If you're reading every day (for 30 minutes or more), there's no reason why you can't visit some sites to help you know what's new!

Here are a few of my favorite places to get news & current events from around the nation.

Boston Globe

New York Times

Washington Post

Los Angeles Times

Chicago Tribune

You may find that if you visit a few of these sites, the top stories are the same or very similar. For example, the economy is a big issue these days and seems to be the leading headline on almost every newspaper. Don't be afraid to read multiple stories on the same topic. Different journalists will focus on different aspects and the more you read, the more information you have to help "round you out."

Visit one or more of those sites shown above and then post where you visited and what you read about. If the economy or politics don't interest you, feel free to leave the "front page" and venture into other sections about technology, food, or entertainment! Remember that no reading is bad reading!!!

Writing - Be Descriptive!

Did you know that yesterday (October 10th) was "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?

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 16)

It's vocabulary time! Review the word list (shown below) and pick one word that you're not already familiar with in your day-to-day vocabulary. You can use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com) to define it. Post the word, 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! If you really want to stretch your brain & try something fun, use the word you select correctly in a sentence!

Abstemious
Blithe
Crepuscular
Enunciation
Headstrong
Lackluster
Objective
Pliable
Rescind
Temper

Writing Tips for Emails (Part 4)

Have you used the subject line in an email? This is a great way to let the reader know the overall topic of your email before he or she even opens it. Imagine that you can give a short title to your email. That's what you can use for the subject!

Good subject lines are specific, but concise. Here are some examples.

1.) Assignment 5.01 - Question #1
2.) Final Exam Follow-Up
3.) Online Workshop RSVP
4.) GED Test Location
5.) Vacation, 12/10/08

I'd like you to practice this and some of the other email tips you've seen in previous posts. Send an email to me at GetYourGED@aol.com and see how many of the tips you can incorporate! Once you send me an email, post a response here to let me know that you've completed the task!

Writing Tips for Emails (Part 3)

How you end your email is as essential as how you begin it! Could you imagine getting an email from someone and not knowing who sent it? What if it was from your friend who was using a new email address? If it was a general email address without a name (such as "sunshine_girl_2008@yahoo.com"), you might be a bit confused. So, to help your email recipients from experiencing confusion, be sure to always use this next tip!

Tip #3 for emails: Always "sign" your emails by typing your full name at the end.

Reason: It identifies the sender of the email.

Suggestion: Many email systems allow you to set up a "signature" that automatically gets applied to the end of every email. If you set this up with your name, you can let the technology do some of the work for you!

Do you sign your emails with your name? Have you set up a "signature" or thought about doing that? What are your thoughts on this third email tip?

Writing Tips for Emails (Part 2)

The way you start your email sets the tone for everything that follows. Do you want your reader to know that your message is meant for him or her? That's always very helpful and much appreciated by the reader. Knowing this, here's our second writing tip for emails.

Tip #2 for emails: Always begin an email with an appropriate salutation.

Reason: It identifies the recipient and shows that you put thought into the greeting.

Examples: The following salutations could begin an email.
1.) Dear Ms. Thomas.
2.) Hello Jane.
3.) Good morning, Mr. Castano.
4.) Greetings Robert.

Suggestion: If you don't know how to address the person, it's safest to go with the most respectful option which would be to use "Mr." or "Ms." before the last name.

Do you begin emails with a salutation? If not, do you think this is something you could start doing?

Writing Tips for Emails (Part 1)

We've had a few different series in the eLearning blog. Sometimes we've focused on vocabulary; other times we've focused on problem phrases or using hyphens correctly. The next series we'll have will be dedicated to writing skills for emails. However, the good news is that many of the things we'll discuss also pertain to "regular" writing you may do, including hand-written letters!

Tip #1 for emails: Stay away from using all caps (capital letters).

Reason: It comes across as screaming or shouting.

Example 1: DON'T WRITE YOUR EMAILS LIKE THIS.

Example 2: Instead, write "normally." Capitalize only the parts that need to be capitalized.

Did you know that all caps in emails (or even blog postings) means shouting or screaming? Have you ever read anything that was posted that way? What are your thoughts on it?

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: Meritocracy
Meritocracy (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!

Tell me a story - October's edition

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.
lizard
palm tree
clouds
cell phone

I look forward to seeing what you submit!!!

Writing - Let's End Hunger (Part 2)

The September 26th blog introduced you to the freerice.com website where you could play vocabulary games and help end hunger. 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. Isn't that a great thing?

I'd like you to visit the site (freerice.com), play at least 3 vocabulary games, and then come back here & post your results. Did you win all 3 games? Did you win 2 of them? Maybe you won 1 of them. Don't worry about the result, but do give it your best shot & see if you can learn something new while helping someone else.

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 15)

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 one word 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 word, 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

Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading (Part 5)

There have been 4 previous blog topics that talked about the relationship between good writing & good reading (July 8th, July 26th, August 15th, and September 11th). Did you know that you can improve your reading skills just by reading for at least 30 minutes daily every single day?

Today, let's take a look at some other blogs that are out there. Here are a few that I've been reading. Feel free to tell me about some of your favorite blogs or new ones that you've seen recently! (Did you know that if you do a Google search for any word, such as "restaurant," and add the word "blog" after it, you'll get tons of matches?!)

Mayo on the Side: Michael Mayo, a columnist for the Sun-Sentinel, adds flavor to the news. His posts are usually entertaining or thought provoking and you can easily add your comments on his blog!

FloriDUH: If you're looking for wacky stories that are somehow connected to Florida, visit this blog! It's sure to make you chuckle.

TV Plus: Sun-Sentinel columnist Tom Jicha talks about TV, what's on, what's coming, what to watch, and what to avoid. Do you agree with his opinions? Share your thoughts on his blog.

The Beat: Check out this Sun-Sentinel blog that focuses on music, art, film, television, and anything else that entertains!

Which blogs have you visited? Is it something you'd go back to in the future? Tell us about it!

Tell me a story - September's edition

We haven't had a "Tell me a story" topic in a while! In fact, it's been over a month. So I think it's time to write & have some fun! (To see past blog topics with the "Tell me a story" theme, read the responses, and add your comments, visit these links: May 21st blog, June 3rd blog, July 2nd blog, August 7th blog.)

Here's how the "Tell me a story" topics work. I'll start you off with a portion of a sentence. From there, you can take the story in any direction. Remember to be creative and correctly write your sentences. Everyone should start with the part you see below.

Upon stepping onto the airplane, Mr. Ramirez asked the flight attendant . . .

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?

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging!

Please share your name and your favorite day of the week.

For example:

Lourdes Perez, Sunday

Writing - Problem Phrases (Part 4)

Here's the next installment of problem phrases so you can improve your writing and speak!

Problem phrase: All walks of life
The phrase "all woks of life" is incorrect.
Reason: This phrase does not apply to oriental cooking.

Let's look at a correctly-written example.

At any international airport, such as Miami, you will see people from all walks of life.

Give it a try! Can you use it correctly?

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!

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 14)

It's been a while since we had a "Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It" topic, so let's pick that up again! Good writing has varied word choice, so working on expanding vocabularies is always something we should do!

Take a look at the word list (shown below) and pick one word 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 word, 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!

Abrogate
Blasphemy
Credible
Enigma
Harbingers
Labyrinthine
Nuzzle
Plaudit
Reprehensible
Tardy

Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading (Part 4)

So far, we've had 3 previous blog topics that talked about the relationship between being a good writer and a good reader (July 8th, July 26th, and August 15th). Everyone can improve their reading skills and should read for at least 30 minutes daily.

So let's use this as an opportunity to read something and then write about it! You can read anything you'd like (a book, magazine, website, etc.). Here are a few suggestions in case you're looking for something.

Fort Lauderdale area news

West Palm Beach area news

Orlando area news

After you've read something, post your response and tell us what you read! Remember to write those sentences correctly! :-)

Commonly Misused Words: Shutter and Shudder

With hurricane season upon us, 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! (Be sure to visit the July 9th post, the July 15th post, the July 22nd post, and the August 12th post if you'd like to see previous topics about commonly misused words and participate in those activities.)

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.

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 8)

Here is the final, but perhaps most important installment of hyphen usage. This last rule is probably the one that you'll use the most often.

Rule: Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun.
*** Notice the part that says "before a noun." That's the key to this rule!

Examples:
Mr. Moore loves chocolate-covered peanuts.
(The term "chocolate-covered" is acting as a single adjective and is describing the noun, "peanuts.")

James Patterson is a well-known author.
(The term "well-known" is acting as a single adjective and is describing the noun, "author.")

----------

If, however, the compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated.

The peanuts were chocolate covered.
The author was well known.


What do you think of this final rule on using hyphens? It may seem a little confusing to use a hyphen when the adjective comes before the noun and not when it comes after it. But I bet with some practice, it won't be too bad! Do you agree?

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 7)

Just like the blog topic from August 29th, this next one is going to focus on using hyphens correctly when it comes to numbers. But this relates specifically to fractions.

Rule: Fractions written as words need to be hyphenated.

Examples: one-fifth, two-thirds, nine-tenths

Give it a try! Imagine that you're looking at a glass of water and that glass is only partially full. Write a sentence to tell everyone what fraction of the glass is full.

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 6)

The next rule to know about hyphen usage is below.

Rule: Use a hyphen with the suffix -elect.

(A suffix goes at the end of a word. In this particular case, the suffix means chosen for office but not yet in it. For example, when the presidential election happens in November, the next president will be chosen. Between that time and when the person officially takes office in January, he can be referred to as the "president-elect.")

Examples:
Mr. Jones is the president-elect for the student government at his school.
Kathy may be the treasurer-elect if she wins the home owners' association election.

Have you heard, seen, or read that term before? Did you know that a hyphen was needed?

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 5)

As we continue on with our blog discussions about using hyphens correctly, we reach part 5. (Who knew there were this many "rules" for hyphen usage? I certainly didn't!)

Rule: Use a hyphen between a prefix and a capitalized word. (Remember that a prefix is a word part that comes at the beginning of the word. For more information on prefixes and to see a list of some common ones, click this link or this one!)

Examples:
My mother loves to study the pre-Civil War era.
Charlie spilled spaghetti sauce on his white T-shirt.
When it comes to computers, I am very pro-Dell.
Some parts of the world have anti-American feelings.

Tell me what you think about this rule for hyphens? Does it seem logical? Do you think you can incorporate it into your writing (when necessary)? Did you know about this rule before? Have you seen this used correctly in other things you've read lately?

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 4)

Here's the next bit about using hyphens correctly so your writing is the best it can be.

Rule: Use a hyphen with terms that involve numbers and letters.

Examples (Part 1): early-1980s, mid-1990s, late-2000s

Example (Part 2): The Olympic gymnast, Nastia Luiken, scored high-9s on her routines in order to win the gold medal.

Now it's your turn. Write a sentence that correctly illustrates this rule for using hyphens.

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 3)

Here's a bit more about using hyphens correctly in your writing.

Rule: Use a hyphen with the prefixes "ex-" (meaning former), "self-", and "all-."

Examples: ex-husband, self-assured, all-inclusive

Can you think of any terms using those prefixes that would require the use of a hyphen? If so, post them. If not, that's ok, just take one or two of these terms and use them in a correctly written sentence.

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 2)

Let's continue our discussion and exploration of hyphen usage in writing. This next rule may be the simplest one of all!

Rule 2: Use a hyphen with compound numbers.

Examples: forty-six, sixty-three, twenty-nine

Note: When writing numbers like those, you have two options: use the numbers (46, for example) or spell it out and use the hyphen. (For more information about handling numbers in your writing, visit the June 29th blog entry.)

I'd like you to write two sentences and show both of the ways to correctly use numbers. I'll give you an example below.

1.) My sister is twenty-eight years old.
2.) My sister is 28 years old.

Now you try it!

Writing - Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 1)

The next few blog posts will focus on when hyphens should be used in writing. As you know, the English language has lots of rules and even more exceptions to those rules. But learning when to use a hyphen and, just as important, when not to use it will make your writing even better! (These rules can be found at the Online Writing Lab (OWL) by Purdue University.)

Rule 1: Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters.

Example: You can re-sign a petition. (Meaning to sign again)
Note: No hyphen is needed in the word "resign" as in resigning from a job. (Meaning to officially quit or leave your job.)
Reason: The hyphen helps with correct pronunciation of "re-sign."

Example: A teenager may be semi-independent. (The hyphen is used because without it, you'd have the letters "ii" right next to each other and that may make it hard to know what term it is.
Note: No hyphen is needed in the word "semiconscious."
Reason: Use a hyphen when you have two of the same letters next to each other with each word part.
Additional examples: The word "shell-like" needs the hyphen, but the word "childlike" does not.

What do you think about this rule? Is it something you'll be able to apply in your writing? Did you already know this rule before today's blog entry?

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 13)

It's time to work those brains and expand those vocabularies! Take a look at the word list below, pick a word, and then visit a dictionary to define it. Please post the word's definition and also its part of speech (verb, noun, adjective, etc.). If you don't have a traditional dictionary, you can use an online one, such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com).

Acquiesce
Bombast
Curtail
Epicure
Heed
Lampoon
Oblivious
Podium
Resonant
Tenuous

Writing - Using Hyperboles

A hyperbole (pronounced hye-PER-buh-lee) is a figure of speech where statements are overly exaggerated. Using a hyperbole can help to emphasize a certain point, but it's never meant to be taken literally. In fact, you have probably used or heard of a hyperbole in the last week or two! Here are a few examples.

Albert worked all weekend long.
(That hyperbole is used exaggerate how much work was done, but Albert truly did not work every minute of the entire weekend.)

She spent every last penny on new school clothes.
(That hyperbole shows that a lot of money was spent on clothes. It's doubtful, however, that all of the money was used for that.)

I ate 10 pounds of turkey last Thanksgiving.
(While I may have eaten a lot of turkey, it was not nearly 10 pounds.)

Can you think of an example of a hyperbole that you have said, written, or heard lately? Share that with the blog readers!

Writing - Using Similes

Have you heard of the term "simile" before? Wikipedia describes it as literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" to compare two unlike objects or ideas. I bet you've seen writing, especially poetry, that used a simile or two! Let's look at a few examples.

North Dakota is like an ice box in the winter. It is freezing cold there!
(That simile is comparing the state of North Dakota to an ice box.)

My cat, Spanky, is like a tiger stalking his prey when he plays with his toys.
(That simile is comparing my cat, Spanky, to a tiger.)

Florida summers are as hot as the sun's surface.
(That simile is comparing summers in Florida to the sun's surface. Both are very hot!)

Take a look at the list below (from http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/spoon/similes.php) of some common similes. Pick the one you like the best and try using that in a sentence!

As agile as a monkey
As alike as two peas in a pod
As bald as a baby's backside
As big as a bus
As big as an elephant
As black as coal
As blind as a bat
As blind as a mole
As bold as brass
As brave as a lion
As bright as day
As bright as the sun
As busy as a beaver
As busy as a bee

One of my favorite similes shown above is the "as blind as a bat." I've often said that my sister, without her glasses, is as blind as a bat!

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 12)

Back on August 5th, the blog topic dealt with SAT level vocabulary. These are all good terms to know, regardless of if you're actually planning on taking the SAT or not. Without strong vocabulary skills, a person will struggle with writing.

Let's work together and expand our minds. Take a look at the word list below, pick a word, and then visit a dictionary to define it. Please post the word's definition and also its part of speech (verb, noun, adjective, etc.). If you don't have a traditional dictionary, you can use an online one, such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com).

Acrid
Boorish
Cynical
Epistle
Heresy
Lance
Obscure
Poignant
Respite
Terse

Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading (Part 3)

Back in July, there were two blog posts (July 8th and July 26th) that focused on the relationship between good writing and good reading. (To read those blogs and the responses, click on the links above.) Everyone can improve their reading skills and should read for at least 30 minutes daily.

So let's use this as an opportunity to read something and then write about it! You can read anything you'd like (a book, magazine, website, etc.). Here are a few suggestions in case you're looking for something different!

Olympic Coverage - http://www.nbcolympics.com/

Florida History - http://www.flheritage.com/facts/history/summary/

Exercise & Fitness - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200013

Hurricane Preparation - http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_253_,00.html

After you've read something, post your response and tell us what you read! Remember to write those sentences correctly! :-)

Usage - Who versus That

The July 30th blog post discussed when to use the word "who" versus when to use "whom." (For more information on this or to participate in that entry, click the underlined link above.) There's also an important distinction between when to use the word "who" and when to use "that." Let's look at two examples first and then discuss why each one is written as it is.

Example 1: She is the girl who won the gold medal.

Example 2: Here is the house that is for sale.

It's probably pretty easy to see why the word "that" is used in example 2. Because there's no person mentioned, it wouldn't make sense to use the word "who" instead of "that."

But why is it that the word "who" is used in example 1? Well, look at the phrase "won the gold medal." That is talking about the girl and she's a person! So that means we need to use the word "who." Anytime you're talking about something relating to a person, always use the word "who" (never the word "that" since it's grammatically incorrect).

Let's look at a few more examples of when to use "who" versus "that."

The principal who gave the speech at the ceremony also won an award.
The pool that the kids use is over there.
Tim's teacher who often stays late at school is always available for extra help.
His computer that caught fire damaged the whole kitchen area.

Are those rules something that you already knew? Are they things that you currently do in your writing? If not, do you think you could start to do that with your writing? Let me know!

Persuasive Writing - The Introduction

How many times do you read something that is trying to persuade you to do something or think a certain way? It could be an article about the importance of exercise, a story about why people should vote in an election, or an editorial about "going green."

You may even do (or have done) some persuasive writing of your own. Perhaps you had to write a letter to a company explaining why they should reimburse you for a product or service that did not meet your satisfaction, or maybe you wrote to your boss explaining why you deserved a raise or promotion.

Persuasive writing, especially essays, has the "typical" essay format that you have seen before: an introduction, body paragraphs (where you develop your argument or reasons), and a conclusion. Today's blog post will focus on the introduction.

The introduction for any type of writing should "hook" the reader in and make him or her want to read more! There are a few ways you can do this. The following ideas are ways you can grab your reader right away and capture his or her attention! (This comes from http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/persuasive_writing.htm.)

1. Open with an unusual detail: (Manitoba, because of its cold climate, is not thought of as a great place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of garter snakes in the world!)

2. Open with a strong statement: (Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada!)

3. Open with a quotation: (Elbert Hubbard once said, "Truth is stronger than fiction.")

4. Open with an anecdote (short story): An anecdote can provide an amusing and attention-getting opening if it is short and to the point.

5. Open with a statistic or fact: Sometimes a statistic or fact will add emphasis or interest to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative source.

6. Open with a question. (Have you ever considered how many books we'd read if it were not for television?)

7. Open with an exaggeration or outrageous statement. (The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.)

Which option, out of those shown above, do you like best? Obviously it may depend on your topic, but which one would you be most likely to try?

Commonly Misused Words: Knew and New

Three different blog posts, prior to today's post, focused on some commonly misused words. (You can visit the July 9th post, the July 15th post, or the July 22nd post if you'd like to see those topics and participate in the activities.) Today, we'll focus on the words "knew" and "new."

The word "knew" is the past tense of the verb "know." It means having knowledge or understanding of something in the past. For example, I knew that the Olympics would begin on August 8th.

The word "new" is an adjective. This word has many meanings, but a commonality is in the fact that it's used to describe something that's recent, fresh, or unused. For example, I may need to buy a new home computer soon and get some new paper for my printer.

Let's look at the sentence below.
Carol knew that her brother needed some new shoes for school.

Those words ("knew" and "new") could not be switched correctly. Carol had knowledge (in the past) that her brother needed some fresh, unused shoes.

Now that you've had a chance to explore the meanings of those words, try using them correctly! You can either write two separate sentences that illustrate the word's meaning or you can write one sentence (like I did above) that uses both words correctly.

:-)

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 11)

Monday generally means "vocabulary time" for the eLearning blog. Take a look below at the next installment of words from the Academic Word List. Below you'll see a selection of words from the end of sublist 2.

Your goal is to pick one word, post the definition, and then use that word in an original sentence. You may use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com).

restricted
security
sought
select
site
strategies
survey
text
traditional
transfer

Since this is the 11th installment of the "Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It" topic, you should look back to some of the previous ones to view lots of other important words! :-)

Capitalization - Proper Nouns

Would you believe that something as small as a capitalization mistake can really jump out at a reader? In fact, too many capitalization errors can start to overshadow your ideas. So for today's blog topic, let's focus on proper nouns.

A noun is a person, place or thing. These are usually general terms. Here are some examples of nouns: child, restaurant, and car.

A proper noun, however, is different. It's the specific name of a person, place or thing. A proper noun must always be capitalized, no matter where it occurs in the sentence. Let's look at some examples.

Instead of just saying "child," I could give the child's name, Robert.
Instead of saying that I went to a "store," I could tell you that I went to Publix.
Instead of saying that I drove my car, I could state that it was a Honda Accord.

Below is a great chart (from http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/propernoun.htm) that shows the difference between a noun and a proper noun.



I'd like you to think of a term (or two) that is a regular, common noun. Then, give an example of a proper noun that is more specific. Don't forget to always capitalize your proper noun!

I'll start.
Noun: cake mix
Proper noun: Duncan Hines

Now you try!

Writing - Personification

Many times in descriptive writing, you'll come across personification, especially if you're reading or writing poetry. Personification is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to non-living objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).

For example, consider this sentence: The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell. It's impossible for rain to do an action such as "kiss" someone on the cheek. However, that paints and picture in the reader's mind!

Think of a non-living object and some human trait that you could use with it. Below are some examples of sentences that use personification.

The palm tree danced in the wind.
Her yellow polka dots screamed with their brightness.
The huge pumpkin sat in the middle of the field.

Visit this link (http://www.imschools.org/cms/Units/Poetry/student2.htm) and look at the 10 examples given. Then, come back here & post your favorite one!

The Importance of Pre-Writing

Did you know that the planning or pre-writing you do for your essay can have big, big benefits? People who do some type of planning are more likely to stay on the given topic and to make sure that they include all of their important ideas. Doing both of these things can lead to a high GED essay score.

The type of planning or pre-writing that you do is your choice! You could make a list, an outline, or use "clustering." (For more about the "clustering" method of pre-writing, visit this previously-held online workshop.) Your planning should not take any more than 3-5 minutes and can consist of just words or phrases. This is where you'll make your essay's "map" so you know the route your writing should take! (To see a past blog topic about essays, click this link.)

Let's practice making a short outline. Suppose the essay topic is asking you to identify a person you admire and to talk about why you look up to that person. Take a look at my outline below and then show me your outline!


Topic: A person I admire - my husband
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Reason #1 - very caring/supportive
Paragraph 3: Reason #2 - successful career change
Paragraph 4: Conclusion


That wasn't too hard to do, was it? It was quick, but got me to pick out some key ideas and formulate the components of my essay. From here, I could easily build my essay. Yipppeeee!

Tell me a new story!

Some of the most fun blog topics we've had in the past were the "Tell me a story" topics. To see those blogs, read the responses, and add your comments, visit these links: May 21st blog, June 3rd blog, and July 2nd blog.

So let's have a little more fun with this! I'll start you off with a portion of a sentence. From there, you can take the story in any direction. Remember to be creative and correctly write your sentences. Everyone should start with the part you see below.

---

As Mrs. Andrews sat at her 95th birthday party, she started to...

Emphasize Those Ideas!

No matter how long or short your writing is, you want to emphasize your ideas. One way to do that is through the use of signal words. Those words can fall into a few categories: chronological sequence, comparison/contrast, description, generalization/principle, and process/cause and effect. For more information about signal words, visit this site: http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/intranet/reading/signalwords.html.

I'd like you to pick one item or event and describe why you feel the way you do. Remember to use those signal words. Give three to four sentences about your feelings.

I'll start!

I really enjoy watching the Olympics. First, it's a chance to watch some of my favorite sports. Secondly, you get to see elite athletes from all over the world. Last, but not least, there are always some huge surprises and upsets.

Notice that those signal words ("first," "secondly," and "last, but not least") help the reader to follow the order of my ideas. Also, they show that I've thought about the general "flow" of the sentences!

Now you try it!

Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 10)

For this installment of the "Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It" blog topic, we'll be using words from an SAT Prep word list. No matter if you're doing the GED, SAT, or other standardized test, having a good, broad, varied vocabulary is important!

Please pick one word and post the definition. You may use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com).

Abhor
Bigot
Counterfeit
Enfranchise
Hamper
Kindle
Noxious
Placid
Remuneration
Talisman