Monday, October 12, 2015

In-Class:

• No journal today!
• Students were assigned groups of 4.  Each person had a job to do (reader, discussion leader, summarizer, question reader).  Students together read through the Battle of Grendel and answered the questions on their worksheet.
• Students got back their point of view/perspective worksheets and were asked to read over the errors and make corrections where necessary. 
• Students took notes on the 4 semi-colon rules:

Semi Colon Rules

Adapted From http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/semicolons.asp

Rule 1. A semicolon can replace a period if the writer wishes to narrow the gap between two closely linked sentences.

·         Call me tomorrow; you can give me an answer then.

·         We have paid our dues; we expect all the privileges listed in the contract.

Rule 2. Use a semicolon before such words and terms as namely, however, therefore, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., for instance, etc., when they introduce a complete sentence. It is also preferable to use a comma after these words and terms.

·         Bring any two items; however, sleeping bags and tents are in short supply.

·         She started cooking and baking when she was a little girl; therefore, the cooking class at Highland High School was a cinch. 

Rule 3. Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contain commas.

·         Incorrect: The conference has people who have come from Moscow, Idaho, Springfield, California, Alamo, Tennessee, and other places as well.

Note that with only commas, that sentence is hopeless.

·         Correct: The conference has people who have come from Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, California; Alamo, Tennessee; and other places as well.

·         They told her to bring water, even though she already had some; pajamas, even though she wanted to sleep in her clothes; and an apple.

Rule 4. A semicolon may be used between independent clauses joined by a connector, such as and, but, or, nor, etc., when one or more commas appear in the first clause.

·         When I finish here, and I will soon, I'll be glad to help you; and that is a promise I will keep.

Notice how this is different from rule 2 on the comma rules sheet. If there are no commas in the first part of the sentence leading up to the connector word, use a comma instead of a semi-colon!

I will be glad to help you when I’m done, and that is a promise I will keep.