English 1101 Handbook Exercises 1-6:

The Composition Process, Punctuation, & Style

Directions: Please answer the following fully. JJJ

Exercise One: The Composition Process

1. Please turn to Unit Two, chapter 1a.. What is the name of this unit? (Turn handbook sideways to read Unit titles; find chapters by turning the book the regular way.)

2. Please see chapter 2e. Write the definition of revising (first sentence of 2e).

3. Please see chapter 2f. Write the definition of editing (first sentence of 2f).

4. Look at the helpbox (yellow box) at 2e. What are HOCs? Now list them.

5. Do you know that I want to see a draft so that I can help you with HOCs?

6. Look at the helpbox at 2f. What are LOCs? Now list them.

7. What are the five pieces of advice (orange diamonds) in helpbox 2f?

8. Please write down the definition of proofreading (last paragraph in 2f).

9. Draw a smilie face of yourself.

10. Draw a smilie face of me.

Exercise Two: The Composition Process

1. Please turn to chapter three and write down the definition of paragraph that you will find in the first sentence.

2. According to the second sentence, what are the three components of an effective paragraph?

3. Please define unity (first sentence of 3a).

4. How do you check for unity? What is important about the Classic Essay paper w/ regard to this point (i.e. should there be an implied topic sentence or one that is really there?!)?

5. Please define paragraph coherence (first sentence 3b).

6. Please define development (first sentence of 3c).

7. Please see 3d. When do different writers prepare their introduction?

8. What is the purpose of the introduction?

9. What is the purpose of the conclusion?

10. Which ways can a conclusion look? What do those mean?

Exercise Three A: Comma Splices/Fused Sentences

1. Please turn to chapter 6, Comma Splices and Fused Sentences and copy down the definition given in the first sentence, underlining the last two words.

2. What are the three patterns for commas and semicolons in compound sentences? Believe it or not, I want you to copy that chart down (all three patterns at the beginning of chapter 6)—this is important stuff J

3. Complete this sentence, found under the heading “Commas in Compound Sentences,” “Use a comma when ________________” (write until you finish the word “yet”).

4. What are the two exceptions (blue diamonds)? Handbooks say that we should go with the more conservative rule (#3) whenever we are unsure.

5. Write down the information in the Hint Box named “Commas with And.”

6. Complete this sentence, found under the heading “Semicolons in Compound Sentences,” “If you use _______________________” (write until you finish the word “semicolon”).

7. Copy down the blue definition of a comma splice.

8. Copy down the blue definition of a Fused or Run-On Sentence.

9. What are the four ways to fix comma splices, run-ons/fused sentences (located in 6b)?

10. Celebrate! (draw a happy smilie as proof)

Exercise Three B: Commas

1. Please turn to chapter 27, Commas. How are commas and our voice alike with regard to meaning? (See opening paragraph)

2. Is sound a completely reliable guide to comma placement?

3. Look at the chart entitled “Commas and Semicolons in Sentences.” Study that chart. Does it make sense? Ask me about anything that is unclear.

4. According to 27a, what are the three ways to join independent clauses in a compound sentence?

5. What is the exception to the first rule?

6. What is the rule for commas with introductory words, phrases, and clauses (27b)?

7. What is the rule for commas w/ essential/nonessential words … (27c)? Please see the Hint box, though I prefer “No remove or move; then no commas!”

8. What is the rule about series and lists (27d)?

9. What is the rule about commas with adjectives (27e)? What does the Hint box explain?

10. Be sure you see that there are other comma rules (27f & 27g), but you will not be tested on those rules. Also, please note 27h, which some of you will find useful because it covers using commas when you shouldn’t J

Exercise Four: Subject/Verb Agreement

1. According to HB chapter 7, what is the basic definition of the Subject/Verb agreement (blue lettering)?

2. Please complete this sentence from 7a: “The subject of every sentence is either _____________________________.”

3. According to 7b, what does it mean to have a “buried subject”?

4. What is the Hint Box at 7b about? Which makes more sense to you, this rule written out or the chart I gave you?

5. What is the second Hint Box at 7b about?

6. Do you know that I think you’re adorable?

7. Do you know that I just want to help you learn?

8. Will you forgive me for the pain of the next question coming up? J

9. Beginning with 7c, please copy down all ten subject/verb rules (NOT just the title of the sections). While you do not have to copy down all examples or exceptions, I do want you to read those please.

10. Why would I ever have you do something so painful as answer number 9?

Exercise Five: Variety & Style!

1. According to HB16, “Sentences with the same ________________________. To make your sentences _________________________________________.”

2. HB16a covers what method of adding variety and style?

3. Please list the methods of adding words ( HB6b/look for the blue diamonds).

4. According to HB16c, what are the three ways to change words, phrases, and clauses for variety and style?

5. Turn to HB26a, what are the four sentence purposes? Are these like what we called “types” in our BLTs?

6. According to HB26b, what are the four sentence structures? Please list them and write down their definition, the blue word and the diagram.

7. According to HB 13a, what is coordination? What is the difference between appropriate and inappropriate coordination?

8. Please list the coordinating conjunctions and the conjunctive adverbs (13a).

9. According to HB13b, what is subordination? What is the difference between appropriate and inappropriate subordination?

10. Please list the sample subordinating conjunctions.

11. Bonus: According to HB13 a + b, what is excessive coordination & excessive subordination?

Exercise Six: Miscellaneous Stuff about Punctuation

1. What is the found at HB 25a for Essential Clauses/Phrases?

2. Read the three examples—with the commentary in the brackets. Do you see what they mean? Word up: when I ask if you understand something, please answer directly: “Yes” or “got it”! Some of you just leave blanks.

3. What is the definition of Nonessential Clauses/Phrases found at 25b?

4. Read the three examples & commentary. Do you get it?

5. Look at the Hint boxes in 25a and 25b. Explain to me the difference between nonessential and essential with regard to commas.

6. Chapter 29 describes the semicolon as a “stronger mark of punctuation” than the comma, pointing out too that the semicolon is used only between closely related equal elements. What is the rule at 29a?

7. 29a diagrams two patterns for semicolon use then lists some of the most popular transitional words (beginning with ‘after all”). Read them.

8. It is very important that you do not confuse those transitional words with subordinating conjunctions (see 13b, beginning with “after”).

9. After pointing out that the colon is a mark of punctuation that is used in formal writing to call attention to words that follow it, 30a gives a Hint Box about the term’s meaning. Sum up that Help Box.

10. Celebrate being finished!