Grammar and MLA Review Historical Narrative

Grammar: Fragments  A Fragment is a sentence that does not have a subject and a predicate. Sometimes these fragments can be used for emphasis, or characterization, but most of the time they detract from meaning!!

Fragments: Converting to full sentences  “She was such a diva. A full-of-herself brat. Walking around like she owned the place.”  “She was such a diva, often looking like a full-of- herself brat and walking around like she owned the place.”  “She was such a diva. A full-of-herself brat. Walking around like she owned the place.”  “She was such a diva, often looking like a full-of- herself brat and walking around like she owned the place.”

Run on Sentences  A sentence with too many subjects and predicates. Usually commas are employed too often.

Run-ons: Converting to full sentences  “Because of all the tension, and lack of focus, she wanted to scream and run away, into the night of possibilities where only she and her imagination could talk, she could explore all the reasons why she hated being at home, and why she needed to run away.”  “Because of all the tension, and lack of focus, she wanted to scream and run, into the night of possibilities. She needed to be somewhere where only she and her imagination existed, and she could explore all the reasons why she hated being at home. She needed to run away.”  “Because of all the tension, and lack of focus, she wanted to scream and run away, into the night of possibilities where only she and her imagination could talk, she could explore all the reasons why she hated being at home, and why she needed to run away.”  “Because of all the tension, and lack of focus, she wanted to scream and run, into the night of possibilities. She needed to be somewhere where only she and her imagination existed, and she could explore all the reasons why she hated being at home. She needed to run away.”

Citing Facts in a Historical Narrative  Every time you use a fact from your research, you will cite it in parentheses like you did for the argumentative essay. These facts will occur differently, though.  Facts are time period specific entries to give your narrative historical roots, not narrative elements that you create.  Every time you use a fact from your research, you will cite it in parentheses like you did for the argumentative essay. These facts will occur differently, though.  Facts are time period specific entries to give your narrative historical roots, not narrative elements that you create.

Types of citations  Websites with sections: The section title will be the “Title of the Article” in your Works Cited Entry (review that on my website please!! “Citing sources PPT”). The citation will have the article title in quotes in parentheses after the fact.  Sources with authors: Author’s last name in parentheses after the fact.  Websites without sections: Title of the website is in italics, both in your Works Cited page entry, and in parentheses after the fact.  Websites with sections: The section title will be the “Title of the Article” in your Works Cited Entry (review that on my website please!! “Citing sources PPT”). The citation will have the article title in quotes in parentheses after the fact.  Sources with authors: Author’s last name in parentheses after the fact.  Websites without sections: Title of the website is in italics, both in your Works Cited page entry, and in parentheses after the fact.

Citations: Examples  Incorrect: “My name is Katherine (Twiggs).”  Correct: “My name is Katherine, which is slightly annoying since four other girls are named Katherine in my class” (Twiggs).  Incorrect: He was writing his notes down, to make sure he didn’t forget them (“Inventions of the 1800s”).  Correct: He was writing his notes down on his brand new typewriter (“Inventions of the 1800s”) to make sure he didn’t forget them.  Incorrect: “My name is Katherine (Twiggs).”  Correct: “My name is Katherine, which is slightly annoying since four other girls are named Katherine in my class” (Twiggs).  Incorrect: He was writing his notes down, to make sure he didn’t forget them (“Inventions of the 1800s”).  Correct: He was writing his notes down on his brand new typewriter (“Inventions of the 1800s”) to make sure he didn’t forget them.

Dialogue  Uses quotation marks and indents to show two or more people speaking to one another.  Often characterizes better than direct description.  Uses quotation marks and indents to show two or more people speaking to one another.  Often characterizes better than direct description.

Dialogue format  Incorrect: “Hey!” said Bobby, “That’s my apple!” “So?” said Katrina, “You left it on my desk. I thought you wanted to give it to me…”  Correct: “Hey!” screamed Bobby, “That’s my apple!” “So?” Katrina replied with a sly look on her face, “You left it on my desk. I thought you wanted to give it to me…”  Incorrect: “Hey!” said Bobby, “That’s my apple!” “So?” said Katrina, “You left it on my desk. I thought you wanted to give it to me…”  Correct: “Hey!” screamed Bobby, “That’s my apple!” “So?” Katrina replied with a sly look on her face, “You left it on my desk. I thought you wanted to give it to me…”