Unit 1: Cultural Conversations Activity 1 Unit 1: Cultural Conversations Activity 1.4: Language and Writer’s Craft: Syntax

Understanding Phrases Phrases clarify meaning by adding information or by describing the subject, the action, or other nouns in the sentence. Standing alone, a phrase is not a complete sentence. Add the following grammatical terms to the SpringBoard section of your notebook:

Gerund Phrases Gerund phrases include a gerund (word ending in –ing that functions as a noun) and any modifiers or complements of the gerund. Example: Traveling to Asia might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Participial Phrases Participial phrases include the participle (verbal used as an adjective, usually ending in –ing or –ed) and any modifiers or complements of the participle. Example: The shutter broken in the winter storm banged in the wind.

Infinitive Phrases Infinitive phrases include an infinitive (to paint, to sit, to throw), and its modifiers or complements. Example: They finally were ready to depart around midnight.

What is the Informal Voice? With your group, identify the following elements in the text. Be ready to discuss! Table 1: First person point of view Table 2: Fragments for effect Table 3: Proper nouns Table 4: Vivid details and descriptions Table 5: Punctuation to create humor Table 6: Shifts in tone

After Reading: Questions Complete all the questions 8-11 on p.13 Discuss!

Homework… Log in to Reading Plus and complete the RPA (placement test). You have all week to do this. Log in through your student portal. Vocabulary worksheet: Complete the vocabulary worksheet handed out in class. Complete the Writing Prompt at the bottom of p. 13. Do this in the SpringBoard section of your notebook!