Journalism short course Grammar and writing Spring 2011 Instructor Wendy M. Weinhold

Writing musts Style — Check spelling, grammar and AP style for conformity. Words — Make sure they agree and go together. Concision — Avoid using too many words. Punctuation — Learn the rules of punctuation and make your writing clear.

Why your stylebook is at your side, but style is something you need to know: Like a car manual, the stylebook is always available, but there are still some things you should know by heart about your car. For example, you don't need to know how to change your oil, but you at least need to know that your oil needs to be changed every 3,500 miles.

THE PARTS OF SPEECH äNouns sPersons, places, things, ideas or qualities äPronouns sSubstitute for nouns and function as nouns äVerbs sActions, occurrences or states of being äAdjectives sDescribe or modify nouns or pronouns äAdverbs sDescribe or modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole groups of words äPrepositions sRelate nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence äConjunctions: link words, phrases and clauses sCoordinating conjunctions sSubordinating conjunctions äInterjections sExpress feelings or command attention Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition

INDEPENDENT (MAIN) VS. DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES – A main or independent clause makes a complete statement and can stand alone as a sentence: The sky darkened. – A subordinate or dependent clause is just like a main clause except that it begins with a subordinating word: when the sky darkened, whoever calls.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE Active VoiceThe Subject acts. The city controls rents. Subject = actorTransitive verb in active voice Direct object Passive VoiceThe subject is acted upon. Subject = object of action Transitive verb in passive voice By Actor (optional) Rents are controlledby the city. Rents are controlled.

COMPLETE SENTENCE VS. SENTENCE FRAGMENT lA complete sentence or independent clause: – Contains a subject and a verb Example: The sun shines. – And it is not a dependent clause lA sentence fragment: – Lacks a verb Example: The sun shining. – Or lacks a subject Example: And shines. – Or is a dependent clause not attached to a complete sentence. Example: Because the sun shines.

TESTS FOR COMPLETE SENTENCES In order to complete sentences, meet all three of the following tests: lFind the verb. lFind the subject. lMake sure the clause is independent.

EXERCISE Revising Sentence Fragments Correct any sentence fragments below. 1.Scientists who study molds. They are very different from other people. 2.People from California and Nebraska wear shorts. Pants that fall above the knee. 3.People have thin skin. Compared to animals. 4.The human equivalent of fur may be blankets. Especially duvets made of down.

Assignment In class: 1.Join class wiki: SIUCJournalism Complete evaluation Out of class: Register at newsu.org, complete the following course and send a report to 1. copy-grammar-style-and-morehttp:// copy-grammar-style-and-more