2019-09-19 Writing: game, comma usage

Greg Malivuk
gmalivuk@staffordhouse.com
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - Notes from all classes
---
Homework: Rewrite your paragraphs with all the mistake fixed. Email me the text or a photo of the text.
---
Take 8 pieces of paper. Write the numbers 1 to 8 in the corner.
1 Write a simple sentence on the first page.
2 Draw a picture of the sentence you read on page 1. (No letters or numbers in the picture.)
3 Write a sentence to describe the picture on page 2. (DON’T LOOK AT page 1)
4 Draw a picture of the sentence.
5 Write a sentence.
6 picture
7 sentence
8 picture
---
Share the results with the class.
---
Practice 15 - Check the comma corrections.
---
In a list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma - The comma before “and” or “or” in lists (of three or more things) is optional and sometimes controversial. The important thing is to be consistent. (Always use it or never use it.)
I like A and B. (never comma)
I like A, B, and C. (always comma between A and B, serial comma between “B” and “and”)
---
To connect independent clauses:
We could take the bus to New York City, or we could look for cheap flights. (Usually comma with “or”)
We could take the bus to NYC, but a flight is faster. (almost always comma with “but”)
We could take the bus to NYC and then we can take Uber to our hotel. (sometimes comma with “and”)

(for, nor, yet, so - always comma)
---
Coordinating Conjunctions: “fanboys”
for: I didn’t want to go outside, for it was raining.  (fancy “because”)
and: He likes studying(,) and he likes doing his chores.
She doesn’t like studying, and she doesn’t like doing her chores.
nor: She doesn’t like studying, nor does she like doing her chores. (Both clauses must be negative.)
but: She doesn’t like doing her chores, but she is very good at them.
or: You can (either) take the bus, or you can take the train.
    You have to finish your vegetables, or you can’t have dessert.
yet: It was raining, yet we still went outside. (As a conjunction, basically the same as “but”.)
so: It was raining, so we stayed inside.