WR080
A Community of Scholars
Examines the
Role of Sports
in Society
Monday,
Nov. 18, 2013
Order of Business
1. Reflective Freewrite and Homework Check
2. Subject-verb agreement redux & intro to
phrases and clauses
3. Apostrophes
4. Break
5. Summary review and Summary-Response
Essays (packet)
6. Homework Review
Subject-Verb Agreement Review
• Subject-verb pairs are what helps make a sentence a
true sentence (also known as an independent
clause).
• Review of ex., p. 123.
Phrases & Clauses
Let’s try to remember what you know about
phrases and clauses. What are they? How are
they different from one another? Hint: Think to
yourself what you do know they have in
common--A phrase (or clause) is a group of
related words…
Jot down a few ideas about how you might
complete this sentence.
What We Already Know
• As a community, we know:
• What we need to know:
Phrases
• A phrase is a group of related words without a subject –
verb pair. We already know about two different phrases—
the prepositional phrase and the noun phrase appositive,
more simply and commonly known as an appositive.
• Phrases are not sentences, so in order for them to make
sense to a reader, they must be embedded in a sentence.
• There are lots of different kinds of phrases, but luckily for
you, it’s not necessary to differentiate one from another.
You just have to know that a phrase is not a sentence.
– Correct Construction: Driving to campus, James saw a gorgeous
sunrise over Mt. Hood.
– Incorrect construction: Driving to campus. James saw a
gorgeous sunrise over Mt. Hood.
Clauses
• A clause is a related group words with a
subject–verb pair. But not all clauses are
sentences, so this is why you have to be able to
find verbs and their subjects in sentences.
• We will need to learn a fair amount about the
different types of clauses, mainly because errors
of this type lead to grammatical errors and
unclear writing.
• Today we will just get started by differentiating
phrases from clauses.
Two Types of Clauses
• Independent clauses can stand alone and make
sense. An independent clause is a true sentence
because it can stand alone (be independent).
Example: Jeremy washed the dishes.
• Dependent clauses depend upon an
independent clause to make sense. They cannot
stand alone, so they must be attached to a true
sentence. Example: Because we told him to do so.
Apostrophe Rule 1
• Let’s look at three rules:
1. Use an apostrophe to indicate omitted letters in
an contraction. Example: Don’t, won’t, wouldn’t
would’ve, I’m, we’re, etc.
• And some examples, and more examples.
Apostrophe Rule 2
Use an apostrophe to indicate ownership
(possession). The four examples below
indicate why you should be precise about
where you place an apostrophe. 
1. The boy’s hat = one hat belongs to one boy.
2. The boys’ hat = one hat belongs to more than one
boy
3. The boy’s hats = more than one hat belongs to one
boy
4. The boys’ hats = more than one hat belongs to more
than one boy.
Apostrophe Rule 3
• Use an apostrophe in order to clarify a
situation that would otherwise be downright
confusing:
• Please mind your own p’s and q’s.
• If you did not use an apostrophe here, the
sentence would read like this: Please mind
your own ps and qs. Confusing? You bet
Apostrophes with Dates
• You need to use an apostrophe with dates when you have
shortened the date by omitting part of it. Example: The ’80s
saw the influence of a new blend of jazz, blues, and reggae
music: hip hop.
• You do not need to use an apostrophe when you are making a
decade plural. Example: The 1960s and ‘70s were a time of
change and turmoil.
• You will continue to see apostrophes used to indicate an
entire decade, however, because the rule change is rather
recent. Do not worry about this rule when it is not
understood by others. Only strive to use the apostrophe
correctly yourself.
Apostrophe Confusion
• Lots of people misuse apostrophes a great deal of
the time.
• Since the rules were unclear, many people started
to use an apostrophe at the end of all words that
end in “s”—a gross error!
• P 139, text. Let’s work through some of these
exercises.
• If you are still uncertain, work some of the
exercises on your own, or make an appt. with
Mary for a cup of tea and some straight grammar
talk. 
Break
• Take Five with Dave Brubeck
Summary Review
• Most of your summaries could use some final
review and revision work.
• Let’s review a few summaries…
• Now, using my comments and what you have
just learned, review your own paper and make
some notes about what you want to change.
The Summary-Response Essay
• Learning how to write a summary-response essay, like
learning how to write a summary, will be most useful in future
terms.
• Summary-Response Packet Review
• We begin with the summary. Shorten your summary as much
as you can, and then decide how you feel and think about the
author’s thesis.
•
Freewrite.
• Make two columns: Agree and Disagree, and then list your thoughts in
each. We will workshop this list on Wednesday to form your thesis and
major ways you would like to discuss your thesis.
Homework Due Wed., Nov. 20th
1. Apostrophe use questions.
2. Clause vs. Phrase exercise
3. Freewrite your thoughts about Charles Grantham’s thesis
4. List areas in which you agree and areas in which you disagree with
Charles Grantham’s thesis and major ideas.
5. Other Notes:
–
–
–
6.
If you re-write your reading responses on your own and resubmit them by Monday., Nov. 25th, I
will average the two scores for your final score on this assignment.
If you make an appointment and rewrite the reading responses with me, the higher grade will
replace the lower grade.
Make an appointment with your academic adviser to set up your schedule for next term.
Registration begins for freshmen on Tuesday, Nov. 19th at 12:01 a.m.
Questions? Text (503-784-1498) or email
([email protected]) Mary.