Commas, Quotation Marks, Colons, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Hyphens, Dashes, and Parentheses

PUNCTUATION

(noun): the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses.

Examples: Tired, he decided to go to bed early. “Please pay attention,” said the teacher. So far we have read these authors: Shakespeare, Lee, and

Miller.

I studied for four hours; now I’m ready for the test. I’m trying to understand the girl’s handwriting but I can’t.The president – a fifty-four year old man – vetoed the bill.Shakespeare (1564-1616) invented many words that we

use today.

Punctuation

Use commas to:Separate items in a series (three or more related

words, phrases, or clauses)Separate two or more adjectives that come before

a nounSeparate long, independent clauses in a sentenceSet off words, phrases, and clauses that come at

the beginning of a sentence Separate interrupters from the rest of the

sentenceSeparate nouns of direct address from the rest of

the sentenceCreate an appositive phrase

Commas

Aka the Harvard Comma aka the serial comma

Refers to the optional comma that comes before the coordinating conjunction in a series

For example:This sentence does NOT contain the Oxford

Comma:The athlete caught the ball, ran down the field and

scored a goal. This sentence does contain the Oxford Comma:

The athlete caught the ball, ran down the field, and scored a goal.

The Oxford Comma

Common arguments for consistent use of the serial comma:Use of the comma is consistent with conventional practice It matches the spoken cadence of sentences better It can resolve ambiguity Its use is consistent with other means of separating items in a

list (for example, when semicolons are used to separate items a semicolon is consistently included before the last item even when and or or is present)

Common arguments against consistent use of the serial comma:Use of the comma is inconsistent with conventional practiceThe comma may introduce ambiguity (see examples below) It is redundant in a simple list because the and or the or is often

meant to serve (by itself) to mark the logical separation between the final two items unless the final two items are not truly separate items but are two parts of a compound single item

Where space is at a premium the comma adds unnecessary bulk to the text

The Oxford Comma Argument

Direct Quote: write speaker’s exact words QUOTATION MARKS NEEDED (as well as

other punctuation)Example: First Romeo said, “But soft, what

light through yonder window breaks?” and then Juliet was all, “What’s in a name?”

Indirect quote: tells what speaker said without using the exact wordsQUOTATION MARKS NOT NEEDEDExample: Romeo said that Juliet was a great

source of light and Juliet asked if a name actually means anything.

Quotation Marks

Place comma after introduction and begin quote with a capital letter Romeo asked, “But soft, what light through yonder

window breaks?” “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?”

asked Romeo.

Question marks and exclamation points that belong to the quote are placed inside the quotation marksJuliet asked, “What’s in a name?”Did Juliet say, “A rose would still smell as sweet”?

Periods and commas belong inside the quotation marksFriar L said, “These violent delights have violent

ends.”Friar L said, “These violent delights have violent

ends,” and then he performed the marriage for Romeo and Juliet.

Punctuating Direct Quotes

Direct quotes can be divided into two parts with correct punctuationThe first letter of the second part of the quote is

not capitalized if it’s all in one sentence“A plague,” cried Mercutio, “on both your houses!”

If the quote is broken up into two sentences, then the first letter of the second part is capitalized“A plague on both your houses!” cried Mercutio.

“Tomorrow you shall find me a grave man.”Place a comma after the first part

“A plague,” cried Mercutio, “on both your houses!”“The two houses,” stated the Chorus, “are both alike in

dignity.”

Dividing Direct Quotes

Titles of short works always go in quotation marksShort Story: “The Ransom of Red Chief” (O.

Henry)Poem: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (Robert Frost)Chapter of a Book: “My Name” (Sandra

Cisneros) Magazine Article: “How to Read Shakespeare”Song: “Awake My Soul” (Mumford & Sons)

Titles of Short Works

Titles of long words go in italics if typed or underlined if handwrittenBook: A Day No Pigs Would Die (Robert Peck)Magazine: PeopleNewspaper: The Maycomb TribunePlay: The Crucible (Arthur Miller)Movie: Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann) TV Series: Pretty Little LiarsPainting: Mona Lisa (da Vinci)Musical Works (album titles): Babel (Mumford

& Sons)

Titles of Long Works

Do no capitalize any unimportant words (the, a, and, of, for, to) unless it is the first or last word in the title

Correct: The New York TimesIncorrect: the New York times

Capitalization in Titles

Choose a fictional character, political figure, or celebrity and make a list of short and long works that person would likely enjoy. Humor and creativity is encouraged, as well as making up titles of works. You must choose at least 4 short works and 4 long works. Obviously, correctly punctuate the titles!Short works to choose from: Short Story, Poem,

Chapter of a Book, Magazine Article, Song

Long works to choose from: Book, Magazine, Newspaper, Play, Movie, TV Series, Painting, Musical Works (album titles)

What Would _______ Enjoy?

Short Story: “Donald Duck Runs Away”Poem: Chapter of a Book:Magazine Article:Song: “It’s a Small World”Book:Magazine:Newspaper:Play:Movie:TV Series: Mickey Mouse Club HousePainting:Musical Works (album titles):

What Would Mickey Mouse Enjoy?

Short Story: Poem:Chapter of a Book:Magazine Article:Song:Book:Magazine:Newspaper:Play:Movie:TV Series:Painting:Musical Works (album titles):

What Would ______ Enjoy?

One member of your group will have exactly TEN SECONDS to look at a picture of a conversation in progress. Reporting the details back to the group, you have TWO MINUTES to come up with a two-way dialogue consisting of four lines that is CORRECTLY PUNCTUATED. You will also have to comply with the category announced at the beginning of each round such as “Romeo and Juliet vocabulary” or “Romeo and Juliet quotes.” After writing the dialogue on an iPad, you must then give the iPad to another member of your group to write the dialogue CORRECTLY on the board and without guidance from the rest of the group.

PICTURE CAPTION GAME

Uses:After the greeting in a business letter

Dear Sir:Writing the time

10:05Before a list of items (especially if you have the

word ‘following’ or ‘these’)Bring the following to school: pencil, pen, iPad, and

brain.

**Do NOT use a colon after a preposition or verb

Colons

UsesIn place of a coordinating conjunction to join

two related clauses (compound sentence)To join two related clauses especially if there is

a conjunction such as ‘however’ or ‘therefore’ starting the second clause

To separate two independent clauses that have commas in one or both of them (for clarity)

Semicolons ;

ALONE or in groups of TWO or THREE, write an announcement for a school event. Include the date, time, place, and a list of items that participants should bring.

Correctly punctuate the PARAGRAPH with COLONS, SEMICOLONS, and COMMAS.

Have your announcement be Romeo and Juliet themed or St. Mary’s Elementary themed. Humor and creativity is highly encouraged.

Write an Announcement

As much as characters would like to “defy their stars,” is it actually possible to “change your stars”?

Consider the two works, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and A Knight’s Tale in which the concept of fate is a common theme. What message do each of the works send about fate and the possibility of changing one’s fate? How is the message similar? How is the message different? Use specific examples from both (at least two from each) and explore this subject in a formal written essay

You will be graded on both literary analysis (literature) and organization and conventions (English) for this essay

Some plot summary will be necessary but the most important aspect is your analysis of the theme of fate

FATE Compare/Contrast Writing Assignment

Review of commas, colons, semicolons, and titles of long works:P. 288 #8-12P. 289 #7-11P. 291 #6-10P. 292 #1-8P. 293 #10-15

Do Now

UsesShow possession

St. Mary’s Elementary SchoolRomeo’s poison

Form contractionsI didn’t do the homework and don’t plan on it

Form plurals of letters, numbers, and symbolsSo many of the answers on the math test were 4’s. A lot of you got 3’s on the ELA test

Form plurals of words used as the names of wordsI don’t want to hear any if’s, and’s, or but’s.

Apostrophes

Uses:Write compound numbers

Twenty-two Expressing an adjective in two or more words

Long-awaitedWrite some compound nouns

Sister-in-law

Hyphens

Uses:Set off a sudden change of thought or an

afterthought To tell you the truth – it’ll help youI love watching thunderstorms – especially ones with

lots of heavy rainExpress “namely” or “in other words”

The meeting – the one with the other teachers – lasted all afternoon

I didn’t like that cake – it was really terrible.

Dashes

UsesIndicate an interrupted thought with information

that isn’t necessary to understanding the sentenceEnclose extra information

Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an excellent playwright.My brother (the tall one in blue) just scored a goal.

Parentheses