Fixing things up!

Dear students,

It's time to stop and review the quality of your writing. In today's lab sessión, you'll work on puctuation and types of sentences. To finish, you'll review some aspect of giving opinion.

Checking the punctuation

As well as spelling correctly, you are expected to use correct punctuation. You must use capital letters in the correct places and use punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and question marks correctly. It is also important to indent each paragraph.

Indent	This is done at the beginning of each paragraph.
Capital letters	These are used at the beginning of each sentence and for proper nouns.
Period, question mark, exclamation point	One of this is always used at the end of a sentence.
Commas	In a list of three or more things. i.e. Home-cooked food is nutritious, tasty, and inexpensive.
	To separate transition words from the rest of the sentence. i.e. Additionally, physical education teaches children important skills such as teamwork.
	Between two independent clauses. i.e. Art and music classes are important, but academic classes are even more important.
	To separate a non-restrictive clause i.e. Maple syrup, which is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree, is an expensive treat.
	After a subordinate clause at the beginning of a sentence. i.e. If I had been more careful, I wouldn’t have lost the watch.

Time for Practice!

(Check your Google Docs)

Sentence Types

Using variety in your sentences keeps your writing lively and interesting. It also shows the range of your writing ability. One way you can vary your sentences is by using a variety of sentence types. There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.

Simple sentence	A simple sentence has one subject and one verb. i.e. Television offers a variety of programs.
Compound sentence	A compound sentence has two or more simple sentences linked by the conjunctions and, or, and but. i.e. Some people are not bothered by violent TV programs, but others avoid them.
Complex sentence	A complex sentence is made up of a simple sentence (an independent clause) and one or more subordinate clauses. i.e. I we don’t like a particular TV program, we can easily change the channel.
Compound-complex sentence	A compound-complex sentence has two or more simple sentences and one or more subordinate clauses. i.e. While many people avoid watching violent TV programs, others don’t mind them and they watch them frequently.

Time for Practice!

(Check your Google Docs)

Stating your opinion

The introduction to your piece of writing should tell the reader what your opinion is. There Is no right or wrong opinion. Whatever your opinion is, the reader will look to see how you express it. You can use certain set phrases, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to express your opinion.

Set phrases	Verbs	Adjectives	Adverbs
In my opinion From my point of view In my view To my way of thinking To my mind It seems to me that To me It is my opinion that	Agree Believe Think Understand Suppose Guess Hope Imagine	Certain Positive Convinced Sure Persuaded Confident	Definitely Doubtless Certainly Probably Conceivably Maybe Perhaps Possibly Seemingly

Examples:

1. It seems to me that fathers can take care of children just as well as mothers can.
2. I suppose that some children could benefit from art and music education.
3. I am certain that over-reliance on cars has led to many problems in our society.
4. Parents should definitely put limits on their children’s television viewing.
5. People are probably less polite now than they used to be. 

Time for Practice!

(Check your Google Docs)

LabWork

Choose one of the topics from the section ‘Stating your opinion’ and write two solid paragraphs supporting your opinion and beliefs. Write the assignment using a wide variety of sentences and check your punctuation before submitting your file.