Grammar #3- Parentheses

I never know what exact information should go inside parentheses. I always avoid it and just put things into another sentence. Again I went to Grammarbook.com to find out exactly what I needed to learn.

Parentheses
Rule 1.
Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside.

Examples:
I expect five hundred dollars ($500).
He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question. Commas could have been used in the above example. Parentheses show less emphasis or importance. Em dashes, which could also have been used instead of parentheses, show emphasis.
Rule 2.
Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items.

Example:
We need an emergency room physician who can (1) think quickly, (2) treat patients respectfully, and (3) handle complaints from the public.

Rule 3.
Periods go inside parentheses only if an entire sentence is inside the parentheses.

Examples:
Please read the analysis (I enclosed it as Attachment A.). OR Please read the analysis. (I enclosed it as Attachment A.) OR Please read the analysis (Attachment A).

Grammar #2: Adjectives

Who forgets what adjectives are? I know I do. How can you remember what it is? When someone says put a lot of adjectives in your paper just think describing words. Well I went to grammarbook.com and I found a great definition for adjectives.
Definition - Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They may come before the word they describe (That is a cute puppy.) or they may follow the word they describe (That puppy is cute.).

I think that these political cartoons showed what the media is really like. Also, these cartoons show that there is only one side of the story shown on the news and to always look at the other possibilities that could be there.

The Other Side of the Story

I think that in “Looking for Work” the author Gary Soto is trying to remember why and when he decided to become and fit in with “white people.” The author throughout the story stops and explains how he knew his friend and their relationship. Also, Soto interrupts the story to not only explains the relationships with other characters, like his best pal Little John, but to explain how they were treated differently in school. Soto explains that he was not a “good student” and he sat with the “stupids.” As I kept reading I thought that this perspective that Soto shows is both of adulthood and childhood. He has the point of view as a child only wishing to become rich and seek out the “American Dream.” However, as the author looks back on this childhood story he sees that times have changed and he has become his own “American Dream.”
As I was reading “What We Really Miss About the 1950’s” I thought that when Stephanie Coontz, the author, was introducing her point of view on the subject that, the 1950’s was the most preferred time to live, she used facts about the 50’s that income had increased and that families always go along and were always happy . I liked how she personalized a situation in he childhood where her mother had stood up for her at the public library. Also, Coontz compared the same situation with her mother and how she wished she could do that for her son to gain respect. However, in this modern world she could not take her son to a video store and “demand that he be allowed to check out absolutely anything he wanted (Coontz 33).” I think people misunderstand that why people thought the 50’s were so great was because of the event that took place prior to that time. I.e.: WW2, the Great Depression. I think people thought that things couldn’t get worse. Also, people in the fifties and later generations see that time period as the media portrayed it. Women and men in the 50’s were highly influenced by television such as “I Love Lucy”, Leave it to Beaver.” T.V., today, shows that society morals and values are frowned upon. To be an independent person or to go against all odds is viewed as courageous.
I think that both of these articles are great and helped me look at the different influences that I have in my world such as television, magazines, and books. I think that both of these authors are trying to point out the different point of views of racial and discrimination issues that people have and still face today. In “Looking for Work” the view that I think Soto had was that even though he was discriminated against as a child he still tried to be like the “White Families.” If he did then he would be rich, fit in, and become a happier person. He tried putting his belief on his siblings and tried working to fit in with the rest of society as the media represented it. When reading these two pieces I thought that “Looking for Work” was more entertaining than “What We Really Miss about the 50’s” because Soto’s story was more involved and you had to analyze what he was trying to say. I think that both of these pieces helped me look at the different perspective people had at the 1950’s.

Introduction reading

When I picked up Rereading America at the DSC bookstore I thought this book looks more like a political science or a political history book. I have not taken either of those classes so I wouldn't really know, but this was my first impression. My second impression was when I skimmed through the book and that the pictures that I saw were there for us to evaluate society issues and how we are influenced by society and by advertising.

After reading the first few pages I thought that this book would challenge the way I think and look at relationships, religion, and my values. I also thought that I want to become a level-headed and a critical thinker. However, isn't it just someone’s opinion that I try to become a critical thinker? Then after continuing to read I realized that this book is to help students, and myself, change their point of view and mainly to help them reevaluate themselves, become better thinkers and to not be offended by someone’s opinion. Because they have a right to their opinion, as I have a right to mine. Therefore we must be respectful.

What it means to be to be an American citizen....
I had to think about this for a while. I never really think of what it means to be a U.S citizen. However after a while of thinking I think that it means to have an opinion and have a right to voice that opinion and to be grateful of your freedom in so many ways. Also, be thankful to the men and women who fight for our freedom, even to this day who are still fighting for it. I have the right to vote as a citizen and to be able to criticize the leaders of this country. I can create and achieve anything I desire and can think of because I live in this free country. It is a privilege to live in such a great country, even in these hard times we are facing.

Comma Rules- Grammar Post #1

I have a hard time remembering all the rules for commas. I have been taught over and over again, but i still struggle. It's hard to remember exactly where ever comma goes exspecially when you have a huge paper to write and all you can think about is what to write about. I am sure other students strugle with this as I do.I have worksheet after worksheet about commas and where they go. I even have a cheat sheet that i wrote hout to help me remember. However, there are so many rules and exceptions that i can't seem to remember them all the time.

There are six main comma rules that will help me and others improve on their writing skills. They are a series, introductory elements, insertions, FANBOYS, He said/She said, and dates and other everyday material. I, however, mainly srtugle with series, introdutory elements, and insertions.

The fisrt one is to remember that in a series always place commas between each thing listed and also to place a comma before the and. (example: I need to get milk, eggs, carrotts, and tomatoes at the store.) This can be used for any listing that you may be doing such as names, places, and/or describing a couple of actions taken. Remember that a comma is required in a list of three or more things.

The second is intodutory elements such as: Because the baby was crying, Marie gave her a bottle. If you ever a doubt if the comma should be placed, place it because it is always correct. Practice reading your sentence outloud and if it sounds funny or you hesitate when you read it there is probobly something incorrect in your grammar.

Third of all, I have a hard time with insertions. A insertion is something that inturupts the sentence with more information to help the reader understnad the author and who s/he is writing about. (example: Julie, my best friend for 15 years, bakes cookies for sick children in the hospital.) A great way to remember where commas for insertions is when added info interupts the sentence. Also, taking an insertion out does not change the meaning of the sentence.

I hope that this helps you with your grammar problems as it did me writing about it and researching and learning more information about these grammar rules. HERE is a link that shows all the grammar rules and ways to help you learn them better.