Sentence ImitatingBecoming a BETTER writer!

The Serial Comma Commas separate items or actions

written in a series List consist of three (3) or more items or

actions. Two (2) items or actions are a PAIR, not

a list, and do not require commas.

Read the sentence, what do you notice?His room smelled of cooked grease, Lysol, and age.

Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1969)

Compare with this sentence. What do you notice?

Joey’s room smelled of dirty socks, cheetos, and fruit punch.

Use the structure below to create your own.____________smells of

_______________, ______________, and ___________________.

Read the 2 sentences below. What do you notice about the lists? She went to Costco to buy fruit, cake,

and punch.

She went running, jumping, and hoping.

Which are actions(verbs) and which are items(nouns)

Commas in a series- items(nouns) Mom asked that I get bread, milk, and juice

at the store.

Imitation: Dad said to buy batteries, peas, and ice cream at Costco.

Now, write your own sentence that imitates the structure of the one above, listing three nouns in a series.

Verbs in a series Typically Broadway performers must be able to

sing, dance, and act to be successful in the business.

I have never seen someone who can talk, text, and drive while also driving a car.

Now, write your own sentence that imitates the structure of the one above, listing three verbs in a series.

Colons: Colons can introduce list. Colons emphasize to readers that

something important will follow. Can introduce a complete sentence.

Example SentenceThe deputy told me to empty

my pockets: two quarters, a penny, a stick of bubble gum, and a roll of grip tape for my skateboard.

Carl Hiassen, Flush( 2005)

What do you notice?

More examples: Reluctantly, one by one, Hugo pulled out

dozens of objects: screws and nails and bits of glass, gears and crumpled playing cards, tiny pieces of clockworks, cogs, and wheels.

Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)

But the car is quiet for now, as are the noontime streets: gas stations, boundless concrete, brick buildings with plywood windows.

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J Dubner, Freakonomics (2005)

Imitate The TSA agent emptied my backpack:

three books, a journal, and 17 pens.

Use this pattern to create your own.

_______ told me to empty my _______: _____,_________, and _________.

Capitalization Proper nouns: specific names, cities, states,

countries, stores, and restaurants. Titles: books, songs, poems, TV shows, and

movies. Titles used before someone’s name:

professional, government, and personal titles.

First word in a direct quotation: dialogue, quotes from other works when it’s the entire sentence.

Example in text:“Look for words that begin with W,”

my teacher, Mrs. Evans, had said.She was the one who marked in the

X, spoiling my picture. She pointed. “This is a picture of a family, Hollis. A mother, M, a father, F, a brother, B a sister, S. They’re standing in front of their house, H. I don’t see one W word here.

Patricia Reilly Giff, Pictures of Hollis Woods (2002)

Where do you notice the capitalization?

Capitalization Sentences Mrs. Jackson teaches English II at

Central High School in Burlington, Illinois.

Charlotte works at Red Robin in Flower Mound.

Write your imitation of one of the sentences above.

Review Commas Commas separate items or actions

written in a series List consist of three (3) or more items or

actions. Two (2) items or actions are a PAIR, not

a list, and do not require commas.

Review Colons Colons can introduce list. Colons emphasize to readers that

something important will follow. Can introduce a complete sentence.

Review Capitalization Proper nouns: specific names, cities,

states, countries, stores, and restaurants. Titles: books, songs, poems, TV shows,

and movies. Titles used before someone’s name:

professional, government, and personal titles.

First word in a direct quotation: dialogue, quotes from other works when it’s the entire sentence.

Exit Ticket Create 3 sentences to model our

learning this week.

One using commas, one using the

colon, and one using

capitalization.