Grammar post #4

Just what the heck is a participle and why is it wrong to let them dangle?
I've always heard that a dangling participle is a bad thing (at least to an English teacher) but I really had no idea what it was.


This is what I've found out:


A participle is an adjective that ends in -ing or sometimes -ed that are used to modify nouns.
The noun that the participle refers to is an antecedent.
If it is unclear which antecedent your participle refers to then your participle is dangling.
The best way to make it clear which antecedent that your participle refers to is to construct your sentence so that the antecedent and the participle are in close proximity to one another. Either immediately preceding or following one another.

"Flitting gaily from flower to flower, the football player watched the bee. " Gives the impression that the football player was "Flitting gaily", not something foot ball players often do. While "The football player watched the bee, flitting gaily from flower to flower." Gives us the correct impression, that the bee is "Flitting gaily.

If my colorful explanation didn't clear things up for you try looking here.

Reading post

I know we were supposed to read SMGTW pages 73-83 and then post on them. I'm not sure if there was something specific we were supposed to post about so I'll just post my observations and what I thought was helpful.

The way that Brian Cable's essay, "The Last Stop", was color coded and had corresponding notes in the margins was great. The notes helped me to think more in depth about those parts of the essay and also to think about strategies for organizing my own writing.

John T. Edge's essay, "I'm Not Leaving Until I Eat This Thing", quit frankly grossed me out. I'm not hugely carnivorous to begin with and the thought of eating pickled pigs lips makes me shudder. (ick!). All of the description of the pickling process, and the different body parts turned my stomach. At the end when he actually ate the things, ewww! I know there is much more to his essay than just those things but it's hard to remember anything besides trying to suppress my gag reflex.

Reviewing other's papers

Is anyone else having a hard time reviewing their classmates paper? I thought that reviewing someone else's would be easier than my own because I have no personal attachment to it. I was WRONG. If any body has pointers that would be great. (and I'm not even ready to start writing my actual review. That will be even harder!)

Grammar post 3

Next on my list of grammar rules to conquer is the proper use of a dash. I'm never sure if they are appropriate to use at all, let alone know where to properly place them if I do use them.
A dash simply indicates an interruption that you want to draw attention to.
As it turns out many of the rules are similar to the rules for comma or parentheses use.
A dash, or pair of dashes can be used to emphasize a definition, a dramatic statement, a personal comment, or an explanation. The woman--though very slender--wore a dress that fit like a tent. Dashes can also be used to emphasize a list. Many children's movies--Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White, to name a few--are adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
When in doubt, to be sure if you've used a dash, or pair of dashes correctly, try removing the word group that set it off. If the sentence does not make sense, one or both of the dashes have been misused or misplaced.

My paragraph revision

2. Mud (The Serendipity Singers)
Back in the good old days of vinyl records and 8 track tapes, yes I am that old don’t rub it in, my parents had an old folk song record. I’m sure this record had many fun and interesting songs on it but the only one that sticks in my mind is a song about a hippopotamus playing in the mud. My sister and I would play it over and over laughing hysterically and running around the house singing “Mud, mud, glorious mud!” I’m sure we drove our older siblings crazy, probably our parents too now that I think about it. It was a fun, silly song that has stuck with me and I have passed on to my kids. My little girls now run around the house singing “Mud mud glorious mud!” and we all giggle ourselves silly.


Revision
Back in the good old days of vinyl records and 8 track tapes, my parents had an old folk song record. I'm sure this record had many fun and interesting songs on it, but the one that really sticks out in my mind is about a hippopotamus and his girlfriend playing in the mud. My sister and I thought it was simply hilarious and would play it over and over, laughing hysterically, and running around the house singing, "Mud, mud, glorious mud!" I'm sure we drove our older siblings crazy, probably our parents too. It is a fun silly song that has stuck with me and that I have passed on to my own children. When a moment of silliness overcomes us we pop it into the stereo, and now my little girls are the ones who run around the house singing, "Mud, mud, glorious mud!" and we all giggle ourselves silly.

Lyrics of my life #2

Since the first post got to be so long I decided to make my second song and accompanying paragraph a separate post. Hopefully that will make it easier for people to respond.

Song 2. Don't Take the Girl, Tim McGraw

The poor girl had been vomiting for what seemed like days. She was so weak and dehydrated it tore at my heart just to look at her gaunt little face. When her fever spiked we knew it was time to take her to the ER. It was late, far past bedtime as it usually is when these things happen. Her dad took her to the hospital and I stayed home hoping to get my other children to bed.
I think it was after midnight when I got the call that they were admitting her to the pediatric unit at the old hospital. After calling a friend to come sit with kids I headed out.
The huge hospital bed seemed to swallow up her limp little body. As they prepped her for an IV I listened to the doctor explain that she had a simple intestinal flu but it had hit her hard. She was severely dehydrated and they couldn't get her to keep any medicine down to reduce her fever. Instead they gave her an IV ready form of Ibuprofin to ease her fever and help with her pain. After 3 days of watchful care at the local hospital the doctor finally decided that she needed more care than our small local hospital was capable of giving. They readied her for Life Flight to send her to Primary Children's Medical Center. Her dad went with her on the flight and I drove with our other children. Just as we pulled into town I got the call. She had a perforated bowel and they were prepping her for surgery. You've never seen a car go faster through the downtown streets Salt Lake City. I'm sure I caught air as we flew up the hill trying to get to the hospital in time to see her before they took her to surgery. She did well for a day or so after surgery and then became much worse. They must have missed something. Once again I watched them wheel her down the sterile hallway to the operating room. When they brought her out things seemed fine. They had simply missed a little bit of stool during the first surgery and she'd gotten an infection. All should go well now that it had been taken care of. It seemed she would never recover from the surgery. Her fever continued to spike and could not be brought down. They covered her in icepacks but the effect was negligable. She had a small amount of bleeding from her rectum that was assumed to be from her bowel surgery. No one was concerned until suddenly she began to bleed profusely. Upon using a scope to explore more closely they discovered the walls of her bowel had been destroyed by the medication they had given her to reduce her fever. She received transfusion after transfusion to no avail. Again I watched them push her bed with her tiny body down the hall to the dredded operating room, this time to have her entire bowel removed. I sobbed until I thought I would fall unconscious. The little girl had already been through so much. Please don't let this be the end. For seven long weeks I watched her weakened body fight for life but things didn't look good. We began to discuss the possibility of funeral arrangments. To our great relief she slowly began to win the battle of wills between her mind and her body. The light came back to her eyes. She even felt well enough to be annoyed with her little sister. She fought like a starving dog defending a steak, determined that she would not miss the first day of second grade. The doctors finally released her late inthe afternoon on August 13th. School started the next day. She shuffled through the doors like a little old man on his way to church but she made it. Today you'd never know what she's been through. She'd strong and healthy and tougher than most kids you'll ever meet.

Lyrics of my life.

The two songs I chose for this assignment are quite similar as they represent two separate but very similar events in my life.

1. Came Here to Live, Trace Adkins

After 4 years of disappointments and 2 painful miscarrages we were finally going to have a baby. The pregnancy, though watched closely by my doctor, could not have gone any better. Every check up was perfect. The results of every test came back great. There was no real morning sickness to speak of. Her room was ready. Perfect little pink blankets in a beautiful crib, soft and cuddly sleepers and frilly little dresses filled the dresser, mountains of diapers dominated the corner, a tiny bathtub sat waiting to be filled with squishy toys and irridesent bubbles. All that was left was to wait for the beautiful little girl to fill the house with her squeals of laughter. Ok, and the 2 am feedings and the mountains of dirty diapers and endless loads of tiny pukey clothes, but we were oblivious to these things as most expectant parents are.
When the day finally arrived even my labor seemed mild and easy. With the aid of an epidural, only 3 fairly uneventful hours later, a screaming and squalling little girl came into the world. To a mother's eyes she was perfect. 7 pounds 2 ounces, 19 inches long. Ten fingers, ten toes, bald head, (no tail) only a large red birthmark graced her left wrist. It should be lucky to share the body of such a perfect child. There was much snuggling and congratulating. Eventually the nurses wisked her away to undergo her first physical.
As it turned out all was not well with our precious daughter. She would have to be life flighted to Primary Children's Medical Center the next day. She had a heart murmur. We were told that many babies have heart murmurs and we shouldn't be concerned, but they wanted to do tests just to be sure. She was sent for ultrasounds and we went to the cafeteria to get some lunch with the assurance that she would be fine. Upon returning to her room we found it empty. No personal belongings, no isolet, no baby. It was obvious that something was not right. As it turned out her murmur was not benign, as the doctors first thought. Our daughter, they told us, had not one 2 large holes in her heart and serious malformations with two of the major arteries connected to it. She would have to have surgery as soon as her little body was well enough to handle it. They had already moved her to the Newborn ICU. At five days old, with her tiny heart the size of a walnut, she had open heart surgery. I sat in the waiting foom for 14 hours praying that all would go well. For seven weeks we lived at that hospital, one of us constantly at her side. Some days would look great and there would be talk of moving her from the NICU to the infant unit for less rigorous care, but somehow there always would be a set back. Until one glorious day when they said, "You can take her home tomorrow" Just like that it was over. She brought her home to the little pink blankets and frilly dresses that had been waiting patiently for her arrival. There have been many checkups and Dr. visits in the years since but her heart is strong. We like to tell her that her heart is bullet proof, because the materials, that they used to patch it with (Gortex and Kevlar), are the same materials used in bullet proof vests.

Grammar post #2

Yes lame title, I know, but it helps me to keep them straight so, deal with it.

So now that I have mastered the art of possessive nouns, (ok maybe not mastered, half the time I can't even spell the word right. I always want to spell noun with a w instead of a u. For some reason spell check has a problem with that) what grammar issue do I move on to next?

I think probably the single rule that I have the most trouble with is semicolon use. I have NO idea when to use a semicolon and so avoid using them all together.

Upon checking the grammar section of our text book I discovered there are TWO ENTIRE PAGES on the correct use and placement of semicolons. No wonder I've never been able to keep the rules straight. Leave it to the English language to have so many rules for one simple punctuation mark.

The first and most simple rule is, to use a semicolon to join independent clauses where the second clause restates or sets up a contrast to the first. This emphasizes the second part of the sentence. Such as: In reality the car was red; I had only thought it was pink. (hmm, I wonder if that is the proper use of a colon. I guess that will have to be my next post.)

Rule two: Use semicolons to separate items in a series when they include internal commas. Such as a list of lists. For this semester of school I needed to buy eight books including, The St. Martin's Guide to Writing for English 1010; The Nature of Alexander, The Roman Way, The Assassination of Julius Caesar and, Much Ado About Nothing for Western Civilization; Elementary Algebra and, The Student's Guide to Elementary Algebra for Math 990 and; New Beginings for my Returning Adult Forum class. (ok so that rule isn't too hard to understand)

The last rule is somewhat related to the first. A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses when the second clause contains a conjunctive adverb or transitional expression. Because a semicolon shows a strong relationship between independent clauses it is used to reinforce the connection expressed by the adverb or transition. Always place a semicolon between the two clauses, no matter where the adverb or transition appears. Place the adverb before the conjunctive adverb or transition if it begins the second independent clause.

So I had no idea what a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression were either. So here are a couple of definitions and examples. Just to make life a little easier.

I'm still not sure if I completely understand the proper use of semicolons but at least the subject is a little less unclear. Hopefully as I continue to write, and likely refer back to this post, I will gain a better understanding of their proper use.

As a side note for some reason Blogger has had issues with the italics option tonight and has wanted this entire post typed in italics. As you can imagine this has caused much frustration and annoyance and should in and of itself qualify this post for a higher grade than would normally be the case. ;) <- also a great use of the semicolon, the winking smiley face!

How to define a defining moment

When I as 4 my family moved to a new small town. My dad would have a new better paying job and would be able to be home more often. I'd make new friends and all would be right with the world. What other concerns does a 4 year old have?
Then I started kindergarten. How could it be that everyone already knew each other? Anyone I tried to make friends with already had a friend to play with at recess. I should "go ask someone else" This would become my elementary school life. Most recesses were spent playing alone on the slide.
Even the teachers seemed to have preconceived ideas about who I was and what I was be like. My older brothers were trouble makers and so I must be a trouble maker too. Who wants to help a trouble maker.
Obviously it didn't take me long to become a shy, reclusive girl who thought the whole world was full of bullies and people who either didn't care about me or openly disliked me.

One day while waiting for the bus after school I went to use the restroom. I discovered someone had vandalized the restroom (as much as elementary school kids 25 years ago knew how to vandalize) . There mirrors were covered in silvery slipper soap and roll upon roll of toilet paper was strewn all around the room, like giant white of white snow on the floor. I was dumbfounded that someone would dare to make such a mess of the school bathroom. Didn't they know how much trouble they were going to get in? I quickly used the bathroom and started down the hall, heading back outside to wait for the bus.
I hadn't gotten far when I was stopped by a student who told me that Mr. Taylor wanted to see me. I stopped in my tracks, terrified. I was being sent to the Principle's office? The biggest baddest and most of all scariest adult in all of kiddom. What could I have done to incur the wrath of Mr. "T".
I set records for the slowest walk down the longest hallway all the while dreading what would happen when I stepped through the office door. I shuffled my feet. I stopped to count tiles on the floor. The closer I got to the office the more my shoes seemed to be made of lead. Eventually I was standing in the doorway feeling like a man on death row waiting to be seated in the electric chair. "What happens in the Principle's office? Will I be expelled?" My mom would be so mad at me if I get kicked out of school. "Is he going to yell at me?" To my intimidated young mind being yelled at by an adult would worse than death. Could death actually be a punishment for school children. Surely what ever I had done could not have been equal to that.
The secretary rushed me into his office and closed the door. Suddenly carpet became very interesting. Green and black loop, nasty olive drab green, just like they would have in jail, if jail had carpet.
At some point I realize he's talking to me, "someone made a mess of the bathroom". Yes I know this. I saw it. Why would he bring me here to tell me that the bathroom is dirty? I'm not the custodian. "Lisa said you did it." WHAT? "I didn't do it" I protested. Why would she say that? Was she trying to get me in trouble? I began to protest my innocence. Yes I'd seen the mess, it was there when I went in. Why did they think I'd done it? I didn't do it... Suddenly he stops me. "I believe you". "but I didn't,..." wait, he believes me? An adult believes me. No one had ever believed me before. I came from a family of trouble makers after all.
Not only did he believe me but he liked me. He knew that Lisa was just trying to get me into trouble and he knew that I didn't have many friends. From now on if someone was teasing or mean to me I could tell him. I finally had a friend.

Am I capable of critical thinking?

First off let me warn you that for what ever reason my brain is not function to it's highest capacity today. I've read and reread the writing assignment multiple times and have been staring at my computer for the last hour (ok maybe longer) and just can't seem to wrap my brain around what I need to do. So if this comes out sounding like complete jibberish I apologize.

And now on with the show.

So what happened in these stories on a literal level?
Calling Home: Jean shoplifts and is subsequently caught and taken to jail. She has to deal with her feelings of guilt and fear at disappointing her parents.

An American Childhood: Annie and her friends are throwing snowballs at passing cars. They get chased through the neighborhood by an irritated driver who when he finally catches them, does nothing but chew them out and then heads back to his car.

For the "Analyzing Writing Strategies" I chose the visual description question. In this task we are first told to reread paragraphs 10-13 underlining the names of objects and people, and to put brackets around the words or phrases that describe those words. Then consider these questions: Does naming something sometimes occur without any accompanying detailing? How do you think the naming helps you as a reader visualize the scene and people? What do you think the detailing contributes?
For the sake of time and space I will just put the names or objects and the words or phrases that describe them. Typing the whole 3 paragraphs here would be a bit excessive I think. (I may have done more than necessary already)
[snowy] Reynolds sidewalk
[city] clothes
suit
tie
[street] shoes
[normal] adult
[thin] man
corner
[yellow, brick] house
driver
Buick
[yellow] house
[backyard] path
[low] tree
bank
hedge
[snowy] steps
[grocery store's delivery] driveway
gap
hedge
[scruffy] backyard
[back] porch (wasn't so sure about this one)
Edgerton Avenue
Edgerton
alley
[sliding] woodpile
[Halls front] yard
Lloyd Street
[mazy] backyards
[steep] Hilltop
Willard
Lang

Naming something often occurs without any accompanying detailing. Many times I believe it is because there has already been some other descriptive information in the sentence leading up to it and so more description is not needed.
The naming in this section of the story, most specifically the amount of naming, helped me to visualize just how much ground they covered during the chase. It gives us an idea of what the neighborhood was like and how well the children knew the area. It also shows how hard they were trying to get away and just how determined the driver of the Buick was to catch them. I think the detailing is very important in this part of the story because it helps to build the suspense of the chase. Will the man catch them. Why is he trying so hard to catch them when "Any normal adult would have quit"? What will he do if he catches them?

There are many features that effective stories have but the particular one that I find draws me into a story the most is make the person/people in the story relatable. Make me feel the characters fear at being caught. The amazement that he has chased so far and so hard. The confusion at the drivers actions when the chase is finally over.

My first grammar post

So here is the first question I pose to myself, and hope to be able to answer before I go to bed. When making a noun ending in "S", such as Chris or James, possessive do you add 's to the noun, Chris's, or simply put the apostrophe, James'? My own logic suggests that it should be Chris's but I have seen it written James' so many times that I have begun to wonder, and so begins my research.
There seems to be a difference of opinion even among the professionals. Of the sites I checked one indicated that either option is appropriate but that Chris's is the preferred choice. Another indicates that Chris's is the only correct choice. Of course just because you can create an official looking web site doesn't neccissarily mean that you know what you're talking about. This site in particular goes into great detail to explain how to determine which case is appropriate in which situation. But in the end it all seems to be a matter of personal preference.
The choice that I personally found the most helpful is actually in our own text book. "Even if a singular noun ends in s, add an apostrophe and an -s. If the second s makes the word hard to pronounce, it is acceptable to add only an apostrophe."

"Add a gadget"

Ok so is Blogger having issues or am I just having a senior moment? I can't find the "add a gadget" link anywhere. Obviously it was here before because that's how I was able to add a picture to my blog. HAH! found it never mind but, thanks anyway.

Don't be the enemy!

So obviously I don't want to end up dead, literally or achedemically, which means I must speak up here as well as in class. Which in turn means that here, where I can pretend that I'm somewhat anonymous, I will not hold back my opinions and thoughts. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone.
My biggest concern when I post here, or in other forums online, is that someone will catch a missspelling or gramar error and think that because of that I am not intelligent or will read something that is very personal and important to me and think that it is complete crap and judge me accordingly.
Logically I know that I am an intelligent person with much to contribute but, I am always afraid that if I speak up I'll come off sounding like an idiot. Because blogging is a little less personal I am somewhat braver about posting than I am about speaking up in a class or a other social situation (especially since I am completely socially retarded).
I think that is one of the biggest reasons that blogging has become so popular. It's easier to discuss uncomfortable subjects or personal insecurities in an impersonal, often moderated, environment. Many times it is feels safer to open up to a stranger than someone you know in your personal life. After all these people don't really know you and therefore if they judge you, who cares right?
I also have a Live Journal account and may often post links to my posts there.

16 things you probably don't care if you know about me

1. I'm the only one of my parents children who didn't out grown them.
2. I have a daughter who has stared death in the face and won (twice).
3. I have somewhat of a photographic memory.
4. Meeting new people scares the crap out of me. (I just wait for my sister to make friends and then I "borrow" them.)
5. I make wedding dresses (and any other pretty or frilly dresses).
6. I collect pretty frilly dresses.
7. I collect fabric. I have a whole closet full of boxes of fabric so I don't have to go to the fabric store when I need something. (but I do anyway)
8. I hated the final Harry Potter book and have not been able to make myself reread any of the series since then.
9. I have been mistaken for my son's girlfriend more than once. (kinda flattering and really creepy)
10. I think most of my in laws are complete idiots and losers and the world would be a better place without them. (then again I think that about a lot of people)
11. I think Jess is awesome for just jumping in and basically starting her life over! (I would be scared to death)
12. I truly believe that if I try hard enough I can do anything. (I just have to get over the fear)
13. I'd like to be a wedding/event planner but don't know if I could make it work (ok, I'm afraid and it would take a lot more work than I want to do now, and the economy sucks, and ok it's not really feasible right now)
14. I wish I were a better parent.
15. I think my mother is a nut case but the stuff she told me when I was little still scares me.
16. I believe I may have the last good man on the planet. (or at least within a 5 miles radius)

So there it is. I'm not gonna tag anyone for this but if you want to do it by all means go for it.