Friday, March 27, 2009

grammar post




Morans? Bush it's hard to read a book about a goat upside down. This was the morning of 911 and Bush already knew about America ''being attacked.''
K so I don't know how to properly write numbers in papers. I just guess. So hear is the rules.
Writing Numbers
Rule 1.
Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.

Correct Examples:
I want five copies.
I want 10 copies.
Rule 2.
Be consistent within a category. For example, if you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that category. If you choose to spell out numbers because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out all numbers in that category.
If you have numbers in different categories, use numerals for one category and spell out the other.

Correct Examples:
My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.My ten cats fought with their two cats.
Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays. (Students are represented with figures; plays are represented with words.)

Incorrect Example:

I asked for five pencils, not 50.
Rule 3.
Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.

Examples:
One-half of the pies have been eaten. A two-thirds majority is required for that bill to pass in Congress.
Rule 4.
A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.

Examples:
We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase. Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.
Rule 5.
The simplest way to express large numbers is best. Round numbers are usually spelled out. Be careful to be consistent within a sentence.

Correct:
You can earn from one million to five million dollars.

Incorrect:
You can earn from one million to $5,000,000.

Correct:
You can earn from five hundred to five million dollars.

Correct:
You can earn from $5 hundred to $5 million.

Incorrect:
You can earn from $500 to $5 million.

Incorrect:
You can earn from $500 to five million dollars.
Rule 6.
Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.

Examples:
The plant grew 0.79 of a foot in one year. The plant grew only .07 of a foot this year because of the drought.
Rule 7.
With numbers that have decimal points, use a comma only when the number has five or more digits before the decimal point. Place the comma in front of the third digit to the left of the decimal point. When writing out such numbers, use the comma where it would appear in the figure format. Use the word and where the decimal point appears in the figure format.

Examples:






Examples:
$15,768.13: Fifteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen cents
$1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents
Note: If the number has no decimal point, authorities disagree on whether to begin using the comma with four-digit numbers or to begin using the comma with five-digit numbers. When writing out these numbers, I recommend using the comma where it appears in the numerical form.
1,054 schools OR 1054 schools: one thousand, fifty-four schools OR one thousand fifty-four schools
12,154 schools: twelve thousand, one hundred fifty-four schools
Rule 8.
The following examples apply when using dates:

Examples:
The meeting is scheduled for June 30. The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June. We have had tricks played on us on April 1. The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
Rule 9.
When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.

Example:
During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.
Rule 10.
If you wish to express decades using incomplete numerals, put an apostrophe before the incomplete numeral but not between the year and the s.

Correct:
During the '80s and '90s, the U.S. economy grew.

Incorrect:
During the '80's and '90's, the U.S. economy grew.
Rule 11.
You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, don't use an apostrophe between the year and the s.

Example:
During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.
Rule 12.
Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o'clock, the number is always spelled out.

Examples:
She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up. The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.
Rule 13.
Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M.

Examples:
Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M. Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.
Rule 14.
Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
Rule 15.
Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

Examples:
Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck. Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.
Rule 16.
Write out a number if it begins a sentence.

Examples:
Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic! OR
That twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

quotations...hurray!!!

I figured since we are doing a research paper I might as well remember how to quote other writers properly. I sometime add commas where they are not needed or don't put them at all. Here are the rules.

Formatting Quotations
When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Formatting quotations using MLA style is covered in section 2.7 of the of the MLA Handbook (which begins on page 80) and in section 3.9 of the MLA Style Manual (which begins on page 102). Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper.
Short Quotations
To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page citation (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the text, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text. For example:
According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree.
According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184).
Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
Mark breaks in short quotations of verse with a slash, /, at the end of each line of verse: (a space should precede and follow the slash)
Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I remember" (11-12).
Long Quotations
Place quotations longer than four typed lines in a free-standing block of text, and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the first line of the quotation by a half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.) For example:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)
Poetry will be handled something like this:
In her poem "Sources," Adrienne Rich explores the roles of women in shaping their world:
The faithful drudging childthe child at the oak desk whose penmanship,hard work, style will win her prizesbecomes the woman with a mission, not to win prizesbut to change the laws of history. (23)
Adding or Omitting Words In Quotations
If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text.
Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: "some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale" (78).
If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipsis marks, which are three periods (...) preceded and followed by a space. For example:
In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that "some individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale ... and in a short time a lively exchange of details occurs" (78).
NOTE: According to the 6th Edition of the MLA Handbook, brackets are no longer needed around ellipses unless adding brackets would clarify your use of ellipses. For example, if there are ellipsis marks in the quoted author's work, do not put brackets around them; but do use brackets around ellipsis marks you add, so as to distinguish them from ellipsis marks in the quoted author's work. Also note that the MLA Style Guide still requires brackets, so it's probably best practice to follow the MLA manual appropriate to your assignment or publication.



I found this at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/04/

Monday, March 9, 2009

that vs. which

I have had this problem since last semester because from what I understaand the word ''that'' isn't very desirable and could be replaced by a word such as which. Well when I read more literature I noticed the word ''that'' being used more. So now I now when I can incorporate the right word into my writing


That vs. Which
Grammar Table of Contents: Finding Subjects and Verbs Subject and Verb Agreement Pronouns Who and Whom Whoever and Whomever Who vs. Which vs. That Adjectives and Adverbs Problems with Prepositions Effective Writing
Rule 1.
Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or things.

Examples:
Anya is the one who rescued the bird.
Lokua is on the team that won first place.
She belongs to an organization that specializes in saving endangered species.
Rule 2.
That introduces essential clauses while which introduces nonessential clauses.
Examples:
I do not trust products that claim "all natural ingredients" because this phrase can mean almost anything.
We would not know which products were being discussed without the that clause.
The product claiming "all natural ingredients," which appeared in the Sunday newspaper, is on sale.
The product is already identified. Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause.
NOTE:
Essential clauses do not have commas surrounding them while nonessential clauses are surrounded by commas.
Rule 3.
If this, that, these, or those has already introduced an essential clause, you may use which to introduce the next clause, whether it is essential or nonessential.
Examples:
That is a decision which you must live with for the rest of your life.
Those ideas, which we've discussed thoroughly enough, do not need to be addressed again.
NOTE:
Often, you can streamline your sentence by leaving out which.
Example:
That is a decision which you must live with for the rest of your life.
Better:
That is a decision you must live with for the rest of your life.

The link is...
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhVt.asp

20 questions

What is the trend of unemployment in our country?
What is the real story behind 911?
How much money is given by the U.S and other allies to Israel?
Can helathcare be universal?
Do cell phones inhibit brain development?
Are vaccines really safe?
Is Global Warming caused by carbon emmissions?
Is mind control real?
Is there an agenda to microchip the population?
What is behind mass symbolism?
How big is satanism in our country?
Is the media in fact useless?
Is child abuse on the rise?
What are the suicide rates of the world?
What are the effects of monatomic gold?
What are the effects of eating antibiotic fed chickens?
What are the effects of fluride in water?
Should organic food be outlawed?
Should the death penalty be outlawed?
Should the media be owned by the gov.?

Media Influence




Well I didn't really like either of these stories because I thought they were kind of dull. The first Story had a lot to with the media's portrayal of the social/economic status of people through out America. I like how the author made the point of how the media is owned by the super rich who merge and become even more monopolized. The author went on to say how the rich are looked to as a form of God because the main stream media ultimately work for those people, just like the rest of us. I also like how the author told of how the media portrays the homeless as deserving of our sympathy only during holidays or when distaster strikes.


The next stories speaks of how we are unconsciously being subjected to ads which objectify women and children as being sex objects. To be honest this just makes me sick. I believe this type of advertisement will continue as long as people continue to soak in front of the T.V. and follow whatever the media is telling them. Really towards the end of this story I found myself tired with all the thoughts of the negativity towards women. I noticed alot of this does start in school which makes me want to become a school teacher and then I remember it doesn't pay enough.


Oh ya and I am not going to call Obama my President anymore until he provides his birth certificate...just thought I'd throw that in their.