2. 1. Topic of paragraph
2. Hooks the reader
3. Plants questions in the readers' mind
4. Usually the first sentence, but can also
be found anywhere in the paragraph
5. Provides transition from the previous
paragraph
5. 1. Ends an argument or reaches a verdict
2. Forms an opinion for or against the main
idea
3. Summarizes the paragraph
4. Reflects back to the main detail
6.
7. 1. Write about a famous person.
2. Write about pet you’ve had.
3. Write about your favorite vacation.
4. Write about your favorite holiday.
5. Write about your favorite movie.
OR choose your own topic!
8.
9. An ellipsis is the following sign:
…
Three periods – one after the other.
10. To create a pause or break in
dialogue.
◦ May help show emotion
Example = “Wow, that‟s … Amazing!”
◦ May help show “trailing off”
Example = “Once upon a time …”
◦ May signify something yet to come
Example = She saw the figure … white
and shimmering.
11. To show omitted (or removed) words
◦ Still giving the same idea of what is being
said, but with less details being used
Example:
Complete Quote = “I remember when I was
young. Didn‟t have to pay rent, buy my own
groceries, or worry about a thing. Life was
good and simple.”
Shortened Quote= “I remember when I was
young … Life was good and simple.”
12. When an ellipsis is followed by a fourth
period, a question mark, or an exclamation
point, the sentence or quote is ended.
◦ Example: “I will win this election ….)
13.
14. Use a dash to change a topic or structure.
◦ Example: This is very important – are you listening to
me?
Use a dash if the information that follows is
surprising and unexpected.
◦ Example: We went shopping in Hollywood – and met
Tom Hanks.
Use dashes in a dialog to show hesitation.
◦ Example: I – I – I don‟t know.
15. Use a dash to summarize or to communicate
additional information.
◦ Example: Jack, Jill, Sally, Molly, and I – we all were
taken aback.
Use a dash to surround emphasized or extra
information which interrupts the normal flow
of a sentence.
◦ Example: He wanted us – Jill, Betsy and me – to
meet his family.
16. Dashes are used in a phone number.
◦ Example: 800-555-5555
Dashes are used to signify a time from one
year to the next (replaces the word to).
◦ Example: 1991-2013, or 1991–
17. Dashes can be used to replace commas,
semicolons, colons, and parentheses.
Dashes are used more in informal writing.
Try not to overuse dashes – use them for
emphasis or clarity. (Rule of Thumb: no more
than two dashes per paragraph)
18.
19. One or more letters have been left out of a
word
Examples:
Can‟t = cannot Couldn‟t = could not Hasn‟t = has not
Doesn‟t = does not Don‟t = do not I‟ll = I will
Haven‟t = have not Isn‟t = is not I‟ve = I have
I‟d = I would I‟m = I am They‟ve = they have
They‟ll = they will They‟d = they would Wouldn‟t = would not
They‟re = they are Won‟t = will not You‟ve = you have
You‟ll = you will You‟d = you would
You‟re = you are Didn‟t = did not Ain‟t = ???????
20. One or more letters/digits have been left out
of a word/number
◦ Examples:
Class of „99 = Class of 1999
G‟bye = Good-bye
(Note: Should not be used in formal
writing, but can be used in dialogue)
21. Use an apostrophe and s to form the plural of
a letter, sign, number, or word.
◦ Examples:
A‟s
8‟s
+‟s
to‟s
22. Add an apostrophe and s to show possession
of a singular noun.
◦ Examples:
Mark‟s pencil
The park‟s swingset
(Note: If the noun ends with s or z, just add
an apostrophe. Examples: Mrs. Wytanis‟ class)
23. Plural nouns ending in s, just add an
apostrophe when making it possessive
◦ Examples:
Students‟ homework
Teachers‟ lounge
Plural nouns not ending in s, add an
apostrophe and s
◦ Examples:
Children‟s book People‟s opinions
24. If the possession is shared by more than one
noun, add an apostrophe and s to the last
noun in the series.
◦ Examples:
Steve, Mark, and Lisa‟s book. (All three own the book)
Steve‟s, Mark‟s, Lisa‟s books. (Each person owns a
book)
25. Use with an adjective that is expressing time
(month, day, hour) or amount.
◦ Examples:
Today‟s class
An hour‟s work
A couple of dollars‟ worth
