English 104/Fall 2014
Tenenbaum
Assignment Sheet #1
Note: I will collect homework assignments on the day for which they are listed. Any work that has an
answer key (such as diagrams and sentence-combining exercises) will not be collected. Work that has
no answer key (composed and expanded sentences) will be collected. Homework may be typed or
handwritten (legibly and neatly). Label your sentences clearly so I can easily tell what to look for in
each sentence. Unlabeled homework will not receive credit. A sample homework assignment is
attached at the end of this sheet to illustrate clear labeling.
Due Tuesday 1/23: Please purchase the required textbook, Writers’ Choices: Grammar for Effective
Writing, from the bookstore immediately. Read pp. 1-19. Be prepared to define “syntax” and
“predication.” What kind of verb is essential to every predicate? Diagram the subject and verb of the
following sentences, using this simple subject-verb line:
Example: The students returned to school after summer break.
students returned
“returned.”)
(Vertical line should bisect horizontal line between “students” and
Example: Everyone in the class arrived on time. (The subject is Everyone, not class. Remember:
the subject can’t be in a prepositional phrase.)
Everyone arrived
(Vertical line should bisect horizontal line between
“Everyone” and “arrived.”)
There is an answer key for the first ten diagrams at the end of this handout.
1. The cafe in my neighborhood serves good coffee.
2. Have you tasted their coffee?
3. Fans of loud music sometimes lose their hearing.
4. The book has already been ordered from the bookstore.
5. Did one of you spill my delicious and expensive coffee drink?
6. There must be a path through these woods.
7. The dark afternoons of winter will soon arrive.
8. By the white chickens stood a red rain-glazed wheelbarrow.
9. Always get enough sleep before a test.
10. At the end of the movie, the couple kisses passionately.
11. Down fell my phone into the toilet.
12. Did you read the book about the huge white whale?
13. Read it to me.
14. My mother and father read it in college.
15. The whale ate Ahab’s leg and led Ahab’s ship on a chase around the world.
16. Ahab found the whale, but he could not catch it.
17. The whale, a clever creature, had many scars from previous encounters with humans.
18. There was no happy ending, but there was a masterpiece of literature.
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Due Wednesday 9/24: In Writers’ Choices, diagram # 1-20 on pp. 21-22, using the simple subject-verb
form shown in the example. As you do each diagram, check it against the answer key in the back of
your book. This is critical to your learning. Compose six sentences – two with a regular subject and
verb, two with implied subjects, and two using the “there” expletive; try to use a different verb for
each one. Remember to label each kind of sentence in your homework.
Due Thursday 9/25: In Writer’s Choices, read pp. 19-21. Do the sentence-combining exercises #1-20
on pp. 22-24. Expand each of the following sentences into compound sentences by adding another
independent clause to each one (read all three before you start):
1. This morning, the Martians landed.
2. I did not want to go with them back to their planet.
3. At first, it seemed there was no solution.
Compose the following:
1. two sentences with compound subjects; in one of the sentences, the subjects should be personal
pronouns (refer to Appendix A in Writers’ Choices);
2. two sentences with compound verbs;
3. two compound sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions (see Writers’ Choices, chart on p.
13);
4. two compound sentences joined by coordinating correlative conjunctions (see Writers’ Choices,
chart on p. 13—make sure you are joining independent clauses with these conjunctions);
5. two compound sentences joined by only semicolons;
6. two compound sentences joined by semicolons followed by conjunctive adverbs followed by
commas
On this and all homework assignments, be sure to label your work clearly so I know what is
supposed to be what. For example, your first two sentences would be clearly marked “compound
subject,” and the subject in each case would be underlined.
Due Friday 9/26: In Writers’ Choices, read pp. 26-33. Compose the following:
1. Two sentences with an adjective modifying a noun
2. Two sentences with a noun functioning as an adjective
3. Two sentences with an adverb modifying a verb
4. Two sentences with a qualifier modifying an adjective or adverb
Due Monday 9/29: In Writers’ Choices, read pp. 34-47. On p. 47, diagram #1-10—full diagrams, every
word! Remember to check yourself against the answer key after you do each diagram. Expand the
following sentences as instructed:
1. (Add two one-word adjectives to each sentence): The violinist performed on the street. Tourists
threw money into his case.
2. (Add one one-word adverb to each sentence): His tune grew louder. The notes rose into the air.
3. (Add an adjectival prepositional phrase to each sentence): A tourist threw more money.
Another tourist complained.
4. (Add an adverbial prepositional phrase to each sentence): The violinist continued playing. The
tourists left.
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Monday 9/29, continued:
Focusing on pp. 45-47, pay special attention to what is said about the modifier “only” and about using
prepositional phrases to avoid the awkwardness of two “ly” adverbs next to each other. Expand the
following sentence by adding “only” in the best place: “Bonita, a beginning juggler, could juggle one
ball at a time.” Combine the following sentences into one sentence that uses two “ly” adverbs in a
row; then combine them again, this time into a sentence that uses a prepositional phrase rather than
two “ly” adverbs in a row:
The violinist played the concerto.
The playing was beautiful.
The beauty was amazing.
Due Tuesday 9/30: Read Writers’ Choices (pp. 51-56) on Appositives. Diagram #1-5 on pp. 60-61 and
do sentence combining #1-5 on p. 61. Expand the following sentences by adding an appositive to each
one.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The hare challenged the tortoise to a race.
The tortoise accepted the challenge.
They met at the big rock and their friend blew the starting whistle.
This was a race that would be famous throughout history. (In this one, try making “race that
would be famous throughout history” the appositive; you would then supply a preceding noun.
What might be a good name for such a race?)
5. After the race, the tortoise celebrated his victory by sleeping in the sun.
Finally, compose three sentences, each with at least one appositive. Vary the placement of your
appositives.
Due Wednesday 10/1: Read Writers’ Choices (pp. 56-60) on Appositive Adjectives. Diagram #1-5 on p.
62 and do sentence combining #1-5 on pp. 63-64.
Expand the following sentences by adding appositive adjectives to each of them (remember that
appositive adjectives usually come in pairs – “handsome and intelligent” – or they consist of an
adjective modified by a prepositional phrase – “handsome in his tuxedo” – and that they sometimes
come before the noun, sometimes after it):
1.
2.
3.
4.
Crows are very common birds.
They will eat almost anything.
These flowers are very beautiful.
However, their pollen makes me sneeze.
Finally, compose three sentences, each with at least one pair of appositive adjectives (or an appositive
adjective modified by a prepositional phrase).
Due Thursday 10/2: In Writers’ Choices, read Ch. 4 on Verbs—the whole chapter. You’ll probably find
it a bit boring, but it’s an important review. You will not have to memorize the names of the
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tenses/aspects; on the test I won’t ask you to write a sentence in the “future progressive.” But you
should work with them a bit. Do Exercise A # 1-20 on p. 74 (there is an answer key), and Exercise B “On
Your Own” #1 and #2. For each number, compose two sentences (not five) for each tense/aspect and
for the subjunctive. Be sure to label your sentences!
Due Friday 10/3: Do the sample test on p. 76-77 in Writers’ Choices. We will go over the answers
together in class.
Monday 10/6: TEST #1 (You may use one side of one handwritten 8 ½ x 11 page of notes.)
Answer Key for Sentences # 1-10 Above
1. café
serves
2. you
have tasted
3. Fans
lose
4. books
5. one
have been ordered
did spill
6. There
path
must be
7. afternoons will arrive
8. wheelbarrow
9. (you)
10. couple
stood
get
kisses
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Sample Homework
Here’s a sample partial homework assignment, illustrating the correct format. Each sentence is labeled
according to what the assignment asks for, and the relevant words are underlined. This labeling and
underlining not only shows me what to look for but also shows me (and yourself) whether you
understand. Your homework can be typed or legibly handwritten.
Homework for ____provide date_____
Student Name______________
1. Compound subjects (Say what grammatical concept the sentences are meant to show.)
My grandmother and grandfather were lovely people.
(The relevant words are
With personal pronouns: They and I got along beautifully.
underlined.)
2. Compound verbs
My grandparents came from the country and moved to the city.
They worked and struggled all their lives.
(The relavent words are underlined.)
3. Compound sentences with coordinating conjunctions
The dog arrived, so the cat left.
The dog arrived, and pandemonium ensued.
(The relevant words are underlined.)
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