Week 4: Turn of Phrase

Time to continue some journal entries! This time we are talking about phrases. We learned that there are two different types of phrases: noun phrases and verb phrases. Each of those is broken down into sub-types. Noun phrases consist of prepositional, absolute, and appositive while verb phrases have infinitive and participial. Below are the directions for the journal entry.

In your journal, discuss any disadvantages to the place where you live and continue your sentence practice with noun and verb phrases. Write at least one of each of the noun phrases discussed in the unit (prepositional phrase, absolute phrase, and appositive phrase) and at least two of each of the verb phrases (infinitive phrase and participial phrase). You will, therefore, write at least seven sentences for this journal activity. As in the first assignment, underline the phrase in each sentence and consider its function in both as a modifier and an aspect of your writing style.

 When we moved here, in the late Spring, the apartment was nice and cool. Having the sun shine through the windows, the apartment heats up rather quickly. To counteract this, we had to purchase two brand new air conditioning units. The more powerful air conditioner, the Maytag, was placed in the den. The neighbors can get on my nerves. Backing out of my driveway, I have to dodge garbage cans tossed in the street haphazardly. To get back at them, I've started placing my own garbage cans right behind their driveway. Laughing to myself as I walk up the stairs, I realize that I am a petty person.

Week 4: Clause and Effect

This week we are studying clauses and phrases. The first part of the session is concentrating on clauses. We were told about Independent and Dependent clauses as well as the two types of Dependent, or Subordinate, clauses. So, for this week's journal entry...

In your writing journal, you will begin to practice building sentences with adjective and adverbial clauses. For this journal entry, discuss some of the advantages of the place where you live. Using the lists associated with each of these types of clauses, write at least three (3) sentences including adjective clauses and three (3) sentences including adverbial clauses. Underline the adjective and adverbial clauses. Consider their function in both as a modifier and an aspect of your writing style.

 Our apartment, the top floor of a bi-level house, has enough space for my wife and me. Because it has all the room we need, we are able to live comfortably. It is a one-bedroom apartment and we're able to have pets, which works well for our little tuxedo cat. The kitchen has a tiny dishwasher just big enough to do the dishes for two people. Though we are happy with our home, we are still looking into buying a house of our own. Before we purchase a house, we need to make sure our credit scores are good enough.

Week 3, VERBS!!!!!

Here comes the addendum to the first journal topic. We started with Subjects, now we are moving onto Verbs. So, like last week, we'll be taking our first assignment and tailoring it to the Verbs part of the section. Here's the instructions...

In your journal, continue your observations of the scene observed in journal 1.  Note several vivid action verbs that you have already used. Revise some of your sentences using action verbs and/or write 2-3 new sentences with action verbs. Try not to use any of the forms of “to be” (is, are, was, etc.).  Underline the action verbs in your sentences. Again, you will want to keep all of these sentences at hand as you do the peer reviewed writing at the end of the unit.

Verbs are bolded.

Tom and Nicole shout back and forth to each other about last night's football game. They are football fans so their conversation goes on for quite a while. These conversations irritate me because they are right next to my desk. They are acting very rude as to yell over me as I'm trying to converse on the phone. No one in the office cares about their conversation. We wish they would stop but they do not.

Week 3, Subjects

Week three begins! This week concentrates on Subjects and Verbs. Here's the first journal entry topic...

Observe a scene where people are interacting.  You might choose a restaurant or a shopping mall.  Sporting events and parks are also good places to observe people. Write 5-6 sentences describing this scene and underline the subjects of your sentences. Write a few sentences experimenting with using different types of pronouns from the tables in Unit 3.  You will want to keep all of these sentences at hand as you do the writing activities for this unit.

So, as always, the subject is in bold.

Tom and Nicole shout back and forth to each other about last night's football game. They are football fans so their conversation goes on for quite a while. These conversations irritate me because they are right next to my desk. I mean, who would be that rude? No one in the office cares about their conversation. We wish they would stop but they do not.

Module 2 Writing Activity!

New assignment! Similar to the last one but now we're working with verbs and adverbs. Here's the instructions.

In your journal, continue your list of nouns and adjectives by adding in five to ten verbs and adverbs. Then, write a couple of sentences using your list of nouns, adjective, verbs, and adverbs.

So here are my sentences. I'll be adding to them to keep everything coherent. Verbs are bolded, adverbs italicized.

My wife gabs loudly on the phone as we watch television absent-mindedly.

A burnt-out lightbulb makes the corner of the living room extremely dark.

The end table sure is dusty.

The noisy cars zoom past my open window.

Looks like I need to clean those sheets. I need to thoroughly clean those sheets.

Time for the Module 1 Writing Activity!

Here's the first (second?) assignment for my writing class. According to the instructions:

In your journal, write down a list of at least five to ten nouns and five to ten adjectives as you observe a scene at home, work, or in your community.

Gonna be honest: I;m not sure if this means I have to describe the scene as it unfolds or if I just list the nouns and adjective. For simplicity's sake, I'll make sentences out of my observations. I will bold the nouns and italicize the adjectives. Bolded italicized are pronouns, though it doesn't state pronouns in the instructions.

A lazy cat snoozes on the couch next to me. ("Lazy" is descriptive, "the" is a determiner. I also feel that "next to" is considered an adjective but I'm unsure.)

My wife gabs on the phone as we watch television. ("My" is possessive pronoun, "we" is subject. "The" is the determiner adjective.)

A burnt-out lightbulb makes the corner of the living room dark. ("The" is determiner. "Burnt-out" and "dark" are descriptive.)

The end table sure is dusty. ("The" is determiner. "Dusty" is predicate as it is connected by the word "is".)

The noisy cars zoom past my open window. ("Noisy" and "open" are descriptive adjectives. "My" is possessive pronoun. "The" is determiner.)

Looks like I need to clean those sheets. ("Those" is a demonstrative pronoun. I also feel like I'm missing something in this sentence. It seems like "looks like" or even "need" would be adjectives but I'm not sure.)

Steps to Success in Online Learning

Not really sure what to do here but the course suggested using Blogger to keep track of my steps to learning. Sort of like a journal, I suppose. Not one of those "Dear Diary, Billy is sooooo dreamy" type journals, more than likely, but just a way to notate important things. I've already gone against my personal traits and started using Google Calendar for things other than what days I get paid so I figured I may as well do this.

Anyway, the end of the Readiness Quiz listed a number of traits that supposedly help with online learning. They say to pick the top three things in the list but I'll do one better and rate each of the things as they pertain to me. I doubt I'll get any extra credit but what the hell.

• Have Reliable Internet Access - This one is pretty simple. Despite a few hiccups with Cablevision Optimum, our home internet is pretty reliable. When it stops connecting, usually a little cable box reboot is all that's needed. Barring that, I'm always down to visit Starbucks or Panera Bread and have a frappaccino as I work. No big deal there.
• Read Carefully - I read a lot. I tend to understand things really well. When I don't I can usually figure it out. A lot of times, reading things aloud helps me to realize the point behind it. (Hopefully I won't need to do this while I'm sitting in the Starbucks, though.) Again, shouldn't be an issue.
• Get Organized! - Here comes the issue. While I wouldn't say I'm disorganized, I'm not the "A place for everything" kind of guy. I can remember scheduled tasks pretty well, especially in an academic setting, but as far as calling myself "organized"? not likely. Needs improvement.
• Find a Quiet Place to Work - I can honestly work anywhere. I'm typing this as I want Arrow on Blu-Ray and I think I'm doing pretty well. I would definite describe my home as quiet so this isn't much of a concern. I do some of my best work in front of a television screen.
• Polish Your Computer Skills - No question. I work in front of a computer, 40 hours a week, instructing people on how to use a computer. While I can't build a computer or maintain a company's network, I can learn online. I've done it before and done it well. 
• Participate - I don't do forums often. I used to, spending hours on the IGN forums discussing video games and crap like that. But with the proflieration of social media, like Facebook and Twitter, I find that forums are antiquated and I, essentially, hate them. HOWEVER, being that they would be mostly required for the class, I can do them. Again, I've done forums in the past so I understand how they work. Just like riding a bike.
• Log-In Regularly - Not a problem. Like I said, I work in front of a computer. My job allows us unfettered internet access so I would be able to log in any time between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday. Check.
• DO NOT Procrastinate - I procrastinate a lot. Like, a LOT. But I usually do it with things I don't want to do. These courses aren't mandated; I actually volunteered for them so I'm looking forward to taking part in them. Though I have no doubt that I will put off a few things here or there but I'm pretty sure I won't leave everything until 7 AM on Monday.

That's just about it, I guess. A full list explaining each trait I possess and how it would relate to the online classroom setting. Here's hoping that what I've described is true and not just me talking out of my ass. Let's check back in 6 weeks and see how well I did.