Beginning writing 1 part 10

78
Beginning Writing 1
• Saddleback Publishing, Inc. © 2001 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
NAME DATE
 
EXAMPLE:
The magician, believe it or not, made the woman
disappear.
Ladies and gentlemen, I will pull a rabbit from this hat!
The audience whistled, clapped, and shouted.
Wizardo, the talented magician, had amazed the
crowd again!
USE COMMAS TO:
•
SET

OFF

WORDS

THAT

INTERRUPT

AND
ARE

NOT

NECESSARY

TO

THE

SENTENCE
•
SET

OFF

NOUNS

OF

ADDRESS
•
SEPARATE

ITEMS

IN

A

SERIES
•
SET

OFF

A

GROUP

OF

WORDS

THAT
DESCRIBE

ANOTHER

WORD
CHECKING YOUR WRITING: C
OMMAS
I
The chart below describes four uses for commas. Study the chart before
completing the activities.
A.
Add commas to each sentence where they are needed.
1. A one-horned rhinoceros a ten-foot lizard and a
miniature buffalo all live in the jungles of Indonesia.
2. The orangutan an ape with reddish-orange
hair also makes its home in Indonesia.
3. Professor Durand can you explain why the
orangutan is called “man of the jungle”?
4. Orangutans are if you can picture this about the size of humans.
B.
Follow the instructions to write four original sentences. Refer to the

chart at the top of the page for help with comma usage.
1. Write a sentence about three things you like to do on weekends.
Name three items in a series.
____________________________________________________________________
2. Write a sentence stating your opinion about something. At some point,
interrupt the sentence with the words “if you ask my opinion.”
____________________________________________________________________
3. Write about someone you admire. Write a sentence in which a group
of words describes or tells more about the person.
____________________________________________________________________
4. Write a sentence directed at a member of your family. At the beginning
of the sentence, attract the person’s attention by using his or her name.
____________________________________________________________________
Saddleback Publishing, Inc. © 2001 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com •
Beginning Writing 1
79
NAME DATE
 
CHECKING YOUR WRITING: C
OMMAS
II
A comma tells the reader to pause. As you can see in the examples, commas
are used for clarity—to prevent misreading and confusion.
A.
Each of the following sentences needs at least one comma for clarity.
Add necessary commas to help prevent misreading.
1. Because they are big football players usually eat a lot.
2. At our school assemblies are held in the gym.
3. The committee was made up of the following four students:
Carol Sue Carlos Molly and Ruth.

4. For those who love chocolate chocolate cake is the perfect dessert.
5. The five stars of the play were Peggy Anthony Mary Jo and Sam.
6. Rather than red orange is my favorite color.
7. Instead of Michael Jordan received the award.
8. While Brenda was climbing down the ladder slipped.
9. Recognizing the man as his uncle Joseph shouted a welcome.
B.
Here’s a punctuation puzzle! It will demonstrate how important it can
be to pause in the correct places. Add commas and end marks to make
sense out of the following words. Rewrite the item on the line. Turn
this sheet upside down to find the correct answer.
That that is is that that is not is not is that not it it is!
_____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE:
Review comma usage by writing the following on the back of this sheet:
1. an address, including street number, city, and state
2. a sentence naming four good friends
3. a sentence telling three places you’d like to visit
4. a sentence using the phrase “in my opinion” about a school policy
Of those twenty five will be chosen as winners.
Of those twenty
,
five will be chosen as winners.
Betty Lou Thomas Mary and Jackson were among the winners.
Betty Lou
,
Thomas
,
Mary
,

and Jackson were among the winners.
Betty
,
Lou
,
Thomas
,
Mary
,
and Jackson were among the winners.
EXAMPLES:
•
CONFUSING
:
COMMA

ADDS

CLARITY
:
•
CONFUSING
:
COMMAS

ADD

CLARITY
:
OR

:
A
NSWER

TO
P
ART
B:

That that is, is. That that is not, is not. Is that not it? It is!
80
Beginning Writing 1
• Saddleback Publishing, Inc. © 2001 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
NAME DATE
 
CHECKING YOUR WRITING: P
UNCTUATING
Q
UOTATIONS
I
The exact words someone says are a
direct quotation
. Quotation marks are
used at both the beginning and end of a direct quotation. A comma or an end
mark belongs
inside
the closing quotation marks.
EXAMPLES:
“I hate snakes!” exclaimed Christina.
“Most snakes are quite harmless,” Waldo assured her.

A.
Put a checkmark (✓) beside each sentence that contains a direct quotation.
1. _____ “More than 80 percent of all snakes
are harmless,” Waldo explained.
2. _____ Waldo said it was silly to fear all snakes.
3. _____ “Snakes are slimy!” Christina insisted.
4. _____ “On the contrary,” argued Waldo,
“snakes have a dry skin.”
B.
Circle a letter to show the correctly punctuated sentence.
1. a. Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “a little rebellion is a good thing.
b. Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “A little rebellion is a good thing.”
2. a. “Genius,” explained Thomas Edison, “is one percent inspiration
and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
b. Genius explained Thomas Edison, “is one percent inspiration
and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
3. a. Abraham Lincoln declared that the ballot is stronger than
the bullet.
b. Abraham Lincoln declared, “that the ballot is stronger than
the bullet.”
4. a. There never was a good war or a bad peace, “Ben Franklin
wisely said.”
b. “There never was a good war or a bad peace,” Ben Franklin
wisely said.
CHALLENGE:
Rewrite the following sentences on the back of this sheet.
Be sure to add the missing quotation marks!
1. Remember that time is money, Benjamin Franklin advised.
2. In this world, wrote Franklin, nothing is certain except death and taxes.
Saddleback Publishing, Inc. © 2001 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com •

Beginning Writing 1
81
NAME DATE
 
CHECKING YOUR WRITING: P
UNCTUATING
Q
UOTATIONS
II
Writers often use dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. Remember these
punctuation rules when you write direct quotations:
•
Use a comma to separate a direct
quotation from the rest of the sentence.
•
When a direct quotation is interrupted,
do not begin the second part with a
capital letter unless it is a new sentence
or a proper noun.
•
When a quotation is a question or
exclamation, place the question
mark or exclamation point inside
the quotation marks.
•
Begin a new paragraph when the
speaker changes.
The following selection is a dialogue—a conversation between two
characters. The writer, however, has left out the quotation marks!
Add quotation marks where they are needed.

Bosco studied the weird machine. He read
the strange sign. Enter here to travel through
time, the words said. All tickets ten dollars.
Would you like to buy a ticket? asked a little
round man in a blue suit. You can go forward,
backward, or any-which-way!
Bosco was fascinated. How can I pass up
this opportunity? he whispered. He pulled out
a ten-dollar bill.
All aboard, shouted the little man. Quickly now. Quickly now!
Bosco climbed three metal stairs and passed through a swinging gate.
He heard a lock click behind him. Suddenly he felt nervous.
I’ve changed my mind, he called out.
Too late! said the little man. Have a good journey.
The strange contraption shook and groaned as it hurled Bosco into
the future.
CHALLENGE:
On the back of this sheet, write a dialogue about a trip into
the past. The conversation should be between a character from today’s
world and a famous historical figure from the past. Make sure you
correctly punctuate all direct quotations.
82
Beginning Writing 1
• Saddleback Publishing, Inc. © 2001 • Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618 • Phone: (888) 735-2225 • Fax: (888) 734-4010 • www.sdlback.com
NAME DATE
 
CHECKING YOUR WRITING: U
NNECESSARY
R
EPETITION

Sometimes inexperienced writers feel that the more they write,
the more they say. That is not always the case. Good writers
avoid using unnecessary words and repeating thoughts.
A.
Underline the word or words that can be eliminated
from each phrase. The first one has been done for you.
1.
the year of 1952 3. hurried quickly 5. victorious winners
2. a frown on his face 4. square shape 6. round circles
B.
Remove the repetitious words and phrases from these sentences. Get
right to the point! Write the shorter, improved sentences on the lines.
The first one has been done for you. (Hint: There may be more than
one way to improve the sentence. )
1. Ten years from now I would like to be working at my future occupation
in the field of medicine and doctoring.
____________________________________________________________________
2. Doctors help and assist their patients by treating illnesses and diseases.
____________________________________________________________________
3. When I once had trouble walking one time, I quickly hurried right
away to a doctor.
____________________________________________________________________
4. Tests showed indications that I needed to have a surgical knee operation.
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE:
Improve this paragraph by removing unnecessary words and
phrases. Write the improved version on the back of this sheet.
The author Jack London wrote the book
The

Call of the Wild,
which I
think is, in my opinion, an exciting novel packed with thrills. It is the story
of the canine Buck, a dog who shows bravery and courage in the face of
dangerous perils. Buck is stolen from his home in warm, sunny California.
He is shipped to the northern Yukon and sold for money as a sled dog.
Buck has to be tough to survive and stay alive, but in addition, he also
learns lessons about the real, true meaning of loyalty and faithfulness.
Ten years from now
,
I would like to be a doctor.