Writing+Journal

Give each entry a title and put down the date.


 * __Active voice vs. Passive Voice - Monday, Sept. 21st, 2009__**
 * [|Link]
 * Active Voice- the subject of the sentence performs the verb (action verb).
 * ex: The boy kicked the ball.
 * The boy is the subject, and he is kicking.
 * //ACTIVE IS STRONGER//
 * Passive Voice- the subject of the sentence receives the action (verb).
 * ex: The ball was kicked by the boy.
 * The subject, ball, is receiving the action
 * //PASSIVE IS BAD//

-List your writing strength and weaknesses, what do you need to work on?
 * __Reflection: Persuasive Essay & General Writing- Thursday, Sept. 24th, 2009__**
 * I have trouble spelling
 * I get distracted easily
 * I procrastinate
 * I have good ideas

__**WRITING TIPS: Monday, Sept. 28th**__
 * Do not use second person pronouns (you, your, yours)
 * Do not use BE VERBS (linking verbs) all the time. Instead use ACTION VERBS.
 * Do not write in passive voice; write in active voice!
 * Proofread! Read your papers aloud to hear the mistakes.
 * Never announce what you think by saying "I think, I believe, in my opinion," etc. JUST SAY IT!
 * Use transition words at the beginnings of paragraphs.
 * Use transition


 * __POSSESSION (Ownership) - Monday, Sept. 28th__**
 * To make a singular word possessive, add an 's
 * Billy's friend went to the store.
 * The child's dog ate Harry's lunch.
 * The girl's lunch box is green.
 * To make a plural word possessive, put the apostrophe at the end of the word ending in "s"
 * The girls' lunch boxes are green.
 * The community churches' communion boxes were full.
 * **__EXCEPTIONS__**
 * What if a plural word does not end in "s"?
 * Examples: women men children geese
 * Add an 's to the end of the word to make it possessive


 * __Transitions - Tuesday, Sept. 29th__**
 * Transitions glue our ideas and our essays together.
 * The types of transitions available to you are as diverse as the circumstances in which you need to use them. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. In each case, it functions the same way: first, the transition either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section, or it implies that summary. Then it helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information that you wish to present.