Week 4, Journal Writing 2

Module 2 Writing Activity

In your journal, 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.

One of our favorites things to do with my friend is to take long quiet walks following the rocky pavement beyond the end of the main road. (noun phrase -prepositional phrase)

 Our bare feet buried in the soft wet sand, we remained lying in the beach for many hours. (noun phrase – absolute phrase)

 Mr. Manolios, an elderly long-retired sea captain who was now earning his living by selling the fishes he caught near the port, greeted us with a warm smile. (noun phrase – appositive phrase)

 

To feel more serene, we decided to visit the beach at least twice a week. (verb phrase – infinitive phrase)

We had to spent many hours with Mr. Manolios to become friends with him. (verb phrase – infinitive phrase)

 Having so much fun with our conversations, we rarely notice the time that goes by. (verb phrase – participial phrase)

Exhausted from our long walks in the sea, I always feel my feet hurt afterwards. (verb phrase – participial phrase)

Week 4, Journal writing 1

Module 1 Writing Activity

In your writing journal, begin to practice building sentences with adjective and adverbial clauses. As in Unit 3, you may find it helpful to be observing a scene in nature while you compose sentences. 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.

For 2 hours yesterday I was sitting in a bench near the port talking and laughing with my dear friend Anastasia, whom I first encountered in the same place 5 years ago.

While we were watching the ships sailing away, we were talking about going away to Venice, which is our dream destination for a long time now.

We later decided to spent some time with a friend of ours, an elderly local fisherman, Mr. Manolios, who was one of the greatest sea captains of his times.

 Even though we had spent a lot of time together, Mr. Manolios, modest man as he is, usually denied to narrate us any of his adventures abroad.

 While the three of us were sharing our news, a very strong wind came suddenly from the sea and took my lovely hat.

 Since my hat was gone and I was really sad, Mr. Manolios decided to open his heart and shared with us a little funny story from his past that made us all laugh once again.

Week 3, Final Assignment

Drawing from your observation notes and sentences from Journal Writing Assignments 1 and 2, write a description of the scene you have observed. Use action verbs and active voice in your sentences. Also, keep your verbs in the same tense and maintain correct subject-verb agreement. Your description should consist of 8 or more sentences.

The scene: Shopping downtown

Yesterday afternoon I walked all the way downtown for shopping. I searched for a brand new summer dress in my favorite department store. The saleswomen wandered around and asked if the customers needed any help. The manager ran up and down to serve some angry yelling customers. Everyone tried on tons of clothes inside the dressing rooms. I decided to stop my quest for a dress and I finally bought a pair of shoes as a gift for my sister’s birthday. I paid with my credit card, signed the receipt and got ready to go. That was when I ran into my friend, Sylvia. She kissed me in the cheek and proposed to drink a cup a coffee together. We had a great time!

 

Week 3, Journal Writing 2

Module 2 Writing Activity

In your journal, continue your observation list of the scene you observed for Unit 3, Journal Assignment 1 by noting several vivid action verbs. 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.

Revisions:

A variety of clothes and shoes occupy the shelves of the department store.

Sylvia searches for a pair of jeans.

The saleswomen wander around and ask if the customers need any help.

Everyone tries on new clothes.

Buying new clothes is recognized as a stress reliever for many women.

To have a full wardrobe with 5oo hundred pair of shoes remains my sister’s dream.

 New ones:

The customers grab some clothes and wait in the long line.

The manager runs up and down to serve the angry customers.

Week 3, Journal Writing 1

Module 1 Writing Activity

Observe a scene, preferably in a crowded, busy, or public place. List the activities that you see occurring and the actors (those doing the activity). Write 5-6 sentences that use your observation list 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.

The scene: Shopping downtown

 The department store has a variety of clothes and shoes.

Sylvia is looking for a pair of jeans.

The saleswomen go around and ask if the customers need any help.

Everyone is trying on new clothes.

Buying new clothes can be a stress reliever for many women.

To have a full wardrobe with 500 pairs of shoes is my sister’s dream.

Week 2, Final Assignment

Choose one of the sentences listed below to expand by adding logical additional parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases). Your sentence should be a minimum of 12 unique words.

• The children play.
• The woman walks.
• The sharks swim.
• The flowers bloom.
• The wind blows.
• The computer hums. 

My two sentences were:

The children play.

I ran with the other children enthusiastically towards the near playground, yelling and laughing loudly, and we played together until dawn.

The woman walks.

The charming woman takes a big breath slowly, pulls her long curly hair in the back and walks confidently into the building.

 

Week 2, Journal Writing 2

Module 2 Writing Activity

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.

Verbs

read, tidy, clean, spin, relax, study, strike, daydream, drink, watch

Adverbs

carefully, fully, easily, happily, hastily, well, always, lovely, often, loudly

Sentences

Ted is studying, as always, in his desk with his laptop. I have just finished cleaning the filthy and messy kitchen and tidying up the shoes and clothes. It’s time for me to relax, drink my hot cup of coffee, read my book and daydream while looking happily outside the window. The clock is striking 7.

Week 2, Journal Writing 1

Module 1 Writing Activity

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.

 

The scene:

An afternoon with my boyfriend in his house

Nouns

books, Ted, laptop, desk, cup, window, Batman, clock, clothes, shoes

Adjectives

good-looking, handsome, hot, friendly, passionate, clean, open, filthy, broken, messy