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The Serial Comma

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Commas can separate items or actions written in a series. ... Polly Horvath, Everything on a Waffle. Uncovering How Writers Communicate With Readers ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Serial Comma


1
The Serial Comma
  • Did You Make the List?

2
Introduction
  • Commas can separate items or actions written in a
    series.
  • Lists consist of three or more items or actions.
  • Two items or actions are a pair, not a list, and
    do not require commas.
  • A comma separating the last item in a series may
    be omitted if and or or stand in and separate the
    last item. Its an issue of style.

3
Parallelism
  • When we look at actions in a series, we have
    another opportunity to look at agreement, tense,
    and parallelism.
  • Parallelism is about making things match.
  • If I write a list of actions, each verb should be
    in the same tense.
  • He read a book, wrote an essay, and cleaned the
    garage.

4
Parallelism
  • This polishing point makes a list balanced and
    clear.
  • Working on parallelism can force us to rework our
    sentences, which is usually a good thing.

5
Serial Commas
  • Serial commas help combine sentences and expand
    ideas by using sensory detail specific nouns or
    vivid verbs.
  • His room smelled of cooked grease, Lysol, and
    age.
  • - Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

6
Invitation to Imitate
  • _______smells of _______, _______,
  • (Place) (list of at least
    three things)
  • and __________.
  • Use this graphic to imitate the underlying
    pattern. We can use a structure to shape our own
    ideas.

7
More Invitations to Notice and Imitate
  • Her cleats, shin pads, and sweats were in her
    backpack, slung over her shoulder and heavy with
    homework.
  • I walked back to my room wet and dried myself
    with a pair of jeans. I put on long underwear,
    pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes, and my parka.
    I stood in front of the heater.
  • Then I heard a scrape, a thud, and a yelp.

8
Invitation to Combine
  • I have hair the color of carrots in an apricot
    glaze.
  • My skin is fair and clear where it isnt
    freckled.
  • My eyes are like summer storms.
  • Combine these three sentences using commas.

9
Original Combined Sentence
  • I have hair the color of carrots in an apricot
    glaze, skin fair and clear where it isnt
    freckled, and eyes like summer storms.
  • - Polly Horvath, Everything on a Waffle

10
Uncovering How Writers Communicate With Readers
  • His room smelled of cooked grease, Lysol, and
    age.
  • His room smelled.
  • His room smelled of cooked grease, lysol, and
    age.
  • His room smell of cooked grease, Lysol, and age.
  • His room smelled off cooked grease, Lysol, and
    age.
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