Unit 1 English Reading &writing Workshop 1

UNIT 1
ENGLISH READING & WRITING WORKSHOP 1

PUCTUATIONS RULES
PERIOD (.)
1.- Use it at the end of a sentence. Example: I´m enjoying a new movie in the Cinema.
2.- After an initial. Example: G.G.M. is very good author.
3.- Use the period after abbreviation (Mr., Mrs., a.m., p.m.) Example: We welcome Mr.
Simons to our team.
4.- Use the period to separate dollars, cents and percentages. Examples: the books
cost 4.95 USD.
ACTIVITY IN CLASS: READ EACH SENTENCE. ADD PERIODS WHERE THEY ARE
NEEDED.
AS A DECIMAL POINT
Example: The shoes cost $42.99.
Directions: Use periods as a decimal point in the following sentences.
1) The dentist charges $6200 for an office visit.

2) The baby weighed 72 pounds at birth.
COMMA (,)
1.- Use a comma after each item. Example: We bought eggs, cheese, and milk at the
store.
2.- Use commas after the street, address and city in an address. Example: My
address is 511 Sand Lane, St. Joseph, Missouri.
3.- Use a comma after the date and the year in a date. Example: John´s birthday is on
February 21st, 1987.
4.- Use a comma to clarify large numbers. Example: In 1998 the population of
Claremont was 23,899.
5.- Use a comma before the text of a quotation. Example: The teacher said, “Return to
your seats.”
6.- Use a comma after the greeting in a friendly letter. Example: Dear Mom,
7.- Use a comma after the closing of a letter. Example: Sincerely,

8.- Use a comma after a mild interjection such as: Oh, or well. Example: Oh, the test
wasn´t so difficult.
9.- Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (but, or, yet, for, and, nor, so)
joining two independent clauses. Example: I didn’t have a good time on my vacation,
so I intend to go to a different place next year.
10.- Use a comma to indicate where a pause, it´s necessary in order to avoid
confusion. Example: Kevin came in, quite a hurry.
11.- Use a comma before the abbreviation etc. Example: I want to get napkin, plates,
cups, forks, etc.
ACTIVITY IN CLASS:
SEMICOLON (;)
A semicolon (;) is used in four ways:
• Between two independent clauses that are not connected by a coordinating
conjunction.
• In a series between items that have internal punctuation.
• To avoid confusion when commas are used between elements in a series.
• Before a transitional connective between two main clauses.
DO THIS WHEN USING A SEMICOLON
1. Use semicolons to separate independent clauses. Examples:
I invited Sara and John to the party; Joe and Charles also came.
Take care of the children; the adults can take care of themselves.
2. Use semicolons in a series between items that have internal punctuation
Example: Among those present were Dr. Holmes, pastor of the First Methodist Church; A.
C. Levitt, superintendent of schools; B. L. Rainey, manager of the Benson Hotel; and M. T.
Cord, vice president of Miller and Sons.
3. Use semicolons to avoid confusion when commas are used between elements in
a series. Example: His tour included concert appearances in Austin, Texas; Little Rock,
Arkansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Kansas City, Kansas
4. Use semicolons before a transitional connective between two main clauses.
Transitional connectives
Also, furthermore, likewise, in addition, then, besides, hence, moreover, since,
therefore, consequently, however, nevertheless, so, yet.
Examples: It won’t work; therefore, there is no sense in buying it.
His eyes went bad; consequently, he had to resign as a proofreader.
ACTIVITY IN CLASS: INSERT SEMICOLONS WHERE MOST APPROPRIATE IN

THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.
1. Annette’s true motives never surfaced not even her husband understood why she
refused to accept early retirement.
2. The war in Vietnam had an impact on Americans unlike that of any other recent war
people seemed torn between a deeply engrained patriotism and the ever-growing
suspicion that a terrible mistake had been made.
3. World War I ended for the United States in a little over a year World War II lasted almost
four years.
4. Familiarity breeds contempt if people got to know one another better, the world would
be torn apart.
5. The pleasures of marriage are not understood by the unmarried they think only of
emotions and passions far from the contentment of the happily married state.
6. The museums of New York City are rich in art treasures the nightlife is unsurpassed
anywhere.
7. The dying man said he would not want even one extra hour upon earth why should he
pretend that life was enjoyable?
8. Without art, life would be less human the work of the masters dignifies and enriches our
existence.
9. A good critic tries to see the world through the eyes of the playwright whose work he
evaluates can it really be this way, are people capable of such actions, is life really so
good or so bad?
10. Fear of being caught prevents many honest people from committing crime desire to be
caught prevents many criminals from turning honest.
COLONS (:)
A colon (:) is used in four ways:
• To introduce a series or a list that follows a complete clause.
• To separate complete clauses.
• To link a complete clause with a quotation.
• To link a main clause with an appositive.
DO THIS WHEN USING A COLON
1. Use a colon to introduce a series or a list that follows a complete clause. The
statements on either side of the colon do not have to have the same grammatical
structure, but a colon should follow a complete sentence that can stand on its own.
Example: Writing a college level paper requires several steps: outline, first draft, revise,
second draft, revise, and submit.
2. Use a colon to separate complete clauses when the second clause further
explains or re-states the first clause.
Example: We won’t make it to the store in time: they close in 5 minutes.

Tip: To test if you have used a colon properly, substitute the phrase that is. Usually,
if that is makes sense, the colon has been used correctly.
Example: Loyalty is like trust: it must be earned.
Test: Loyalty is like trust, [that is], it must be earned.
3. Use a colon to link a complete clause with a quotation that sums up or interprets
the clause. The main clause must be able to stand alone as a sentence without the
quotation.
Example: Shakespeare indicated multiple meanings with Hamlet’s words: “To be or not to
be, that is the question.”
4. Use a colon to link a main clause with an appositive. An appositive is a noun or
noun phrase that re-names a noun or pronoun.
To test this usage, substitute namely for the colon. If namely makes sense, the
colon has been used properly.
Examples:
I know the perfect person for the job: Professor Smith.
My job consists of two main responsibilities: tutoring and writing.
Test: My job consists of two main responsibilities, [namely] tutoring and writing.
ACTIVITY IN CLASS PLACE A COLON IN THE CORRECT PLACE FOR THE
FOLLOWING SENTENCES. EACH SENTENCE HAS AT LEAST ONE COLON.
1. There are many jobs that seem interesting to me painting, singing, photography, and
teaching.
2. There were a lot of famous faces on the red carpet Brittany Spears, Lady Gaga, and
Nick Jonas.
3. There are a lot of chores I do not like doing dishes, mopping floors, and taking out the
trash.
4. He was a world class athlete an Olympic gold medalist.
5. She knew she had to focus on what was most important to her winning.
6. I like all kinds of sweets cheesecake, ice cream, candy, cakes, and pudding.
7. Marie Antoinette is famously known for saying “Let them eat cake”
8. Most of my hobbies are things I can do alone hiking, biking, and painting
9. There was one thing that just kept getting in our way timing.
10. She prized only one possession her brand new iPhone.
THE APOSTROPHE (’)
1.-The apostrophe is used to form contractions. It indicates that a letter or letters
have been omitted: Example: It’s, they’ve, we’re, can’t, won’t etc.
2.-The apostrophe is used to indicate possession. If the noun is singular, you just
add an ‘s: Example: Baker’s theory, grandpa’s pipe, Sarah’s dress, the policeman’s gun.
3.-If the noun is plural and ends with an s already, simply add the apostrophe after
the s. Example: My brothers’ toys, the managers’ lounge.
4.-If the noun is singular and ends in an s, there is some debate as to which form to
use. Some prefer ‘s, whereas s’ is also acceptable:
Example: Jesus’ disciples vs. Jesus’s disciples.
ACTIVITY CLASS:
ABBREVIATION
Others are formed by omitting letters from the middle of the word and usually also
end in a period: govt. for government, Dr. for Doctor, and atty. for attorney.
Abbreviations for the names of states in the U.S. are two capitalized letters,
e.g., AR for Arkansas, ME for Maine, and TX for Texas.
Acronyms are abbreviations formed from the initial letters of an expanded phrase
and usually do not include periods: PR for public relations, CEO for chief executive
officer, and BTW for by the way. Some acronyms are pronounced as
words: FEMA for Federal Emergency Management Agency and NATO for North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. Although some people assert that all acronyms not pronounced as
words, such as EPA for Environmental Protection Agency, be referred to as initialisms, the
term acronym is in fact applied to both.
ACTIVITY IN CLASS:

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UNIT 1

ENGLISH READING & WRITING WORKSHOP 1

1) The dentist charges $6200 for an office visit.

7.- Use a comma after the closing of a letter. Example: Sincerely,

ACTIVITY IN CLASS: INSERT SEMICOLONS WHERE MOST APPROPRIATE IN

DO THIS WHEN USING A COLON

Example: We won’t make it to the store in time: they close in 5 minutes.

4. He was a world class athlete an Olympic gold medalist.

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