Integrated Reading & Writing I

ENGLISH 101
Unit Composition Skills
A Summary of the Writing Course Skills & Lessons

King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh

College of Science and Health Professions (COSHP)
Academic Year 2018 - 2019

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 UNIT 1
(Introducing Academic Paragraphs)
LAW3: Ch. 1 & 3
DCS: Ch. 1

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 UNIT 1 - COMPOSITION SKILLS

A. CAPITALIZATION =>LAW3 pages 10-13

Practice pages 12 & 13, Practice 3, 4 & 5

B. SIMPLE SENTENCES =>LAW3 page 14

A simple sentence has one subject-verb combination. The subject tells who or what did something and
the verb tells the action (jump, work, think) or condition (is, seem, appear). A simple sentence may have several
possible “formulas” for the subject-verb pair. The subjects in the sentences below are underlined and the verbs
have parenthesis ( ) around them.

1. The Star Wars movies (were) international hits. SV

2. Young people and adults (enjoyed) them. SSV
3. The films (entertained) and (thrilled) audiences everywhere. SVV
4. Luke Skywalker and his friends (battled) evil and (made) us laugh. SSVV

Practice Write 4 simple sentences. Use each of the above formulas once.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________________

C. PHRASES =>LAW3 page 15

A phrase is a group of words that does not have a subject + verb combination. A common type of phrase
in English is a prepositional phrase. This combination has a preposition (in, on, at, from, to, of, with, around, etc.)
followed by a noun or a pronoun.

Practice page 15, Practice 6 & 7

D. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT =>LAW3, pages 16 & 17

The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number.

My sister is married. My sisters are married.
NOT He have a test today. IT SHOULD BE He has a test today.
NOT We talks to our parents. IT SHOULD BE We talk to our parents.

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Subject - Verb agreement CAN BE CONFUSING in these situations:
1. When a sentence begins with the word there + the verb be, the subject follows the be verb.
There is a student in the hall. There was no reason for his action.

2. A prepositional phrase can come between a subject and its verb.

One (of my sisters) is a singer. The subject is one, not sisters.
Six kinds (of rice) are available. The subject is kinds, not rice.

3. Some words are always singular: one, each

One of us is going. Each of the doctors is well-trained.

4. A few words are always plural: both, several

Both of my parents are coming tonight. Several students are always late for class.

5. A few words can be either singular or plural: some

In these cases, you must refer to the noun in the prepositional phrase.
Some (of the money) was missing. (singular) Some (of the students) were missing. (plural)

Practice page 17, Practice 8 & 9

E. FRAGMENTS =>LAW3, pages 18-19

In English you must ALWAYS have at least one subject-verb combination in each sentence. If you leave
out either the subject or the verb, the sentence is incomplete – this is a fragment. Fragments are sentence errors.
There is an exception to this rule. In commands such as Stop that! and Listen carefully, the subject you is
understood but not specifically stated. You correct a sentence fragment by adding the missing subject or verb.

1. Is not easy to get an A in her class. There is no subject.

It is not easy to get an A in her class. Add a subject.

2. People in New York always in a hurry. There is no verb.

People in New York are always in a hurry. Add a verb.

Practice page 15, Practice 4

Find and underline any fragments in your practice paragraph.

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F. CONNECTING WORDS =>DCS pages 17-18

Connecting words and phrases show the relationship between ideas. They connect one idea to the next.
There are four kinds of connecting words. All of them can be used to connect clauses or sentences and to show
the relationship of ideas.

1. Key words =>also see “Unity & Coherence” handout

Repeating certain key words from one sentence to the next helps make a paragraph cohesive. It also
helps to emphasize the main idea of a piece of writing. Some key words refer back to a previous sentence of
signal a logical connection. Some examples are this, those, some, another, many others, in addition, and for
example.

2. Coordinators =>we will cover these in more detail in future units

Coordinators connect two or more grammatically equal words or word groups such as nouns, verb
phrases, or clauses. They can also connect independent clauses to make a compound sentence.

I hid behind my mother and did not look at the teacher.

I wanted to talk to her, but I was afraid.
I could tell the teacher or suffer in silence.
The teacher smiled at me, so I finally talked to her.

Practice Write a sentence using each of the coordinators.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________________

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3. Transition Words Reference to Semicolons: DCS page 240 (Appendix)

Transition words connect two independent clauses or two sentences. They can be used to make one
sentence. DO NOT use semicolons (;) in your writing until you have been taught how to use them.
However has a similar meaning to but, therefore means so, and moreover means and, but their place and
punctuation in the sentence are different from those of and, but, and so. They can be placed after the first
sentence followed by a comma, after the subject of the second sentence and between commas, or occasionally at
the end of the second sentence preceded by a comma.

I had to study for the exam; therefore, I couldn’t go to the mall with my friends.
I had to study for the exam. Therefore, I couldn’t go to the mall with my friends.
I had to study for the exam. I, therefore, couldn’t go to the mall with my friends.

I studied hard; however, I made time to see my friends.

I studied hard. However, I made time to see my friends.
I studied hard. I made time to see my friends, however.

I have three sisters; moreover, I have three daughters.

I have three sisters. Moreover, I have three daughters.

Practice Write a sentence using each of the transition words.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________

G. SIGNAL PHRASES FOR EXAMPLES =>LAW3, page 62

Followed by a Comma Example - MUST BE A COMPLETE SENTENCE

for example, For example, most brides carry a bouquet of flowers.
for instance, Bouquets, for instance, can be made from a variety of flowers.
Bouquets can be made of real or fake flowers, for example.
Not followed by a Example - MUST BE A COMPLETE SENTENCE
Comma
such as Bouquets are made from flowers such as roses and orchids.
You NEVER start a
sentence with such as.

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H. TRANSITION SIGNALS FOR CONCLUDING SENTENCES => LAW3, page 64

Followed by a Comma No Comma

All in all, Indeed, It is clear that...
In brief, In short, These examples show that...
In conclusion, In summary, You can see that...
To summarize, To sum up,
To conclude,

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 UNIT 2
(Narrative Paragraphs)
LAW3: Ch. 2
DCS: Ch. 2

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 UNIT 2- COMPOSITION SKILLS

A. PARTS OF SPEECH

WORD PART OF SPEECH DEFINITION EXAMPLE

narrate Verb to give an account or tell a story We have to narrate the slide
show for our presentation.
narration noun a story (usually told in chronological Adwaa’s narration of her
order) experience last summer was
the act or process of narrating very interesting.
narrator noun the person telling a story
narrative adjective of or relating to narration Write a narrative paragraph
about your summer holiday.

noun a story Her narrative is very

interesting.

B COORDINATORS (COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS)

Coordinators connect two or more equal words or phrases. They can also connect two simple sentences
to make one compound sentence. Use a comma before a coordinator in a compound sentence only. Do not use a
comma to join two words or phrases in a simple sentence.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: and, but, so, or (which we studied in this unit), for,
nor, and yet (which we will study in a future unit). You can remember all seven coordinators with the acronym
FANBOYS (for, and, not, but, or, yet, so)

COORDINATOR WHAT IT DOES EXAMPLE

and connects equal similar (same) ideas I like dogs and cats.
I like dogs, and I like cats.
but connects equal but different/opposite I like pizza but not pasta.
(contrasting) ideas I like pizza, but I don’t like pasta.
or connects equal choices Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Do you prefer coffee, or do you
prefer tea?
so connects a result to a reason I did not eat breakfast this
morning, so I am hungry now.

=> LAW3, pages 41, 241 and 243 (Appendix)

C. SENTENCES

1. Simple Sentences (review)

A simple sentence has one subject-verb combination and may have several possible “formulas”
for the subject-verb pair. [SV, SVV, SSV, SSVV]
Example: Ghaida and I watch movies together. (SSV) I like walking and reading. (SVV)

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2. Compound Sentences => LAW3, pages 40-43
A compound sentence is composed of at least two simple sentences joined by a comma and a
coordinator. It has the following “formula”: subject/verb/comma/coordinator/subject/verb

I love to cook , but I hate to clean the kitchen after dinner.

subject verb comma coordinator subject verb

In a simple sentence, there is no subject (and sometimes no verb) after the coordinator.

Example: My mother was a kind person and liked to help others. SS

My mother was a kind person, and she liked to help others. CS
My father played the trumpet and the trombone. SS
My father played the trumpet and played the trombone. SS
My father played the trumpet, and he played the trombone. CS

Practice
Write 4 compound sentences using each of the coordinators above. Do not forget to use commas.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________________

D. COMMAS => LAW3, pages 44 - 45

RULE EXAMPLE
Put a comma after a time order signal that comes Yesterday, I did homework for three hours.
before the subject at the beginning of a sentence. Finally, I was tired enough to sleep.
Exception: then, soon, and now are usually not At 6:00, I fell asleep on the couch.
followed by a comma. Soon she will be old enough to start school.
Put a comma after the first independent clause in I was too tired to cook, so I ordered takeout.
a compound sentence. The comma comes before I like Thai food, but my daughter likes Italian.
the coordinator. Don’t use a comma between two I went home and finished my homework.
parts of a simple sentence.
Put a comma between the items in a series of Blue, green, and purple are my favourite colours.
three or more items. The items may be words, I got up, did my exercises, took a shower, and had
phrases, or clauses. You do not use a comma breakfast.
between only two items. Red and white are the colours of the Canadian
flag.

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E. TIME ORDER SIGNALS FOR NARRATION => LAW3, pages 34-37
=> DCS page 39-40
In narration, the writer needs to show the relationship of events in time. He or she needs to make
the order in which things happened clear to the reader. The writer uses time order signals to tell what
happened first, next, and so on.

SIGNAL EXAMPLE
finally Finally, it was my graduation day!
first (second, etc.) First, I planned what I would wear
later Later, I went to the hairdresser.
later that night Later that night, we went to the mall.
while While I was waiting, I had a cup of coffee.
meanwhile I was waiting for my doctor’s appointment. Meanwhile, my sister was
shopping for a dress.
next Next, I got my nails done.
SIGNAL EXAMPLE
*now Now I am ready to go. *no comma after
*soon Soon we will go to university. *no comma after
*then First, I will write the words. Then I will define them. *no comma after
before Before we leave, we have to finish our homework.
Before you go, please finish your homework.
after After supper, you can go out with your friends.
After a moment of silence, the ceremony continued.
during During supper, we always talk about our day.
during that time During the morning, I was busy with my homework.
During that time, we were not allowed to go to the hospital.
in In August, it was my youngest daughter’s birthday.
In April of 2005, we received some devastating news.
on On Saturday, we are going to a concert.
one (day, time) One day, I will tell you all about it. One time I broke my arm.
until (six o’clock) I work from eight until four every day.
until then Until then, I can’t help you move your furniture.
at (ten o’clock/noon) At 10:00, I will come to get you.
I will pick you up at noon.
by (ten o’clock/then) Please be ready by 6:00.
By then, everybody had already left.
from - to From 6:00 to 7:00, I get ready for work.
From Sunday to Thursday, I am busy with school work.
(2 days) later Two days later, I was finally ready for the exam.
A week later, we came back to Riyadh.
when When I am ready to go, I will call you.
whenever Whenever I’m with my family, I feel happy.
as As I was driving, I passed many coffee shops.
as soon as As soon as I got home, my sister phoned.
once Once I finish my homework, I can watch television.
the moment that The moment that I am done, I will call you.

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F. GRAMMAR POINT => DCS, page 41

VERB EXAMPLE
simple past => for habitual and non-habitual actions I walked in and saw her in the chair.
in the past I walked to school every day when I was young.
*past continuous =>for continuous actions in the past I was talking while he was studying.
(*not on quizzes or exams) Everyone was studying when I walked in the room.
*used to or would => for habitual actions in the past I used to exercise every day, but now I don’t.
that are no longer true (*not on quizzes or exams) When I was a child, I would often spend time alone.

G. SUMMARY WRITING => LAW3, page 78

A summary is a short statement that gives the main information of a text without giving all the details.

There are 3 keys to writing a summary:

1. Include the topic sentence and main points. Leave out the unimportant details.
2. Use your own words as much as possible. Do not copy sentences from the original.
3. Do not add any ideas that are not in the original text. Do not give your opinion.

Summary Sample (of writing model paragraph “Take a Break!” on pg. 52)

It is a good idea to have free time to do whatever we want. Time off lowers stress and helps us stay
healthy. In addition, we can get new skills and a positive attitude from our hobbies and special projects. All of this
helps us when we return to school or work.

H. ERROR ANALYSIS PRACTICE

There is on error in each sentence. Choose the letter of the underlined part that contains the error.

1. This Eid holiday, my family and I are going to travel to dubai.

A B C D

2. I walked in the kitchen and see my sister at the table.

A B C D

3. My mother and I is going to the mall on Saturday.

A B C D

4. I want to get to class early, and talk to the teacher.

A B C D

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 UNIT 3
(Logical Division of Ideas)
LAW3: Ch. 4
DCS: Ch. 4

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 UNIT 3 - COMPOSITION SKILLS

A. PARTS OF SPEECH

WORD PART OF SPEECH DEFINITION EXAMPLE

logic noun reason or sound judgement Use logic to answer the questions.
logical adjective of or relating to logic/reason Answer the questions using logical thinking.
divide verb to separate into parts, groups, The test is divided into four parts.
sections, etc.
division noun the act or process of dividing. The division of the work was equal.

B. VERB REVIEW [DCS, page 83]

1. Use the present perfect tense to show:

a) Events that occurred at an unspecified time in the past.

=>I have been to Doha once. =>I have visited Dubai many times.

b) Events that began in the past and continue to the present.

=>She has lived in Abu Dhabi for three years.

2. Use tenses consistently. Be especially careful about moving between present and past.
=>In elementary school, my favorite teacher was Ms. Andrews. She was friendly and I always enjoyed her
class. Now, my favorite teacher is Mrs. Simon. Her class is interesting and I always pay attention.
THIS IS A COMMON MISTAKE - WATCH FOR IT WHEN EDITING YOUR PARAGRAPH

Practice

Write one sentence describing an event that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, and one sentence about
an event that began in the past and continues to the present.

1. _________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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C. TRANSITION SIGNALS [DCS, page 79 & 80/LAW3, page 89-91]

1. Connecting Words to Indicate Examples Practice DCS, page 81, Exercise 6

A writer may signal an example in a sentence with a key word or phrase (repeating the topic) or with a
transitional word or phrase (linking one sentence to another).

Words/phrases to indicate examples

Key Words Examples

an example (of...) is An example of a hero is Nelson Mandela.
another example (of...) is Facebook is another example of social media.
the most important example The most important example of global warming is the melting of ice bergs in
(of...) is the Arctic Ocean.
Transitional Words Examples
for example Students have a heavy workload each semester. We have five quizzes and
three exams, for example.
for instance There are several aspects that must be considered when someone breaks a
bone. For instance, physiotherapy is important in a patient's recovery.
in particular I like Thai Food. In particular, I like green curry dishes.

Words to indicate sequence of ideas

Transitional Words Examples

first First, I taught them to recognize upper case letters.
second Second, I taught them to recognize lower case letters.
next Next, I taught them the sounds single consonants make.
then Then I taught them consonant digraphs (2 or 3 consonants together)
last Last, I taught them vowels (first long, then short, then...)
finally Finally, I taught my daughters how to sound out the letters to read a word.

2. Connecting Words to Indicate Reasons or Causes

Key Words Examples

because of Because of global warming, icebergs are melting.
one reason (...) is One reason I admire my mother is that she has a good sense of humour.
another reason (...) is Another reason I like weekends is that I can sleep in.
Subordinators Examples
because Some children have trouble in school because they cannot read well.
since Since I don't speak Arabic, I can't understand what my students say sometimes.

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3. Transition Signals Practice LAW3, page 93-95 Practice 9 & 10

Sentence Connectors Coordinator Others

To present main ideas in time
order
First, Second, Third, etc.
First of all,
Later,
Meanwhile,
Next,
After that,
Now
Soon
Then
Finally
Sentence Connectors Coordinators Others
To present main points in logical
division of ideas pattern
First, Second, Third, etc. and A second (reason, advantage, etc.)
First of all, An additional (reason, kind, etc.)
Furthermore, The final (reason, advantage, etc.)
Also,
In addition,
Moreover,
To add a similar idea
Similarly, and
Likewise,
Also,
Furthermore,
In addition,
Moreover,
To add an opposite idea
On the other hand, but
However,
To give an example
For example, such as (+ noun)
For instance, an example of...is
another example of...is
the most important example of...is
To give a reason
because of (+ noun) for because
one reason (…) is since
another reason (…) is
To give a result
Therefore, so
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 Thus,
Consequently,
As a result,
To add a conclusion
All in all, It is clear that…
For these reasons, You can see that…
In brief, You can see from these examples
that…
In conclusion, These examples show that…
To summarize,
To sum up,

4. General Rules for Punctuating Transition Signals

SENTENCE CONNECTORS RULE EXAMPLE

beginning of sentence usually followed by a comma First, I will talk about grammar.
exceptions: now-soon-then Then I will talk about vocabulary.
middle of sentence usually (but not always) separate Some people, on the other
them with a comma or commas hand, prefer grammar.
You can also study both subjects.
end of sentence usually (but not always) separate They are both important
them with a comma or commas subjects to study, therefore.
Some people say that grammar
and vocabulary are of equal
importance, for example.
COORDINATORS RULE EXAMPLE
Use to connect two simple Put a comma after the first The students studied hard for
sentences to make a compound simple sentence (before the the exam, so they all passed it.
sentence. coordinator)
OTHERS RULE EXAMPLE
These words are adjectives and There is no special punctuation The first quality of a good
prepositions. rule that applies to all of these student is good study habits.
words.

D. USING NOUNS AND PRONOUNS CONSISTENTLY [LAW3, page 88/DCS, page 81-82]

You must use nouns and pronouns consistently throughout a paragraph (this is one of the ways you
ensure coherence). Continue to use the same nouns and pronouns you start with. For example, if you begin with
a plural noun such as students, don’t change to the singular student. Also, don’t change pronouns for no reason.
Don’t switch from he to they or you unless there is a clear reason to do so. Be consistent! If you use the pronoun
he at the beginning of your paragraph, keep it throughout. A pronoun must agree - or be consistent - with the
noun to which it refers.

Example =>Teachers are frustrated when their students don’t pay attention.
NOT =>Teachers are frustrated when her students don’t pay attention.
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TIP => Use a plural noun rather than a singular noun when writing about a group of people of both genders.

Awkward =>A student must wear his or her ID badge at all times.
Better =>Students must wear their ID badges at all times.

Practice DCS, page 82, Exercise 8 & 9 LAW3, page 88-89, Practice 6 & 7

E. SENTENCE STRUCTURE

1. Review - Fragments

In English you must ALWAYS have at least one subject and one verb in every sentence. If you leave out
either the subject or the verb, your sentence is incomplete. An incomplete sentence is called a fragment, and it is
a sentence error.

EXAMPLE Is not easy to get an A in that class. (There is no subject.)

CORRECTION It is not easy to get an A in that class. (Add a subject.)
EXAMPLE People in Dubai always in a hurry. (There is no verb.)
CORRECTION People in Dubai are always in a hurry. (Add a verb.)

Practice Correct the following fragments and write what is missing from the sentence.

a) Adwa and Arwa the funniest students in the class.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

b) Is very dusty today; a storm is coming.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

c) My brother the youngest in our family.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Run-Ons & Comma Splices [LAW3, page 96-98]

Run-ons and comma splices are similar errors. Both happen when you join sentences incorrectly.

A run-on happens when you join two simple sentences without a comma and without a connecting word.
Men like to shop quickly women like to browse.

A comma splice happens when you join two simple sentences with a comma, but without a connecting word.
Men like to shop quickly, women like to browse.

There are 3 ways to correct run-on and comma splice errors.

1. Join the two sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
Men like to shop quickly, but women like to browse.

2. Make two simple sentences. Separate the two sentences with a period (full stop).
Men like to shop quickly. Women like to browse.

3. If you wish to show the relationship between the two sentences, add a sentence connector and a comma to
the second sentence.
Men like to shop quickly. However, women like to browse.

Tips to help you recognize run-ons & comma splices – DO THIS WITH YOUR WRITING!!

1. Check all sentences that have a comma in the middle.

My best subject is computer science, my worst subject is English. =>comma splice

What is the first subject in this sentence? What verb goes with it? Read further. Is there another subject with its
own verb? If the answer is yes, look for a coordinating conjunction. If there is none, then this is a run-on
sentence.
My best subject is computer science. My worst subject is English.
OR My best subject is computer science, and my worst subject is English.

2. Read a long sentence aloud. Sometimes reading aloud helps you to recognize where a new sentence should
begin.
Advertising is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States more than $200 billion is spent on
advertising and advertising-related activities each year. =>run-on
When you read the sentence aloud, do you pause between United States and more? More is the first word of a
new sentence.
Advertising is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States. More than $200 billion is spent on
advertising and advertising-related activities each year.

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3. Look for words like then, also, and therefore in the middle of a sentence. These words are danger words
because they frequently occur in run-on sentences.
We drove into the city, then we spent thirty minutes looking for a parking space. =>comma splice
We drove into the city then we spent thirty minutes looking for a parking space. =>run-on

We drove into the city, and then we spent thirty minutes looking for a parking space. =>compound sentence
We drove into the city and spent thirty minutes looking for a parking space. =>simple sentence
We drove into the city. Then we spent thirty minutes looking for a parking space. =>two simple sentences

Practice LAW3, pages 97 & 98 Practice 12 & 13

Correct the following run-on sentence in each of the three ways (if possible).

We took the train out of the city then we spent the day at the beach swimming and sunbathing.

1. _________________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________________________________

Correct the following comma splice in each of the three possible ways.

My daughters love to spend hours at the mall, I don’t like being there that long.

1. _________________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________________________________

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 UNIT 4
(Cause & Effect Paragraphs)
LAW3: Ch. 7

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 UNIT 4 - COMPOSITION SKILLS

A. VOCABULARY

WORD MEANING EXAMPLE SYNONYMS

cause Noun =>a person or thing that acts in such a Burning fossil fuels is a cause of =>reason
way that some specific thing happens as a global warming. =>factor
result/the producer of an effect
Lack of exercise is one cause of
obesity.
Verb =>to be the cause of/to bring about
something
Smoking can cause lung can
effect =>something that is produced by an agency or One effect of global warming is =>result
cause melting icebergs. =>impact

Another effect of smoking is lung

cancer.

Lack of exercise can affect your

affect (verb) =>to act on; produce an effect or health.
change in something

B. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (COORDINATORS) Reference: LAW3, pp. 241 and 243 (Appendix)

*Important Note: Pay attention to the sentence structure of nor in the chart below.

COORDINATOR WHAT IT DOES EXAMPLE

yet Has almost the same meaning as I was scared, yet I was also curious to see what
but - shows contrast or joins happened at the end of the movie.
opposites. Use yet when the
second part of the sentence shows The weather is beautiful, yet it is supposed to rain
something unexpected or today.
surprising.
for Has the same meaning as because; It is not easy to be a student, for you have to work
use for to introduce a cause or very hard.
reason.
I can't go to the party, for I have to study for an exam
tonight.
nor Means "not this and not that"; use CORRECT => She didn't talk, nor did she move.
nor to join two negative
sentences. The book isn't very long, nor is it difficult to read.
Use question word order after (Combining: The book isn't very long. It isn't difficult
nor. to read.)

INCORRECT => She didn't talk, nor she didn't move.

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Practice Join the two sentences in each of the following pairs by using a comma and one of these
coordinating conjunctions: yet, for, nor.

1. I do not like going to bed late. I do not like getting up early.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2. I do not like running. Three years ago, I decided to run in a race with my daughters.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

3. I do not run anymore. I broke my shoulder the last time I went running.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

4. I love the constant warm temperatures in Saudi Arabia. I miss the cold winters in Canada.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

5. My mother did not like dogs. She did not like cats.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

6. I need to save money this year. I want to travel in Asia next summer.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

C. CLAUSES

A clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject and one verb. There are two kinds of clauses in
English: independent and dependent.

1. Independent Clause - is a simple sentence (2 or more independent clauses can be joined with coordinators to
form a compound sentence)
Anna left the party early. (simple sentence)

2. Dependent Clause- cannot be a sentence by itself - it depends on something else to complete its meaning.

because she was tired (fragment)

Anna left the party early because she was tired. (complete sentence)

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D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (SUBORDINATORS)

Subordinating conjunctions join an independent and a dependent clause in a complex sentence.

Independent Clause She didn't want to swim.

Dependent Clause because she was tired
Complex Sentence She didn't want to swim because (subordinator) she was tired.

Subordinator What it does Example

because signals a reason for something Arwa is good at sports because she trains hard.
since signals a reason for something Since she works out daily, Hayat is in great shape.
as signals a reason for something As they want to do well, they study every day.

E. CAUSE/EFFECT TRANSITION SIGNALS LAW3, page 161-165

1. Signals to Show Causes

Sentence Connectors Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions Others

for because because of
since due to
as as a result of

2. Signals to Show Effects

Sentence Connectors Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions Others

Therefore, so
Thus,
Consequently,
As a result,

3. Sentence Connectors (Transition Words)

connect one sentence to the sentence that comes before it

usually come at the beginning of the sentence, BUT can be in the middle or at the end of the sentence
are usually followed by a comma (unless they are at the end of the sentence).

I studied for the exam. Therefore, I got a good mark.

I studied for the exam. I, therefore, got a good mark.
I studied for the exam. I got a good mark, therefore.

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4. Coordinating Conjunctions (coordinators)

=>join 2 or more simple sentences (independent clauses) into 1 compound sentence

=>put a comma after the first independent clause (before the coordinator)

I care about my education, so I do my best.

I do my best, for I care about my education.
I brush my teeth every day, for I care about my health.

5. Subordinating Conjunctions (subordinators)

=>join an independent clause and a dependent clause to make a complex sentence

=>the dependent clause can come before or after an independent clause
=>use a comma when a dependent clause comes before an independent clause

I do my best because I care about my education.

As I care about my education, I do my best.
I do my best since I care about my education.

6. Others

=>because of, due to, and as a result of are connective prepositions – use them before nouns, noun phrases, or
pronouns to make a prepositional phrase
=>prepositional phrase can come before or after an independent clause
=>use a comma when a prepositional phrase comes before an independent clause

I prefer to take the bus because of the cost of taxis.

preposition noun

Due to the cost of taxis, I prefer to take the bus.

Prepositional phrase independent clause

As a result of my decision, I have saved a lot of money.

Prepositional phrase independent clause

I have saved a lot of money as a result of my decision.

independent clause Prepositional phrase

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 UNIT 5
(Process Paragraphs)
LAW3: Ch. 5
DCS: Ch. 5

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 UNIT 5 - COMPOSITION SKILLS
A. PARTS OF SPEECH

WORD PART OF SPEECH DEFINITION EXAMPLE

process verb to treat or prepare by a particular The university will process your
series of actions application as soon as possible.
process noun a series of actions (steps) directed to The process of making bread is
some end quite simple.

B. REVIEW
1. Simple Sentences (LAW3, page 14)
A simple sentence is an independent clause that has at least one subject-verb pair. The subject(S) tells
who or what did something, and the verb (V) tells the action (walk, eat, think) or condition (is, seems). A simple
sentence can have one of several possible “formulas” such as SV, SSV, SVV, and SSVV.

Practice Write simple sentences using each of the above formulas.

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Compound Sentences (page 40 LAWS)

A compound sentence has two or more subject-verb pairs. It is composed of at least two simple
sentences (independent clauses) joined by a comma and a coordinator (coordinating conjunction). A compound
sentence has the following “formula”: SV/comma/coordinator/SV.

The gold disappeared with the mice , so the greedy man got nothing.
S V comma coordinator S V
There are 7 coordinators (coordinating conjunctions): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (FANBOYS)

Practice Write 3 compound sentences. Use a different coordinator for each sentence.

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________________________

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C. CLAUSES (page 112 LAWS)

A clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject and one verb.

EX. Anna left the party early. because she was tired
There are two kinds of clauses in English: independent and dependent.

An independent clause can be a sentence by itself; it is another name for a simple sentence.
=>Anna left the party early.

A dependent clause, on the other hand, cannot be a sentence by itself because its meaning is not complete. A
dependent clause “depends” on something else to complete its meaning. If a clause begins with a subordinator,
then it is a dependent clause.
=>because she was tired

D. SUBORDINATORS (page 113 LAW3 & page 101 DCS)

Subordinators (subordinating conjunctions) are words that connect a dependent clause to an

independent clause to make one sentence. Like coordinators, subordinators can be used to show different things.
Time subordinators begin a clause that tells when something happens. Reason subordinators begin a clause that
tells why something happens. Place subordinators begin a clause that tells where something happens or where
something is located. Condition subordinators begin a clause that tells the condition under which something may
or may not happen.

SUBORDINATOR SHOWS EXAMPLE

TIME
after He goes to school after he finishes work.
as* Several cars passed me as I was waiting.**
as soon as She felt better as soon as she took the medicine.
the moment that The moment that the bell rang, I left the class.
once Once the bell rang, I left the class.
before Before you eat your dessert, you have to eat your vegetables.
You have to eat your vegetables before you eat your dessert.
since* It has been almost four years since I left home.
until We can’t leave the classroom until the lesson is over.
when When you are fourteen, you can start high school.
whenever Whenever I spend time with my sister, we have so much fun.
while Several cars passed me while I was waiting.**
REASON
because Adwa plays the violin well because she practises every night.
Because she practices every night, Adwa plays the violin well.
since* Since she exercises daily, Marwa is in great shape.
as* As they want to pass the course, they study every night.

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 PURPOSE
so that I studied hard so that I would do well on the exam.
CONDITION
if If your teacher gives you rules, you should follow them.
unless Don’t use a dictionary until the teacher says you can.

* Both as and since can be used either as a time subordinator or a reason subordinator.

** Both as and while can be used in the same way as time subordinators.

Practice It was said that the dependent clauses starting with before and because can go at the beginning of
the sentence (notice the difference in punctuation). Choose 4 examples from above and change the order of the
clauses. You may have to add punctuation.

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________________________

E. COMPLEX SENTENCES (page 112 LAW3)

A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause(s).
Usually, the clauses can be in any order. However, the punctuation is different.

=>Anna left the party early because she was tired.

independent clause dependent clause

=>Because she was tired, Anna left the party early.

dependent clause independent clause

Comma Rule In a complex sentence, when the independent clause comes first, do not separate the clauses
with a comma. When the dependent clause comes first, separate the clauses with a comma.

=>The student arrived late because she wasn’t feeling well.

=>Because she wasn’t feeling well, the student arrived late.

Practice Practice 7 & 8 (pages 114-115 LAWS)

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F. CONNECTING WORDS

TIME ORDER SIGNALS EXAMPLE

First, (Second, etc.) => First of all, First of all, gather all the ingredients you will need.
Next, Next, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
After that, After that, make the crust for the pizza.
Then (no comma) Then add tomato sauce and toppings to the crust.
Meanwhile, Meanwhile, have someone grate cheese to put on the top.
Finally, Finally, cut the pizza into eight pieces.
Now (no comma) Now the whole family can enjoy a delicious supper.
OTHERS
The first step is (no comma) The first step is to gather all your materials.
The next step is (no comma) The next step is to make the pizza
The final step is (no comma) The final step is to put the pizza in the oven.
After five minutes, After five minutes, check the pizza.
After you take the pizza out of the oven, After you take the pizza out of the oven, cut it into 8 pieces.
Last, Last, you can enjoy the delicious meal you made.
at once/right away You should eat the pizza at once/right away.

Practice Practice 3 & 4 (pages 107-108 LAW3)

Last Updated 1.24.18 SML

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