"Why We Crave Horror Movies"

What is your greatest fear? Do you agree with Stephen King that "we're all mentally ill; those of use outside the asylums only hide it better--and maybe not that much better, after all?" (paragraph 1). Explain.

Please respond to another students' post after you post your own.

I apologize again for the late post (I teach in the afternoon and have limited internet access), so posting until the morning is ok.

Note: There will be a short quiz tomorrow on the "main idea" of the reading.

"My Inner Shrimp"

Dear Students,
I apologize for the late post!! If you would like, you can submit your post by tomorrow before class. Here is the question:

Has Trudeau completely overcome his high school anxiety? Support your response with material from the essay.

Best of luck!

Miss Golden

"Dying to Be Bigger" Letter to a Friend

Hello students!
For this blog, imagine that your friend is a great athlete and wants to try steroids. Write your friend a letter in which you persuade him/her not to use this drug. Consider all of the negative side effects from the reading, and use your own words to describe some of them to your friend.
Your letter should be about one paragraph.

Note: You do not have to respond to any other students' blogs this week.

"Text Messaging" Reading Question- due Wednesday by 9:00 pm

In your own words, write a brief summary of this reading.
(There is no word limit for the response, but make sure that your summary has enough specific details that are important in the reading!)

Lecture Noes, June 30

The Simple Tenses

SIMPLE PRESENT – Use mainly to state facts or opinions and talk about how frequently something happens (habits).

1. California is a beautiful state.

2. Jim never has a second cup of coffee at home.

3. People always take too long at the ATM machine.

4. He sometimes rides the bus to school.

Examples:

SIMPLE PAST – Use this tense to talk about a specific event in the past, to tell a story, or to talk about how something used to be. (completed action in the past!)

1. Last night, Alice watched an episode of The O.C.

2. First, we went to the store. Then, we bought roast beef. Finally, we made chili.

3. Jim was a good man. He never talked bad about anyone behind his back. He always looked on the bright side of life. I sure liked Jim.

Examples:

“You’re Looking Tense” Part 1

SIMPLE FUTURE – Use this to talk about what will happen in the future. (use will or be + going to + verb)

1. I will take a test tomorrow.

2. They are going to drive to Los Angeles next week.

4. The President is going to speak tomorrow.

3. Vivian will be the next American Idol.

Examples:

**notice that when you use will + a verb, the verb is always in simple form, so it does not take an –s or an –ed or an –ing or any other ending you can think of!

PROGRESSIVE TENSES

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE – Use present progressive to talk about what is happening right now. (use be + -ing. Make sure be agrees with the subject.)

1. Right now, you are reading this sentence.

2. Now, you are thinking about cheese.

3. I am writing this sentence.

Examples:

PAST PROGRESSIVE – Use past progressive to talk about what was happening at some point in the past.

1. Jake was walking along, minding his own business, when a crazy squirrel jumped out of a tree and landed on his face.

2. Stan was yelling at Cartman when Kenny suddenly died.

3. Mehdi, Olivia, and Le were floating in Sam’s pool one lazy afternoon.

Examples:

YOU’RE LOOKING RATHER TENSE, PART 2

( and being TENSE can lead to STRESS)

PRESENT PERFECT have or has + past participle (-ed, -en)

USE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS IN THE PAST, BUT NOT SPECIFIC INCIDENTS

Just to say something happened, or never happened, without reference to when:

1. Sam has been to Florida.

2. Ami and Stella have gone to the beach.

To talk about repetition of an activity, or how many times it has happened:

1. Monica has seen The Notebook three times because she likes it so much.

2. Michelle has acted in many plays.

To talk about a situation that began in the past and continues (with for or since)

1. Dat has been alive for eighteen years.

2. Since she was very young, April has loved movies about gladiators.

PAST PERFECT had + past participle

THE PAST PERFECT EXPRESSES AN ACTIVITY THAT WAS COMPLETED BEFORE ANOTHER ACTIVITY OR TIME IN THE PAST

1. Everyone had left by the time Abdu arrived.

2. Until I began junior high, I had been a straight-A student.

3. I had been happy for ten years straight, but then I had a bad day and I’ve been grouchy ever since.

"Does Sex Still Sell?"

Please respond to the questions below in your own words. Then, respond to another student's post. Posts are due by Wednesday, June 25th by 8:00 PM. There will be a short reading quiz on Thursday morning in class on comprehension of this reading. Your responses should be approximately 150-250 words (about one big paragraph).

What kind of songs were popular when this article was published? Why do the authors believe this is so? (see first part of essay). How do social and economic conditions affect our preferences? Which pop star has played the "sex card" most often? What effect has this had on her music?

Lecture Notes, Monday June 23rd

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Singular Verb (-s /-es)

à singular nouns (education, Joe, writing, the burrito)

1. The burrito looks terrible.

à 3^rd person singular pronoun (he, she, it)

1. She goes to Trader Joe’s instead of regular supermarkets.

2. It looks terrible.

Plural Verb (no -s)

à plural nouns (chickens, my parents, noodles)

1. Noodles cook quickly and easily.

à two or more subjects connected by and:

1. Pizza and Soda form a perfect combination.

2. Stan, Kyle, and Kenny live in South Park.

EXCEPTION – Every and Each

1. Every man, woman, and child needs food.

2. Each dog and cat in the pound needs a good home.

The Comma

Main Uses:

1. Separate two independent clauses (along with a coordinating conjunction)

Ex. I would go with you, but I am violently ill.

2. Introductory Elements

Ex. During the film’s climax, Terrence fell asleep.

Ex. Because I am an only child, I expect extra gifts for my birthday.

Ex. To get a degree, you must first pass this class.

3. Items in a series

Ex. For the party I will need cheese, sausages, grapefruits, and cinnamon.

Ex. The couple strolled down the boulevard, through the park, and into the Del Taco.

4. Multiple adjectives

Ex. The skinny, ragged cat searched the dumpster for something to eat.

5. Parenthetical Expressions

Ex. The tacos were, in my opinion, delicious.

Ex. The three-bean salad, however, was not.

The Semicolon ;

6. Separate two independent clauses (no coordinating conjunction)

Ex. The students all came to class on time; there was no need to wait for anyone.

7. Between independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb

Ex. I want to go on a road trip this summer; however, the high price of gas might force me to stay home.

Modal-thon

Introduction (9-1)

Modals are used to express speakers’ attitudes.

Basic Modals:

can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would

Phrasal Modals (more than one word):

be able to, be going to, be supposed to, have to, used to

**Note: Modals do not take final –s when subject is he/she/it

Correct: She can do it

Incorrect: She cans do it.

Polite Requests

“I” as subject:

1. May I take a bite of your sandwich?

2. Could I borrow your shoe for a minute?

*3. Can I get that five dollars I let you borrow? (less polite)

“You” as subject:

1. Would you hold my purse for a second?

2. Will you accompany me to the dance?

3. Could you pick me up from Yoga class tomorrow?

*4. Can you take out the trash, please?

Polite Request: Would you Mind

Asking Permission: use simple past tense

1. Would you mind if I used your phone?

Asking someone to do something: with –ing

2. Would you mind closing the door?

Necessity

Must, have to, have got to

1. All students must pass the GWT to graduate.

2. She has to go to a meeting.

3. I have got to* eat something before I perish. (informal)

Lack of Necessity and Prohibition

Do not have to = lack of necessity

Must not = prohibition

1. You don’t have to yell. I can hear you.

2. You must not tell anyone my secret.

Advisability

Should, ought to, had better*

1. You should pay for parking tickets before they go up.

2. You ought to repay your friends if they lend you money.

3. *You had better stop to get gas. You’re almost out! *(sometimes used for threats, such as “You’d better give me some money, or else!”)

Past Form of Should

Should Have + past participle: Often used to express past regret

1. We should have seen a different movie

2. Scotty should have studied more for the test.

*3. They should not have remade The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

(often used as a conjunction “shouldn’t have”)

Expectations

Be Supposed To: Expresses ideas about scheduled events

1. I am supposed to write a paper this weekend.

2. The show is supposed to start at ten.

3. Florence was supposed to bring us cookies.

Making Suggestions

Could: make suggestions

Should: Gives definite advice.

1. We could go to Florida this summer.

ADVICE: 2. We shouldn’t go to Florida this summer, or any summer.

ADVICE: 3. We could go to South Dakota instead.