Rambling Sentences

Rambling or run-on sentences are sentences that contain several clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions such as: and, or, but, yet, for, nor, and so.

A rambling sentence may appear to follow the technical rules of grammar in places, but the sentence as a whole is wrong because it rambles.

I was happy to walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid in my sister’s wedding, but I was very embarrassed when I stumbled in the middle of the ceremony, for when I recovered, I looked up and saw my sister and I thought she was going to faint, because I could see her standing in the doorway waiting to begin her own walk down the aisle, and her face was all white, she looked like she was going to throw up.

Much of this looks correct, because the various clauses are connected correctly (except one comma splice). Don’t hesitate to break up sentences that ramble:

I was happy to walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid in my sister’s wedding. However, I was very embarrassed when I stumbled in the middle of the ceremony--especially when I recovered. I looked up and saw my sister and I thought she was going to faint. I could see her standing in the doorway, waiting to begin her own walk down the aisle. Her face was all white and she looked like she was going to throw up!

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Microsoft Word Shortcuts and Tricks

Did you know that you can press CTRL + ] and increase your font size by one point?

There are lots of shortcuts and tricks you can use when typing your paper in Microsoft Word. Have you ever tried to find the command for a hanging indent for a bibliography? It always seems to be in a strange place.

You can actually create the hanging indent by highlighting your text and pressing CTRL + T. You might be able to write your paper much faster by learning these Microsoft Word shortcuts.

Photo by Tom Denham

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No More Hand-Raising?

A few schools in the U.K. have decided to put a stop to an age-old tradition. Children in these schools are prohibited from raising hands when they have a question or a comment. Instead, students are asked to do a "thumbs-up" gesture when asking to speak.

Educators decided that hand-raising can be disruptive, and one teacher suggested that the act of raising hands might put off some less aggressive students by requiring them to "put their ideas forward in a forceful way." It's true that some students can get a little overly enthusiastic with their excited hand-waving.

What do you think? Is a thumbs up better than a hands up?

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Passive Voice

Students hear a lot about passive voice, but sometimes it takes them awhile to understand what makes a verb passive or active. To figure this out, students must concentrate on the subject and the verb of a sentence.

In active voice, the subject is performing the action (doing the verb). In the following sentences the verbs are in active voice.

Rob hit the baseball pretty hard.
John broke my favorite dish.
Laura took my beach towel.
Stephanie ate the entire pie.

Observe that the verb is in the passive voice in each sentence below. Notice that the subject is not acting; instead the subject is being acted upon.

The baseball was hit pretty hard.
My favorite dish was broken by John.
My beach towel was taken.
The entire pie was eaten by Stephanie.

Notice that the verbs in passive voice are preceded by “was,” which is a form of “be.” One way to recognize passive voice is to look for a form of “be” preceding the verb.

The pickle was eaten.
The pickle is eaten.
The pickle will be eaten.
The pickle has been eaten.
The pickle had been eaten.
The pickle will have been eaten.

The sentences above all make it very clear that a pickle is, was, or will be eaten—but we cannot tell from these sentences who is actually eating. The phrases leave us wondering a little, and that is why teachers don’t like to see too much passive voice in your writing.

Passive voice tends to be vague, while active voice is direct and clear.

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Field Trip Rules

Field trip days are often the best days of the entire school year. Most students look forward to this day for weeks or months! That's why it is important that you mind some basic rules to keep the trip safe and enjoyable.

For a Safe Field Trip

Don't get reckless on the bus. You don't want your day to end early, do you? Misbehavior on the bus can get you into trouble and ruin your day. You could end up sitting on the bus while the others enjoy the destination.

Don't wander off. Listen carefully when the teacher gives instructions about sticking with the group or sticking with an assigned partner-even when going to the restroom. Don't ever wander off on your own, or your trip could end badly. If you break this rule, you could end up with the teacher as your partner!

Respect the chaperones. You should respect any chaperones and listen to them as you would your own teacher or parents. Chaperones have a big responsibility, watching after so many students at one time. They can't afford to give too much attention to one "squeaky wheel," so they will probably be intolerant to distractions. Don't be disruptive.

Respect nature. Some field trips will take you into contact with animals or plants. For your own safety, be mindful of potential dangers and don't assume you can tug, pull, tease, or touch things safely.

Don't roughhouse. You may visit a factory containing equipments with moving parts, or a museum with rooms full of pottery and glass, or a riverside with fast-running water. Kids don't always think about the dangers that come with certain places, so think about the potential hazards before you go, and remember not to push or pull on friends.

Keep an eye on the clock. If you are supposed to meet your group for lunch or for loading onto the bus, you should keep an eye on the time. You don't want to miss lunch, and you surely don't want to be left behind.

For a Fun Field Trip

Arrive in plenty of time to get on the bus. You don't want to miss the fun day because you ran into heavy traffic. Plan ahead and leave early.

Eat and drink in designated places. Don't assume you can buy a soda from a machine and drink it anywhere. Your destination site might have strict limitations when it comes to drinking or eating on site.

Dress for hot and cold. If it's a warm day, it could be really cold inside a building. If it's cold outside, it could be steamy inside! Try to dress in layers so you can add and subtract as necessary.

Don't litter. You can be banned from some locations for this. Don't be sent back to the bus!

Bring comfort items for the ride. If you are facing a long bus ride, ask if you can bring a pillow or small cover for comfort.

For a Smart Field Trip

Bring along a small recording device or a notebook-because you know there will be a follow-up assignment or quiz.

Pay attention to any speakers. If your teacher has arranged a speaker, and if a speaker takes time out of his/her day to share wisdom with you, don't ignore it! This trip is for your education. Oh-and there probably will be a quiz.

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Primary Sources

Have you ever read a diary? If so, you have already consulted a primary source. This type of source is a valuable tool to get the researcher as close to the original thoughts or events as possible.

If you really want to make your research project stand out, it’s a good idea to take the necessary time to find a good primary source that reflects something relevant to your topic.

Most primary sources are unpublished materials, although they don’t have to be. A letter, memoir, or even some government records are all examples.

Several libraries have “special collections” or archives where they keep just such records. But sometimes, you don’t have to go that far. Primary sources can also show up in your grandmother’s attic!

Here’s an example of a primary source that would make your research project zing. Imagine that you’re doing a research paper on “Women in the Vietnam War.” Do you have a relative who served? If so, you may find a diary or letter in your family collections that reflect the feelings of women who went—or even those who stayed at home, worrying about a loved one.

That letter would make a great contribution to your paper! But you don’t have to worry if your family didn’t write things down. If you know someone who had a relevant experience, you can interview that person. The interview would be considered as a relevant source, sometimes called an oral history.

No matter what topic you choose, you’ll improve your paper with diverse sources. A first-hand account from your elders would likely enhance your paper and your grade!

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Brave New World

Title Author and Publication:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley was published in 1932 by Harper & Brothers of New York.

Setting:

Brave New World is set primarily in London of 2540 AD, though a portion of the novel transpires in the New Mexico Savage Reservation. The world is now governed as one state. This futuristic setting is home to a very technologically advanced society in which people are engineered to be born as members of one of five different castes. The technology utilized in this society plays a very significant role in the novel.

Main Characters:

John the Savage, considered an outsider to the World State. Born on the reservation to a citizen who became lost there during a visit, John is the ultimate example of the alienated man. He can not fit into the life of the Indians on the reservation, nor can he assimilate into the dehumanizing society of the State.
Bernard Marx, an alpha male who does not quite measure up to the standards of his class. Bernard wants more than anything to belong and he strives to bury his feelings of inadequacy and difference.
Helmholtz Watson, also an alpha male who seems a misfit to society, but because of his superior ability. Helmholtz is a philosopher and deep thinker who would like to have more meaning in his life than the shallow world he occupies will allow.
Mustapha Mond, one of the World Controllers and a very powerful man who sold out his beliefs in science and advancement to save himself from exile. Linda, John’s mother, Linda desires more than anything a return to the life she once knew as a member of the World State.

Plot:

Brave New World begins as a futuristic story of a Utopian society. As the story unfolds and the true nature of this ‘ideal society’ is revealed, it looks less and less appealing.

The story really begins with Bernard Marx’s discovery of John the Savage and his mother, Linda, on the reservation. John’s celebrity and the scandalous nature of his birth are used by Marx to guarantee his safety and to give him the popularity he craves. The degree to which people have had their humanity stripped from them causes John great distress and he must eventually find a way to reconcile the world as it is with his own ideals.

Ultimately all the characters of the novel are forced to either assimilate or to accept exile from the World State. Each character must examine their value systems and their consciences in order to come to terms with the events of the story.

Symbols

Symbols are objects, people or ideas which represent an abstract concept. Consider the importance of the following symbols as you read the novel.

Soma, the drug used to supply happiness to the population
Fordism, the new religion of society
Shakespeare, the works of which are often quoted by John
The Class System, society is divided into 5 castes, the highest being the most intelligent and the lowest the least intelligent.

Questions to Ponder:

Consider these questions as you read the novel. The topics will help you form a thesis for your report.

Relating to the thematic idea of technology vs. humanity:

• Soma is said to provide happiness to the people. What is its larger purpose?
• In what ways does the state control the individual?
• Would you like to live in Huxley’s Brave New World? Why or why not?
• Why is consumerism so important to the state?

Examine the idea of Man’s need to belong.

• How do the different characters interpret the idea of belonging and to what lengths are they willing to go to achieve it?
• What role does religion play in the world Huxley draws?
• How has human sexuality changed and what is its fundamental purpose?

Beginning Sentences for Your Report:

If you have trouble getting started, you can consider the following suggestions to get you started.

”What is happiness?”
“A real Utopian society is only possible in theory.”
“Without individuality, society stagnates.”
“Freedom always has its price.”

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