November 4, 2024

Happy Monday!
I hope you all enjoyed this past weekend and are raring to go tonight! As always, let's make the most of every moment in class, and also, as always, please be sure to practice your skills at home and READ every single day!!

Part One
Idiom of the Day
Al tried his best to find the perfect job. He went on two interviews without any luck, but when he was called to interview once more, his friend John said, "Third time's the charm!"

What should you do to figure out this idiom's meaning?

Tell what the meaning is in your own words.

Have you had an experience in which you could also say the third time's the charm? 

Part Two
Root of the Week: Con-
Origin: Latin
Meaning: together, with
Examples: conference, confident, confidant, connect, congregate (congregation), condense (in writing), 

Let's first discuss the meaning of each of the examples above, and then we will try to fit them into the blanks in the sentences below.

1. We will all ____________________________________ at the meeting in order to discuss what our next steps will be to get the new law passed.
2. He is ___________________________________ that he will do well on the GED test because he has prepared for months!!
​3. Sometimes, it is better to ____________________________ your writing, using fewer adjectives and more effective verbs!
4. Traci is Janella's ___________________________________; Traci can tell her all her secrets, and she knows Janella will never tell others a thing!
5. Job Fairs are great places in which you can _______________________________ with others, including those in hiring positions at companies that interest you.
6. Let's all attend the 2024 Writing _____________________________________ in which we learn new methods and meet publishers who want to put our words into print!

Part Three
Literary Term of the Day: Adage
Meaning: An adage is a brief piece of wisdom, such as "two heads are better than one." It is often an older "saying" that is used to give us advice! It differs from an idiom in that it is more serious in nature and often more formal, while an idiom is often more informal and will not make sense if you interpret it literally!

Adage example: A penny saved is a penny earned.

Adage example: Rome wasn't built in a day.

Adage example: Where there's a will, there's a way.

Adage example: Slow and steady wins the race (as in the Aesop fable we spoke about!).

Adage example: Better late than never.

​In contrast:
Idiom example: I decided to "break the ice" and finally speak to someone at the party I did not know very well.

Even though we have to think about meaning in each sentence above, the purpose of each adage is to teach us something or to help us to better understand a situation. The purpose of the idiom is to twist the language (figuratively) so that we have to decipher its meaning, which is often a way to bring excitement to our writing! An idiom taken out of context usually does not make sense!

Your Writing Assignment: Look at the adage examples above, and select one that definitely has a place in your life. Write a paragraph about a time when you could have said that exact adage to someone you knew (or even to yourself in your own situation), being sure to convey its meaning. We will share these as a class when you finish! Remember to use five complete sentences in your paragraph!

Part Four
Grammar Challenge
Direct Object and Indirect Object Review

Directions: Answer each of the following questions related to direct and indirect objects as carefully as you can!

1. I gave the book to Joe.
Name the direct object:

2. Teresa walked her dog.
Name the direct object:

3. I gave Laura a present.
Name the direct object:

4. Did you see the new movie?
Name the direct object:

5. I asked Terence a question.
Name the indirect object:

6. Give Sara your essay to edit.
Name the indirect object:

7. I threw the football to Devon.
Name the indirect object:

Bonus: Can you find the direct object in the sentence below? There is only one!!
Next, can you find all the prepositional phrases? There are four!!

Students from SCALE went on a field trip and bought lunch from a restaurant along the way.

Your Turn:
Use the index card on your table to create four sentences that include either a direct object or an indirect object (or both!). Do not indicate what they are in any way, but instead show me your work as soon as you finish your creations. You may then switch and solve for direct and indirect objects with another student in our class! Enjoy!!