Eng100BC Pronouns Arguments

Quiz Pronouns Argument Writing Eng100BC

Eng 100BC

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun Reference

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

What is a pronoun?

Substitutes a noun

He, she, it, her, him, they, we, us, them

What is an antecedent?

Noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to

Dr. Berto finished her rounds.

The hospital interns finished their rounds.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement Do not use plural pronouns to refer to singular

antecedents

3 Ways to correct

When someone travels outside the US for the first time, they need to apply for a passport.

Replace plural pronoun with he or she (his or her)

When someone travels outside the US for the first time, he or she needs to apply for a passport.

Make antecedent plural

When people travel outside the US for the first time, they need to apply for a passport.

Rewrite sentence to correct problem

Anyone who travels outside the US for the first time needs to apply for a passport.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement Do not use plural pronouns to refer to

singular antecedents

These indefinite pronouns are all singular

Anybody anyone anything each

Everybody either everyone everything

Nobody no one neither nothing

Somebody someone something

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement Treat collective nouns as singular unless the

meaning is clearly plural

Collective nouns are treated as a group and functions as a unit

Jury committee audience couple

Crowd class troop family team

The committee granted its permission to build.

Sometimes they act as individuals though

The committee put their signatures on the document.

Simplify by adding a clearly plural antecedent

The members of the committee put their signatures on the document.

Treat most compound antecedents joined with and as plural

In 1987, Reagan and Gorbachev held a summit where they signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

With compound antecedents joined with or or nor (or with either…or or neither…nor), make the pronoun agree with the closer antecedent

Either Bruce or Tom should receive first prize for his poem.

Neither the mouse nor the rats could find their way through the maze.

With compound antecedents joined with or or nor (or with either…or or neither…nor), make the pronoun agree with the closer antecedent

*if one antecedent is singular and the other plural, put plural one last to avoid awkwardness

*If one antecedent is male and the other female, do not follow the traditional rule

Either Bruce or Elizabeth should receive first prize for her short story.

The prize for best short story should go to either Bruce or Elizabeth.

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

1. Meteorology has made many advances in the past few decades, but they still cannot answer a number of questions about tornadoes.

Meteorology has made many advances in the past few decades, but it still cannot answer a number of questions about tornadoes.

2. Every tornado has their own unique characteristics.

Every tornado has its own unique characteristics.


3. The science of tornado watching has its own system, the Fujita scale, for measuring storms from weakest (F0) to strongest (F5).

correct

4. An F4 tornado or an F5 tornado can destroy everything in their path.

An F4 tornado or an F5 tornado can destroy everything in its path.


5. Scientists cannot yet predict how strong any tornado will be before they happen.

Scientists cannot yet predict how strong any tornado will be before it happens.

6. One mystery about tornadoes involves the last step when it forms.

One mystery about tornadoes involves the last step when they form.


7. Specialists do not know if a tornado forms in a cloud and travels to the ground or if they begin on earth and spiral upward.

Specialists do not know if a tornado forms in a cloud and travels to the ground or if it begins on earth and spirals upward.

8. Improved meteorological technology and the skill to interpret data have made their contributions to tornado prediction.

correct


9. Either a few extra minutes of warning or more information about a storm’s power would prove their effectiveness in saving lives.

Either a few extra minutes of warning or more information about a storm’s power would prove its effectiveness in saving lives.

10. People who live in a tornado zone should always know where his or her nearest safe area is.

People who live in a tornado zone should always know where their nearest safe area is.

People who live in a tornado zone should always know the location of their nearest safe zone.

Pronoun References Avoid ambiguous or remote pronoun

reference

Occurs when pronoun could refer to 2 possible antecedents

When Gloria set the pitcher on the glass-topped table, it broke.

Which object broke – the pitcher or the table?

The pitcher broke when Gloria set it on the glass-topped table.

Tom told Sam that he had won the lottery.

Who won the lottery – Tom or Sam?

Tom told Sam, “You have won the lottery.”

Pronoun References Generally, avoid broad reference of this,

that, which, it

By advertising on TV, pharmaceutical companies gain exposure for their prescription drugs. Patients respond to this by requesting drugs they might not need.

What are patients responding to – ads, companies, prescription drugs?

By advertising on TV, pharmaceutical companies gain exposure for their prescription drugs. Patients respond to the ads by requesting drugs they might not need.

Pronoun References Do not use a pronoun to refer to an

implied antecedent

A pronoun should refer to a specific antecedent, not to a word that isn’t actually in the sentence

After braiding Ann’s hair, Sue decorated them with ribbons.

What is the antecedent for the pronoun them?

After braiding Ann’s hair, Sue decorated the braids with ribbons.

Pronoun References Avoid the indefinite use of they, it, you


In June, they announced that parents would have to pay a fee.

In June, the board announced that parents would have to pay a fee.

In the encyclopedia it states that male moths can smell female moths from several miles away.

The encyclopedia states that male moths can smell female moths from several miles away.

Pronoun References

Avoid the indefinite use of they, it, you


Ms. Pickersgill’s book stipulates that you should not arrive at a party too early or leave too late.

Ms. Pickersgill’s book stipulates that a guest should not arrive at a party too early or leave too late.

Pronoun References

To refer to persons, use who, whom, whose NOT which, that

Use which, that to refer to animals or things

All thirty-two women in the study, half of which were unemployed for more than six months, reported higher self-esteem after job training.

All thirty-two women in the study, half of whom were unemployed for more than six months, reported higher self-esteem after job training.

During the two-day festival El Dia de los Muertos, Mexican families celebrate loved ones that have died.

During the two-day festival El Dia de los Muertos, Mexican families celebrate loved ones who have died.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

1. In much political analysis, they say that public distrust of the US government began with Watergate.

Many political analysts say that public distrust of the US government began with Watergate.

2. That scandal’s continuing legacy may make it one of the most influential American events of the twentieth century.

That scandal’s continuing legacy may make Watergate one of the most influential American events of the twentieth century.


3. Since the early 1970s, political scandals have rarely interested Americans; they often seem to have very little effect.

Since the early 1970s, political scandals have rarely interested Americans; the scandals often seem to have very little effect.

4. Journalists provided the American people with a lot of information about the Iran-Contra hearings, but they could not have cared less.

Journalists provided the American people with a lot of information about the Iran-Contra hearings, but the public could not have cared less.


5. Most people were indifferent; could it have been the result of post-Watergate trauma?

Could the indifference of most people have been the result of post-Watergate trauma?

6. If Americans expect politicians to be corrupt, it will not surprise or even interest them.

If Americans expect politicians to be corrupt, government scandals will not surprise or even interest them.


7. Ironically, the media’s coverage of scandals seems to have made the public suspicious of them as well.

Ironically, the media’s coverage of scandals seems to have made the public suspicious of journalists as well.

8. Cynicism about political and journalistic motives, leads to apathy and it can spread contagiously.

Cynicism about political and journalistic motives, which can spread contagiously, leads to apathy.


9. Many people are so apathetic that it makes them refuse to vote.

Many people are so apathetic that they refuse to vote.

10. If people do not believe that they can make a difference in the political process, it makes the country less democratic.

If people do not believe that they can make a difference in the political process, the country becomes less democratic.

Eng 100BC Argument Writing

What are the characteristics of argument essays?

Focuses on an arguable, clearly defined, and narrowed issue

States a specific claim in a thesis

More standards are needed to protect children in day-care centers.

Statewide standards are needed to regulate the child-to-caregiver ratio and the qualifications of workers in day-care centers.

The use of animals in testing should be prohibited.

The testing of cosmetics and skin-care products on animals should be prohibited.

Depends on careful audience analysis

Agreeing audiences, neutral or wavering audiences, disagreeing audiences

Presents reasons supported by convincing evidence


Follows a logical line of reasoning

Inductive reasoning

Begin with evidence and moves to a conclusion

Conclusion becomes claim

Deductive reasoning

Begins with a commonly accepted statement or premise and shows how a conclusion follows from it

Thesis: Because early childhood programs are likely to increase the readiness of at-risk children to attend school, state funding for Kids First should be continued.

Major premise: State-funded early childhood programs have increased the readiness of at-risk children to attend school.

Minor premise: Kids First is a popular early childhood program in our state.

Conclusion: Kids First is likely to increase the readiness of at-risk children to attend school.


Appeals to readers’ needs and values

Emotional appeals

Recognizes opposing views

Acknowledge

Admit that it exists and show that you have considered it

Readers opposed to mandatory school uniforms may argue that a uniform requirement will not eliminate peer pressure because students will use other objects to gain status.

Acknowledge this viewpoint by admitting that there isn’t any way to stop teens from finding ways to compete for status


Accommodate

Acknowledge readers’ concerns, accept some of them, incorporate them into own argument

Accommodate viewpoint that uniforms won’t eliminate peer pressure but they will eliminate one major and expensive means of status competition.

Refute

Demonstrate weakness of opponent’s argument

Argument Prewrite

Choose one of the following topics:

Buying American-made products

Professional athletes and celebrities as role models

Mandatory drug testing for high school extracurricular activities

Write the issue at the top of a piece of paper.

Divide the list into two columns.

List pros in one column and cons in the other.

Group like ideas together.

Complete outline.

Argument Plan

For next Wednesday…

Rough draft either Classification/Division or argument

Worksheets for Chapter 4 and Chapter 9 readings

Worksheets on numbers, who/whom, misplaced & dangling modifiers

Eng100BC Pronouns Arguments

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