GTTP Discussion Lesson Four

Group Discussion

We are almost through the entire course.  Write 300-500 words about how this course has helped your reviewing of other people's work.

I have not been able to do much reviewing but the little I have done, which includes reviewing my own things, I notice I have been much more aware where to place needed punctuation and where I have placed it wrongly.

I have not learned all the rules by heart but understand the rules pretty well and can refer to them when I feel in doubt of any placement problem.  I feel it has been very beneficial to have taken this class, because some questions have been answered about placement of certain punctuation. The rules about what words to put quotes around within a quoted sentence answered a big question. Though I do believe I will have to refer back to the rules when I come across this problem, I have the rules to go back to.  I also, have some trouble with what abbreviated words to capalize and put periods after.

I didn’t do so well on some of the lessons because of the confusion I felt when trying to apply rules to the work.  I seem to be able to just put the punctuation in the sentence without identifying a rule.  This is not good because I need to learn why a rule is applied.  I need to remember where I am having trouble so I can go back and work on these spots.  I can do this by going over the lessons and see where I did it wrong.

I remember I learned how to indent or use italics on a quote that is longer than three lines instead of using quotation marks.  This was helpful because I have a story that has a long quote.  I have already worked on this story and posted it in my port.

The rule about not using a colon between a verb and its objects is so helpful to know; I will catch some mistakes while reviewing.  Not a lot of writer use colons though, I think they are very uncertain of how to use them.

I have learned more about semicolons then I care to imagine.  Now I know better than to put a semicolon on a dependent clause, it needs to be two complete sentences that are related in subject and are not separated by an and, for, or but unless there is  extensive punctuation in one or more of the individual clauses.  I need to use a semicolon before introductory words such as namely, however, therefore, that is, and the like.  This rule also goes for comma usage.

I didn’t know the rule about the apostrophe use with pronouns.  It‘s a good thing to know these are words to never use it with, not just sometimes.

There are a lot of things I do not know in punctuation, but I am going to learn to recognize the usage and have the rules to fall back on.  Thanks for instructing our class Lisa, I have really enjoyed your teaching and help.  Keep up the good teaching and care of your classes.