https://class.coursera.org/basicwriting-002/lecture/17?s=e

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I have to say that this course is really challenging me and inspiring me to want to do better. I really love the workload, and how the professors are so communicable and not dry. I enjoy learning this way so very much.

PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions are words that connect nouns and pronouns to other words and show the relationship between the words. While there are hundreds of prepositions, some of the more common prepositions are:

 

about along behind beyond during inside off over to up

above among below but except into on since toward upon

across around beneath by for like onto through under with

after at beside despite from near out throughout underneath within

against before between down in of outside till until without

 

Even though knowing individual prepositions is important, you will use prepositional phrases far more frequently. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun and includes any words that come in between the two. Study the examples below.

• in the village
• despite the extensive remodeling project
• underneath the grey blanket
• near him
• between you and me
• with her

CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are words that link other words in a sentence and indicate the relationship between those words. There are four types of conjunctions:

1. coordinating conjunctions
2. correlative conjunctions
3. adverbial conjunctions
4. subordinating conjunctions

You will study conjunctions again in Week 4 when you study the different types of clauses. But for now, learn the four types of conjunctions as subcategories of one of the eight parts of speech.

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Coordinating conjunctions join words or word groups of equal importance.
There are only seven coordinating conjunctions:
*Use the memory word FANBOYS to help you remember all seven coordinating conjunctions.

1. For
2. And
3. Nor
4. But
5. Or
6. Yet
7. So

 
Examples

• The child was crying, for he had fallen and scraped both knees.
• The man and the woman walked hand and hand down the street.
• The Tan’s did not wish to visit Alaska, nor did they wish to visit Tierra del Fuego.
• She likes tea but not coffee.
• The student could play or study, but not both.
• The young man ate breakfast, yet he was still hungry.
• The game ended, so the team left the field.

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Correlative conjunctions are word pairs that join words or words groups of equal importance.
Common correlative conjunctions include:

• not only . . . but also
• whether . . . or
• both . . . and
• not . . . but
• either . . . or
• as . . . as
• neither . . . nor

 
Examples

• They want to travel not only to Europe but also to Asia.
• I want either the red dress or the black shoes.
• I want both the red dress and the black shoes.
• Whether you clean your room or vacuum the house is up to you.

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Unlike coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions that link words and word groups, adverbial conjunctions join independent clauses, which you will study in Week 4.
Adverbial conjunctions tell the reader the relationship between the two main clauses. Below are common adverbial conjunctions organized by the relationship they specify.

Addition	Emphasis	Comparison or Contrast	Cause or Effect	Time
in addition furthermore moreover further	in fact indeed	however nevertheless nonetheless otherwise in contrast in comparison	as a result consequently hence therefore thus	finally meanwhile next

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Subordinating conjunctions are a word or group of words that introduces a subordinate clause, which you will study in Week 4.
Below are common subordinating conjunctions organized by the relationship they specify.

Cause or Effect	Concession	Condition	Comparison or Contrast	Purpose	Space or Time
as because since	though although even though even if	if since unless when whenever	while as rather than	in order that so that	before since once after while when until

Study these charts, for you will be referring to them throughout the course. You should become familiar with these words and the corresponding organizational relationship. They will help you to improve your thought and sentences as you write.

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PARTS OF SPEECH AT WORK

Before you begin reading this section, take a few moments to copy down or print this list of symbols that will be used to identify parts of speech in sentences we will be working with throughout this unit.

Part of Speech/Sentence	Symbol
Subject	S
Verb	V
Noun	N
Pronoun	P
Adjective/determiner	ADJ
Adverb	ADV
Prepositional Phrase	Prep P
Conjunction	C
Interjection	INT

The sentences that you will learn to write in this course will contain many words from the eight parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives/determiners, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections). What is even more important is that the words categorized as the eight parts of speech can do many different “jobs” in the sentences you create. The box below illustrates some of the work these elements can do for you.

Parts of Speech	Jobs They Perform in Sentences
Nouns, pronouns	Subjects (the actor/who/what) and Objects (receive the action of the actor)
Verbs	Verbs (describe the action of the actor)
Adjectives, adverbs, prepositions	Modifiers (add details and description)
Conjunctions	Conjunctions (link sentences, words)
Interjections	Interjections (exclamations)

Each part of speech, as you can see, corresponds to one or more of the writing jobs it can do. They are all really hard workers when it comes to creating sentences.
There is one more significant thing to know about the relationship between the eight parts of speech and sentences. Just as the parts of speech can do various jobs in sentences, words that make up the eight parts of speech can also multitask. In fact, many of the words in the English language can be more than one part of speech, as you already know, and can do a variety of jobs in sentences. Look at the following examples.

Word	Part of Speech	Sentences
bubbles	Noun	The bubbles floated up and away.
	verb	Water bubbles when it begins to boil.
up(s)	adverb	He climbed up to the top of the ladder.
	preposition	They went up the stairs.
	adjective	The up elevator is on the left.
	noun	She has had more ups than downs lately.
well	interjection	Well! I don’t believe it!
	adverb	The teacher spoke well of the student.
	adjective	My friend is well.
daily	noun	The daily arrives at 3:00 pm.
	adjective	Daily attendance is a requirement.
	adverb	He called her cell phone daily.

And these examples are just four of tens of thousands of words that multitask in this way. Learning the parts of speech and how they function will help you be a better writer and editor.
But, rest assured, once you have a firm grasp of English based on the descriptions of it you find here, you will better understand that this ability words have to do so many things helps to make the English language very rich and very flexible and very descriptive.
Now that you can see all of the roles English words can play in sentence structures, creating sentences for writing will become much easier for you.

For example, the noun and verb Seals performed create a complete sentence.
Now add the adjective the:

The	seals	performed.
ADJ	N	V

Add another adjective that describes the color of the seals:

The	black	seals	performed.
ADJ	ADJ	N	V

The verb, performed, doesn’t really describe the actions of the seals. Try a verb that better describes the seals’ actions:

The	black	seals	leaped
ADJ	ADJ	N	V

Leaped better describes the seals' action. Writing and reading would be rather dull if there weren’t verbs that described action. In fact, sentences sometimes contain multiple descriptive verbs. Look at the following sentence.

The	black	seals	leaped,	slid,	and	barked
ADJ	ADJ	N	V	V	C	V

Look at how this sentence gains energy and vitality when action verbs are added. (Do note that adding additional verbs also means adding commas and the conjunction and.)
There is one more thing you can do to make this sentence even more dynamic. Add adverbs and prepositional phrases to give additional details about the verbs.

The	black	seals	leaped	eagerly	out	of the water,	slid	quickly	upon the deck,	and	barked	noisily	at the spectators.
ADJ	ADJ	N	V	ADV	ADV	Prep P	V	ADV	Prep P	C	V	ADV	Prep P

By adding adverbs (words and phrases that modify verbs) to the sentence, you create a sentence that is even more specific and visual.
Now, add several adjectives. Remember adjectives are words used to add descriptive details to nouns and can be inserted in prepositional phrases.

The	sleek	black	seals	in the pool	leaped	eagerly	out	of the shimmering water,	slid	quickly	upon the wooden deck around the pool,	and	barked	noisily	at the stunned spectators	in the half-empty bleachers.
ADJ	ADJ	ADJ	N	Prep P	V	ADV	ADV	Prep P	V	ADV	Prep P	C	V	ADV	Prep P	Prep P

Remember, this sentence began as Seals performed.
A sprinkling of action verbs and their attending adverbs, as well as a few adjectives and prepositional phrases turned this sentence into an event. As you begin to experiment with expanding sentences in this way, your writing will become word pictures that readers will be able to visualize.

***All of this information I am posting to my post strictly for common knowledge and to save the notes for personal and to share with others looking for similar or another way to see examples of the above material. I do not own the copyrights in any way shape or form! I solely and completely intend this information for public knowledge and help with online lifelong learning.  ***

Crafting An Effective Writer: Week 2: Journal 1

I am currently taking a few courses which I will detail a proper introduction to in another post. Currently this course is about the 8 parts of speech. Something as a homeschooling mama I want to be quite well with. I want to make sure that I brush up on all and anything I can. I want my children to know that lifelong learning is a valuable asset, regardless of circumstance.

 

1. Thus, my online life long learning journey began in the beginning of July this year. Crafting an Effective writer is a course in which I am quite intrigued by.

 

 Below is the assigned work :

 

Module 1 Writing Activity
In your journal, write down a list of at least five to ten nouns and five to ten adjectives as you observe a scene at home, work, or in your community.

Below is my Journal Entry for this module:

 

 

School time with my children nouns:

 

1. papers, pencils and crayons
2. school books
3. daughters and son
4. artwork and paint
5. house

School time with my children adjectives:

1. loud
2. dinning room
3. high pitched laughter
4. red, brown and orange (autumn art work)
5. twirling and whirring

 

 

 

I am excited to share with you my journey through life long online learning.

 

www.coursera.org

Profiles of Valour, written Marilyn Boyer & Grace Tumas

~Book Review~

http://characterconcepts.com/store/product.php?id_product=3309

 

I want to tell you that when the book came in I fell in Love. Not because I am an avid history fan, because to be quite frank history has always been a subject of boring facts made to run on forever. When teaching my children about history I try to inject fun, crafts and more opportunity to live it than read it!

 

The front cover is done so beautifully, this is what stole my heart to begin with. Imagery is a very big attractant to myself when looking at anything. Then you open the book and it honestly transforms you into another world.

 

First, each chapter opens with the character quality that the following story with highlight. A definition of the character quality and a KJV Bible verse to further showcase God's plan for this character quality. I have to say I love this, I want to photocopy and get my kids to color on them and then laminate them and place them all over my house!

 

 

 

 Then the historical, biblical story on these amazing Americans that shaped, formed, and fought for! The narrations are long enough to showcase history in its finest, and illustrations to show you the depth of the men. These narrations are not to long, as to lose interest but long enough to explain and transform you into an era that before unimaginable. I really got caught up in each one and then beauty of the words, how the words came to life within my hands. The tears, the devotions and I was enthralled.

 

At the end of each chapter is a questions page, and the questions are amazing to really see if the person or child really retained the biblical character quality of the chapter. I really love how easily understood it was and amazing the questions were.

 

Then some of the chapters also have a quote from the gentleman you were learning about and to further highlight the character quality.

 

Myself, I loved the book as an adult. It kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation and a thirst to continue. As a parent, I am adding this to my nine year olds book for grade four starting in September. I believe it is an amazing way to showcase history, bible facts, character qualities and interest throughout!

 

Also, because of this book I will be purchasing for my nine year old the Level 3- Character Concepts because I am able to see how visual, intellectual and easy understand the books are. I was already purchasing the Preschool pack but now I will do both. I truly am blessed to have had the opportunity to have read this book and blessed with such a biblical history that truly inspired me!

http://characterconcepts.com/store/product.php?id_product=3261

 

 

**Disclaimer**

 

I was not in any way shape or form paid for my opinion. The opinions expressed are 100% my own! I did receive the book in print in order to review it.

 

 

Praying that each of you were encouraged by my post today. May you be blessed and May you equally bless others on your way.

 

~Stacey Homemaker~



Parenting From the Heart, written by Marilyn Boyer (BOOK REVIEW)

Good Tuesday Morning Everyone,

Hoping that each of you had a fabulous weekend, if your from Canada a Happy belated Canada Day to you all, and if your from the USA then an Early Happy Fourth of July!

I was honored and privileged to be selected to review a book from a wonderful author. A little background of how I came across this author, her family, her business/ministry.....

A year ago a dear dear friend of ours from our church that we love so very very much in Maple Ridge, BC (Fraser Valley Baptist) gave me a workbook on the book of Proverbs. I loved it so very much that I told my husband that the next years ordering for Homeschool I will have to research other workbooks like it. You see I had already pre ordered for this present year.

So this year before pulling out my list, I started researching and I was amazed at this family's dedication to the Lord, for their convictions and for their God gifted talent for writing amazing material that is so unique and so educational and specifically written with God first.

http://www.characterconcepts.com/store/

 

 

So now that I gave you my introduction to the how's lets see what this book is all about......

 

 

First of all, I am one that no matter what I believe that God uses so many different avenues to speak to each of us in different ways and when we need it the most. I also firmly believe that not one single person is a perfect parent or perfect person. We all are human beings, we all have flaws and we all will fall short at one point or another. I believe its what you do with that particular knowledge that will make you a better parent and a better. I believe in always always reading, reading material that is going to give you a real perspective and also lines up with your beliefs and your home.

Remember not everything is going to work, but you take what you can and you try. Your children will always see that you want to always learn and align your lives with your own convictions and beliefs!

 

Parenting from the Heart, is a real book, about a real family, with real struggles and with real hardships! A great loss within family, great joy, great faith and a great ability to have faith and learn and walk on!

 

I found that upon reading the pages, the words jump off and into my heart, as if God guided Marilyn's hand in writing just for me, just for my struggles, just for my situations! The chapters are wonderfully written and smoothly transition from one to the next with ease. As a woman, as a wife, as a mother  and as a homeschooling mama/teacher, I found this book soooo helpful and relieving. I laughed, I burst into tears, I felt sorrow, pain and the Lords love through each page. I felt renewed and that I really can do this. Sometimes us, mama's get tired or frustrated and God gives us a book like this to encourage, strengthen and showcase that He is there and He holds us dear!

 

I needed to read this book, I loved this book, and I have to say that it helped me so very much. I will say no more than that for I believe this book and this amazing Sister in Christ, speak volumes for themselves.

 

I pray that you are able to read this book, and that it is as uplifting and encouraging to you as it was to me.

 

 I would like to add, I have in no way been paid for this review. I received the book and a worksheet in exchange for my review. The opinions I have shared are 100% my own and how I personally feel!

 

Have an amazing and spaztastic week,

Stacey Homemaker~

 



Whats in a Language....Whats in My own......Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FIXyvfD_c

Way', (hello)!

I am praying that today is a day that you have been gifted the ability to enjoy our beautiful creation. That when you woke up this morning you could count at least one item to be thankful for!

The above link, is to a song that people in the Nyselxcin Language have for a Greeting song. I love this song. I am currently putting it into my preschool program for my two youngest children in the Fall.

So, yesterday we left off on my family and I moving to a gorgeous Valley and starting to come into knowledge of our Heritage!

Through some stressful, thankful, tearful and frightening events we as a family needed to switch up our roles. My husband was unable to find work here in the Valley. The work here is so different than what he has ever seen. For you see my gorgeous 6 foot 3 inches Blonde haired hubby is a city man! Through and Through....(he used to iron his jeans lol).

It was a tough go. We were blessed with my Dad giving my family a place to stay, while we found our feet. So, I found a job. I was terrified. You see I went to college when I was 18 I graduated with a 3.99 GPA in Legal Office Administration Assistant, doubling with a Accelerated program for Office Administration Assistant, but.....that was 6 years before this time. And I had gotten pregnant before I was able to get a job in the workforce.

I found myself sitting at a Desk in a First Nations Immersion Band School. I saw the culture, the language, the people, the children and fell in Love. This new journey had just begun......now don't get me wrong. Working in any job full time for me is not what or how I want our lives to be. My prayer is that we are blessed with myself at home raising and training and educating our beautiful miracles and doing the best we can. For this season in our life I went to work. And we feel nothing wrong with that.

We also were blessed with our third pregnancy during this time. So while I was on Mat. Leave our eldest daughter and I were able to attend a language class.

We had an amazing time, being taught by one of the Elder's and an amazing teacher. We learned, and loved so much this language. Now do not get me wrong this language is one of the hardest, confusing, and at times down right nerve wracking I have ever attempted to learn. But in my heart I found peace. I found a new meaning to the word language. Falling in love with words and teaching my children became an everyday at thing a passion that started deep with in.

Now believe me, this language and culture is a beautiful and most unique entity. I have had so many welcoming, joyful and heartfelt moments over learning this language that words cannot even describe.

Now I took one of the harder courses first. Now....boy although I had so much fun I don't recommend doing the harder course on anything before you do the beginner course. Although, it was so much fun, and I learned so much. The road was difficult and a wee stressful at times.

This also the first time in my life that I had completely failed at something. I went strong into our final exam at a 73% I studied hard. I thought I had this in the bag.....then the final came and oh boy my brain turned upside down and eeeeeeek.

I read the questions wrong. I translated from Nyselxcin into English instead of reading the Nyselxcin and then answering in Nyselxcin....Oh Nelly I tell ya. It was not the easier thing.

When I got that test back.....I wept and I smiled. For I may have failed the course but in the lessons that I gleaned while learning.....This journey was just beginning. :)

When I was growing up. I really didn't learn what parenting was..
I honestly thought it was something to survive and not something that continues through to thrive.

While in this first course...my teacher was (and is) such an amazing role model. The lessons I gleaned from our conversations really helped me grow as a mother, and as a woman. Our Elder teacher gave me the gift of imperfection. You see I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Specially in academics(for reasons that will have to wait for another post). For this beautiful, patient, wonderment of a woman gave me the time, strength and encouragement to practice and that time is what counts and not perfections.

For anyone that knows me, knows that I am my own hardest critic, my own worst grader, and also my own best optimist...for everyone else that is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQzKJkHJz_U
The above link is one of the stories that we learned in this first class.

It was so much fun, and so amazing to learn the words. It is here that I knew God wanted me to learn a piece that He knew I needed to find.....

For today, I believe that will be enough of writing for me.

I pray that my journey of self discovery and my language will encourage you to go out and learn something new today!
May you be blessed and May you equally be a blessing to those around you. Remember it doesn't have to be much, for most have not enough. But when you look hard enough all of us have something we can bless others with!

Stacey Homemaker~

www.interiorsalish.com
For all of your Nyselxcin Needs this is your most wonderful and amazing site! And the youtube links above gives you a wealth of amazing language videos.