Portfolio Feedback; Middle East Story project; Sunrise Over Fallujah discussion

This morning, along with your portfolios, a little grammar feedback:

Headings:
Use the MLA standard heading:

Student Name
Teacher's Name*
Class Name*
Class Assignment
Date
Draft*

Numbers:

Writing numbers is largely a matter of style. Some editors and professors will be bugged that you tend to ignore certain rules. The most important thing is that you are consistent, and you follow one of the following traditions/expectations, while realizing that the professor or teacher you have may count you WRONG if you do not write numbers correctly in your essays, papers, stories, etc.

Modern Language Association: MLA is often used in most colleges in English/literature and arts classes. Our department here at SOTA stresses the use of this style guide. The rule for #'s according to the MLA guide is as follows:

• Spell out numbers that are comprised of one or two words. Generally, you ALWAYS write out numerals below ten, and most of the time, you spell out words under 100. 
• Hyphenate compound numbers (twenty-one to ninety-nine).
• When you open a sentence with a number, you need to spell it out. Ex. Ten people ate pancakes.
• Do not mix numbers and their spelling. Use numbers if you are using figures. Ex. In figure 2.01, the chart shows we are in for a nasty winter. Or: He ran the 5 1/2 meter race in 3.74 seconds.
• Do not mix numerals and written numbers when they refer to similar things. Ex. 10 of 20 people; not 10 of twenty people.  
• Use numerals when using common symbols or abbreviations: $3.00, 7%, #3232323, 150 lbs., 2nd edition, 3rd printing, 2:03 a.m., etc.
• Use a hyphen to separate numbers in a range: pp. 3-17. You may drop the digit after 100. ex. pp. 324-26. In this case if the # is 01-09 use a zero to indicate the place: ex. pp. 304-09.
• When naming dates or time use numerals: 1945, 2013, or September 26, 1901 at 8:30 p.m.
• Spell out numbers when indicating ordinal numbers: first place, second point, third time, etc. in formal writing.
• It is preferable to write out spans of time: ex. The nineteenth century was a time of tribulations.
• When indicating ages: you can either use numerals or spell out the word, but if you use "years-old" you need a hyphen: ex. She was a six-year-old monster. She was 6 years old.

The thing is to be consistent. You can find more info here at Daily Writing Tips.

Agreement:

Singular subjects need singular verbs. Plural subjects need plural verbs. This is called subject-verb AGREEMENT.

Ex. Singular words: a single person:

Amy, Todd, Fortinbras, my sister, my father, etc. would take singular verbs: was, is, has, etc.

Plural subjects:

Sid and Nancy, Tom and Jerry, Frick and Frack, my brothers, my teachers, etc. would take plural verbs: were, are, have, etc.

The tricky ones are indefinite pronouns: anyone, everyone, someone, no one, nobody, somebody, everybody are all SINGULAR subjects and take SINGULAR verbs.

For more information on this check here.

Other issues?

Let's finish reading the last short story in our packet, discuss Sunrise Over Fallujah, and then go to the lab to work on our middle east narrative story projects. You may wish to check out these websites for ideas for conflicts in the Middle East:
1. List of Conflicts in the Middle East (Princeton)
2. Images of Conflicts in the Middle East (google)
3. Frontpage Mag (conservative media)
4. Parody article from the Onion
5. Two U-tube videos: How a Child Solved the Middle East Conflict; and The Illustrated History of Middle East Conflict

HOMEWORK: Complete a draft of your narrative Middle East story & turn it in by Friday. Read: pp. 126-166 in Sunrise Over Fallujah for next class (Wednesday).