Punctuation Power

Anderson offered some really great ideas for thinking about punctuation in this week's reading:

• Quotation marks = lips
• Semicolon = Supercomma
• Colon = drum roll
• Dash = "bumpkin at the genteel table of good English"

I also learned that the dash is twice as long as the hyphen.  I never knew that before!

To teach appropriate use of the exclamation point, Anderson suggests that students highlight the exclamation point use in a passage.  I like this activity because it further encourages close reading for style.

Noden offers a smorgasbord of chunks to engage students in more meaningful and sophisticated writing.  He presents a simple, overarching suggestion: Let "meaning take precedence over rules" (107).  This reminds me of one of Stephen King's rules of writing, which I have recorded as "Rules Schmules" in my notecard booklet.  With King, Noden advocates allowing students to "just say it" in their writing.

"Examining punctuation for its purpose and power, students view writing as an act of creation rather than a burden of correction." (Noden 127)

This hearkens back to the concepts that Weaver introduced.  By teaching grammar conventions as tools, students are empowered to control their writing instead of grammar controlling them.  Each of our class authors have noted that real book-selling authors make a habit of breaking grammar rules . . . and it works!

Gary Provost offers a rather common sense solution to potential student confusion: "Ask yourself . . . Is my meaning clear?  If the answer is no, rewrite.  The second question: What am I getting in return for poor grammar?  If you can't answer that, don't use the poor grammar" (Noden 108).

Provost encourages writers to engage in edits that explore the close relationship between content and style.  Through this analysis, writers demonstrate critical thought about their writing as they explain and defend it.  They must have a clear purpose for both what they are saying and how they are saying it.

Noden offers a plethora of chunks, but these are a few of my favorites:

•  Punctuation Hierarchy -- Offers a visual of the relationship between chosen punctuation and meaning
• Two Voice Poem -- Allows students to examine opposing viewpoints and make connections
• Tantalizing Titles -- Provides a framework for one of the most difficult tasks of writing a paper