Basic Composition Study Notes
What is Composition?
Composition refers to writing in the English Language and its subject itself. It describes practices
relating to essays, narratives, or genres of imaginative literature since the mid-20th century regarding
composition studies.
What is Grammar?
Grammar provides rules that allow us to combine sounds, sentences, and other elements to make
sentences. It is used to communicate effectively with others in different places. Excellent grammar is
challenging because it is hard to decide how you want to say things to written documents or people.
However, no one's grammar is perfect; it is best to keep your grammar as close to as perfect as possible.
SEAE stands for Standard Edited American English.
•Standard established languages we agree to use in English.
•Edited is a written grammar activity where people take the time to revise their written works.
This part is where we correct our grammar in our work.
•American English is the language that American and non-American people speak in the United
States.
Clauseshave at least one subject and one verb in the sentences.
Types of Clauses: The types of clauses are dependent and independent clauses.
A dependent clauseis a statement that cannot stand alone and needs to connect with the independent
Clause.
Example: When the girl sings.
The Independent Clause is a statement that cannot stand alone.
Example:When the girl sings in the choir, her choir members and the directors love how she sings that
song in choir practice at church.
Punctuation Marksare used in the English Language. Using these marks in sentences makes it easier
for the reader to read them, which makes writing look professional.
There are about 14 punctuation marks used in sentences or statements.
Comma "," Comma is used to insert a pause in sentences. Including commas in sentences is to separate
ideas, phrases, or sentence structure sentences.
Period "." A period goes at the end of sentences and is used at the end of the sentence or phrases. It is
used for abbreviations like Ms. Or Mr. or Mrs. or Dr.
Dash "-" A dash is a mark that comes in different sizes and uses for other purposes, and en dash is
shorter and denotes a range such as coming between numbers or dates.
Brackets "[]" are used to clarify something or someone or for technical terms or explanations, and it is
used to describe a subject when quoting another person or text.
Braces "{ }" Braces are marks used in mathematical problems or technical text. You can use braces
instead of brackets or parentheses in sentences.
Exclamation Point "!" A mark is used at the end of sentences expressing intense emotion.
Question Marks "?" A mark appears at the end of sentences when someone asks a question.
Quotation Marks "Wow" Quotation marks denote text, speech, or words someone else speaks. It is used
to indicate dialogue.
Slash Marks "/" This mark appears on the part of the domain of websites. It is used as substitute words,
such as "or," which indicates a choice seems mutually exclusive or for alternative names.
Apostrophes "`" show a letter or letters have been omitted and indicate the possessive or contractions.
It is used to pluralize lowercase letters or show the ownership of something or own things.
Parentheses "( )"
Colon ":" A colon is a mark used in three ways. It is used when you introduce someone or something
like quotes, profound or explanations in sentences or statements.
The semicolon ";" A semicolon connects two independent clauses. But the clauses are more closely
related than when you use a colon in sentences.
And "&" This "&" symbol is used in titles or replaces the word "and" in advertisements or other things.
Hyphen "-" A hyphen is similar to a dash mark. It is used in compound words when two or more words
are connected in sentences.
Ellipsis "(…) Ellipsis are similar to parentheses but used differently. It includes three periods used
together to represent an omission of words or letters. They appear when one sentence or phrase jumps
to another while omitting unnecessary or apparent words. It seems in sentences when quoting someone
or unnecessary words are left out of the statements.
Mechanics of Language-It also refers to the rules of the written language, such as capitalization and
spelling. For example, writing must have great clarity in your essay and firm word orders, semantics,
sentence structures, and other elements.
References
Chun, C., O’Neil K., Nelson Christoph, J., Young, K. (n.d.) Sound writing: 6.3.1 Standard American
English
https://soundwriting.pugetsound.edu/universal/SAE.html
