As a high school student, you might think that learning about commas is boring, but did you know that using the right punctuation can make a big difference in how your writing is understood? The transcript talks about the Oxford comma, which is a comma used before the final "and" or "or" in a list. Some people love it, while others hate it, but the truth is that it can help avoid confusion. By learning about the importance of punctuation, you can make sure that your writing is clear and easy to understand. This skill is not only important for academic writing, but also for future job applications and communication in the workplace. So, don't underestimate the power of a tiny squiggle on a page - it might just make a big difference!

Choosing the right point of view is one of the most important decisions an author makes when telling a story. The point of view can transform a story completely, creating unique possibilities and constraints. The three main perspectives are third person, first person, and second person, each with their own benefits and limitations. A third person narrator can create distance and highlight certain elements, while a first person narrator creates closeness and suspense. Second person is a less common choice, but can build urgency and suspense. Authors are constantly experimenting with fresh variations on point of view, and new virtual and augmented reality technologies may expand the possibilities for this experimentation. By understanding the different perspectives, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the craft of storytelling and develop their own unique writing style.

In today's world, we are constantly bombarded with personal stories on all media platforms. While some may seem trivial or embarrassing, others can be dire and critical. Authentic narrative is what connects people, making the personal universal and timeless. As a journalist, it's important to know how to ask the right questions to yield this type of narrative. Every piece of journalism requires a trifecta of sourcing: official sources, overview sources, and unofficial sources. While the first two sides of the triangle provide facts and figures, it's the third side - unofficial sources - that holds the power of individual insight. To find compelling stories, you need to ask surprising questions and regard every subject's story as sacred. Personal anecdotes breathe life into otherwise dry stories of exposition, facts, and data. By learning how to craft compelling narratives, you'll not only make your journalism memorable but also connect with others on a deeper level.

Understanding how to use commas correctly is an essential academic skill that can greatly enhance your writing. By knowing a few basic rules and understanding the different types of characters in a sentence, such as conjunctions and subordinates, you can master the use of commas. Commas help to clarify the meaning of a sentence and make it easier to read. They can also make your writing more effective and professional. By learning how to use commas, you can improve your grades and impress your teachers. So, take the time to practice and master this important academic skill, and you'll be on your way to becoming a better writer.

Nominalizations are zombie nouns that suck the life out of your writing. They consume active verbs and adjectives and replace them with abstract entities, making your writing sound pompous and abstract. At their best, nominalizations help us express complex ideas, but at their worst, they impede clear communication. Nominalizations do their worst damage when they gather in jargon-generating packs and swallow every noun, verb, and adjective in sight. A paragraph heavily populated by nominalizations will send your readers straight to sleep. Rescue them from the zombie apocalypse with vigorous verb-driven sentences that are concrete and clearly structured. You want your sentences to live, not to join the living dead. Learning to identify and eliminate nominalizations will help you communicate more effectively and make your writing more engaging and compelling.

If you've ever struggled to understand Shakespeare, there's a secret that can help you appreciate his writing. Shakespeare was first and foremost a poet, and one of the most important things in his language is his use of stress. Poets are very aware of these stresses, having long experimented with the number and order of stressed and unstressed syllables to create rhythm in their poems. Shakespeare's favorite meter was iambic pentameter, where each line of verse is made up of five two-syllable iambs, for a total of ten syllables. Most lines of Shakespeare's plays are written in regular prose, but his characters turn to poetry, and iambic pentameter in particular, for many of the same reasons that we look to poetry in our own lives. Learning about meter and rhythm can help you understand Shakespeare's characters and their emotions, and might even help you appreciate poetry in your own life.

As students, we often get caught up in the technicalities of language and forget to appreciate the history and meaning behind the words we use. The word "doubt" is a perfect example of this. The seemingly random letter "b" in its spelling has caused confusion for many of us. However, understanding the origins of this word can help us appreciate the connections between words and deepen our understanding of their meanings. By exploring the Latin root of "doubt" and its relationship to words like "dubious" and "indubitably," we can unlock a whole new world of vocabulary. Additionally, the connection between "doubt" and "double" highlights the dual nature of uncertainty - when we doubt, we are of two minds. By taking the time to delve into the history of language, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the words we use every day and expand our intellectual horizons.

Slam poetry is a powerful tool for self-expression and transformation, and Miss Gayle's 5 Steps provide a simple guide to help you get started. Step 1 is to write it all down, exploring a memory like a new land. Step 2 is to read it out loud, trying out different words and ideas. Step 3 is to cut the fat, removing any extra words or unnecessary details. Step 4 is to read it out loud again, making sure the cuts weren't too deep. Finally, Step 5 is to add flava, infusing your writing with juice, power, movement, and emotion. Through this process, you can transform your thoughts and experiences into something powerful and meaningful. So, pick up a pen and paper, and let your words take you on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Filled pauses and discourse markers are speech components that are often dismissed as irrelevant or distracting, but they are actually quite meaningful in spoken communication. Filled pauses, such as "um" and "uh," can signal that the speaker is not finished yet and can buy time for their speech to catch up with their thoughts. Discourse markers, like "like" or "well," direct the flow of conversation and can give listeners real-time insight into the speaker's thought process. These components not only help us understand language, but they also help us learn it. For students, understanding the importance of filled pauses and discourse markers can improve their communication skills and help them connect new words to new objects when learning a second language. While these components may not be appropriate in formal writing, they are a natural and useful part of everyday conversation.

Language is constantly evolving, and new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary every year. With over 170,000 words in use in the English language, you might think we have enough, but as our world changes, new ideas and inventions emerge, leaving gaps in our vocabulary. These gaps are filled in ingenious and practical ways, such as borrowing words from other languages or combining existing words to convey new concepts. Learning about the creation and evolution of words can help us understand our world better and improve our communication skills. By exploring new words and their origins, we can expand our vocabulary and express ourselves more effectively. So, embrace your inner word nerd and dive into the fascinating world of language!

Learning about the history of language can be a fascinating journey that sheds light on how we communicate today. The English language has evolved over time, shaped by the different cultures and peoples that have influenced it. From the Celts and Romans to the Vikings and Normans, each group left their mark on the language, introducing new words and changing the way people spoke. Understanding the origins of words and how they have evolved can help us appreciate the richness and diversity of our language. It can also help us better understand the subtle nuances and connotations of different words. By exploring the history of language, we can become more effective communicators and gain a deeper appreciation for the power of words.

Did you know that English has evolved through generations of speakers and undergone major changes over time? By tracing the language back to its ancient roots, we can discover its fascinating history. Old English, the language of Beowulf, belongs to the Germanic language family and was first brought to the British Isles by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Viking invaders added more borrowings from Old Norse into the mix. Today, nearly 3 billion people around the world speak English, shaped by 6000 years of history. Learning about the evolution of English can help you understand the roots of modern English and the systematic similarities between related words in different Indo-European branches. This knowledge can benefit you both intellectually and practically, as it can improve your communication skills and enhance your understanding of the world around you.

Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for Death" is a captivating exploration of life's ultimate journey. The poem takes us on a ride in a carriage with Death, passing by schools, fields, and the setting sun. Dickinson's use of metaphor and imagery invites us to reflect on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. By exploring this poem, students can develop critical thinking skills, expand their understanding of poetry, and gain a deeper appreciation for the power of language. The poem also encourages us to reflect on our own lives and values, inspiring us to live with purpose and intention. Overall, studying Dickinson's work can help students develop their intellectual curiosity, creativity, and empathy, making them better equipped to navigate the complexities of the world around them.

Language and dialects are not always easy to define. While some regional dialects of German and Chinese are considered separate languages, other languages like Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish are mutually intelligible. The distinction between a language and a dialect is often political, with standardized languages chosen based on what people spoke in the capital. Standard languages act as gatekeepers in society, with landlords responding more positively to those who speak so-called "Standard American English" over African-American Vernacular English. Linguists prefer to use the term "varieties" to describe different forms of speech, acknowledging that language is ever-evolving and resists neat categorization. Learning about the history and characteristics of different varieties of language can broaden one's understanding of the world and promote greater inclusivity and appreciation for diversity.

Words have the power to tell stories, and even a single word can reveal a lot about our history and culture. By studying the origins and evolution of a word, we can learn about ourselves and the world around us. The oldest words in present-day English come from Old English, which was first spoken over 1500 years ago. The word "true" is an example of a word with a rich history that can be traced back to the concept of faithfulness and trust, which was associated with trees in ancient times. Trees have been revered in many cultures throughout history, and planting a tree is an act of faith and commitment. Just as trees witness our histories, the stories of words capture the rains and sunshine of generations. By exploring the stories of words, we can gain a deeper understanding of our past and present.

Rhythm and repetition are central to our experience as human beings, and they play a crucial role in language and poetry. Through the repetition of sounds, letters, and words, poets can create patterns that can amplify or diminish the impact of their work. However, too much repetition can backfire and become gimmicky. The use of repetition is a balancing act for poets, and it requires a delicate touch to create a work that is both pleasing and impactful. By understanding the power of rhythm and repetition, students can improve their writing and communication skills, and learn to appreciate the beauty of language.

Learning about the deciphering of Linear B, a mysterious script found on 3,000 tablets unearthed in the early 1900s on the island of Crete, can be incredibly rewarding. The script represented the language spoken by Europe's oldest civilization, and for 50 years, scholars were unable to decipher its meaning. However, the efforts of Alice Kober and Michael Ventris, who both dedicated years of their lives to analyzing the symbols and frequencies of the script, led to a breakthrough. Ventris discovered that Linear B represented Greek, not Minoan, and this discovery re-wrote a chapter of history. Learning about the process of deciphering Linear B can help students develop critical thinking skills, language skills, and an appreciation for history and archaeology.

Lying is a common part of our daily lives, with people telling anywhere from 10 to 200 lies a day. However, detecting lies has been a challenge throughout history, from medieval torture devices to modern-day polygraphs. But what if we focused on analyzing the lies themselves, rather than just the physiological changes that may or may not occur when someone is lying? Communication science has identified four common patterns in the subconscious language of deception: less self-referencing, more negativity, simpler explanations, and longer, more convoluted sentence structures. By being aware of these patterns, you can better spot lies in your daily life. While many lies we encounter may be harmless, being able to recognize them can help you build stronger relationships and make better decisions.

Shakespeare's works may seem outdated and boring, but they are actually full of adventures that relate to the extremes of human nature. By reading his plays, you can learn about love, hate, jealousy, ambition, fear, mistrust, deception, and murder. Additionally, Shakespeare invented over 2,000 words that are still used in the English language today. Reading his works can expand your vocabulary and make you a better communicator. Shakespeare also used clever metaphors and intentional ambiguity to describe human intentions, which is not too different from today's use of language. By reading Shakespeare's works, you can learn about human nature, improve your language skills, and gain insight into human relationships. Don't view his works as outdated and unhelpful, start reading today and discover the best ways to get the one you love to love you back.

Have you ever seen a "No Running" sign at a pool? It accurately describes the pace of the patrons, but is it doing something more powerful? This is where the distinction between constatives and performatives comes in. Constatives describe something as true or false, while performatives denote an action. Performatives are meant to inspire actions, and sometimes words themselves are actions. These are known as speech acts. However, performatives depend on context and reception, known as felicity conditions. While performatives should have proper authority, be understood, clear, and able to be executed, they may not always be followed. Understanding these concepts can help you navigate the power of words and actions in different contexts, from the park to the pool to a wedding. By learning about constatives and performatives, you can become more aware of the power of words and how to use them effectively to inspire action and respect their impact.