Words Associated with Press

The Register of the press: The personnel newsman, journalist, reporter, writer, editor, correspondent, publisher, printer, type-setter, contributor, artist, cartoonist, reviewer, critic, cameraman, news agent.

Part of the paper: front page, back page, editorial, sorts paper, advertisement, classified advertisement, headline, Centre spread, newsletter, article, cartoon, caption, title, sub-title, news commentaries, crossword puzzle.

COMPREHENSION PASSAGE: READ A PASSAGE IN UNITS OF NEW OXFORD SECONDARY ENGLISH COURSE FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS (2). PAGE 34 – 35

EVALUATION: Pick a newspaper and write out ten things you could see in the paper.

ASSIGNMENT: Write out ten words with meaning words associated with press.

STRUCTURE:

TOPIC: PUNCTUATION MARKS

Punctuation is the gateway to a clear and good writing.it is the act or practice of inserting standardized marks or signs in written matter. The English writing system uses punctuation marks to separate group of words for meaning and emphasis: to convey an idea of the variations of pitch, volume, pauses and intonations of speech, and to help avoid contextual ambiguity.

Some of the English punctuation are:

1. QUESTION MARK: The question mark is used at the end of every direct question.

Example:

Was Abu-Bakr here on Thursday?

Where is the examination officer’s office?

1. To terminate an interrogative element that is part of a sentence; however, indirect questions should not be followed by a question mark.

Examples:

How did she do it? Was the question on each person;s mind

He wondered, will it work?

He wondered whether it would work.

1. Punctuates each element of an interrogative series that is neither numbered nor lettered interrogative series.

Example:

(I).          Can you give us a reasonable forecast?

(II).         Back up your predictions? Compare them with last quarter’s earning?

(III).       Can you (1) give us a reasonable forecast

(2) Back up your predictions,

(3) compare them with last quarter’s earnings.

1. Indicates the writer’s ignorance or uncertainty

Example:

Wole Soyinka, Nigerian poet (1930 – 2003)

2. PERIOD (.) FULL STOP

1. To termite sentences or sentence fragments that are neither interrogatory nor exclamatory.

Example:

Give it your best

I gave it my best

He asked if she had given of her best.

2. Follows some abbreviations and contractions.

Example:

Dr.  A.D, ibid, i.e

Dr. etc

3. Is used with an individual’s initials

Examples:

1. Omolola Adeniji
2. O. Adebanji
3. Is used after Roman and Arabic numerals and after letters when they are used in outlines

and  Enumerations.

Examples:

1. Objectives
2. Economy
3. Low initial cost
4. Low maintenance

3. COMMA(,)

1. To separates main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, or, nor, or, for) and very short clauses not so joined.

Example:

She knew very little about him and he volunteered nothing

I came I saw, I conquered.

1. Sets off an adverbial clause ( or long phrase) that precedes or interrupts the main clause

Example

When she discovered the answer she reported it to us

The report, after being read aloud, was put for consideration.

1. Sets off from the rest of the sentence transitional words and expressions ( as on the contrary, on the other hand), conjunctive adverbs (as consequently, furthermore, however) and expressions that introduce an illustration or example (as namely, for example)

Examples :

1. Your second question, on the other hand, remains unanswered.
2. He will travel through two countries, namely France and England.

• He responded as completely as he could that is, he answered each of the individual question specifically

1. Sets off contrasting and opposing expressions with sentences

Example

He was young, eager and restless

It requires one to travel constantly, to have no private life and to need no income other than living expenses (Sara Davidson)

Note

Commas separate coordinate adjectives modifying a noun.

1. Sets off from the rest of the sentence parenthetical elements (as nonrestrictive modifiers and nonrestrictive appositives) .

Example

Our guide, who wore a blue beret was an experienced traveler.

We visited Olumo, the site of a famous battle

The author, Joyner Griffith, was an accomplished athlete.

1. Introduces a direct quotation, terminates a direct quotation that is neither a question nor an exclamation, and encloses split quotations.

Examples:

1. Mary said, “ I am leaving”
2. “I am leaving” Mary said
3. “I am leaving” Mary said with determination “even if you want me to stay”.

Note:

If the quotation is used as a subject or predicate nominative or if it is not being presented as actual diague a comma is not used.

1. Sets off words in direct address, absolute phases, and mild interjections

Examples:

1. You may go, John, if you wish
2. I fear their encounter, his temper being what it is.
3. Ah, that’s my idea of an excellent dinner.

1. Separates a tag question from the rest of the sentence

Examples:

It’s a fine day, isn’t it?

1. Indicate the omission of a word or words, and especially a word or words used earlier in the sentence.

ASSIGNMENT: Write out ten punctuation marks and state the uses of each with examples.