Issue For January 29, 2006
Writing Question of the Week
This is usually a question submitted by an OWL user to the OWL Tutors. If you have a question you need answered quickly, ask one of our OWL Tutors or call the Writing Lab's Grammar Hotline at 765-494-3723. And remember, both services are free for everyone!
My first writing assignment is: "Your Writing Assignment this week includes an opportunity to get to know your virtual classmates better. You will write an introductory essay. Then, I will group you into 5-6 students, and you will read 3 of your classmates' introductory essays and send them messages, commenting about what you found interesting, what you have in common, etc."
I don't know where to begin or what questions to ask. It has been 24 years since I have been in college last and need a little boot.
--James
Greetings James. Thank you for your inquiry.
Since you did not specify what class this assignment is for, I will be somewhat general in my feedback.
I would be very open and honest about yourself... but not to the point that you include too-personal information. For example, write about what has brought you back to school, how you see yourself compared to your (younger?) peers, what you hope to do with your degree, etc.
When you respond to your peers, I would look at their ideas from your perspective - as well as from theirs. Try to put yourself in their shoes a bit. This may mean that you relate it to your previous experiences (again, not too personal)... or you could relate it to current social issues.
I hope this helps.
Best, Purdue OWL
The OWL Help Nest
Each week we publish Purdue OWL News readers' requests for advice or information and the responses from other Purdue OWL News readers.
I'm learning possessive nouns in school. My mom thinks there is a rule that says when you have a possessive noun and the next word starts with an s you don't you s's. Example "the scissors's blades" or "the scissors' blades." Can you help? --Andy Lovre-Smith, Spring-Ford Interm. School
I've never heard of the rule your mother mentioned, so I'll just give you some pointers on making possessives from singular and plural nouns ending in -s.
To make the possessive form of a SINGULAR noun that ends in -s, some style guides say to add just an apostrophe ('); others say you should add an apostrophe and s ('s). Some say that either way is correct.
The best answer: when dealing with SINGULAR nouns, find out what the expectations are wherever you're writing and go by that. In most cases, you can just ask your teacher what he or she prefers.
However, your example ("scissors") is actually NOT a singular noun! There are a number of nouns that refer to a single object or a grouping of things but generally use a PLURAL form; examples include "pants" and "scissors."
The rule for making a possessive of a PLURAL noun ending in -s is clear: add ONLY an apostrophe.
So, to give a couple of examples...
For "nucleus" (singular noun ending in -s), write is as:
depending on the rules where you're writing.
For "scissors" (plural noun ending in -s), ALWAYS write it: scissors'.
By the way, there are 3 big groups of singular nouns that end in -s: nouns that are borrowed from Latin or Greek (nucleus, syllabus, ethos), uncountable nouns (mathematics, tennis) and proper nouns (names of people or places). There are other individual examples, but these three big groups cover most of them.
--Aaron Minnick, Columbus, OH
It is not the next word that determines the rule. It is the letter "s" which is at the end of the spelling of the noun that determines the rule that 's (apostrophe s) cannot be used like in other nouns that do not end with the letter "s" in their spelling.
In all cases where the noun ends with the spelling "s" only an apostrophe is enough to change the noun to a possessive noun in a sentence. The apostrophe should not be followed by s.
--Edathodu Koya, UAE
"I am wide awake" is acceptable but "I am deep sleep" isn't, What differs "wide awake" from "deep sleep" then? --Henry Barriga, Philippines
In "I am awake", 'awake' acts as an adjective modifying the subject of the sentence. In "I am sleep", 'sleep' acts as a noun and the object of the sentence. Unless we wish to say that the subject 'I' is equivalent to 'sleep', this is incorrect.
We instead would say "I am asleep." 'Asleep' - much like the first example using 'awake' - acts as an adjective modifying the subject of the sentence.
--Shawn Douglas, St Louis, MO
The difference is this: "awake" is an adjective, but "sleep" is a noun. You can say, "I am awake" but not "I am sleep." The opposite of "awake" is the adjective "asleep." If you want to communicate that your sleep is deep, you can say that you are "in a deep sleep" or "sleeping deeply."
--Maradee Kern, University of Houston-Clear Lake
"Awake" is an adjective here. "Sleep" is a noun here. Are you aware of the word "asleep," Henry? It's the opposite of "awake," and both are adjectives in this case (they can also be verbs). "I am wide awake" is acceptable because "wide" is an adverb modifying the adjective "awake." How awake are you? I'm wide awake! "Deep" is not an adverb. It is an adjective. The adverbial form is "deeply," so you could say, "I am deeply asleep." The more common expression would be, "I am in a deep sleep." (It's difficult to imagine a sleeping person saying "I am in a deep sleep," though the past tense is common: "I was in a deep sleep" or "I was deeply asleep.") To confuse you further, the use of "wide" in your example is idiomatic, and ordinarily the adverbial form is "widely," as in "My views on grammar are widely dispersed."
--Robert Rosser, University of Maryland, Europe
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What's Happening on the OWL at Purdue
- OWL Eye On...Personal Statement Writing. Our materials on writing personal statements for academic positions have been revised and transferred to our new site. Visit the new pages here: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/.
- OWL Eye On...Continuing improvements and revisions at the Purdue OWL. Look for new materials and revised materials appearing weekly on the new Purdue OWL website!
What's Happening in the Writing Lab
- OWL Eye On....Resume Extravaganza! The Writing Lab will be hosting a Resume Extravaganza on January 30th and February 15th in the Stewart Center from 10am - 2pm. Students are welcome to stop by for quick feedback on their resumes and cover letters. See you there!
- OWL Eye On...OWL Eye On...ESL Conversation Groups. If English is not your native language and you need listening and speaking practice in English in an informal atmosphere, you are welcome to join an ESL conversation group in the Writing Lab at any or all of the scheduled times listed. There is no need to apply or register--just drop in! Conversation groups run: Monday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Wednesday 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Thursday 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.; and Friday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m
- OWL Eye On...Writing Lab Spring 2007 Schedule The Writing Lab is open Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. During this time, students are invited to use our computers, ask for a handout, read or study in the lab, or use any self-instruction materials that are available. Tutors are available for appointments during the following times: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For most (but not all) of the times listed for tutorial appointment, there is also drop-in tutorial help available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To make an appointment or to see whether there is a wait for drop-ins, call us at 494-3723.
This week's OWL News was edited by Dana Lynn Driscoll.
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