Written Elements

Word:

Phrase:

Clause:

Sentence:

Paragraph:

“Atomic” level of writing

Group of related words

Subject and verb

Independent expression

Unity and coherence

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.*

* All examples are quoted or adapted from Richard Wassersug’s “On the Comparative Palatability of Some Dry-Season Tadpoles from Costa Rica” in American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 86, No. 1. (Jul., 1971), pp. 101-109.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

While the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

Eight Parts of Speech

Nouns:

Pronouns:

Verbs:

Adjectives:

Adverbs:

Prepositions:

Conjunctions:

Interjections:

Name things, persons, events, concepts

Replace nouns

Express doing or being

Modify nouns or pronouns

Modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs

Relate a noun to rest of sentence

Connect other words

Express emotion directly

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack. Yuck!

NounsPronounsVerbsAdjectives

AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

In conclusion, data presented here for tadpoles support the general rule that the most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack. Yuck!

Using Nouns

Subject:

Complement:

Object:

Appositive:

Direct address:

Identifies who or what the sentence is about

Says something about the subject

Identifies who or what is acted on

Explains or identifies other nouns

Identifies who or what is being addressed

Noun as subject

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as subject

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as complement

They are the most palatable organisms.

Noun as complement

They are the most palatable organisms.

Noun as object

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as object

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as appositive

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as appositive

Data presented here for tadpoles, figure 1, support the general rule.

Noun as direct address

Dear Editor:

I am submitting to you my research paper entitled “On the Comparative Palatability of Some Dry-Season Tadpoles from Costa Rica,” for publication in your journal, American Midland Naturalist…

Noun as direct address

Dear Editor:

I am submitting to you my research paper entitled “On the Comparative Palatability of Some Dry-Season Tadpoles from Costa Rica,” for publication in your journal, American Midland Naturalist…

Using Pronouns

• Kinds: personal, interrogative, relative, demonstrative, indefinite, reflexive, intensive

• Cases: subjective, possessive, objective

Using Verbs

• Agreement

• Transitive vs. intransitive

• Tense

• Voice

• Mood

• Verbals

Agreement

Singular: A tadpole was rinsed in fresh water.

Plural: The tasters were asked to rate the palatability of each tadpole's skin.

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive: The palatability of the tadpoles falls as the temperature of the water rises.

Transitive: The palatability of the tadpoles falls as we raise the temperature of the water.

Verb Tense

Present: The tasters place the tadpoles into their mouths.

Past: The tasters placed ...

Future: The tasters will place …

Perfect: The tasters have placed ...

Past perfect: The tasters had placed ...

Future perfect: The tasters will have placed ...

Verb Voice

Active: We directed the participants not to swallow the tadpoles.

Passive: The participants were directed not to swallow the tadpoles.

Verb Mood

Indicative: The tasters bit firmly and fully into the body of the tadpole.

Imperative: Bite firmly and fully into the body of the tadpole.

Conditional: The tasters would not experience the full flavor if they did not bite firmly and fully into the body of the tadpole.

Verbals

Participle: The standardized tasting procedure included several steps.

Gerund: The tasters placed the tadpole into their mouths and held it for 10 to 20 seconds without biting into it.

Infinitive: Participants were directed to rinse their mouths out at least twice with fresh water before proceeding to the next tadpole.

Using Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives vs. adverbs

• Positive, comparative, superlative

Adjectives: The most distasteful tadpole was clearly Bufo marinus.

Adverbs: The body cavity of tadpoles is almost entirely occupied by gut in which tadpoles process large volumes of detritus.

Adjectives and adverbs

Positive: Standing water is likely to be stagnant.

Comparative: Standing water is more likely to be stagnant.

Superlative: Standing water is most likely to be stagnant.

Degrees of Adjectives and Adverbs

Using Conjunctions

• Coordinating (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

• Subordinating (if, because, although, etc.)

• Independent vs. dependent clauses

Coordinating Conjunction

The most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, and the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

Coordinating Conjunction

The most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, and the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

Subordinating Conjunction

The most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.

Subordinating Conjunction

The most palatable organisms are those least vulnerable to predator attack, while the most distasteful are those most susceptible to such an attack.