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TOPIC 2: Reading Comprehension – Reading as a Language Skill
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SHS 1 English Language
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    SHS 1 ENG Lesson Note 35

    Welcome to English for SHS 1

    Form One Notes

    Lesson 35

    Punctuation

    Topic: End Punctuation  Marks

    Lesson Objectives

    By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

    1.  say the importance  of punctuation  marks.
    2. say the uses of each of the end punctuation  marks.
    3. use  the  period,  the  question  mark,  and  the  exclamation  point  appropriately  in writing.
    4. observe the end punctuation  marks when reading.

    What is punctuation?

    The  word  punctuation  comes  from  Latin  and  it  primarily  refers  to  the practice  of putting points among words. Some of the points are the full stop (.)the question mark (?)the exclamation mark (!)the comma (,), and the semicolon (;). So, punctuation splits words up into groups to show how the words are to be understood. The various punctuation marks constitute one  set of tools for writing.  The practice of putting points among word is an art. And the art of punctuation lies in putting the points in the correct places.  When  you  have adequate  knowledge  of  the  use  of punctuation  marks,  your mechanical errors will surely reduce.

    The purpose of punctuation

    The purpose of using punctuation marks is to show the reader how sentences and parts of  sentences  are  to  be  understood.  In  oral communication,  you  usually  do  not  have difficulty  in  making  yourself  understood  and  in  understanding  other  speakers.  This  is because the spoken form of language has many resources for clarifying meaning. Some of these resources are stresspitch, pause facial expression, and gestures. Did you know   that   facial  expression   and   gestures,   for   example,   convey   meaning?   These resources  are  such  that  you  use  them almost  subconsciously  and  automatically  every day.  I  mean,  sometimes  you  use  these  resources  without  noticing  the meaning  they convey.

    Written  language,  however,  does  not  have  so  many ways for conveying meaning.  But one  of  the  ways  by  which  written  language  establishes  clear meaning  is  through  a system  of  devices  grouped  under  the  general  heading punctuation.  This  system  of devices   approximates   the  resources  of  the spoken  language.   To   understand   how punctuation  approximates  the spoken  language,  pay  particular attention to  this and  the next  lesson  on  punctuation.  Though  the devices of punctuation are not as accurate as the resources of speech,  you must master them if you want to express yourself clearly in writing.

    So,  the  purpose  of  punctuation  is  to  show  the  reader  how  sentences  and parts  of sentences  are  related.   As  mentioned   earlier,   in  conversation, speakers  have  many resources  for showing such relations.  For example,  a change in facial expression or in the  pitch  of voice can convey certain massages.  But in writing,  the resources are less numerous  and  the  writer must  use  them  with  accuracy  if  the  reader  is  not  to  be confused.

    What happens when we do not punctuate  what we write ?

    When you do  not include punctuation marks in your writing, your reader (perhaps your examiner)  would  be  presented  with a continuous stream of words and  the process  of reading what you have written would be slow, laborious and very dull. In addition, you would not be able to show your reader how you wanted your words to be understood.

    The main categories of punctuation  marks used in English

    Types of punctuation

    There are two  main types of punctuation marks.  These are  terminal punctuation  and internal punctuation.

    Terminal punctuation

    Terminal punctuation marks are those that bring an entity such as a sentence or an abbreviation  to an end. There are three terminal punctuation  marks used in English.

    1. The period (.)
    2. The question mark (?)
    3. The exclamation  point (!)

    Have  you  noticed  that  the  period  (.),  the  question  mark  (?),  and  the exclamation (!) point all have one  thing in common: they are used  to end a sentence? Because of this common  function  that  they  have,  these  three punctuation  marks  are  sometimes  called end punctuation. So, the three terminal punctuation marks are also known as end punctuation  marks.

    The  punctuation  mark  used  at  the  end  of a sentence depends on the purpose of the sentence.A  sentence  can  be  declarative,  interrogative, imperative  or  exclamatory. Each of these four sentence patterns has its own end punctuation mark associated with it, as you will see later in this lesson.

    The Period (.)

    The period is described as the mark of abruption and disjunction. It is used at the end of all  sentences  that  are  not  questions  or  exclamations.  It  is  also  put  at  the  end  of all separate  group  of  words  even  though  they  are  not sentences.  The  following  are  the major uses of the period.

    Uses of the Period

    1. Use a period  at the end  of a declarative sentence.  A declarative sentences is also called a statement.  A declarative  sentence  presents information.  For example:
    2.  Accra is becoming a big village.
    3. Akua got all the answers correct.

    iii.  Teye bought a new textbook yesterday.

    1.  Ghana was declared a republican nation in 1960.
    2. Use a period to end a mild imperative sentence.   A mild imperative sentence makes a request, or provides instruction.  For example:
    3.  Please pass the salt. ii.   Please follow me.

    iii.  Please close the door as you leave.

    1.  Turn left at the traffic light and walk straight into the shop.
    2. Use a period at the end of an indirect question. An indirect question tells the reader what was ask in an earlier question.  For example: 
    3.  Ama inquired if I was ill.
    4. She asked whether I had money.

    iii.  She also asked whether I had eaten.

    1.  But I wonder whether you care about me
    2. Use a period at the end of a simple request that is expressed in a form of a question for the sake of curtsey. For example:
    3.  Will you join me in my car.
    4. Could you please pass the salt.

    iii.  Would you tell the doctor that I am waiting.

    1. Use  a  period  after each initial in a proper noun and  after most abbreviations.  For example:

    J. J. Rawlings

    J.H.S.

    J. A. Kuffour

    B.E.C.E.

    J. D. Mahama

    S.H.S.

    B.A.

    B.Ed.

    B.Sc.

    M.A.

    Ph.D.

    M.Ed.

    Ed.D.

    M.Sc.

    LL.D.

    M.Phil.

    D.Phil.

    It  is  important  to  observe  the  basic  difference  between  initials  and abbreviations. Initials  in names occur with spaces between letters but abbreviations occur without spaces between letters.

    Also  observe that abbreviations occurring after proper names are usually separated from the name by a comma.  For example:

    Pearl Amanatey, Ph.D

    Finally,  remember that if the abbreviation occurs at the end  of a sentence, you do not use a second period. For example:

    Yaa Serwaa arrived at the office at 6:30 a.m.

    1. Use the period as a decimal point. For example:
    2.  Ama’s temperature was 37.5 degrees Celsius. ii.   96.5 percent of the class obtained grade „A. iii. The book costs GH¢4.50 only.
    3. Use three periods to indicate ellipses. You may often wish to cite a quotation – but not all of it. In such cases you must indicate what has been deleted by using points of ellipses  – a series of three dots. For example:

    John Donne once said, “Any man’s death diminishes me, … and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

    You will learn more about ellipses  in our lesson on internal punctuation.

    The Question Mark (?)

    The  main  use  to  which  the  question  mark  is  put  is  to  show  that  the words  which precede  it  are  in  a  form  of  a  question.  Usually,  The  order  of  words  itself  in  an interrogative  sentence  will often  show  when a question is being asked.  However,  it is important  to  note  that,  sometimes,  the  mere  placing  of a  question  mark  after  words automatically  transforms  a statement into a question.

    Uses of the question mark

    1. Use a question mark at the end of a direct question. A direct question is known as an interrogative sentence. An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark (?). For example:
    2.  Is Amain the room?
    3. Are the boysready to learn?

    iii.  How soon will you finish this work ?

    1. Use a question mark after elliptical questions  in a series. For example:
    2.  Have you seen Dede? Or Musah? Or Araba?
    3. What did you do with your books? Your papers? Your pen?

    iii.  Was  it   approved   by  the  house  captain?  The  housemaster?  The  senior housemaster?

    1. Use a question mark,  enclosed  in parenthesis,  to  express uncertainty or doubt. For example:
    2.  Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in 1340(?). ii.   William Kidd lived between 1645(?) and 1701.

    Alternatively,  the question mark  (?) may be place immediately before the year you are uncertain  about. For example:

    1.  Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in (?)1340.
    2. William Kidd lived between (?)1645 and 1701.

    The  question  mark  shows  that  you  have  searched  for  a  particular  fact  and  that  the authorities   are   uncertain   about   it.   Another   way   by   which   you  can  indicate  the uncertainty  of dates is to use the abbreviation  c. For example:

    1.  Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in c.1340. ii.   William Kidd lived between c.1645 and 1701.

    The   abbreviation   c.   stands   for   the  Latin  word   circa   which  means   about.   This abbreviation cannot be used to express doubt about anything other than a date. It cannot be used, for example,  to express doubt about a person’s place of birth.

    The Exclamation Mark (!)

    An exclamation mark is placed after any word or group of words which is exclamatory so  that  the  reader  may  appreciate  the  force with which it will be spoken aloud.  The exclamation mark  is also  called exclamation point. An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong emotion.  For example:

    1.  What a beautiful job you’ve done!
    2. What a nice view!

    iii.  Snake!

    Uses of the exclamation mark

    1. Use an exclamation  mark after an interjection.
    2.  Oh! What a beautiful day!
    3. Ahaa! I have got it!

    iii.  Wow! I like it. iv.  Dear me!

    1. Use an exclamation mark  to  end  a strong imperative sentence. A strong imperative sentence gives an order. For example:
    2.  Get out of the way!
    3. Stop right there!

    iii.  Hurry up!

    Note that whether an exclamation mark or a period is used after an imperative sentence depends upon the intensity of emotion the writer wishes to convey. A period follows a mild  imperative;  an exclamation  mark follows  a strong imperative.

    Summary

    1. The word punctuation  refers to the practice of putting  points among words.
    2. The purpose of using punctuation marks is to show your reader how you want your words to be understood.
    3. When  you  do  not  include  punctuation  marks  in  your  writing,  your  reader (perhaps  your  examiner)  would  be  presented  with  a  continuous  stream  of words  and  the  process  of  reading  what  you  have  written  would  be  slow, laborious,  and very dull.
    4. There  are  two  main  types  of punctuation  marks:  terminal  punctuation  and internal punctuation.
    5. Terminal punctuation is punctuation that brings an entity such as a sentence to an end.  There are three terminal punctuation marks used in English. These are the period (.), the question mark (?), and the exclamation  point (!)

    CONTENT CONSULTANTS

    Author

    John Tetteh Agor, Ph.D.

    Peer Reviewers

    Modestus Fosu, Ph.D.

    Prosper Kwesi Agordjor,

    M.Phil. William  Foli Garr, (Rev.) M.Phil.


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