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Students will learn how to identify absolutes and use them in their writing
Students will use poetry to gain a better understanding of absolute phrases
White board and markers, chalkboard and chalk, or projection technology and
computer
Paper and writing utensils
Frankenstein novel
Materials:
Methods:
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1) Come up with pairs of sentences that can be combined to create one sentence with an absolute
phrase. Each pair must be on a related subject (Come up with as many pairs of sentences
so each student has one sentence.)
2) Write sentences on index cards or 4X6 pieces of paper. (Once sentence per card)
3) Distribute sentences.
4) Direct students to read their sentence and then use tape to tape their sentence to their forehead.
5) Inform students that each one of them has a sentence soul mate. Direct them to interact with
each other until they find their soul mate.
6) Once students find their soul mate, the pairs will work together to combine their two sentences
to create a new sentence that has an absolute phrase.
7) Lastly, students will share their original sentences with the class and then share their new
sentence.
Absolutes show a special "how" relationship between two sentences. The two sentences are
combined in a way that subordinates one to the other. For example,
Mary was sitting at her desk. Her head was slightly lowered over a pile of chemistry notes.
Mary was sitting at her desk, her head slightly lowered over a pile of chemistry notes.
In order to construct an absolute, follow these steps:
1. Check to see if there is a "be" verb in the sentence you want to subordinate.
2. If there is a "be" verb, eliminate it and combine the sentences with a comma.
Julie accepted the award. Tears were streaming down her face.
Julie accepted the award, tears streaming down her face.
3. If the subjects are the same, delete the subject of the absolute as well. For example,
Julie accepted the award. Julie was overcome with emotion.
Julie accepted the award, overcome with emotion.
OR Overcome with emotion, Julie accepted the award.
4. If there is no "be" verb, change the main verb of the subordinating sentence into its
-ing form. Then eliminate similar subjects and combine sentences with a comma.
Johnny ran after the bus. He waved his hands and whistled.
Johnny ran after the bus, waving his hands and whistling .
OR: Waving his hands and whistling, Johnny ran after the bus.
5. If there is a "possessive" relationship between the two sentences, use possessive
pronouns (its his, their, etc.) to indicate the relationship between the subjects.
http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/absolutes.html
I am Victor Frankenstein
Woe is me.
Ambition the wheel steering my life,
I left my love; greatness I would achieve.
My heart distraught,
I created life where life was not.
Shirking responsibility for my creation,
I spurned his yellow eyes.
Hate, my hate,
Triggered my destruction.
What is morality to one who has not seen kindness?
Instead,
My prejudice has only fostered death.
I am woe.
Victor Frankenstein is me.