Holidays

Well the semester is coming to an end and the holidays are on their way. This is my favorite time of the year, but not until papers and finals are all done with. When the semester is over I will be able to enjoy the holiday. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. Its a little weird, but it makes me feel so good inside and I love spending time with family. I am the decorator at my house so I try and do my best to make my house look absolutely beautiful.

Vocabulary:
semester(noun)- a school session; a period of time during education.
holiday(noun)- a day of celebration for a certain person or religious reasoning.
favorite(noun)- a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference.
enjoy(verb)- take pleasure in.
decorator(noun)- a person who decorates.

Fill in the blanks:
1. During the _____________ of Thanksgiving, I gather with my family to give thanks.
2. I am the ________________ for the house during all the holidays.
3. Christmas is my ____________ time of the year.
4. The ______________ will be over December 16th, after all my finals are done.
5. I _______________ playing my xbox 360 during my spare time.

Grammar Point:Defining Relative Clause and Non-defining
A defining relative clause is needed in understanding the meaning of a sentence and a non-defining relative clause is additional information which is not needed to understand the meaning of a sentence.

Now you try it:
Decide whether the flowing clauses are defining or non-defining. Insert commas where necessary!
ex) The car, which was a rare sports coupe, was built in 1966.

1. We invited the boy who Tom had met the week before to the party.
2. Our friends who we met at the university are coming to visit next week.

Having a Bad Day....

I am exhausted and paranoid today. I think all the running around from going to two jobs, school, and running a mentoring program is getting to me. My linguistics class is what is worrying me. I have not been doing so well on the tests, but my papers are great. It is imperative that I get at the least a B in this class to be able to pass it. The graduate program requires that you take the class over if you get a grade lower than a B. Its a lot to take in. I am not complaining just simply stating the facts. I am student teaching in the Spring semester and then graduating in May. I thought this day would never come, but it's right around the corner and I do not want to do anything to destroy this chance.

Vocabulary:
exhausted(verb)- overly tired
paranoid(adjective)- a severe feeling of being scared
imperative(adjective)- absolutely necessary
graduate(noun)- a person who receives a degree or diploma
complain(verb)- to express pain, uneasiness,dissatisfaction, grief, or resentment

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word:
1. I am in my senior year of high school and ___________________ in June.
2. My friend fell asleep in class, she must of been ________________.
3. It is ________________ to pass this class with an A.
4. My back hurts so I have been __________________ all day.
5. I am so ________________ that the cops are going to show up at the party.

Grammar Point:Homonym
It is a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning. For example ad, add, affect, effect, ect.

Now you try it.
Write a paragraph using the same words but with different meanings.

Election Day!

Election Day has finally passed. I woke up this mourning and found out that Obama is our new president. I was so happy because I voted for him and this election was definitely very important. I feel that Obama has alot on his plate now because he has to get us out of this recession. He has stepped into a mess and hopefully he can lead us out of it. I have faith that he will try his best and hopefully we will get out of this recession and not have it get worse.

Vocabulary:
election(noun)- the selection of a person or persons for office by vote.
president(noun)- the highest executive officer of a modern republic, as the Chief Executive of the United States.
vote(verb)- to express or signify will or choice in a matter.
recession(noun)- a period of an economic contraction.
faith(noun)- confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word:
1. I have ____________ in my religion.
2. The United States is going though a ___________ at this time.
3. The ____________ of the United States runs the country.
4. I ____________ for Obama.
5. This ________________ of presidents was a change in history.

Grammar Point: Discourse Markers
They are used for sequence, managing conversation, to influence our listeners and readers, and to express our attitude to what we say and write. Examples: Anyway, finally, fortunately, futhermore, naturally, obviously, secondly.

You try it:
In order write how you start your mourning.