The Daily PIG ("Practice In Grammar") is our English class warm-up. You must copy and complete the Pig every day; if you're absent the answers will be here for you.

Any words written in plain font should be copied into your composition book. Words in italics are suggested answers or cues to help you respond on your own.

Aug. 28, Journal #1: What do you think of sixth grade so far? (Your response must be at least one full journal page. Consider writing about lunch, buses, homework, hallways, gym, friends, teachers, expectations, the school itself, etc.)

Aug. 31: A sentence must include a subject (noun or pronoun) and a predicate (a verb). Add predicates to these subjects. 1) Four crazy clowns threw pies at each other. 2) The woman on the trapeze is named The Amazing Harriet. 3) An enormous elephant fainted at the sight of a mouse.

Sept. 1: Add subjects to these predicates: 1) The ringmaster waved to the audience. 2) One mangy old lion roared but would not perform. 3) Popcorn and peanuts are delicious! 4) I am planning to join the circus tomorrow.

Sep. 2: The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun. The complete subject is all of the words in the subject half of the sentence. 1) Eight roaring tigers jumped through hoops. 2) My little sister screamed. 3) The audience stood and applauded. Highlighted words should be circled in your composition book.

Sept. 3, Journal #2: Create an original holiday. What does it celebrate? What are its traditions? Also consider writing about your new holiday's date (and reasons why), special foods, colors, customs, and activities. As always, your response should be a full composition book page long.

Sep. 4: Underline the simple subjects. Circle the complete subjects. 1) The clown with a big nose somersaulted into the ring. 2) Ponies and elephants paraded in the center. 3) I decided to get more popcorn. Highlighted words should be circled in your composition book.

Sept. 8: The simple predicate is the main verb. The complete predicate is all of the words in the predicate half of the sentence. 1) Eigh roaring tigers jumped through hoops. 2) My little sister screamed. 3) The audience stood and applauded. Highlighted words should be circled in your composition book.

Sept. 9: Underline the simple subjects; circle the complete predicates. 1) The clown with a big nose somersaulted into the ring. 2) Ponies and elephants paraded in the center. 3) I decided to get more popcorn.

Sept. 10, Journal #3: Name an emotion: ________ . Name any emotion here; TOC #15 has many choices. If it were a real object, what would it look like? What would it sound like? What would it feel like? What would it taste / smell like? To answer these questions, imagine that your emotions were a real, physical object. What color, shape, and size would it be? Would it be loud or soft, sound like a musical instrument or some other particular sound? Would it be soft, hard, furry, slippery, sharp, rough, haot, cold, liquid, gaseous, etc? Would it be sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or taste like a particular food? If you write 4-5 lines to answer each copied question, you will be able to fill the page easily.

Sept. 11: Copy three typed sentences from "The Tale of Mr. Morton": 1) Mr. Morton faints. 2) Mr. Morton blushed. 3) The Mortons lived happily ever after. (Draw a box around the subject of each sentence; draw a squiggly line under the predicate.)

Sept. 14: A compound subject has two or more nouns. A compound predicate has two or more verbs. 1) A dozen clowns tripped and fell. 2) More fireworks or explosions would have improved the show. 3) The llamas and porcupines will juggle grapefruit but not dance the can-can.

Sept. 15: Label each as simple subject (SS) or compound subject (CS) and simple predicate (SP) or compound predicate (CP). 1) My parents clapped and took pictures. (SS & CP) 2) My sisters, brother, and I were completely exhausted. (CS & SP)

Sept. 16: Practice Piggy Check-up 1) Sept. 8, #2: My little sister screamed. ("Screamed" should also be circled.) 2) Sept. 1, instructions: Add subjects to these predicates: 3) Sept. 11, copy one sentence's subject: Mr. Morton ("Mr. Morton" should have a box drawn around it.) 4) On what dates did we have a clown with a big nose? Sept. 4 & 9

Sept. 17: Compare Pigs and journals with your neighbor. Since Aug. 28, you should have 11 Pigs and 3 journals. These Pigs and journals include Aug. 28 and today. Each journal must have the date, journal number, question, and a full page of answers.

Sept. 18: Piggy Check-up #1! Mr. T checks the Pigs from Aug. 28 through today, as well as journals 1-3, and your Table of Contents #1-24.

Sept. 21: PCU #1 grade: Record your Piggy Check-up grade here. Journals #1-3 grade: Record the total journal grade here. TOC #1-24 grade: Record this separate grade here. * I should continue to ... What did you do well on these Pigs, journals, & TOC? Be specific: "... write a full page for each journal," "... update my grades every day," etc. * I should improve on ... Give yourself one specific piece of advice about journals, Pigs, or your TOC. Where did you lose points? Again, be very specific: "... copying each day's Pig very carefully," "... asking questions about the Piggy topics I don't understand," etc.

Sept. 22: Sentences relate four kinds of messages. A declarative sentence makes a statement and usually ends with a period. 1) I have a pet aardvark. 2) Its name is Howard. 3) It's much cooler than my last pet, which was a giant squid.

Sept. 23: An interrogative sentence asks a question and always ends with a question mark. 4) Did you know that my pet's favorite food is grilled cheese sandwiches? 5) Would you feed it while I'm on vacation in the sunken cities of Atlantis?

Sept. 24: An imperative sentence is a command and may end with a period or an exclamation point. Many times there is no subject written; this is called "the understood you." 6) Watch out for my pet's six-inch long fangs! 7) If you need help, ask my neighbor who is a professional banana split taster.

Sept. 25: Exclamatory sentences show strong emotion. They usually end with exclamation points. 8) You've never heard of a professional banana split taster! (This should be the same answer as #7 from yesterday.) 2) I can't believe you thought it was someone who swims in volcanoes!

Sept. 29: Identify each type of sentence: 1) My pet ran away! Exclamatory 2) Will you help me look for it? Interrogative 3) I hope it comes home before suppertime. Declarative 4) Look behind those bushes, please. Imperative

Sept. 30: Create these sentences: 1) an interrogative with 6 words: Do you like peanut butter sandwiches? 2) a declarative with 8 words: My favorite TV show on Thursdays is Survivor. 3) an imperative with 3 words: Brush your teeth. 4) an exclamatory with 4 words: Pigs are the best!

Oct. 1: Create these sentences: 1) an imperative using "duck": Duck your head! -or - Help me find my rubber duck! 2) a declarative using "tears": Our new puppy tears up the newspaper each morning. -or- Her tears ran down her cheeks. 3) an interrogative using "close": Would you close the window? -or- Aren't you sitting too close? 4) an exclamatory using "fair": The fair is coming! -or- That's not fair!

Oct. 2: Create these sentences: 1) an interrogative: Could dolphins ever fly? 2) an imperative: Go home! 3) a declarative: Lisa, my neighbor, opens pickles. 4) an exclamatory: Robbers stop trains! (Your sentences must begin with the bold letters.)

Oct. 5, Journal #4: Interview a Greek god or goddess. Ask 5-6 good questions with their creative answers. Focus on one god or goddess; be creative but factual too. For example, you might write, "Me: Zeus, what's your favorite restaurant? Zeus: I like Burger King; each time I go, I always ask them for a crown."

Oct. 6: Review Journal #4. How many sentences are ... 1) imperative? 2) interrogative? 3) declarative? 4) exclamatory? Everyone will have different answers for these questions. You must have at least 2 imperatives because they were the instructions.

Oct. 7: A sentence must have a subject and a predicate. If a group of words is without a subject, predicate, or both, it is an incomplete sentence or sentence fragment.

Oct. 8: If a group of words begins with one of these words, it is probably a fragment: so, and, but, then, because These are conjunctions and should not begin a sentence.

Oct. 9: "Conjunction junction, what's your function? Hooking up words, phrases, and clauses." Name three important conjunctions: and, but, or

Oct. 12, Journal #5: Create a new animal by combining two existing breeds. Describe it and its characteristics. What is your animal called? Write about its physical description, environment, defenses, food, etc. You may draw a picture on a second page, if you wish, but it does not count as part of the journal.

Oct. 13: If you've begun a fragment with a conjunction, fix it in one of these ways: 1)Eliminate the conjunction. 2) Merge the fragment with the previous sentence.

Oct. 14: Field Trip day

Oct. 15: A run-on sentence is two sentences incorrectly written as one. Run-on sentences can be corrected in three ways: 1) Separate the two sentences with a period. 2) Insert a semicolon. 3) Combine the sentences with a conjunction.

Oct. 16: Identify each a sentence, a fragment, or a run-on. 1) Arachne was too proud she thought she was the best. Run-on 2) So she challenged Athena to a contest. Fragment 3) Athena punished Arachne by turning her into the very first spider. Sentence

Oct. 19: Rewrite these run-on sentences correctly: 1) Perseus was a mighty hero; he was a son of Zeus. 2) Other gods aided him on his quest because they admired his courage. (Originally these sentences read: "Perseus was a mighty hero, he was a son of Zeus." and "Other gods aided him on his quest they admired his courage.")

Oct. 20: Repeat yesterday's instructions: 3) Hermes and Athena helped Perseus when they gave him a magical sword and shield. 4) Perseus slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, flew home, and fulfilled his destiny. (Originally, these sentences read: "Hermes and Athena helped Perseus and they have him a magical sword and shield." and "Perseus slew Medusa and rescued Andromeda and flew home and fulfilled his destiny.")

Oct. 21, Journal #6: Describe a new class that you wish were taught at WMS. This may be the same class you wrote about in your Writing Assessment this morning or a new one. You might choose a class that focuses on something you wish we covered more deeply in school ("Mythology," "Astronomhy," "Basketball Skills," etc.) or a class that just sounds like fun ("Video Gaming & Design," "Horseback Riding," "Fashion 101," etc.). Describe the class, the curriculum (exactly what's taught), assignments, grades, field trips, etc. Also, defend why this class would be a worthwhile addition to our school.

Oct. 22: Rewrite these fragments and run-ons: 5) Prometheus was the Titan who stole fire from the gods. 6) Epimetheus realized he'd made a mistake so he asked Prometheus for help. (Originally, these sentences read, "Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from the gods" and "Epimetheus realized he'd made a mistake he asked Prometheus for help.")

Oct. 23: Compare Pigs and journals with your neighbor. Since Sept. 18, you should have 20 Pigs and 3 journals. These Pigs and journals include Sept. 21 and today, but skip Oct. 14 (Field trip day). Each journal must have the date, journal number, question, and a full page of answers. Mr. T will also check your Table of Contents #26 - 65.

Oct. 26: Piggy Check-up #2! Mr. T checks the Pigs from Sept. 21 through today, as well as journals 4-6, and your Table of Contents #26 - 65.

Oct. 27: Mythology Test!

Oct. 28: When a longer word is shortened (not abbreviated), this is called clipping. plane: airplane math: mathematics flu: influenza hippo: hippopotamus

Oct. 29: PCU #2 grade: Record your grade for Piggy Check-up #2. Journals #4-6: Record your total grade for these journals. TOC #26-65 grade: Record your letter grade for your Table of Contents. Which grades rose or stayed the same since PCU #1? Compare these grades to those you recorded on Sept. 21. Which grades fell? Again, see Sept. 21. What have you done differently? Have you been following the advice you gave yourself on Sept. 21? Have you gotten lax on any parts of your Piggy Check-up?

Nov. 2, Journanl #7: Read journal #1 and reflect. How have your thoughts and feelings changed? Just like you did in August, consider: classes, teachers, bus, lunch, gym, friends, hallways, grades, or anything else. If you don't have journal #1, work from your memory.

Nov. 3: When writing a title, capitalize: > the first and last words, > all nouns and pronouns, > all verbs, > all adjectives and adverbs. Make up the title for a movie about your life, capitalizing the correct words. Your title must be 5-15 words and underlined.

Nov. 4: When writing titles, also capitalize prepositions of four letters or more. 2-3 letters: on, in, to, at, of 4 or more letters: over, with, below, between, through, without, among (Today we learned how to say these words in American Sign Language. Not all classes did each word.)

Nov. 5: In titles, these words follow the same rule as prepositions: Conjunctions: and, but, so, That, Although, etc. Articles: a, an, the

Nov. 6:  Why is each word capitalized or not?     1) A (first word) Series (noun) of (2-letter preposition) Unfortunate (adjective) Events (last word)     2) "Happy (Adjective) Birthday (noun) to (2-letter preposition) You (Pronoun)"

Nov. 9: