TOTAL CHILD SCHOOL, PORT HARCOURTDefinition of word stress.
When we pronounce an English word that has more than one syllable, we do not usually apply force on all syllables in the word. Rather we produce a syllable with greater force than others. The syllable which we produce with greater force/effort appears more prominent, louder and longer than the other syllables in the same word. Such a syllable is said to be stressed. Therefore, stress can be defined as extra force or greater emphasis placed on a syllable when its pronounced in order to make such a syllable more prominent and louder than others.
If a word of two syllables starts with a prefix, stress the second syllable. The stressed syllables have been capitalized.
Examples:
A B
PICture / / reMAIN / /
MANner unKNOWN / /
PILlow / / disAGREE / /
Notice that in column B the stress is on the second syllable. This is because the first syllable in each case is a prefix. As a rule, affixes whether prefixes or suffixes are not usually stressed in English.
Note that if a word of two syllables is a noun, you should stress the first syllable but if it is a verb, stress the second.
Examples: nouns verbs
IMport / / imPORT / /
EXport / / exPORT / /
PROgress / / proGRESS / /
INsult / / inSULT
CONduct / / conDUCT
TRANASport / / transPORT
PREsent / / preSENT
Polysyllabic words are words that have more than two syllables.
STRESS ON THE SECOND SYLLABLE
imPORtant
ciVIlian
speCIFic
enCOMpass
diMINish
enDANger
enDEAVour
draMATIC
ocCASion
enVELop
Examples: credential (3 syllable) cre-DEN-tial
Phptographic (4 syllable) pho-to-GRA-phy
Examination (5 syllable) e-xa-mi-NA-tion
Experimentation (5 syllable) ex-pe-ri-men-TA-tion
Malicious (3 syllable) ma-LI-cious
Politician (4 syllable) po-li-TI-cian
Specialization (5 syllable) spe-cia-liSA-tion
Personification (6 syllable) per-so-ni-fi-CA=tion
STEP 2
Meaning of a phrase
A phrase can be defined as a group of words (with or without a finite verb) that does not make sense and which only forms part of a sentence.
Step 3
Types of phrases
There are three types of phrases namely: Noun Phrase, Adjectival phrase, Adverbial phrase.
a) Noun Phrase: In a noun phrase, the headword must be a noun or a pronoun.
A noun phrase can be replaced by a pronoun.
Examples:
I. I saw the village headmaster.
Ii. The man at the gate is my father.
III. The old woman sleeping in the room has just been discharged from the hospital.
Functions of Noun Phrase
Like noun, noun phrase has six different grammatical functions:
Q. Subject of verb: When the noun phrase occupies the first position in the sentence, it functions as the subject of the verb that follows it.
Examples:
I) Sleeping without light is not something I enjoy.
Function: subject of the verb IS.
Ii) The beautiful girl comes here everyday.
Function: subject of the verb COMES.
2. Subject compliment: When the noun phrase is the same thing or person as the subject, it functions as subject compliment
Examples:
i. Olu is the doctor. (The doctor is the same person as Olu)
3. Object of the verb: When the noun phrase comes after the a verb in the sentence, it functions as object of the verb.
Examples
I. I gave the money to the best student.
- the money is the object of the verb gave.
Ii. Jason received an award of for excellence.
- an award is the object of the verb received.
4. Object compliment: When the noun phrase follows the object, it functions as the object compliment.
Examples
I. I gave Shola the money.
- the money completes the meaning of Shola (object of the verb gave), therefore it functions as the object compliment.
Ii. They called the former ruler a tyrant.
- a tyrant compliments the object the former ruler.
5. Compliment of a preposition: when the noun phrase occurs after a preposition, it is governed by the preposition. Hence, it is the object of the preposition.
Examples:
I. Award of excellence was given to the zonal Manager.
- the Zonal Manager functions as the object of the preposition To.
6. In Apposition to a noun: A noun phrase is said to be in the Apposition to a noun when the noun phrase and the noun refer to the same person or thing. For example, in the sentence ' Mohammed Buhari, the President of Nigeria, has travelled to China, ' the noun phrase The president of Nigeria is in the Apposition to the noun Mohammadu Buhari since they refer to the same person.
Examples
Nigeria, the oil-rich giant of Africa, attained independence in 1960.
- The underlined noun phrase is in Apposition to the noun Nigeria.
b) Adjectival phrase
Adjectival phrase performs the grammatical function of qualifying the noun that precedes it in a sentence.
Examples:
I. The man standing at the gate is my father
Function: it qualifies the noun man
Ii. The student to be suspended has stopped coming to school.
Function: it qualifies the noun student.
C. Adverbial phrase
An adverbial phrase modifies the verb in the main clause. It includes time, place, manner, frequency, degree, result of action, condition, purpose and reason for an action.
Examples:
I. I put the food on the table ( answers the question where?)
Function: modifies the verb put.
Ii. He carries on as the boss. (Manner)
Function: modifies the verb carries.
STEP 4
Read the passage on senseless Wars.
STEP 5
Definition of argumentative essay
An argumentative essay is one in which you are expected to give reasons for or against something with the aim of persuading somebody (the opponent) to share his own opinion.
Step 6
Features of an argumentative essay
1. Your essay must have a title.
2. It is necessary in arguments or debates to greet or recognize the people present before starting one's argument. The recognition of the people present should be done in their order of importance. The arrangement can be done horizontally or vertically.
E.g.
Mr. Chairman,
Panel of Imperial Judges,
Moderator,
Distinguished Guests,
Accurate Time Keeper,
Co-debaters,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
OR
Mr. Chairman, Panel of Judges, Moderator, Distinguished Guests, Accurate Time Keeper, Co-debaters, Ladies and Gentlemen.
3. State whether you are arguing for or against the topic. ' To argue for' means to support the proposition while ' to argue against' means to oppose it.
4. Define the topic of the debate. However if the topic is one that does not call for a definition, do not bother to define.
5. Give about five points to support your view. Your points should be reasonable and persuasive so that you can win the heart of the panel of Judges.
6. Before concluding your argument, it is important that you have been able to convince the panel of Judges and the listening audience that you hold a better opinion and the judgement should be given in your favour.
EVALUATION
ASSIGNMENT
Write an argumentative essay on the topic: ' Fathers are more important than mothers.