Post by Mr. Wells on Feb 3, 2010 13:31:08 GMT -5
The most important aspect to understand about coordination and subordination is the effect their use has on a writer's meaning.
Look at the following two sentences:
1. Although people should be given the right to choose what they do to their bodies, some actions - like drug use - ought never to be legalized.
2. Although some actions - like drug use - ought never to be legalized, people should be given the right to choose what they do to their bodies.
The information, the words, and the punctuation are exactly the same in the both sentences: the only difference is which clause has been made subordinate.
In the first sentence, "people should be...their bodies" is the subordinate clause, the "less important" detail; in the second sentence, "some actions....to be legalized" is the subordinate clause, the "less important" detail.
Imagine, now, that each of the above sentences was the opening of an argument.
The simple act of changing which of the two clauses is made subordinate complete changes the focus of the argument. In the first sentence, the focus of the argument would be on what things should never be legalized (this person must be a Realist). In the second sentence, the focus of the argument would be on the fact that people should be allowed to do what they want to their body (this person belongs in the Romantic era).
A near complete shift in thought, just by moving a single word.
Now let all that marinate for a moment or two, then proceed to Task 5.
Look at the following two sentences:
1. Although people should be given the right to choose what they do to their bodies, some actions - like drug use - ought never to be legalized.
2. Although some actions - like drug use - ought never to be legalized, people should be given the right to choose what they do to their bodies.
The information, the words, and the punctuation are exactly the same in the both sentences: the only difference is which clause has been made subordinate.
In the first sentence, "people should be...their bodies" is the subordinate clause, the "less important" detail; in the second sentence, "some actions....to be legalized" is the subordinate clause, the "less important" detail.
Imagine, now, that each of the above sentences was the opening of an argument.
The simple act of changing which of the two clauses is made subordinate complete changes the focus of the argument. In the first sentence, the focus of the argument would be on what things should never be legalized (this person must be a Realist). In the second sentence, the focus of the argument would be on the fact that people should be allowed to do what they want to their body (this person belongs in the Romantic era).
A near complete shift in thought, just by moving a single word.
Now let all that marinate for a moment or two, then proceed to Task 5.