Recent Newsletters
Exclamation Marks and the Power of Language
Do you remember the first time you discovered exclamation marks? How powerful! And how fun! These marks can serve powerfully, especially when used adeptly. But using exclamation marks adeptly can take some practice. That’s why we wanted to share two free excerpts from our Basic Cozy Punctuation Course.
Hyphens, Early Birds, and Clarity of Meaning
We have a chock-full newsletter for you this month, with an announcement of an early-bird special, an introduction to our free Learning Treasure Trove, a surprising way to win a free lifetime subscription to our Basic Cozy Grammar and Punctuation Combo, and a mini-lesson from me and Marie about hyphens.
Commas and a Space to Pause
In our most recent Ask Cozy Grammar Q & A session, a participant asked, “Why are commas so confusing? There’s so many different rules. How do I begin understanding them?” Here’s an answer from Thomas about getting started with commas as well as a free excerpt from Marie’s lesson on commas from the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course.
Sentences and Sense
Join Marie and Thomas for an exploration of sentences and sense. In an except from Lesson 1 of the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, Marie shows us how to use periods at the ends of sentences. Then, in a supplementary video from the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, Thomas shows the importance of periods in seeing the sense of our sentences.
The Four Kinds of Sentences
Did you know there are four basic kinds of sentences? Watch a free excerpt from Lesson 1 of the Basic Cozy Grammar Course where Marie uses clear and concrete examples from life in her cozy beach cottage to illustrate the four kinds of sentences: assertive, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.
What is the History of Punctuation?
Sometimes knowing a little history can go a long way in helping us understand a subject. Exploring the story of where punctuation comes from is not only interesting but can also help us learn to use the dots, lines, and squiggles of punctuation easily, freely, and joyfully.
The Dots, Lines, and Squiggles of Punctuation
Punctuation can often seem intimidating. Everywhere we look, there appear to be different and contradictory rules about how we’re supposed to use all these dots, lines, and squiggles in our writing. But as Marie explains, punctuation is simply a tool to clarify meaning and prevent misunderstanding.
Nature and Imagination
Marie celebrates the natural world and the power of imagination. Here’s an example of how Marie uses nature to walk students through the writing of an expository essay. In this month’s first free excerpt, Marie uses the basic essay format she teaches in the Basic Cozy Essay Course to write an essay about the beach in front of her Cozy Beach Cottage.
The Purpose of an Essay
In the Basic Cozy Essay Course, Marie distinguishes between the format of an essay and the purpose of an essay. The format of an essay is the technique of the essay, the simple building blocks with which it is made. The purpose, on the other hand, is the reason why any particular essay is being written. This reason might be to make a point, tell a story, or review a book, for instance.
The Secret of Marie’s Approach
Nothing is more meaningful to us than to have Marie’s courses find their way to the people and places where they can make a real difference. Part of the secret of Marie’s approach is how freely she offers herself as she is. Her courses are as unique as she is, inspiring her students to embrace their own uniqueness.
A Free and Fun Game for Grammar
Marie believed that grammar gives us a marvelous way to understand the power of language, a way she believed could also be fun. That’s why this month we wanted to share a free and fun game for learning the eight parts of speech. Take a peek and then download a free PDF of Marie’s Cozy Grammar Game!
The NEW Basic Cozy Essay Course
We’re thrilled to announce the release of the second edition of The Basic Cozy Essay Course, complete with all-new additional videos filmed in London, England. In this free excerpt from Lesson 1, Marie answers the question What is an Essay?, gives an overview of her basic essay format, and shares some handy advice for getting started.
How to Write an Excellent Essay
One of the topics Marie was most intent on helping her students understand was how to write an essay. As she explains in the introduction to The Basic Cozy Essay Course, if we don’t know how to write an essay, it can be a fearsome assignment. But when we learn how, it can open innumerable doors—as it did for Marie herself.
How Transitive Verbs are like Transit Systems
This month we wanted to take another look at the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Marie gives us a special memory trick that no one else that I know of has used. We also have an exciting announcement about some new features and an upcoming release. Take a peek at this month’s free videos!
The Gift of the Present Tense
This month we wanted to talk about the hidden gift of the present tense and make a special announcement about our new PDF workbooks. Take a peek at her lesson on the present tense, then I’ll explain what I mean by the hidden gift of the present tense.
Grammar and Beauty
Just as it may seem strange at first to talk about grammar and gratitude, it may also seem strange to talk about grammar and beauty. But as Marie and Thomas explain in Lesson 14 of The Basic Cozy Grammar Course, beauty and grammar go together.
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