[Lecture Six] Principles of Grammar
by Dr. Leonard Peikoff
Total Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Course summary: In this course, Dr. Peikoff explores the epistemological roots of the science of grammar. In it, he illustrates how an understanding of the basic methods of combining words into sentences is essential to clear thinking and writing. Each lecture contains student exercises that should be completed prior to the end of the lecture. Read more »
In this lecture: In this lecture, Dr. Peikoff discusses the role of punctuation and its importance to clarity and proper thinking. He reviews the origins and purposes of punctuation. With special emphasis on the different functions of the comma, Dr. Peikoff provides much practical guidance about how properly punctuating a sentence can improve thinking. There is also some brief discussion of semicolons, parentheses, and dashes. Review of the previous session’s homework is also included.
Study Guide
This material is designed to help you digest the lecture content. You can also download below a PDF study guide for the entire course.
| How and why did punctuation evolve in Western writing? |
| What cognitive errors arise from improper use of punctuation? |
| What dual epistemological roles does punctuation serve? |
| Why is both excessive and deficient punctuation a problem? |
| What kinds of parenthetical elements can be included via proper punctuation? |
| What is the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive modifiers? |
| What additional ways can commas be used to improve sense and meaning? |