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CLAUSE OVERVIEW     INDEPENDENT CLAUSES     PUNCTUATION     PHRASES   DEPENDENT CLAUSES     PARALLEL STRUCTURE     

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IN PROGRESS...


GRAMMAR and YOUR STYLE
UNIT # _____

OVERVIEW

By viewing and responding to instructional videos, practicing with online flash cards, and taking online quizzes,  students will learn the grammatical and stylistic terminology most important in varying and improving their writing style.  They will apply this understanding to several journal entries submitted to the instructor online.  Students will showcase their understanding by conducting a real-world and online "Grammar Safari," publishing their findings on a self-designed, peer-evaluated website.

STRUCTURE

The unit comprises nine lessons, each containing checkup questions and writing exercises to be submitted using a form embedded in each page. There are several checkups and exercises.  Students will receive an emailed score each time they complete a lesson checkup. Checkups must be taken as often as needed to earn a 100 percent before proceeding to the next exercise.  The unit quiz, writing exercises, and portfolio assessment may only be submitted once however.  Lessons contain videos and handouts which may be downloaded for additional instructional support.  An improvement survey will be taken upon completion of the unit.

UNIT AIM

The aim of this unit is to contribute in producing students who are ready for college and the workplace.  According to the Common Core Standards, students who are so prepared demonstrate independence:

"Without prompting, they demonstrate command of standard English and acquire and use a wide-ranging vocabulary. More broadly, they become self-directed learners, effectively seeking out and using resources to assist them, including teachers, peers, and print and digital reference materials....


They appreciate nuances, such as how the composition of an audience should affect tone when speaking and how the connotations of words affect meaning."

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Common core standards
In this unit

LANGUAGE STANDARDS

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1 

• Use various types of clauses to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations:  independent, dependent (subordinate); noun, adjectival (relative), adverbial . 

• Use parallel structure.* CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1a

• Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1b

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2

• Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2a
• Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2b 

IN PROGRESS...

• Parts of speech overview
  
• Taking your nouns uptown
  
• Connotation and denotation
  
• Pumping up Action Verbs
  
• Swatting "Killer Be's" (linking verbs)
  
• Avoiding blank descriptions (predicate adjectives)
  
• Avoiding adverb overload
  
• Transitioning with conjunctive adverbs
  

• Sentence variety overview
  
• The complete and simple guide to subjects and predicates
  
• The simple sentence stinger
  
• FANBOYS (coordinating conjunctions)
  
• The compound sound
  
• Relationship experts:  Subordinating conjunctions
  
• Taking care of your complexion
  
• Grammar and style review