Course Content
A. Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
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A.01. Determine whether a sentence is declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.
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A.02. Choose the correct punctuation to avoid creating fragments and run-on sentences.
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A.03. Identify sentence fragments and correct them.
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A.04. Identify run-on sentences and correct them.
B. Phrases and Clauses
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B.01. Determine whether a group of words is a phrase or a clause.
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B.02. Identify prepositional phrases within sentences.
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B.03. Identify appositives and appositive phrases and their function.
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B.04. Identify dependent and independent clauses within complex sentences.
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B.05. Determine whether a sentence is simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
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B.06. Combine sentences effectively using relative clauses.
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B.07. Differentiate between essential and nonessential clauses.
C. Nouns
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C.04. Use nouns to create vivid imagery in writing.
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C.01. Review the formation and usage of plural nouns.
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C.02. Form and correctly use plurals of compound nouns.
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C.03. Distinguish between common and proper nouns.
D. Pronouns
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D.01. Review subject and object pronouns and correct related errors.
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D.02. Use appropriate pronouns after ‘than’ and ‘as’ in comparisons.
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D.03. Use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) correctly.
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D.04. Identify and correct pronoun errors involving ‘who’ and ‘whom’.
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D.05. Identify vague pronoun references and clarify them.
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D.06. Identify all possible antecedents for pronouns in a given context.
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D.07. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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D.08. Distinguish between intensive and reflexive pronouns.
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D.09. Demonstrate proper use of indefinite pronouns.
E. Verb Types
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E.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs in sentences.
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E.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns.
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E.03. Identify participles and explain what they modify.
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E.04. Identify gerunds and explain their functions within a sentence.
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E.05. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases and their roles.
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E.06. Differentiate between auxiliary and main verbs.
F. Subject-Verb Agreement
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F.01. Identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement within sentences.
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F.02. Identify and correct errors in indefinite pronoun-verb agreement.
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F.03. Identify and correct verb agreement errors with compound subjects.
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F.04. Ensure subject-verb agreement when the subject and verb are separated by intervening phrases.
G. Verb Tense
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G.01. Form the progressive verb tenses accurately.
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G.02. Form the perfect verb tenses correctly.
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G.03. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense within a passage.
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G.04. Use verb tense to indicate time and sequence of events.
H. Adjectives and Adverbs
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H.01. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives correctly.
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H.02. Distinguish between good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst in sentences.
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H.03. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs effectively.
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H.04. Use well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst appropriately.
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H.05. Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs and their functions.
I. Conjunctions
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I.01. Use the correct pairs of correlative conjunctions in sentences.
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I.02. Identify coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
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I.03. Understand the role of conjunctions in connecting ideas and clauses.
J. Writing Clearly and Concisely
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J.01. Remove redundant words or phrases from sentences.
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J.02. Use parallel structure effectively in lists and compound sentences.
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J.03. Identify sentences with parallel structure.
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J.04. Create sentences using parallel structure.
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J.05. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons.
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J.06. Use transitions effectively with conjunctive adverbs.
K. Active and Passive Voice
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K.01. Identify active and passive voice in sentences.
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K.02. Rewrite sentences from passive voice to active voice for clarity and impact.
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K.03. Understand the appropriate use of active and passive voice in different contexts.
L. Misplaced Modifiers
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L.01. Identify misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers within sentences.
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L.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier in a sentence.
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L.03. Determine if modifiers are used correctly in a sentence.
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L.04. Rewrite sentences to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers.
M. Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Elements
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M.01. Use commas correctly with non-restrictive elements in sentences.
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M.02. Differentiate between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses and phrases.
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M.03. Understand how restrictive and non-restrictive elements impact the meaning of a sentence.
N. Commas
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N.01. Use commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases.
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N.02. Use commas correctly with compound and complex sentences.
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N.03. Use commas with coordinate adjectives to enhance clarity.
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N.04. Master the Oxford comma and apply it consistently.
O. Semicolons, Colons and Commas
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O.01. Use semicolons and commas effectively to separate clauses.
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O.02. Use semicolons, colons, and commas correctly with lists.
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O.03. Review the proper usage of semicolons, colons, and commas in various contexts.
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O.04. Understand the hierarchical relationships between clauses that semicolons and colons indicate.
P. Dashes, Hyphens and Ellipses
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P.01. Use dashes to set off parenthetical information or create emphasis.
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P.02. Use hyphens in compound adjectives to avoid ambiguity.
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P.03. Determine whether ellipses are used appropriately in a given context.
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P.04. Distinguish between em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens.
Q. Apostrophes
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Q.01. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns.
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Q.02. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession.
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Q.03. Understand the historical evolution of apostrophe usage.
R. Capitalisation
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R.01. Correct capitalisation errors in sentences and passages.
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R.02. Apply capitalisation rules for proper nouns, titles, and the beginning of sentences.
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R.03. Understand exceptions to capitalisation rules in creative writing.
S. Editing and Revising
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S.01. Use the correct frequently confused word (e.g., “there,” “their,” “they’re”).
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S.02. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused words.
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S.03. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused pronouns and contractions.
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S.04. Correct errors with commonly misspelled words.
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S.05. Correct errors in everyday use of language.
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S.06. Suggest appropriate revisions to improve clarity, style, and tone.
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S.07. Apply proofreading techniques to catch errors in grammar and mechanics.
T. Research Skills
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T.01. Identify plagiarism and understand its consequences.
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T.02. Properly cite sources to avoid plagiarism.
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T.03. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources.
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T.04. Synthesize information from multiple sources into a coherent argument.
U. Vocabulary
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U.01. Use dictionary entries to understand word meanings and usage.
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U.02. Use dictionary definitions to determine correct word usage.
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U.03. Use dictionary entries to determine correct word usage in context.
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U.04. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and antonyms.
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U.05. Expand vocabulary through regular reading and study.
V. Prefixes and Suffixes
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V.01. Complete word pattern analogies using prefixes and suffixes.
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V.02. Use words with prefixes and suffixes in sentences correctly.
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V.03. Understand the meanings and functions of prefixes such as pre-, re-, sub-, mis-, un-, dis-, in-, im-, and non-.
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V.04. Understand the meanings and functions of suffixes such as -ful, -less, -able, and -ible.
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V.05. Deconstruct complex words using knowledge of prefixes and suffixes.
W. Greek and Latin Roots
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W.01. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots to determine relationships.
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W.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of unfamiliar words.
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W.03. Use known words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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W.04. Determine the meanings of common Greek and Latin roots.
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W.05. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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W.06. Identify common Greek and Latin roots in scientific and technical vocabulary.
X. Homophones
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X.01. Use the correct homophone in a sentence (e.g., “to,” “too,” “two”).
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X.02. Identify and correct errors with homophones in writing.
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X.03. Distinguish between subtle differences in meaning between homophones.
Y. Foreign Words and Expressions
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Y.01. Use etymologies to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
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Y.02. Use context as a clue to the meanings of foreign expressions in English.
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Y.03. Use the correct foreign expression in a given context.
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Y.04. Explore the influence of foreign languages on English vocabulary.
Z. Word Usage and Nuance
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Z.01. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence.
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Z.02. Use words accurately and precisely to convey intended meaning.
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Z.03. Replace words using a thesaurus to enhance writing style and variety.
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Z.04. Analyze how subtle changes in word choice can affect tone and audience perception.
AA. Context Clues
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AA.01. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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AA.02. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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AA.03. Use context to identify the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
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AA.04. Recognize different types of context clues (e.g., definition, example, comparison).
BB. Analogies
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BB.01. Solve analogies to understand relationships between words.
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BB.02. Solve more challenging analogies that require deeper understanding of word relationships.
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BB.03. Construct original analogies to demonstrate understanding of word meanings and relationships.
CC. Reading Comprehension: Main Idea
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CC.01. Determine the main idea of a passage accurately.
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CC.02. Summarize the main idea of a passage concisely.
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CC.03. Distinguish between the main idea and supporting details.
DD. Reading Comprehension: Audience, Purpose, and Tone
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DD.02. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone.
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DD.03. Compare passages to analyze differences in tone.
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DD.04. Determine which text is most formal based on audience and purpose.
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DD.05. Understand how audience, purpose, and tone influence writing style.
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DD.01. Identify the audience and purpose of a given text.
EE. Reading Comprehension: Literary Devices
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EE.01. Identify the narrative point of view in a literary text.
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EE.02. Recall the source of an allusion within a text.
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EE.03. Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source.
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EE.04. Interpret figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, and personification.
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EE.05. Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox.
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EE.06. Review the classification of different figures of speech.
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EE.07. Analyze the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
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EE.08. Explore how literary devices enhance the impact of literary works.
FF. Reading Comprehension: Analyzing Literature
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FF.01. Analyze short stories using various literary techniques.
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FF.02. Analyze another set of short stories using different literary techniques.
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FF.03. Compare and contrast different interpretations of the same literary text.
GG. Reading Comprehension: Analyzing Informational Texts
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GG.01. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 1.
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GG.02. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 2.
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GG.03. Trace an argument presented in an informational text.
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GG.04. Trace another argument presented in an informational text.
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GG.05. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1.
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GG.06. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2.
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GG.07. Evaluate the effectiveness of different rhetorical strategies in persuading an audience.
HH. Writing Strategies: Organising Writing
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HH.01. Order topics from broadest to narrowest to create effective outlines.
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HH.02. Organise information by topic to create logical and coherent paragraphs.
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HH.03. Develop outlines to organize research papers.
II. Writing Strategies: Topic Sentences
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II.01. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea of a paragraph.
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II.02. Craft effective topic sentences to guide the reader through a paragraph.
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II.03. Evaluate the effectiveness of topic sentences in conveying the main idea.
JJ. Writing Strategies: Developing and Supporting Arguments
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JJ.01. Distinguish facts from opinions in persuasive writing.
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JJ.02. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim.
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JJ.03. Choose the best evidence to support a claim effectively.
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JJ.04. Identify supporting evidence in a given text.
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JJ.05. Evaluate counterclaims and address them appropriately.
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JJ.06. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim.
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JJ.07. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims to create a cohesive argument.
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JJ.08. Incorporate research and data to strengthen claims and rebut counterclaims.
KK. Writing Strategies: Persuasive Strategies
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KK.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements.
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KK.02. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos effectively in persuasive writing.
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KK.03. Analyze the ethical implications of using different persuasive strategies.
LL. Writing Strategies: Creative Techniques
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LL.01. Use personification effectively to enhance creative writing.
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LL.02. Experiment with different creative writing techniques to develop unique voice.
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LL.03. Combine multiple creative writing techniques.
