Course Content
A. Sentences: Structure and Formation
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A.01. Identify sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and complete sentences.
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A.02. Choose correct punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons.
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A.03. Distinguish between simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
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A.04. Combine sentences effectively using relative clauses.
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A.05. Evaluate complex sentence structures for clarity and conciseness.
B. Phrases and Clauses: Building Blocks of Sentences
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B.01. Differentiate between phrases and clauses.
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B.02. Identify prepositional phrases within sentences.
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B.03. Recognise and understand the function of appositives and appositive phrases.
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B.04. Distinguish between dependent and independent clauses.
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B.05. Analyse how different types of clauses contribute to sentence meaning.
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B.06. Construct sentences using various types of phrases and clauses.
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B.07. Evaluate the effectiveness of different clause structures for conveying specific meanings.
C. Verb Usage: Mastering Verb Forms and Agreement
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C.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs in context.
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C.02. Recognise linking verbs and their role in connecting subjects to predicate adjectives and nouns.
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C.03. Form the progressive verb tenses correctly.
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C.04. Form the perfect verb tenses accurately.
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C.05. Identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement.
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C.06. Ensure correct verb agreement with indefinite pronouns.
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C.07. Maintain consistent verb tense throughout a piece of writing.
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C.08. Analyse the impact of verb tense choices on the overall meaning and flow of a text.
D. Pronoun Usage: Clarity and Consistency
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D.01. Identify and correct errors with subject and object pronouns.
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D.02. Use pronouns correctly after “than” and “as” in comparisons.
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D.03. Identify and correct pronoun errors involving “who” and “whom.”
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D.04. Use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) correctly.
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D.05. Identify and resolve vague pronoun references.
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D.06. Identify potential antecedents for pronouns in ambiguous sentences.
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D.07. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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D.08. Analyse how pronoun choices impact the clarity and coherence of writing.
E. Adjectives and Adverbs: Describing with Precision
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E.01. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives correctly.
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E.02. Distinguish between “good,” “better,” “best” and “bad,” “worse,” “worst” in sentences.
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E.03. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs appropriately.
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E.04. Differentiate between “well,” “better,” “best” and “badly,” “worse,” “worst” in sentences.
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E.05. Analyse how descriptive language impacts tone and imagery in writing.
F. Word Choice: Precision and Nuance
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F.01. Use the correct homophone in different contexts.
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F.02. Identify and correct errors involving homophones.
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F.03. Use the correct frequently confused word.
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F.04. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused words.
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F.05. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused pronouns and contractions.
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F.06. Replace words with more appropriate synonyms using a thesaurus.
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F.07. Describe the subtle differences between related words.
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F.08. Analyse how word choice contributes to the tone and meaning of a text.
G. Punctuation: Guiding the Reader
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G.01. Use commas with direct addresses, introductory elements, absolute phrases, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases.
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G.02. Use commas in compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
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G.03. Use commas with coordinate adjectives effectively.
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G.04. Use semicolons, colons, and commas correctly to join sentences.
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G.05. Use colons and commas to introduce lists, quotations, and appositives accurately.
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G.06. Use semicolons and commas to separate items in a series correctly.
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G.07. Use dashes appropriately in sentences.
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G.08. Use hyphens correctly in compound adjectives.
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G.09. Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately in various contexts.
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G.10. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns using apostrophes.
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G.11. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession using apostrophes.
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G.12. Analyze how different punctuation marks affect the pace and clarity of writing.
H. Capitalisation: Following Conventions
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H.01. Correct capitalisation errors in a variety of contexts.
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H.02. Apply capitalization rules consistently in writing.
I. Editing and Revising: Polishing Your Work
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I.01. Identify and correct commonly misspelled words.
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I.02. Correct errors in everyday usage of language.
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I.03. Suggest appropriate revisions to improve clarity and flow.
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I.04. Evaluate writing for errors in grammar, mechanics, and style.
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I.05. Apply editing techniques to enhance the overall quality of writing.
J. Prefixes and Suffixes: Unlocking Word Meanings
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J.01. Identify common prefixes and their meanings.
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J.02. Identify common suffixes and their meanings.
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J.03. Use prefixes and suffixes to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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J.04. Construct words by adding appropriate prefixes and suffixes to root words.
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J.05. Analyse how prefixes and suffixes can alter the meaning and function of words.
K. Greek and Latin Roots: Exploring Word Origins
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K.01. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots.
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K.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to determine the meanings of words.
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K.03. Use known words to infer the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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K.04. Determine the meanings of common Greek and Latin roots.
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K.05. Determine the meanings of words containing Greek and Latin roots.
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K.06. Explore the historical connections between Greek and Latin roots and their influence on the English language.
L. Context Clues: Inferring Meaning from Text
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L.01. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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L.02. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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L.03. Use surrounding context to identify the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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L.04. Identify and understand domain-specific vocabulary in science and technical texts.
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L.05. Apply context clues to analyze complex texts and infer nuanced meanings.
M. Analogies: Understanding Relationships Between Words
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M.01. Solve basic analogies.
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M.02. Solve more challenging analogies.
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M.03. Create analogies to demonstrate understanding of word relationships.
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M.04. Analyze the different types of relationships expressed in analogies.
N. Foreign Words and Expressions: Expanding Linguistic Knowledge
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N.03. Use the correct foreign expression in a sentence.
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N.04. Recognize and understand common foreign words and expressions used in English.
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N.01. Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words.
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N.02. Use context to infer the meanings of foreign expressions.
O. Word Usage and Nuance: Choosing the Right Word
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O.01. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best fit the sentence.
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O.02. Use words accurately and precisely in writing.
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O.03. Select the word with the most appropriate connotation for the intended meaning.
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O.04. Analyse how connotation and denotation impact the effectiveness of communication.
P. Main Idea: Identifying the Central Point
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P.01. Determine the main idea of a passage.
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P.02. Summarise a passage by extracting the main idea and key supporting details.
Q. Audience, Purpose, and Tone: Understanding the Author’s Intent
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Q.01. Distinguish between formal and informal texts.
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Q.02. Identify the audience and purpose of a given text.
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Q.03. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone.
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Q.04. Compare passages to identify differences in tone.
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Q.05. Analyse how audience, purpose, and tone influence writing style and content.
R. Literary Devices: Uncovering Meaning Through Technique
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R.01. Identify the narrative point of view in a text.
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R.02. Interpret the meaning of an allusion based on its source.
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R.03. Recall the original source of an allusion.
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R.04. Interpret the meaning of various figures of speech.
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R.05. Classify figures of speech such as euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, and paradox.
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R.06. Classify figures of speech such as anaphora, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, chiasmus, and understatement.
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R.07. Analyse the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
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R.08. Evaluate the effectiveness of different literary devices in achieving a specific purpose.
S. Analysing Informational Texts: Critical Reading
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S.01. Analyse the development of arguments in informational passages.
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S.02. Trace the development of informational passages, set 1.
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S.03. Trace the development of informational passages, set 2.
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S.04. Analyse rhetorical strategies in historical texts.
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S.05. Analyse rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1.
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S.06. Analyse rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2.
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S.07. Evaluate the credibility and bias of sources in informational texts.
T. Analysing Literature: Interpreting Meaning
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T.01. Analyse short stories and identify key themes and motifs.
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T.02. Analyze short stories: set 1.
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T.03. Analyze short stories: set 2.
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T.04. Evaluate the impact of literary elements on the overall meaning of a text.
U. Organising Writing: Structuring Your Ideas
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U.01. Order topics from broadest to narrowest.
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U.02. Organise information effectively by topic.
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U.03. Develop outlines to structure written pieces logically.
V. Topic Sentences: Establishing the Main Point
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V.01. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea of a paragraph.
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V.02. Write effective topic sentences to guide readers through a text.
W. Developing and Supporting Arguments: Building a Case
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W.01. Distinguish between facts and opinions in written texts.
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W.02. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim.
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W.03. Choose the best evidence to effectively support a claim.
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W.04. Identify supporting evidence within a text.
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W.05. Evaluate counterclaims to strengthen arguments.
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W.06. Choose the analysis that logically connects evidence to a claim.
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W.07. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims.
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W.08. Construct well-reasoned arguments with clear evidence and logical analysis.
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W.09. Analyse the effectiveness of different argumentative strategies in persuasive writing.
X. Persuasive Strategies: Appealing to Your Audience
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X.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements.
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X.02. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos effectively in persuasive writing.
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X.03. Analyse how persuasive techniques are used to influence audiences.
Y. Writing Clearly and Concisely: Avoiding Ambiguity
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Y.01. Use transitions effectively with conjunctive adverbs.
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Y.02. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons.
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Y.03. Identify sentences with parallel structure.
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Y.04. Use parallel structure to enhance clarity and rhythm.
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Y.05. Remove redundant words or phrases to improve conciseness.
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Y.06. Evaluate writing for clarity, conciseness, and precision.
Z. Misplaced Modifiers: Ensuring Clarity
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Z.01. Identify misplaced modifiers using visual aids.
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Z.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier in a sentence.
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Z.03. Determine if modifiers are used correctly in various sentences.
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Z.04. Rewrite sentences to correct misplaced or dangling modifiers.
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Z.05. Analyse how misplaced modifiers can affect the meaning of a sentence.
AA. Restrictive and Non-restrictive Elements: Adding Detail
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AA.01. Use commas correctly with non-restrictive elements.
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AA.02. Distinguish between restrictive and non-restrictive elements in sentences.
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AA.03. Punctuate restrictive and non-restrictive elements appropriately.
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AA.04. Analyze the impact of restrictive and non-restrictive elements on sentence meaning.
BB. Research Skills: Gathering and Using Information Ethically
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BB.01. Identify plagiarism and understand its consequences.
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BB.02. Use citation methods to avoid plagiarism and give credit to sources.
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BB.03. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources.
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BB.04. Synthesise information from multiple sources to support arguments.
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BB.05. Present research findings accurately and ethically.
