Vocabulary

• Use context to determine and develop definitions for unknown words.

• Compare and correct personal definitions using dictionary definitions.

• Use online and print dictionaries, synonyms, antonyms, and word origin clues to aid in comprehension and mastery of vocabulary.

• Create personal relationships with words through original sentences and proper use of words.

• Understand and apply word definitions.

COMPOSITION

Writing as a Process

• Understand and practice writing as a process (prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing).

• Use technology to draft, revise, and publish original writing.

Writing Guided Journal Entries

• Distinguish diaries from journals.

• Use a journal to list possibilities for topics to write about.

• Describe a place or object in a journal entry.

• Respond in the journal to a cartoon or other clipping.

• Find and record expressions and quotations in the journal.

• Identify four kinds of paragraphs: factual, descriptive, persuasive, narrative.

• Develop paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting details that relate to the topic.

• Plan and write a short essay based on a journal entry.

Writing a Report

• Choose and narrow a topic for a report.

• Find sources for a report.

• Gather information using library and Internet sources.

• Compile a bibliography.

• Organize facts into an outline.

• Write an effective introduction and conclusion.

• Revise the report to improve content, organization, clarity, and word choices.

• Proofread and publish the report.

Writing a Book Review

• Analyze a sample book review.

• Summarize the book to be reviewed.

• Gather information about the author.

• Evaluate the plot, characters, and setting.

• Prepare an outline for the book review.

• Write, revise, and proofread the review.

Writing to a Prompt

• Examine different kinds of writing prompts to determine what kind of writing to do.

• Use the writing process--planning, writing a first draft, revising, and proofreading—to write to a prompt.

• Practice writing in response to narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive prompts.

• Write to a prompt in a simulated test situation.

Writing Poetry

• Practice poetic techniques to make any writing more active, imaginative, and vivid.

• Identify and use imagery, rhythm, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and refrains.

• Write and revise poems in prescribed forms.

• Write and revise poems in free verse and in rhyme.

Writing a Persuasive Paper

• Distinguish fact from opinion.

• Support arguments with facts, experiences, and reasoning.

• Anticipate and respond to opposing arguments.

• Find and use sources to support opinions.

• Write, revise, proofread, and publish a persuasive paper.

Writing a News Article

• Identify the who, what, why, where, when and how in a news article.

• Distinguish between fact and opinion in news stories and editorials.

• Use research and interviews to gather facts for a news article.

• Write a lead for a news article.

• Use and correctly punctuate quotations.

• Plan and organize a news article.

• Write, revise, and proofread a news article.

Writing a Play (Optional)

• Write dialogue and stage directions.

• Turn a story into a play.

SPELLING

• Short vowels, prefix re–, and base word magnet

• Vowel suffixes, prefix un–, and base word create

• Suffixes–s and –es, prefix dis–, and base word act

• Ways to spell long a, prefix pre–, and base word port

• Less common ways to spell long a, prefix sub–, and base word flex

• Common spellings of long e, prefix dis–, and root struct

• Long e spelled y, ey; i before e; suffix –en, and root scrib

• Ways to spell long i, prefix mis–, and root spec

• Long o spelled oa, ow, oe; prefix in–; and root val

• Long o spelled mo, o-e; prefix bi–; and root rupt

• Ways to spell long u, prefix semi–, and root dict

• Ways to spell /oo/, prefix mid–, and root tract

• Words with r-controlled vowels, suffix –fore, and root fer

• Ways to spell /k/, prefix under–, and root vis

• Words with /kw/ spelled qu and /shul/ spelled cial, prefix de–, and root cur

• Words with the long e sound spelled i, suffix –able, and root vent

• Words with c pronounced /s/, suffix –ly, and root scrip

• Adding vowel and consonant suffixes, suffix –tion, and root cap

• Adding vowel suffixes, suffix –ist, and root cred

• Adding vowel suffixes, suffix –or, and root sens

• /f/ spelled ph and /g/ spelled gu, suffix –ness, and root aud

• /oi/ spelled oy, suffix –ous, and base word form

• /ou/ spelled ou or ow, suffix –ous, and root pend

• /us/ spelled ice and ace, suffix –ous, and root ten

• Contractions, suffix –ship, and root lect

• Compound words, suffix –ology, and root vita

• Homophones, suffix –ive, and root cent

5th Grade:

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Composition—Students write and collaborate from planning to proofreading, as they narratively write, informatively and persuasively in various forms and genres.

• Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics—Students learn about parts of speech, punctuation, and research skills. They continue sentence analysis and diagramming,

• Vocabulary—Students develop and expand vocabulary through online instruction that incorporates context and word relationships.

• Spelling—Students learn sound-symbol relationships and spelling patterns, identify affixes, and learn how they affect the meaning of words, and recognize base words and roots in related words.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

Sentences

• Identify and form four kinds of sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.

• Rewrite sentences to change their kind (for example, interrogative to declarative) and use the appropriate end punctuation mark for each kind of sentence.

• Identify the subject and predicate of a sentence.

• Distinguish complete subjects and predicates from simple subjects and predicates.

• Distinguish between complete sentences and fragments.

• Identify subject complements and direct objects.

• Analyze and diagram sentences.

• Punctuation and Capitalization

• Use periods to end most abbreviations and after initials.

• Form abbreviations for units of measure and two-letter postal abbreviations for states without periods.

• Use commas to separate words in a series.

• Use commas with yes and no, and in direct address.

• Use commas in dates and in geographic place names (e.g., between the name of a city and state).

• Use commas and quotation marks to set off direct quotations in sentences.

• Use commas before and, but, and or in compound sentences.

• Use quotation marks, underlining, or italics as appropriate for titles of stories, poems, books, movies, plays, and works of art.

• Review capitalization rules (e.g., capitalize the first word of a sentence, proper nouns and adjectives, names, important words in titles, etc.).

Nouns

• Identify proper and common nouns.

• Identify singular and plural nouns, regular and irregular.

• Form singular and plural possessive nouns.

• Identify nouns used as subjects, subject complements, and direct objects.

Pronouns

• Identify and understand usage of personal pronouns.

• Identify and use singular and plural pronouns.

• Complete sentences with pronouns as subject complements and direct objects.

• Complete sentences with pronouns as objects of prepositions.

• Use the personal pronouns me, us, him, her, and them as subject complements or direct objects.

• Identify the person of a pronoun: first, second, or third person.

• Identify the gender of a pronoun: masculine, feminine, or neuter.

• Distinguish subject pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we, and they from object pronouns me, you, him, her, it, us, and them.

• Identify and form possessive pronouns.

• Identify and use reflexive and intensive pronouns.

Adjectives

• Identify adjectives and their functions.

• Form proper adjectives from proper nouns (e.g., Swedish from Sweden).

• Identify definite and indefinite articles.

• Identify and use the correct forms of demonstrative adjectives.

• Identify and use possessive adjectives.

• Form positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.

Verbs

• Identify and use action verbs, being verbs, linking verbs, and auxiliary verbs.

• Write questions and negative statements using main and helping verbs.

• Identify and form principal parts of verbs (present, present participle, past, past participle).

• Identify and use regular and irregular verbs.

• Identify and use simple tenses: present, past, future.

• Identify and form the present and past progressive tense.

• Identify transitive verbs and direct objects in sentences.

• Identify intransitive verbs and distinguish from transitive verbs.

• Use singular verbs with singular subjects, and plural verbs with plural subjects.

• Form and correctly use principal parts of break, see, go, choose, and take.

• Correctly use:

  • is, am, are, was, were

  • do and does

  • there is and there are

• Correctly use forms of:

  • let and leave

  • teach and learn

  • lie and lay

  • sit and set

Adverbs

• Identify and use adverbs of time, place, and manner.

• Form comparative and superlative adverbs.

• Identify adverbs as positive, comparative, or superlative.

• Use good and well; their and there; real and very; to, too, and two; and no, not, and never correctly in sentences.

Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections

• Identify prepositions and prepositional phrases in sentences.

• Select the correct preposition to complete a sentence.

• Correctly use between and among, and from and off.

• Identify prepositional phrases as adjectival or adverbial.

• Identify objects of prepositions.

• Identify and use conjunctions.

• Use conjunctions to connect two sentences.

• Use appropriate interjections to introduce sentences.

Vocabulary and Word Study

• Use context to determine and develop definitions for unknown words.

• Compare and correct personal definitions using dictionary definitions.

• Use online and print dictionaries, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and word origin clues to aid in comprehension and mastery of vocabulary.

• Create personal relationships with words through original sentences and proper use of words.

• Understand and apply word definitions.

• Retell, paraphrase, and explain what a speaker has said.

• Use techniques for effective oral presentations (e.g., stand straight and tall; keep your hands at your sides; speak with expression in a loud, clear voice; use complete sentences and proper grammar)

• Maintain purposeful discussion (agree and disagree constructively, state ideas clearly and fully using complete sentences and proper grammar, synthesize and build on others' ideas, explain, and defend ideas).

• Read prose and poetry aloud with fluency, rhythm, and expression.

• Connect and relate prior experiences, insights, and ideas to those of a speaker.

COMPOSITION

Writing as a Process

• Understand and practice writing as a process (prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing).

Writing a Memoir (A Personal Narrative)

• Understand the elements of the memoir: plot, characters, setting, and theme.

• Plan and organize events to be related in the memoir.

• Distinguish between first person and third person point of view.

• Use imagery and simile to describe a place or scene.

• Write realistic dialogue.

• Write, revise, and proofread a memoir.

Writing a Research Paper

• Choose and narrow a topic for a research paper.

• Find sources for a research paper.

• Gather information using library and Internet sources.

• Prepare bibliography cards.

• Paraphrase sources and understand how to avoid plagiarism.

• Write a thesis statement.

• Prepare a formal outline for the research paper.

• Compile a bibliography.

• Write an effective introduction and conclusion.

• Develop paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting details that relate to the topic.

• Revise the research paper to improve content, organization, clarity, and word choices, and proofread to correct errors.

Writing to a Prompt

• Identify four types of prompts: narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive.

• Decide what type of writing a prompt requires.

• Identify elements of a paragraph: topic sentence, body (supporting details), and closing sentence.

• Plan the beginning, middle, and end of a response to a prompt.

• Practice writing in response to writing prompts under timed conditions.

Writing an Editorial

• Analyze an editorial.

• Distinguish fact from opinion.

• Locate facts and other information to support opinions in an editorial.

• Anticipate and respond to opposing arguments.

• Revise with special attention to controlling tone and eliminating unnecessary attacks, unsupported judgments, and overstatements.

Writing a Speech

• Identify different purposes for a speech (e.g., to inform, persuade, or entertain).

• Write a thesis statement for an informative speech.

• Use the writing process to write a speech.

• Deliver the speech to an audience.

Writing Business Letters

• Identify the parts of a business letter.

• Understand the audience and purpose of the business letter.

• Write and revise a business letter of complaint or a request for information.

Writing a Compare-and-Contrast Essay

• Analyze an essay written to compare and contrast.

• Use graphic organizers to plan topics to compare and contrast.

• Prepare an outline for a compare-and-contrast essay.

• Write, revise, and proofread a compare-and-contrast essay.

Writing a Character Sketch

• Gather information through observation or recall for a character sketch.

• Write dialogue to include in a character sketch.

• Use specific details and examples to illustrate the subject's characteristics.

• Write, revise, and proofread a character sketch.

Writing a Short Story (Optional)

• Analyze a short story.

• Describe the setting for a story.

• Select and describe characters for a story.

• Plan a conflict and the plot of a story.

• Write, revise, and proofread a short story.

Writing a Book Review (Optional)

• Summarize the book to be reviewed.

• Gather information about the author.

• Evaluate the plot, characters, and setting.

• Prepare an outline for the book review.

• Write, revise, and proofread the review.

SPELLING

• Words with two vowels together, each having its own sound; prefix uni–; and base word grace

• Words with /k/ sound spelled ch, prefix quad–, and base word scholar

• The schwa sound spelled a at the beginning and end of words, prefix oct–, base word deficit

• Words with the endings tion and sion, prefix kilo–, root gradu

• Word relationships, prefix milli–, and root prehend

• Words with /j/ spelled dge, soft c and g, prefix a–, and root tox

• Word relationships, prefix super–, and root tech

• Abbreviations, prefix para–, and root cour

• Contractions, prefix multi–, and root meter

• Words with /shun/ spelled tion and sion, prefix a– and root thermo

• Words with /sh/ spelled ch, /k/ spelled que, /s/ spelled sc, prefix out–, and base word operate

• Word relationships, prefix over–, and root brev

• Words often confused in spelling, prefix ir–, and root bell

• Difficult plurals, prefix im–, and root just

• Adding the /shun/ ending spelled tion and sion, prefix il–, and root ini

• Words with tion and sion, suffix –eer, and root liber

• Words with tion and sion, suffix –ess, and root cline

• Adding vowel suffixes, suffix –ical, and root cert

• Adding suffixes, suffix –ism, and root grat

• Adding vowel suffixes, suffix –ify, and root domus

• Abbreviations, suffix –or, and root mand

• Word relationships, suffix –ary, and root ques

• Compound words, suffix –ant, and root min

• Words with tion, suffix –worthy, and root flam

• Endings tion and sion, suffix –ward, and root nov

• Words often confused in spelling, suffix –some, and root mob

• Words within words, suffix –like, and root term

• Words with two pronunciations and two meanings, suffix –ish, and base word present

• Compound words, suffix –ern, and root turb

• Endings tion and sion, suffix –dom, and root vict

6th Grade – 8th Grade:

Intermediate English B:

Intermediate Language Skills B offers a systematic approach to the development of written and oral communication skills, designed to give students the essential building blocks for expressing their own ideas in standard (or formal) English.

COMPOSITION

This course builds on the skills introduced in Intermediate Composition A. In this writing program, students continue to practice writing essays in various genres. They analyze the conventional five-paragraph essay structure, and then move on to learn the form and structure of a variety of narrative, informative, and persuasive essays they will encounter in their academic careers, including essays of definition, cause-and-effect essays, and research papers.

In writing each essay, students go through a process of planning, organizing, and revising, and they learn to examine their own writing with a critical eye, paying attention to ideas, organization, structure, style, and correctness. Throughout the course, students write in response to prompts as well as write short and longer research projects. In addition to writing, students will hone presentation skills and incorporate multimedia into their work. Students will use technology to draft, revise, and publish their compositions.

Introduction to the Essay

• Parts of an Essay

• Essay Decisions

• Essay Conventions

• Writing an Essay

Autobiographical Incident

• What Is an Autobiographical Incident?

• Prewriting: Planning to Write About an Autobiographical Incident

• Drafting: Writing About an Autobiographical Incident

• Revising, Proofreading, and Publishing

Definition Essay

• What Is a Definition Essay?

• Prewriting: Planning a Definition Essay

• Drafting: Writing a Definition Essay

• Revising: Revising a Definition Essay

• Proofreading and Publishing

Letter to the Editor

• What Is a Letter to the Editor?

• Prewriting: Logical Thinking

• Prewriting: Choosing a Topic

• Prewriting: Gathering Information

• Prewriting: Planning the Letter

• Drafting

• Revising a Letter to the Editor

• Proofreading and Publishing a Letter to the Editor

Research Report

• What Is a Research Report?

• Covering the Basics

• Prewriting: Finding Information

• Prewriting: Finding More Information

• Prewriting: Taking Notes

• Prewriting: Organizing the Information

• Drafting

• Revising

• Bibliography

• Proofreading

• Publishing

Propaganda

• What Is Propaganda?

• Prewriting: Logical Fallacies and Emotional Appeals

• Prewriting: Planning an Article

• Drafting: Writing an Article

• Revising, Proofreading, and Publishing

Cause-and-Effect Essay

• What Is a Cause-and-Effect Essay?

• Prewriting: Different Kinds of Cause-and-Effect Relationships

• Prewriting: Planning a Cause-and-Effect Essay

• Drafting: Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay

• Revising and Proofreading

• Publishing: Planning a Presentation

• Publishing: Practicing a Presentation

• Publishing: Delivering a Presentation

Fictional Narrative

• What Is a Fictional Narrative?

• Prewriting: Parts of a Story

• Prewriting: Character Development

• Prewriting: Planning a Fictional Narrative

• Drafting

• Revising

• Proofreading and Publishing

GRAMMAR, USAGE, AND MECHANICS

The Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics program addresses many grammatical topics, with reinforcement activities in sentence analysis, sentence structure, and proper punctuation. Students analyze syntax and diagram sentences to understand how words, phrases, and clauses function in relation to each other. Frequent exercises and regular practice help students absorb the rules so they can confidently apply them in their own writing.

Parts of Speech Review

• Prepositions

• Prepositional Phrases

• Preposition or Adverb?

• Conjunctions and Interjections

Kinds of Complements

• Direct Objects

• Indirect Objects

• Predicate Nominatives

• Predicate Adjectives

• Sentence Diagramming and Review

Phrases

• Adjective Phrases

• Prepositional Phrases

• Misplaced Adjective Phrases

• Adverb Phrases

Verbal and Verbal Phrases

• Participles

• Participle or Verb?

• Participial Phrases

• Misplaced Participial Phrases

• Infinitives

• Infinitive Phrases

• Sentence Diagramming

Clauses

• Independent and Subordinate Clauses

• Adverb Clauses

• Adjective Clauses

• Adverb and Adjective Clauses

• Simple and Compound Sentences

• Compound Sentence or Compound Verb

• Complex Sentences

• Sentence Diagramming and Review

Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons

• Fragments

• Other Sentence Errors

Using Verbs

• Regular and Irregular Verbs

• Principal Parts of Verbs

• Six Problem Verbs

• Verb Tenses

• Uses of Tenses

• Conjugation of a Verb

• Tense Shifts

Using Pronouns

• Pronouns in the Nominative Case

• Pronouns in the Objective Case

• Pronouns in the Possessive Case

• Pronoun Problems and Pronoun Antecedents

• Pronoun Problem: Who or Whom?

• Pronouns and Their Antecedents

Subject and Verb Agreement

• Agreement of Subjects and Verbs

• Common Agreement Problems

• Agreement Problems with Pronouns

Using Adjectives and Adverbs

• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

• Problems with Modifiers

Capital Letters

• Rules of Capital Letters

• More Proper Nouns

• Other Uses of Capital Letters

End Marks and Commas

• End Marks and the Period

• Commas That Separate

• More Uses of the Comma

• More Commas That Enclose

Italics and Quotation Marks

• Uses of Italics and Quotation Marks

• Direct Quotations

• Other Uses of Quotation Marks

Other Punctuation

• Apostrophes

• Possessive Forms of Pronouns

• Other Uses of the Apostrophe

• Semicolons

• Colons

• Hyphens to Divide Words

• Other Uses of Hyphens

VOCABULARY

The Vocabulary from Classical Roots program builds knowledge of Greek and Latin words that form the roots of many English words, especially the polysyllabic terms that sometimes cause students to stumble. Throughout this program, students will define and use words with Greek and Latin roots and use word origins and derivations to determine the meaning of new words, as they increase their own vocabularies and develop valuable test-taking skills.

Motion

• Latin roots per, fero, ferre, tuli latum; tendo, tendere, tetendi, tensum

• Latin roots sub, torqueo, torquere, torsi, tortum; verso, versare, versavi, versatum

Position

• Latin roots ex, pono, ponere, posui, positum

• Latin roots extra, medius, sequor, sequi, secutum

Joining

• Latin roots cum, teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum

• Latin roots apo, apere, epi, aptum; jungo, jungere, junxi, junctum; stringo, stringere, strinxi, strictum

Separation

• Latin roots ab, cerno, cernere, crevi, cretum; frango, frangere, fregi, fractum

• Greek roots luein, lutos

• Latin roots super, caedo, caedere, cecidi, caesum; solvo, solvere, solvi, solutum

Sight

• Latin roots re, ostendo, ostendere, ostendi, ostensum; video, videre, vidi, visum

• Latin roots specto, spectare, spectavi, spectatum; vigilo, vigilare, vigilavi, vigilatum

The Other Senses

• Latin roots ad, oleo, olere, olui; sono, sonare, sonui, sonitum; voco, vocare, vocavi, vocatum

• Latin roots sentio, sentire, sensi, sensum; tango, tangere, tetigi, tactum

Emotions

• Latin roots pro, jocus, suavis, festus

• Greek root zelos

• Latin roots doleo, dolere, dolui, dolitum, ira, volo, velle, volui

The Shape of Things

• Greek root kuklos

• Latin roots circum, orbis, orbita, figura

• Greek root iedos

• Latin roots fingo, fingere, finxi, fictum; rota, rotundus, cavea

You might choose to split the lessons into smaller segments. The online lesson tracking system will allow you to pick up wherever you left off in any given lesson.

Literary Analysis and Composition:

COMPOSITION

This strand builds on the skills introduced in Intermediate Composition courses. In this writing program, students continue to practice writing narrative, informative, and persuasive essays in various genres and increasingly focus on model essays from noteworthy authors. Some units use the literature lessons as a springboard and thereby reinforce the connection between reading for meaning and writing to communicate one's own ideas. Students learn the form and structure of a variety of essays they will encounter in their academic careers, including memoirs (narrative), literary essays, compare-and-contrast essays, long research papers and shorter research projects, descriptive writing, and arguments. In writing each essay, students go through a process of planning, organizing, and revising, and they learn to examine their own writing with a critical eye, paying attention to ideas, organization, structure, style, and correctness. Throughout the course, students write in response and use technology to draft, revise, and publish their work. Students hone effective presentation skills and incorporate multimedia elements into their work.

Memoir

• Analysis of a Memoir: Examining Mark Twain's "A Cub Pilot"

• Planning a Memoir

• Writing a Memoir I

• Writing a Memoir II

• Revising a Memoir

• Proofreading and Publishing a Memoir

Literary Essay: Character

• What Is Literary Essay About Character?

• Planning a Literary Essay About Character

• Focusing and Organizing a Literary Essay About Character

• Writing a Literary Essay About Character

• Revising a Literary Essay About Character

• Proofreading and Publishing a Literary Essay About Character

Argument

• What Is an Argument?

• Recognizing Logical Fallacies and Emotional Appeals

• Choosing a Topic and Gathering Information

• Planning and Organizing the Argument

• Writing an Argument

• Revising an Argument

• Proofreading and Publishing an Argument

Making Us See: Description

• Seeing with the Mind's Eye I: Analysis of Excerpt from Hamlin Garland's Boy Life on the Prairie

• Seeing with the Mind's Eye II: Analysis of Excerpt from Henry David Thoreau's Walden

• Seeing with the Mind's Eye III: Analysis of an Excerpt from Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

• Recognizing Descriptive Language

• Planning a Descriptive Essay

• Writing a Descriptive Essay

• Polishing a Descriptive Essay

Research Paper

• What Is a Research Paper?

• Taking Notes I

• Taking Notes II

• Organizing the Information

• Writing a Research Paper I

• Writing a Research Paper II

• Creating a Works Cited Page

• Revising a Research Paper

• Proofreading and Publishing a Research Paper

• Revising

• Bibliography

• Proofreading

• Publishing

Literary Essay: Theme

• What Is a Literary Essay About Theme?

• Planning a Literary Essay About Theme

• Writing a Literary Essay About Theme

• Revising a Literary Essay About Theme

• Proofreading and Publishing a Literary Essay About Theme

Literary Essay: Compare and Contrast

• What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay About Literature?

• Planning a Compare and Contrast Essay About Literature

• Organizing a Compare and Contrast Essay About Literature

• Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay About Literature

• Polishing a Compare and Contrast Essay About Literature

Great Speeches and Oratory

• Reading, Listening to, and Analyzing a Speech I: The Gettysburg Address

• Reading, Listening to, and Analyzing a Speech I: I Have a Dream

• Planning a Speech

• Writing a Speech

• Revising a Speech

• Practicing and Delivering a Speech

GRAMMAR, USAGE, AND MECHANICS

How can a modifier be misplaced or dangling? Is there a positive to appositives? What is a gerund? The Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (GUM) course addresses these and many other topics, with reinforcement activities in sentence analysis, sentence structure, and proper punctuation. Students analyze syntax and diagram sentences to understand how words, phrases, and clauses function in relation to each other. Skills updates, frequent exercises, cumulative reviews, and regular practice help students absorb the rules so they can confidently apply them in their own writing. The Barrett Kendall Language Handbook provides exercises and a ready resource for grammar rules and conventions.

Sentences, Fragments, and Run-Ons

• Sentences

• Fragments

• Run-Ons

Complements

• Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

• Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives

Phrases

• Prepositional Phrases

• Misplaced Modifiers and Appositives

Verbal and Verbal Phrases

• Participles and Participial Phrases

• Gerund

• Gerund Phrases

• Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases

• Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Clauses

• Independent and Subordinate Clauses

• Adverb Clauses

• Adjective Clauses

• Functions of Relative Pronouns

• Noun Clauses

• Sentence Structure

Using Verbs

• Principal Parts of Verbs

• Verb Tense

• Shift in Tense

• Active and Passive Voice

Using Pronouns

• Pronoun Case

• Pronoun Problems

• Pronouns in Comparison

• Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents and Antecedent Problems

Subject and Verb Agreement

• Agreement of Subjects and Verbs

• Common Agreement Problems

• Other Agreement Problems

Using Adjectives and Adverbs

• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Capital Letters

• Capitalization

• More Capitalization

End Marks and Commas

• End Marks

• Commas That Separate

• Comma That Enclose

• More Commas That Enclose

Italics and Quotation Marks

• Uses of Italics and Quotation Marks

• Direct Quotations

• Other Uses of Quotation Marks

Other Punctuation

• Apostrophes

• Semicolons

• Colons and Hyphens

• Dashes and Parentheses

Vocabulary

Are you implacable or placid? Are you apathetic or empathic? Though these pairs of words are nearly opposite in their meanings, they are closely related and easily defined by students who know the Latin root, —"pacere" — (to please) and the Greek root pathos (suffering). K12's Vocabulary program uses the Vocabulary from Classical Roots program (from Educator's Publishing Service) to build knowledge of Greek and Latin words that form the roots of many English words. The purpose of the program is to help students unlock the meanings of words from classical roots, not necessarily to memorize lists of difficult or obscure vocabulary words. These polysyllabic words are those that frequently cause students to stumble and often appear on standardized tests. Throughout this program, students will define and use words with Greek and Latin roots and use word origins and derivations to determine the meaning of new words, as they increase their own vocabularies and develop valuable test-taking skills.

The Person

• Latin roots humanas, homo, vir, ego, genos, genus, generis

• Greek roots anthropos; gyne, femina, autos, gens, gentis

Personal Relationships

• Latin roots matrix, pater, frater, avunculus, familia, uxor, puer, morior, nascor

• Greek roots pais, sum, esse, fui, futurum, thanatos

Feelings

• Latin roots amo, amicus, odium, pax, cupio, placere, placare

• Greek roots philos, phileo, phobos, pathos, miso, dys

Creature Comforts

• Latin roots domus, dominus, dormio, somnus, lavare, vestis, coquere, vorare, melis, sal, bibere, potare, ludere

The Head

• Latin roots caput, cerebrum, facies, frons, oris, oratum, dens, gurges

• Greek roots odon

The Body

• Latin roots caro, collum, corpus, cor, os, dorsum, nervus, sanguis, sedeo

• Greek roots derm, gaster

The Hands

• Latin roots manus, dextra, digitus, flecto, rapio, plico, prehendo, pes, gradior, ambulo, calcitro, sto, stio, sisto

• Greek root podos