"A book, too, can be a star, 'explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,' a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe." - from Madeleine L'Engle's Newberry Medal Acceptance Speech

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Test Prep: Basic Grammar and Mechanics

Please, please, please proofread! I am seeing a lot of careless mistakes in your writing, mainly in the following areas:
  1. capitalization: first word of a sentence, proper nouns, I, main words in any title
  2. writing about texts: underline or italicize title of book, not both; do not underline author's names sentences: use correct punctuation; write complete sentences and avoid run-ons (see below)
  3. spelling: spell words correctly; use spell check and a dictionary; be careful of homophones
  4. incorrect or awkward sentences:
  • comma splice: incorrectly combining two or more independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought—in other words, a sentence. Ex. MS 51 is a desirable middle school in Brooklyn, it balances high standards in academics with the arts.
  • run-on sentence: an incorrect sentence that has more than one independent clause without correct end punctuation.
Ex. Rosie couldn’t pass the ball to a teammate she dribbled down the court herself.
“Rosie couldn’t pass the ball to a teammate” and “she dribbled down the court herself” are both independent clauses—each could stand on its own as a sentence.
  • There are various ways to correct a run-on sentence:
1. Divide it into separate sentences separated by periods.
Example: Rosie couldn’t pass the ball to a teammate. She dribbled down the court herself.

2. Use a comma and a conjunction such as fanboys: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Example: Rosie couldn’t pass the ball to a teammate, so she dribbled down the court herself.

3. Use a semicolon and a transitional word or phrase such as however, moreover, furthermore, as a result, consequently, meanwhile, first, next, finally, or in addition.
Example: Rosie couldn’t pass the ball to a teammate; consequently, she dribbled down the court herself.

Directions: Correctly the following sentences; use the solutions above.
1. rachel’s dog keeps scratching, it might have fleas.

2. It’s pouring outside i insist that you borrow my umbrella.

3. Our final projects in social studies were due today so Mr. Ramirez collected them at the end of the period


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