Course Content
A. Main Idea
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A.01. Identify the central idea of a given passage.
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A.02. Summarize the main idea of a text concisely.
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A.03. Distinguish the main idea from supporting details.
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A.04. Analyze how the main idea is developed through supporting evidence.
B. Theme
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B.01. Match quotations to their corresponding themes.
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B.02. Identify the theme or themes conveyed in short stories.
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B.03. Compare and contrast themes across different texts.
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B.04. Analyze how literary devices contribute to the development of a theme.
C. Author’s Purpose and Tone
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C.01. Identify the author’s primary purpose (e.g., to inform, persuade, entertain).
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C.02. Compare and contrast the tone of different passages.
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C.03. Analyze how word choice and sentence structure create tone.
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C.04. Evaluate how an author’s purpose influences the tone of a text.
D. Point of View
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D.01. Determine the author’s or narrator’s point of view (e.g., first-person, third-person).
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D.02. Analyze how point of view affects the reader’s understanding of a text.
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D.03. Identify shifts in point of view within a text.
E. Text Structure
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E.01. Identify text structures (e.g., compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, sequence).
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E.02. Match causes with their corresponding effects in informational texts.
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E.03. Match problems with their effective solutions.
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E.04. Compare and contrast information presented using different text structures.
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E.05. Analyze how text structure enhances the author’s message.
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E.06. Evaluate the effectiveness of a text structure for conveying information.
F. Literary Devices
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F.01. Classify common figures of speech (e.g., simile, metaphor, personification).
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F.02. Interpret the meaning of figures of speech within a text.
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F.03. Analyze the effects of figures of speech on a text’s meaning and tone.
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F.04. Identify the source of allusions and their significance.
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F.05. Evaluate the impact of literary devices on the overall effectiveness of a text.
G. Analyzing Literature
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G.01. Analyze literary elements (e.g., character, setting, plot) in short stories.
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G.02. Compare and contrast different interpretations of a literary work.
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G.03. Evaluate the author’s use of literary techniques in achieving a specific effect.
H. Analyzing Informational Texts
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H.01. Read and comprehend informational passages effectively.
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H.02. Identify and trace an author’s central argument or claim.
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H.03. Evaluate the validity and reliability of arguments presented in informational texts.
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H.04. Analyze the use of evidence and reasoning to support arguments.
I. Comparing Texts
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I.01. Compare and contrast two texts of different genres to find the similarities and differences in their content, style, and purpose.
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I.02. Evaluate how different texts treat similar themes or topics.
J. Visual Elements
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J.01. Compare illustrations of literary and historical subjects in terms of their details, style, and how they communicate meaning.
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J.02. Evaluate how visual elements enhance a text’s message and impact the reader.
K. Organizing Writing
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K.01. Order topics from broadest to most specific.
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K.02. Organize information effectively within a topic.
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K.03. Use transitions with conjunctive adverbs to enhance coherence.
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K.04. Create an outline to organize thoughts for writing.
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K.05. Evaluate the effectiveness of different organizational patterns.
L. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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L.01. Distinguish between facts and opinions in written arguments.
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L.02. Identify supporting details in informational texts.
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L.03. Identify supporting details in literary texts.
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L.04. Identify counterclaims and explain their role.
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L.05. Choose the most relevant evidence to support a claim.
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L.06. Evaluate the strength and relevance of supporting evidence.
M. Creative Techniques
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M.01. Use personification to create imagery and add depth to writing.
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M.02. Explore the role of different creative writing techniques in conveying a message.
N. Active and Passive Voice
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N.01. Identify sentences written in active and passive voice.
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N.02. Rewrite sentences to switch between active and passive voice.
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N.03. Analyze how changing the voice of a sentence affects its meaning and impact.
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N.04. Determine when to use active or passive voice effectively.
O. Editing and Revising
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O.01. Remove redundant words or phrases for concise writing.
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O.02. Use parallel structure to enhance clarity and rhythm.
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O.03. Correct frequently confused words in context.
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O.04. Correct errors with signs (e.g., punctuation, capitalization).
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O.05. Suggest appropriate revisions to improve writing quality and clarity.
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O.06. Identify and correct errors in sentence construction.
P. Research Skills
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P.01. Identify and avoid plagiarism in academic writing.
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P.02. Evaluate the credibility of sources for research papers.
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P.03. Properly cite sources using a consistent citation style.
Q. Prefixes and Suffixes
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Q.01. Identify the meanings of words containing common prefixes (e.g., pre-, re-, sub-).
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Q.02. Identify the meanings of words containing common suffixes (e.g., -ful, -less, -able).
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Q.03. Understand how prefixes and suffixes alter the meaning of a word.
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Q.04. Use prefixes and suffixes to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words.
R. Greek and Latin Roots
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R.01. Determine the meanings of common Greek and Latin roots.
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R.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to determine the meanings of words.
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R.03. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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R.04. Apply knowledge of roots to derive the meaning of complex words.
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R.05. Explore the etymology of words and their historical development.
S. Synonyms and Antonyms
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S.01. Choose the synonym of a given word.
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S.02. Choose the antonym of a given word.
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S.03. Distinguish between nuances of meaning in similar words.
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S.04. Use synonyms and antonyms to enhance writing.
T. Word Choice and Usage
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T.01. Describe the difference between related words (e.g., accept/except).
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T.02. Understand and identify words with positive and negative connotations.
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T.03. Analyze the impact of word choice on tone and meaning.
U. Homophones
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U.01. Use the correct homophone in a sentence.
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U.02. Match definitions to sentences using homophones.
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U.03. Identify and correct common homophone errors in writing.
V. Analogies
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V.01. Complete analogies using logical relationships.
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V.02. Solve more challenging analogies involving abstract concepts.
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V.03. Identify different types of relationships in analogies (e.g., synonym, antonym, part/whole).
W. Context Clues
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W.01. Find words using context clues within sentences and paragraphs.
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W.02. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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W.03. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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W.04. Use context to infer the meaning of a word when no direct clue is given.
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W.05. Use multiple context clues to determine the meaning of a word.
X. Domain-Specific Vocabulary
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X.01. Determine the meaning of domain-specific words using pictures and context.
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X.02. Use domain-specific vocabulary accurately in written and oral communication.
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X.03. Explain the meaning of domain-specific words in different contexts.
Y. Reference Skills
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Y.01. Put words in alphabetical order.
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Y.02. Use guide words to locate information in a dictionary or other reference.
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Y.03. Use dictionary entries to determine word meanings, pronunciations, and parts of speech.
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Y.04. Use thesaurus entries to identify synonyms and antonyms.
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Y.05. Use reference materials effectively to expand vocabulary and improve understanding.
Z. Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
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Z.01. Identify a sentence’s structure (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory).
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Z.02. Identify the complete subject and complete predicate of a sentence.
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Z.03. Identify the simple subject and simple predicate of a sentence.
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Z.04. Identify the compound subject and compound predicate of a sentence.
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Z.05. Distinguish between a complete sentence and a sentence fragment.
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Z.06. Distinguish between a complete sentence and a run-on sentence.
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Z.07. Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
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Z.08. Analyze complex sentences for structure.
AA. Phrases and Clauses
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AA.01. Distinguish between a phrase and a clause.
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AA.02. Identify appositives and appositive phrases.
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AA.03. Identify dependent and independent clauses.
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AA.04. Classify sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
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AA.05. Combine sentences effectively using relative clauses.
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AA.06. Use clauses to create complex sentence structures.
BB. Nouns
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BB.01. Form and use plural nouns (review).
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BB.02. Form and use plural forms of compound nouns.
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BB.03. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns.
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BB.04. Form singular and plural possessive nouns correctly.
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BB.05. Identify and correct errors in compound and joint possession.
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BB.06. Apply rules of possessive nouns for compound phrases.
CC. Pronouns and Antecedents
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CC.01. Identify pronouns and their antecedents.
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CC.02. Use pronouns that agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
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CC.03. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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CC.04. Identify vague or ambiguous pronoun references.
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CC.05. Correct vague pronoun references by clarifying antecedents.
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CC.06. Identify all possible antecedents in complex sentence structures.
DD. Pronoun Types
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DD.01. Choose between subject and object pronouns.
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DD.02. Use correct pronoun forms in compound subjects and objects with “I” and “me.”
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DD.03. Use correct pronoun forms in compound subjects and objects.
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DD.04. Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns.
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DD.05. Use reflexive pronouns correctly.
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DD.06. Determine whether a pronoun is reflexive or intensive.
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DD.07. Use relative pronouns (who and whom) correctly.
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DD.08. Use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, and that) correctly.
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DD.09. Differentiate between relative, interrogative, and demonstrative pronouns.
EE. Verb Types
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EE.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
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EE.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns.
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EE.03. Understand the difference between action and state-of-being verbs.
FF. Subject-Verb Agreement
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FF.01. Correct errors in subject-verb agreement.
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FF.02. Correct errors in indefinite pronoun-verb agreement.
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FF.03. Use the correct verb form with compound subjects.
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FF.04. Apply subject-verb agreement rules in complex sentences.
GG. Verb Tense
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GG.01. Identify irregular past tense forms (review).
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GG.02. Use simple past, present, and future tenses correctly (review).
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GG.03. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
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GG.04. Form the progressive verb tenses.
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GG.05. Form the perfect verb tenses.
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GG.06. Identify participles and the words they modify.
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GG.07. Identify gerunds and their functions.
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GG.08. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases.
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GG.09. Form all 12 verb tenses accurately.
HH. Adjectives and Adverbs
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HH.01. Identify adjectives in sentences.
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HH.02. Order adjectives correctly.
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HH.03. Identify adverbs in sentences.
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HH.04. Choose between adjectives and adverbs for proper usage.
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HH.05. Determine whether a word is an adjective or an adverb in context.
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HH.06. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives.
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HH.07. Use “good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst” correctly.
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HH.08. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs.
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HH.09. Use “well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst” correctly.
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HH.10. Understand the functions of adjectives and adverbs.
II. Prepositions
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II.01. Identify prepositional phrases.
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II.02. Use prepositional phrases to add detail and clarity to sentences.
JJ. Direct and Indirect Objects
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JJ.01. Identify direct objects and indirect objects in sentences.
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JJ.02. Differentiate direct and indirect objects from other sentence elements.
KK. Conjunctions
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KK.01. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions.
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KK.02. Use different types of conjunctions to create different types of sentences.
LL. Misplaced Modifiers
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LL.01. Identify misplaced modifiers using pictures and examples.
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LL.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.
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LL.03. Correct misplaced or dangling modifiers for clarity.
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LL.04. Analyze how misplaced modifiers affect meaning.
MM. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements
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MM.01. Recognize the punctuation associated with restrictive and nonrestrictive elements.
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MM.02. Use commas correctly with nonrestrictive elements.
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MM.03. Use nonrestrictive and restrictive elements to clarify sentence meaning.
NN. Commas
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NN.01. Use commas correctly in compound and complex sentences.
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NN.02. Use commas correctly with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, and interrupters.
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NN.03. Use commas correctly with coordinate adjectives.
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NN.04. Apply a complete understanding of comma rules.
OO. Semicolons, Colons, and Commas
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OO.01. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses correctly.
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OO.02. Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists.
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OO.03. Understand the function of semicolons and colons.
PP. Dashes, Hyphens, and Ellipses
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PP.01. Use dashes to set off parenthetical elements or to show a break in thought.
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PP.02. Use hyphens in compound adjectives.
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PP.03. Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately.
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PP.04. Apply rules of dashes, hyphens, and ellipses for clear writing.
QQ. Capitalization
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QQ.02. Capitalize titles (e.g., of books, articles, people) correctly.
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QQ.03. Apply capitalization rules consistently in different contexts.
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QQ.01. Correct capitalization errors.
RR. Formatting
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RR.01. Format titles correctly.
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RR.02. Review the rules for formatting and capitalizing titles.
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RR.03. Format quotations and dialogue correctly.
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RR.04. Use formatting to improve the readability and organization of written work.
