Course Content
A. Vocabulary in Context
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A.01. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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A.02. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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A.03. Use context to identify the meaning of a word.
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A.04. Analyze how the author’s word choice contributes to the overall tone and meaning of a text.
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A.05. Identify and explain the use of connotation and denotation in word choice.
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A.06. Infer the meaning of unfamiliar words using context clues and morphological analysis.
B. Main Idea and Supporting Details
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B.01. Determine the main idea of a passage.
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B.02. Identify the central argument or thesis statement of a text.
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B.03. Recognize supporting details that develop and illustrate the main idea.
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B.04. Summarize a text concisely, capturing the main idea and key supporting details.
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B.05. Differentiate between major and minor supporting details.
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B.06. Analyze the relationship between the main idea and the supporting evidence.
C. Audience, Purpose, and Tone
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C.01. Identify audience and purpose.
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C.02. Compare passages for tone.
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C.03. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone.
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C.04. Which text is most formal?
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C.05. Analyze how an author’s purpose shapes the tone and content of a text.
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C.06. Evaluate how different tones affect the reader’s understanding and response.
D. Literary Devices and Figurative Language
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D.01. Interpret figures of speech.
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D.02. Recall the source of an allusion.
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D.03. Identify the narrative point of view.
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D.04. Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox.
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D.05. Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source.
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D.06. Analyze the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
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D.07. Evaluate how literary devices enhance meaning and impact the reader.
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D.08. Distinguish between different types of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification).
E. Analyzing Literature
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E.01. Analyze short stories: set 1.
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E.02. Analyze short stories: set 2.
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E.03. Identify and explain the use of symbolism, theme, and character development.
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E.04. Compare and contrast different literary works based on their themes, characters, and styles.
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E.05. Evaluate the author’s use of literary devices and their impact on the reader.
F. Analyzing Informational Texts
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F.01. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 1.
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F.02. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 2.
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F.03. Trace an argument: set 1.
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F.04. Trace an argument: set 2.
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F.05. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1.
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F.06. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2.
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F.07. Evaluate the credibility and effectiveness of evidence presented in informational texts.
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F.08. Compare and contrast different viewpoints on a specific topic in informational texts.
G. Organizing Writing
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G.01. Organize information by topic.
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G.02. Order topics from broadest to narrowest.
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G.03. Use outlining techniques to plan and organize written work.
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G.04. Develop a logical flow of ideas within paragraphs and across the entire text.
H. Topic Sentences and Thesis Statements
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H.01. Identify thesis statements.
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H.02. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea.
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H.03. Write clear and concise topic sentences and thesis statements.
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H.04. Evaluate the effectiveness of thesis statements in guiding the essay.
I. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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I.01. Identify supporting evidence in a text.
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I.02. Distinguish facts from opinions.
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I.03. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim.
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I.04. Choose the best evidence to support a claim.
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I.05. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim.
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I.06. Evaluate counterclaims.
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I.07. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims.
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I.08. Assess the validity and reliability of different sources.
J. Persuasive Techniques
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J.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements.
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J.02. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing.
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J.03. Analyze the effectiveness of different persuasive strategies.
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J.04. Evaluate the use of rhetoric to influence an audience.
K. Creative Techniques
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K.01. Use personification.
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K.02. Apply various creative techniques to enhance writing.
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K.03. Experiment with different sentence structures and stylistic choices.
L. Writing Concisely and Clearly
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L.01. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs.
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L.02. Identify sentences with parallel structure.
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L.03. Use parallel structure.
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L.04. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons.
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L.05. Remove redundant words or phrases.
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L.06. Revise sentences for clarity, precision, and conciseness.
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L.07. Apply strategies to eliminate wordiness and improve readability.
M. Active and Passive Voice
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M.01. Identify active and passive voice.
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M.02. Rewrite the sentence in active voice.
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M.03. Determine when to use active and passive voice for specific rhetorical effects.
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M.04. Analyze the impact of active and passive voice on clarity and emphasis.
N. Editing and Revising
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N.01. Correct errors with commonly misspelled words.
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N.02. Correct errors with frequently confused pronouns and contractions.
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N.03. Use the correct frequently confused word.
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N.04. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused words.
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N.05. Suggest appropriate revisions.
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N.06. Correct errors with signs.
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N.07. Correct errors in everyday use.
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N.08. Proofread and edit written work for grammar, mechanics, and style.
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N.09. Apply revision strategies to improve the quality of writing.
O. Research Skills
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O.01. Use in-text citations (MLA 8th–9th editions).
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O.02. Recognize the parts of a Works Cited entry (MLA 8th edition).
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O.03. Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 8th–9th editions).
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O.04. Identify plagiarism.
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O.05. Evaluate the reliability and credibility of sources.
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O.06. Properly cite sources using MLA format.
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O.07. Utilize research databases and other resources effectively.
P. Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
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P.01. Words with un-, dis-, in-, im- and non-.
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P.02. Words with pre-.
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P.03. Words with re-.
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P.04. Words with sub-.
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P.05. Words with mis-.
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P.06. Words with -ful.
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P.07. Words with -less.
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P.08. Words with -able and -ible.
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P.09. Word pattern analogies.
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P.10. Word pattern sentences.
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P.11. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots.
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P.12. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words.
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P.13. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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P.14. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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P.15. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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P.16. Recognize how prefixes, suffixes, and root words contribute to word meanings.
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P.17. Analyze how the addition of prefixes and suffixes changes a word’s part of speech.
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P.18. Utilize etymological analysis to expand vocabulary.
Q. Homophones
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Q.01. Identify and correct errors with homophones.
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Q.02. Use the correct homophone.
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Q.03. Apply the correct homophones in sentences to convey intended meanings.
R. Foreign Words and Expressions
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R.01. Use context as a clue to the meanings of foreign expressions.
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R.02. Use the correct foreign expression.
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R.03. Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words.
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R.04. Recognize and interpret common foreign words and expressions.
S. Word Usage and Nuance
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S.01. Replace words using a thesaurus.
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S.02. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence.
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S.03. Use words accurately and precisely.
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S.04. Explore words with new or contested usages.
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S.05. Discern shades of meaning (connotation) within a set of synonyms.
T. Analogies
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T.01. Analogies.
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T.02. Analogies: challenge.
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T.03. Solve various types of analogies.
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T.04. Explain the relationships between the words in an analogy.
U. Nouns
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U.01. Form and use plurals: review.
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U.02. Form and use plurals of compound nouns.
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U.03. Apply the rules for forming and using plural nouns.
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U.04. Distinguish between concrete and abstract nouns.
V. Pronouns
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V.09. Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which and that.
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V.10. Apply the correct pronouns to ensure clear and grammatically correct sentences.
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V.01. Subject and object pronouns review.
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V.02. Identify and correct errors with subject and object pronouns.
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V.03. Pronouns after “than” and “as”.
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V.04. Identify and correct pronoun errors with “who”.
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V.05. Use relative pronouns: who and whom.
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V.06. Identify vague pronoun references.
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V.07. Identify all of the possible antecedents.
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V.08. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
W. Verb Types
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W.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
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W.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives and predicate nouns.
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W.03. Identify participles and what they modify.
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W.04. Identify gerunds and their functions.
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W.05. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases.
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W.06. Identify the different types of verbs and their functions within a sentence.
X. Subject-Verb Agreement
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X.01. Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement.
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X.02. Identify and correct errors with indefinite pronoun-verb agreement.
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X.03. Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects.
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X.04. Apply the rules for subject-verb agreement in various sentence structures.
Y. Verb Tense
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Y.01. Form the progressive verb tenses.
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Y.02. Form the perfect verb tenses.
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Y.03. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
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Y.04. Use verb tenses correctly to convey time relationships.
Z. Adjectives and Adverbs
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Z.01. Good, better, best, bad, worse and worst.
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Z.02. Well, better, best, badly, worse and worst.
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Z.03. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives.
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Z.04. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs.
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Z.05. Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs and their functions in a sentence.
AA. Conjunctions
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AA.01. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions.
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AA.02. Utilize different types of conjunctions effectively to connect ideas.
BB. Misplaced Modifiers
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BB.01. Misplaced modifiers with pictures.
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BB.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.
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BB.03. Are the modifiers used correctly?
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BB.04. Correct misplaced and dangling modifiers to improve sentence clarity.
CC. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements
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CC.01. What does the punctuation suggest?
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CC.02. Commas with nonrestrictive elements.
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CC.03. Use correct punctuation for restrictive and nonrestrictive elements.
DD. Commas
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DD.01. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters and antithetical phrases.
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DD.02. Commas with coordinate adjectives.
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DD.03. Commas with compound and complex sentences.
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DD.04. Apply comma rules to create clear and grammatically correct sentences.
EE. Semicolons, Colons, and Commas
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EE.01. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses.
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EE.02. Use semicolons, colons and commas with lists.
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EE.03. Semicolons, colons and commas: review.
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EE.04. Master the use of semicolons, colons, and commas to improve sentence structure.
FF. Dashes, Hyphens, and Ellipses
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FF.01. Use hyphens in compound adjectives.
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FF.02. Use dashes.
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FF.03. Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately.
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FF.04. Apply dashes, hyphens, and ellipses correctly to enhance clarity and style.
GG. Apostrophes
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GG.01. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns.
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GG.02. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession.
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GG.03. Apply apostrophe rules accurately to indicate possession and contractions.
HH. Capitalization
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HH.01. Correct capitalization errors.
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HH.02. Apply capitalization rules correctly.
II. Formatting
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II.01. Formatting quotations and dialogue.
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II.02. Apply formatting rules to improve readability.
JJ. Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
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JJ.01. Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory?
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JJ.02. Identify sentence fragments.
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JJ.03. Identify run-on sentences.
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JJ.04. Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons.
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JJ.05. Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
KK. Phrases and Clauses
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KK.01. Is it a phrase or a clause?
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KK.02. Identify prepositional phrases.
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KK.03. Identify appositives and appositive phrases.
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KK.04. Identify dependent and independent clauses.
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KK.05. Is the sentence simple, compound, complex or compound-complex?
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KK.06. Combine sentences using relative clauses.
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KK.07. Differentiate between phrases and clauses.
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KK.08. Classify sentences by their structure.
