Course Content
A. Main Idea
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A.01. Determine the main idea of a passage.
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A.02. Identify the supporting details that reinforce the main idea.
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A.03. Analyze how the main idea shapes the passage’s structure and tone.
B. Theme
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B.01. Match quotations with their themes.
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B.02. Determine the themes of short stories.
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B.03. Explain how setting, character, and plot contribute to a theme.
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B.04. Compare and contrast themes across different texts.
C. Author’s Purpose and Tone
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C.01. Identify the author’s purpose.
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C.02. Compare passages for tone.
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C.03. Analyze how word choice affects the tone.
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C.04. Infer the author’s point of view based on the purpose and tone.
D. Point of View
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D.01. Determine the author’s point of view.
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D.02. Distinguish between first-, second-, and third-person perspectives.
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D.03. Analyze how point of view affects the narrative’s reliability and impact.
E. Text Structure
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E.01. Match causes and effects in informational texts.
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E.02. Match problems with their solutions.
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E.03. Identify text structures.
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E.04. Compare and contrast information in informational texts.
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E.05. Analyze the effectiveness of different text structures for conveying information.
F. Literary Devices
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F.01. Classify figures of speech.
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F.02. Interpret figures of speech.
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F.03. Recall the source of an allusion.
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F.04. Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source.
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F.05. Analyze the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
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F.06. Identify and explain the use of symbolism in a literary work.
G. Analyzing Literature
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G.01. Analyze short stories.
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G.02. Evaluate the effectiveness of literary techniques in a short story.
H. Analyzing Informational Texts
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H.01. Read and understand informational passages.
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H.02. Trace an argument.
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H.03. Evaluate the credibility of sources within an informational text.
I. Comparing Texts
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I.01. Compare two texts with different genres.
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I.02. Synthesize information from multiple texts on a related topic.
J. Visual Elements
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J.01. Compare illustrations of literary and historical subjects.
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J.02. Analyze how visual elements enhance understanding and engagement.
K. Organizing Writing
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K.01. Organize information by topic.
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K.02. Order topics from broadest to narrowest.
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K.03. Use transitions with conjunctive adverbs.
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K.04. Create an outline to organize ideas effectively.
L. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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L.01. Identify supporting details in literary texts.
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L.02. Identify supporting details in informational texts.
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L.03. Distinguish facts from opinions.
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L.04. Choose evidence to support a claim.
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L.05. Identify counterclaims.
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L.06. Evaluate the strength and relevance of evidence used in an argument.
M. Creative Techniques
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M.01. Use personification.
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M.02. Apply various creative techniques to enrich writing.
N. Editing and Revising
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N.01. Remove redundant words or phrases.
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N.02. Use parallel structure.
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N.03. Correct errors with frequently confused words.
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N.04. Use the correct frequently confused word.
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N.05. Correct errors with signs.
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N.06. Suggest appropriate revisions.
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N.07. Edit for conciseness, clarity, and accuracy.
O. Research Skills
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O.01. Identify plagiarism.
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O.02. Properly cite sources using a consistent citation style.
P. Prefixes and Suffixes
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P.01. Words with pre-.
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P.02. Words with re-.
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P.03. Words with sub-.
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P.04. Words with mis-.
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P.05. Words with un-, dis-, in-, im-, and non-.
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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. Use prefixes and suffixes to infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Q. Greek and Latin Roots
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Q.01. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.02. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.03. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words.
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Q.04. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.05. Analyze how Greek and Latin roots contribute to the technical vocabulary of different subject areas.
R. Synonyms and Antonyms
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R.01. Choose the synonym.
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R.02. Choose the antonym.
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R.03. Use synonyms and antonyms to enhance writing.
S. Homophones
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S.01. Use the correct homophone.
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S.02. Which definition matches the sentence?
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S.03. Which sentence matches the definition?
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S.04. Recognize and correct errors with homophones.
T. Shades of Meaning
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T.01. Positive and negative connotation.
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T.02. Describe the difference between related words.
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T.03. Analyze how connotation influences the reader’s interpretation.
U. Analogies
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U.01. Analogies.
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U.02. Analogies: challenge.
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U.03. Create analogies to explain complex concepts.
V. Context Clues
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V.01. Find words using context.
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V.02. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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V.03. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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V.04. Use context to identify the meaning of a word.
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V.05. Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in complex passages.
W. Domain-Specific Vocabulary
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W.01. Determine the meaning of domain-specific words with pictures.
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W.02. Explain the importance of domain-specific vocabulary in effective communication.
X. Reference Skills
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X.01. Alphabetical order.
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X.02. Use guide words.
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X.03. Use dictionary entries.
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X.04. Use thesaurus entries.
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X.05. Use dictionary definitions.
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X.06. Effectively use reference tools to improve vocabulary and understanding.
Y. Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
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Y.01. Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?
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Y.02. Identify the complete subject or complete predicate of a sentence.
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Y.03. Identify the simple subject or simple predicate of a sentence.
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Y.04. Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?
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Y.05. Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?
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Y.06. Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on?
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Y.07. Identify the compound subject or compound predicate of a sentence.
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Y.08. Correct run-on sentences by using appropriate punctuation or separating into multiple sentences.
Z. Phrases and Clauses
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Z.01. Is it a phrase or a clause?
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Z.02. Identify dependent and independent clauses.
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Z.03. Identify appositives and appositive phrases.
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Z.04. Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
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Z.05. Combine sentences using relative clauses.
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Z.06. Analyze how different sentence structures affect meaning and emphasis.
AA. Nouns
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AA.01. Form and use plurals: review.
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AA.02. Identify plurals, singular possessives, and plural possessives.
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AA.03. Form the singular or plural possessive.
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AA.04. Form and use plurals of compound nouns.
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AA.05. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns.
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AA.06. Recognize the different functions of nouns in a sentence.
BB. Pronouns and Antecedents
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BB.01. Identify pronouns and their antecedents.
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BB.02. Use the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent.
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BB.03. Identify vague pronoun references.
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BB.04. Identify all of the possible antecedents.
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BB.05. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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BB.06. Apply strategies for avoiding vague pronoun references.
CC. Pronoun Types
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CC.01. Choose between subject and object pronouns.
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CC.02. Compound subjects and objects with “I” and “me.”
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CC.03. Compound subjects and objects with pronouns.
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CC.04. Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns.
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CC.05. Use reflexive pronouns.
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CC.06. Is the pronoun reflexive or intensive?
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CC.07. Use relative pronouns: who and whom.
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CC.08. Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that.
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CC.09. Explain the role of pronouns in achieving sentence variety and clarity.
DD. Verb Types
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DD.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
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DD.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns.
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DD.03. Differentiate between action and linking verbs.
EE. Subject-Verb Agreement
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EE.01. Correct errors with subject-verb agreement.
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EE.02. Use the correct verb – with compound subjects.
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EE.03. Correct errors with indefinite pronoun-verb agreement.
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EE.04. Apply subject-verb agreement rules in complex sentence structures.
FF. Verb Tense
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FF.01. Simple past, present, and future tense: review.
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FF.02. Irregular past tense: review.
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FF.03. Form the progressive verb tenses.
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FF.04. Form the perfect verb tenses.
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FF.05. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
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FF.06. Analyze how verb tense affects the timeline and flow of a narrative.
GG. Adjectives and Adverbs
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GG.01. Identify adjectives.
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GG.02. Identify adverbs.
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GG.03. Order adjectives.
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GG.04. Choose between adjectives and adverbs.
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GG.05. Is the word an adjective or adverb?
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GG.06. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives.
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GG.07. Good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst.
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GG.08. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs.
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GG.09. Well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst.
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GG.10. Use adjectives and adverbs to enhance description.
HH. Prepositions
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HH.01. Identify prepositional phrases.
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HH.02. Identify and correct errors in prepositional usage.
II. Direct and Indirect Objects
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II.01. Is it a direct object or an indirect object?
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II.02. Diagram sentences to identify the direct and indirect objects.
JJ. Conjunctions
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JJ.01. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions.
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JJ.02. Use conjunctions to create compound and complex sentences.
KK. Misplaced Modifiers
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KK.01. Misplaced modifiers with pictures.
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KK.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.
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KK.03. Are the modifiers used correctly?
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KK.04. Correct misplaced and dangling modifiers to improve clarity.
LL. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements
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LL.01. What does the punctuation suggest?
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LL.02. Commas with nonrestrictive elements.
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LL.03. Differentiate between essential and nonessential clauses.
MM. Commas
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MM.01. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, and interrupters.
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MM.02. Commas with coordinate adjectives.
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MM.03. Commas with compound and complex sentences.
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MM.04. Apply comma rules to ensure clarity and correct grammar.
NN. Semicolons, Colons, and Commas
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NN.01. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses.
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NN.02. Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists.
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NN.03. Distinguish between the functions of semicolons, colons, and commas.
OO. Dashes, Hyphens, and Ellipses
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OO.01. Use hyphens in compound adjectives.
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OO.02. Use dashes.
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OO.03. Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately.
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OO.04. Use dashes, hyphens, and ellipses correctly.
PP. Capitalization
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PP.01. Correct capitalization errors.
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PP.02. Capitalizing titles.
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PP.03. Apply rules of capitalization to various situations.
QQ. Formatting
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QQ.01. Formatting titles.
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QQ.02. Formatting and capitalizing titles: review.
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QQ.03. Formatting quotations and dialogue.
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QQ.04. Apply formatting rules for professional writing.
