Course Content
A. Grammar and Mechanics
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A.01. Identify sentence fragments and run-on sentences
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A.02. Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?
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A.03. Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons
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A.04. Identify and correct errors with subject and object pronouns
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A.05. Correct capitalization errors
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A.06. Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement
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A.07. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses
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A.08. Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that
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A.09. Apply the rules of commas with compound and complex sentences.
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A.10. Analyze and correct errors in pronoun number and person.
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A.11. Identify and correct errors with verb agreement with compound subjects.
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A.12. Evaluate the impact of sentence structure choices on clarity and emphasis.
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A.13. Compose sentences that demonstrate mastery of various grammatical structures (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex).
B. Phrases and Clauses
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B.01. Is it a phrase or a clause?
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B.02. Identify prepositional phrases
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B.03. Identify dependent and independent clauses
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B.04. Identify appositives and appositive phrases
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B.05. Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
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B.06. Combine sentences using relative clauses
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B.07. Identify the functions of gerunds and infinitives in sentence construction.
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B.08. Differentiate between restrictive and nonrestrictive elements in sentences.
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B.09. Evaluate how the structure and combination of phrases and clauses affect sentence variety and complexity.
C. Verb Types and Tense
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C.01. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs
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C.02. Form the progressive verb tenses
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C.03. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns
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C.04. Form the perfect verb tenses
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C.05. Identify participles and what they modify
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C.06. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense
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C.07. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases
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C.08. Evaluate the impact of verb tense choices on the narrative flow.
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C.09. Write and analyze sentences using the active and passive voice.
D. Nouns, Pronouns, and Agreement
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D.01. Form and use plurals: review
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D.02. Form and use plurals of compound nouns
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D.03. Pronouns after “than” and “as”
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D.04. Identify and correct pronoun errors with “who”
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D.05. Use relative pronouns: who and whom
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D.06. Identify vague pronoun references
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D.07. Identify all of the possible antecedents
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D.08. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
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D.09. Analyze and correct errors with indefinite pronoun-verb agreement.
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D.10. Evaluate how choices about noun and pronoun usage contribute to clarity, precision, and grammatical correctness.
E. Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers
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E.01. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives
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E.02. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs
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E.03. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions
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E.04. Good, better, best, bad, worse and worst
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E.05. Well, better, best, badly, worse and worst
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E.06. Misplaced modifiers with pictures
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E.07. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier
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E.08. Are the modifiers used correctly?
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E.09. Analyze the use of adjectives and adverbs to create vivid descriptions and precise statements.
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E.10. Evaluate the effects of misplaced modifiers on sentence meaning and clarity.
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E.11. Explain the appropriate placement and function of various modifiers within a sentence.
F. Punctuation
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F.01. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases
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F.02. Commas with coordinate adjectives
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F.03. Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists
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F.04. Semicolons, colons, and commas: review
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F.05. Use dashes
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F.06. Use hyphens in compound adjectives
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F.07. Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately
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F.08. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns
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F.09. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession
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F.10. Analyze how different punctuation choices create specific effects in writing.
G. Writing Clearly and Concisely
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G.01. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs
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G.02. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons
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G.03. Identify sentences with parallel structure
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G.04. Use parallel structure
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G.05. Remove redundant words or phrases
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G.06. Identify sentences with active and passive voice
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G.07. Rewrite the sentence in active voice
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G.08. Apply strategies to enhance clarity and conciseness in writing.
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G.09. Revise and edit a piece of writing to improve its overall impact.
H. Editing and Revising
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H.01. Use the correct frequently confused word
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H.02. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused words
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H.03. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused pronouns and contractions
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H.04. Correct errors with commonly misspelled words
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H.05. Correct errors with signs
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H.06. Correct errors in everyday use
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H.07. Suggest appropriate revisions
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H.08. Identify areas for improvement in a written piece.
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H.09. Provide constructive feedback on written work.
I. Organizing Writing
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I.01. Order topics from broadest to narrowest
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I.02. Organize information by topic
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I.03. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea
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I.04. Identify thesis statements
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I.05. Apply methods for organizing written material effectively.
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I.06. Create an outline for a piece of writing.
J. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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J.01. Distinguish facts from opinions
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J.02. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim
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J.03. Choose the best evidence to support a claim
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J.04. Identify supporting evidence in a text
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J.05. Evaluate counterclaims
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J.06. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim
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J.07. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
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J.08. Evaluate and develop a strong, well-supported argument.
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J.09. Construct logical arguments, considering evidence, analysis, and counterclaims.
K. Persuasive Strategies
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K.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements
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K.02. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing
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K.03. Use personification
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K.04. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of different rhetorical strategies.
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K.05. Employ persuasive techniques to create compelling arguments.
L. Research Skills
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L.01. Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 8th–9th editions)
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L.02. Recognize the parts of a Works Cited entry (MLA 8th edition)
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L.03. Use in-text citations (MLA 8th–9th editions)
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L.04. Identify plagiarism
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L.05. Explore different research methodologies.
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L.06. Use credible sources to support arguments.
M. Main Idea
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M.01. Determine the main idea of a passage
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M.02. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context
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M.03. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context
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M.04. Use context to identify the meaning of a word
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M.05. Identify the central message of a text.
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M.06. Summarize a passage concisely and accurately.
N. Audience, Purpose, and Tone
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N.01. Which text is most formal?
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N.02. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone
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N.03. Identify audience and purpose
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N.04. Compare passages for tone
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N.05. Analyze how the author’s tone affects the reader’s understanding.
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N.06. Adapt writing style to suit the intended audience and purpose.
O. Analyzing Literature
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O.01. Match the quotations with their themes
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O.02. Analyze short stories: set 1
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O.03. Analyze short stories: set 2
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O.04. Identify and interpret symbolism in literary works.
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O.05. Evaluate the impact of literary elements such as plot, character, and setting on theme.
P. Analyzing Informational Texts
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P.01. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 1
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P.02. Analyze the development of informational passages: set 2
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P.03. Trace an argument: set 1
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P.04. Trace an argument: set 2
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P.05. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1
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P.06. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2
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P.07. Assess the credibility and bias of informational sources.
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P.08. Analyze how the author’s purpose affects the presentation of information.
Q. Literary Devices
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Q.01. Identify the narrative point of view
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Q.02. Recall the source of an allusion
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Q.03. Interpret figures of speech
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Q.04. Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source
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Q.05. Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox
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Q.06. Classify figures of speech: review
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Q.07. Analyze the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone
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Q.08. Identify and analyze literary devices used in a text.
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Q.09. Evaluate how literary devices contribute to a text’s overall meaning.
R. Vocabulary: Prefixes and Suffixes
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R.01. Word pattern analogies
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R.02. Word pattern sentences
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R.03. Words with pre-
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R.04. Words with re-
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R.05. Words with sub-
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R.06. Words with mis-
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R.07. Words with un-, dis-, in-, im-, and non-
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R.08. Words with -ful
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R.09. Words with -less
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R.10. Words with -able and -ible
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R.11. Use prefixes and suffixes to infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
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R.12. Apply knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to expand vocabulary.
S. Vocabulary: Greek and Latin Roots
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S.01. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots
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S.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words
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S.03. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots
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S.04. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots
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S.05. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots
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S.06. Explore etymologies to understand the history and evolution of words.
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S.07. Analyze the significance of Greek and Latin roots in expanding vocabulary and improving comprehension.
T. Vocabulary: Homophones and Word Usage
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T.01. Use the correct homophone
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T.02. Identify and correct errors with homophones
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T.03. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence
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T.04. Use words accurately and precisely
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T.05. Replace words using a thesaurus
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T.06. Explore words with new or contested usages
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T.07. Discriminate among various forms of words to use the correct forms.
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T.08. Use words accurately in context to enhance clarity and precision in writing.
U. Vocabulary: Foreign Words, Analogies, and Context Clues
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U.01. Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words
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U.02. Use context as a clue to the meanings of foreign expressions
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U.03. Use the correct foreign expression
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U.04. Analogies
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U.05. Analogies: challenge
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U.06. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context
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U.07. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context
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U.08. Use context to identify the meaning of a word
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U.09. Use various strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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U.10. Relate words through analogies.
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U.11. Analyze the relationship between words based on context clues.
V. Reference Skills
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V.01. Use dictionary entries
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V.02. Use dictionary definitions
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V.03. Use dictionary entries to determine correct usage
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V.04. Use thesaurus entries
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V.05. Evaluate the reliability of information.
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V.06. Use reference materials effectively to clarify meaning and enhance writing.
