GRADUATION EXAM TIPS – Melanie Hogue – English 11 1.

Practice by taking practice tests.

2.

Know how to take a multiple choice test. Eliminate answers that you know cannot be the answer and mark them out. You may write on the test! Look for context clues or hints in the question. Underline key words in the questions such as except, always, never, correct, incorrect, error, not, result, cause, etc. Make educated guesses…do not guess blindly! When you have to guess, select an answer that repeats a term or phrase used in the question, or you can select the longest answer choice. DO NOT LEAVE AN ANSWER BLANK!

3.

Read and reread each test question so that you will know what kind of answer you will need. You can even write out key words in the margin of the test to help narrow your focus.

4.

Read questions and answer choices carefully and completely. If a question has a passage, graph, image, etc., before it, it is sometimes helpful to read the appropriate question(s) first without reading the answers at this point and then go back and read the passage completely with that information in mind.

5.

Don‟t assume that the questions are trick questions. Stay focused. If the question is too difficult, move on to the next one and come back to it later. Don‟t spend too much time on one question. This can lead to frustration!

6.

Try to come up with an answer after you read the question but before looking at the answers. This will narrow your focus. Make sure you read the entire question.

7.

Make sure that you ask for scratch paper and be sure that you transfer the correct answer from the scratch paper to the answer sheet, especially in math. Don‟t make any stray marks on the answer sheet. Erase completely. Also, make sure that you are recording the answers in the correct column and number.

8.

Spend your test time wisely. If your mind starts to wander, take three deep breaths, relax, and refocus on the test.

9.

When you finish, check your work! Sometimes you could make a careless error by not reading a single word (such as NOT) in the question or you could make an error in marking your answers. Go back to the beginning and read every question and double check to make sure your answer matches that question. This is not the time to second guess yourself but merely the time to make sure everything reads exactly as you thought it had.

10. Get plenty of rest the night before the test. It really does matter! Also, eat something. Don‟t take a test on an empty stomach. Don‟t drink very much the morning of the test. You usually cannot leave to go to the restroom until the first break (which is about 2 hours.) You cannot leave the room during testing. If you have questions about the testing process, ask the test administrator. 11. Come prepared…bring pencils but do not bring cell phones, beeping watches, etc. Calculators will be provided for you on the math day. Bring a jacket if you get cold easily. 12. Remember, if you fail any section of the graduation exam, you will automatically be placed into a review class next semester. That should be an extra motivation to pass!

AHSGE LANGUAGE SKILLS *identify correct noun forms (plurals – no apostrophes, possessive - ownership) *identify correct verb forms (past tense, use of helping verbs, principal parts of verbs – drink, is drinking, drank, have drunk) *recognize subject-verb agreement (subject and verb must match in number and gender – The puppies in the window are cute.) *recognize pronoun-antecedent agreement (pronoun must match antecedent, word it refers to, in number and gender – Everyone has her own book.) *identify verb shifts (keep verb tense the same throughout a paragraph) *identify correct pronoun case (Nominative case – subjects/PN – She will go. The winner is she. Objective case – IO/DO/OP – The boy hit her.) *identify effective use of voice (Passive – The boy was hit by the girl. Active – She hit the boy. – Active voice is best.) *determine correct use of modifiers (good, better, best; comparing 2 things – er, more; comparing more than 2 – est, most; add er and est to 1-2 syllable words; use more or most with some 2 syllables and with all 3 syllable words.) *identify commonly confused words (example - affect – v and effect – n) *use clear, vivid, precise language *use formal and informal language (no first person pronouns – I, me, etc.; no contractions) *demonstrate correct sentence structure (complete sent. – subj. and verb – complete thought) *demonstrate internal parallelism (same form – WRONG - I learned to ski and skating. CORRECT – I learned to ski and to skate.) *demonstrate correct use of capitalization *demonstrate correct use of commas (commas indicate pauses) *demonstrate semicolon and colon usage (; semicolon – joins sentences and use to separate items with commas in them already. : colon – indicates a list and used in salutation of business letter – Dear Sirs:) *demonstrate quotation marks and underlining (quotes – small things – articles, essays, poems, etc.; underline big things – books, plays, movies, etc.) *demonstrate correct use of apostrophe (shows ownership – only time they are used to show plurals – numbers, letters, symbols – 1920‟s, A‟s, 4‟s) *paragraph progression and completeness (intro, support, conclude – key words – first, second, next, last, in conclusion, for example, furthermore – transitions – intro. sentence gives main idea; conc. sent. restates main idea again.)

AHSGE READING SKILLS *identify supporting details *determine sequence of events (look for words such as first, next, last, etc.) *follow directions *identify main idea (usually stated in topic/first sentence of paragraph) *draw conclusions *determine cause and effect *propaganda; fact from opinion (propaganda – widespread promotion of an idea – examples – commercials – tell the good side and not the bad) *recognize summary statements (similar to main idea) *recognize logic and arguments *analyze literary elements (theme – general idea or truth; character; tone – writer‟s voice – angry, happy, sad, etc.; setting – when and where the action takes place; mood – st rd mysterious, etc.; plot – action; point of view – 1 person-character tells story, 3 person-outside narrator, omniscient-all-knowing God-like narrator) *understand figurative language (simile – comparison using like or as – She looks like a princess.; imagery – use of words to “paint” a picture; metaphor – comparison – She is a beautiful flower.; personification – giving something that is not human some human qualities – The trees whispered.; hyperbole – huge exaggeration) *determine meaning of words (use words in the sentence to figure it out) *demonstrate reference material usage (dictionary guide words – first and last words on a page – listed at the top; atlas – maps; encyclopedia – ABC order on general topics; index – alphabetical list of topics in a book-located in the back; reader‟s guide – list of magazine articles in ABC order according to topic; almanac – book of facts *preview, predict, discern organizational patterns

AHSGE – READING REVIEW (M. Hogue English 11) GENERAL READING STRATEGIES 1. Read the questions first. 2. Read the passage with a pencil in hand. 3. Mark any answers you encounter while reading. 4. Visualize the action of the passage as you read (like having a movie in your head). 5. Choose the correct answer for each question. 6. If you don‟t know an answer, eliminate the ones you are sure cannot be correct. WORD MEANING THROUGH CONTEXT CLUES Use words or phrases in the sentence to determine the meaning of a word. Also, use prefixes, examples, synonyms, and common root words to help you determine the meanings of words. *The wolves moved deftly and quietly through the wood; I attempted to imitate them. a. clumsily *b. skillfully c. boldly d. playfully FALLACIES OF LOGIC AND JUDGING STRENGTH OF ARGUMENT Think logically and choose answers that make sense. Eliminate obvious wrong answers. *Read the following sentences and identify the sentence(s) that contains faulty logic. 1. The movie was boring because no one was in the theater. 2. Dr. Casey is our new podiatrist, a doctor of feet. 3. Tim got a speeding ticket; he will never be a good driver. 4. Our principal announced that our class will plan a spring picnic, a traditional event for seniors. a. 1, 2, 3, 4 b. 1, 3, 4 c. 2, 4 *d. 1, 3 CAUSE AND EFFECT “Cause” – reasons why…something that makes you react in a certain way or makes something happen. “Effect” – the result…the reaction or other result of the cause. Example – CAUSES – You ate an early dinner last night. You skipped breakfast this morning because you were running late. You had gym class before lunch. EFFECT – At lunchtime, you were so hungry that you ate two lunches. *1. The teacher did not like her. 2. She never had to write themes before. 3. Literature bored her, and she had always been too busy to learn to spell correctly. 4. It was clear to her why she received an F in English for the first grading period. Choose the sentence(s) which states causes(s) in the passage. a. 1 b. 4 *c. 1, 2, 3 d. 1, 2, 3, 4 DRAWING CONCLUSIONS This involves reasoning or thinking through a situation when all of the facts are not given. It means making inferences and using clues to find out what happened. Read all of the facts first and come up with a solution. *1. The teacher did not like her. 2. She never had to write themes before. 3. Literature bored her, and she had always been to busy to learn to spell correctly. 4. It was clear to her why she received an F in English for the first grading period. Select the best conclusion that can be drawn from this passage. a. The teacher does not like the student. *c. The student is making excuses for a poor grade. b. Literature bores the student. d. English is a hard subject. AUTHOR’S PURPOSE All authors have a purpose for writing. Some of these include to entertain, inform, persuade, promote, explain, describe, illustrate, inspire, or demonstrate. Look at the word choices used by an author to help decide his/her purpose.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS 1. Chronological – in order of time from first to last 2. Spatial – in order of where things are described according to their closeness to another 3. Order of Importance – in order from either least to greatest or greatest to least 4. Comparison and Contrast – a pattern that shows similarities and differences between items 5. Cause and Effect – a pattern where several causes are supported with their effects or several effects The sequence is the order in which ideas are arranged, actions are carried out, or events happen. Look for transition words such as first, next, last, etc. *Self-disclosure is revealing information about yourself. First of all, you must deliberately reveal the information. Accidentally saying something is not self-disclosure. Next, what you say must be important not trivial. Choose the statement that will happen next. a. Self-disclosure is important to most people. b. The final requirement is to share with your friend in private. *c. Real friends reveal themselves to each other. d. You will be glad you were willing to reveal yourself. REFERENCE MATERIALS Know these reference materials: 1. encyclopedia - alphabetical order, comprehensive info. about a subject 2. atlas - book of maps 3. Readers’ Guide - alphabetical list of topics in magazine articles (may not be on test) 4. card catalog - a list of books in the library organized by author, title, and subject…we now use Destiny on the computer to do this (may not be on test) 5. dictionary - gives meanings, spellings, and pronunciation of words in alphabetical order 6. almanac - book of facts that is published yearly Know these parts of a reference book: 1. index - back of book, alphabetical order, list of book‟s topics and what page they can be found 2. glossary - small “dictionary” in back of a particular book like a textbook 3. guide words on a dictionary page - first and last word on the page…All words on that page come between these two words alphabetically. Know how to read a dictionary entry (pronunciations, definitions). 4. table of contents - gives you the subject matter contained in a book and how the book is divided, located at the front of a book 5. appendix - supplementary or extra information near the end of a book. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE (the use of language that goes beyond the literal meanings of the words) AND LITERARY ELEMENTS Know these literary terms: 1. simile - comparison using like or as – She looks like a princess. 2. imagery - words that “paint” a picture or appeal to the senses…”I spot the hills with yellow clusters in autumn.” 3. metaphor - comparison – She is a beautiful red rose. 4. personification - giving something that isn‟t human human qualities…The trees whispered. 5. hyperbole - exaggeration…to say you are “starving” instead of just hungry 6. theme - main idea or insight the author is trying to convey or communicate to the readers 7. character - person in the story 8. tone - attitude the writer takes toward the subject 9. setting - when and where the action takes place 10. mood - atmosphere or feeling created by the passage…how you feel after you read the story…sad, happy 11. point of view - the perspective from which a story is being told…who is telling the story…first person – a character in the story is telling it; third person – a narrator outside the story is telling it; omniscient – “Godlike‟ narrator – reads minds of all characters 12. plot - the sequence of events in a story or what actually happens 13. analogy – a comparison of two unlike things that have points of similarity (The meat from the alligator tasted like chicken).

PROPAGANDA Propaganda is the wide-spread promotion of a single idea. It is one-sided and used in advertisements and editorials in the form of slogans, name-calling, “bandwagon” techniques, and testimonials. In order to accurately detect propaganda, the reader must know the difference between fact and opinion. A fact can be proven. (Example – Today is Monday.) An opinion cannot be proven and reveals one‟s beliefs.. (I think Mondays are great!) Also, an opinion will sometimes include the words “I believe,” “I feel,” or “I think.” THERE ARE SOME MORE EXAMPLE QUESTIONS ON PROPAGANDA AT THE END OF THE READING REVIEW. *Read the passage below and select the best answer. Give your allegiance to ABC Breakfast Cookies. Notice the difference in your life. Your social engagements will multiply. Each morsel of cookie is used for muscle development. The propaganda in this advertisement is to convince the reader to: a. develop muscles. c. multiply social engagements. *b. buy ABC Breakfast Cookies. d. change his or her life. FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS There are usually two types of directions: 1) stated directions – ordered directions such as how to set a watch, cook a recipe, or take a test; 2) implicit directions – not actually spoken or embedded in the material you are reading. Just read this part CAREFULLY and make notes or underline key passages. Use common sense and pay close attention to detail. Look for transitions…first, next, etc. SUPPORTING DETAILS These are statements, descriptions, and facts that support the main idea of a passage. These questions just involve locating information in the passages. Underline key points and eliminate answers that you know can‟t be right. SUMMARY When you summarize, you tell what happens in fewer words. 1. The teacher did not like her. 2. She never had to write themes before. 3. Literature bored her, and she had always been to busy to learn to spell correctly. 4. It was clear to her why she received an F in English for the first grading period. Choose the statement which best summarizes this passage. a. The student knows the teacher doesn‟t like her. *c. The student is offering excuses for making an F. b. The student cannot do better than making an F. d. The student‟s parents will believe her story. REVIEW AND PREDICT To preview means to scan or skim through a reading passage quickly in order to notice the main ideas first. Look at titles, subtitles, headings, subheadings, topic sentences, key words in bold type, captions, illustrations, or footnotes. To predict means deciding what is going to happen next in a story. Again, this is a logic skill that involves following directions, and reading the passage very carefully. Eliminate answers that you know can‟t be right and underline key passages. MAIN IDEA The main idea is what the author says about the subject or the main point the author is trying to get across to the reader. Usually, the main idea of a paragraph is in the first sentence. It is usually very general, not specific, so don‟t look for a detailed sentence; instead, look for a sentence that just states the topic. *Not too surprisingly, a major cause of lost friendships is disloyalty. At times you may have criticized a friend in order to build up your own ego, or you may have allowed someone else to attack a friend unjustly without coming to your friend‟s defense. The ultimate disloyalty, dropping a friend at the first sign of trouble, does not bode well for present or future friendships. The main idea of this paragraph is: a. You may have criticized a friend in order to build up your own ego. b. You may have allowed someone else to attack a friend unjustly without coming to your friend‟s defense. *c. A major cause of lost friendships is disloyalty. d. You should not drop a friend.

PROPAGANDA Propaganda is the wide-spread promotion of a single idea. It is one-sided and used in advertisements and editorials in the form of slogans, name-calling, “bandwagon” techniques, and testimonials. In order to accurately detect propaganda, the reader must know the difference between fact and opinion. A fact can be proven. An opinion cannot. Also, an opinion will sometimes include the words “I believe,” “I feel,” or “I think.” Read the passage below and select the best answer. Give your allegiance to ABC Breakfast Cookies. Notice the difference in your life. Your social engagements will multiply. Each morsel of cookie is used for muscle development. 1. The propaganda in this advertisement is to convince the reader to: a. develop muscles. c. multiply social engagements. b. buy ABC Breakfast Cookies. d. change his or her life. Select the best answer. 2. Which passage contains propaganda? a. Our candidate for this office has five years of experience in similar duties. His opponent has only two years of experience. Our candidate has made his voting record public. His opponent has not made his record known to the public. b.

Your vote is important on election day. Elect a man with a record of honesty and a record for attending sessions for voting on issues. Elect the man with the most experience in this office. Comparison is important before you vote.

c.

Compare our candidate’s experience with his opponent’s. Compare the voting records on vital issues. Compare the amount of money spent in the two campaigns. Become informed and make your decision.

d.

Vote right…Vote for Tom Might. Might’s experience of ten years in public service speaks for itself. He invites you to become informed. Check his record. Check his finances. Check his name election day. Vote Right…Vote Might.

Questions 3-5 refer to the following passage. People, call surrounding cable companies for yourselves. As a former employee of Time Warner and New Channels and a present employee of Cable One, I’ve found our services to be competitive and our service to be excellent. Our guys work around the clock to provide clear pictures. Just tell me how many times, under normal circumstances, has your cable been off over four hours. Please, customers who will speak out, stop this negativism because there are two sides to every story. I know for a fact there has been more good than bad we have done for the county. I’m sick of being cut as an employee. 3. The author write this article to: a. get a job. b. encourage people to support their local cable companies. c. encourage the cable companies to improve their services. d. Show how Cable One is better than Time Warner or New Channels.

4. Which of the following in an opinion? a. The write is a former employee of Time Warner. b. The writer is now employed by Cable One. c. The local cable companies provide services that are competitive and excellent. d. The writer has worked for New Channels before. 5. Which of the following words are used to persuade? a. former employee c. round the clock b. competitive and excellent d. surrounding counties Read the following advertisement and answer questions 6-8. Do you want a perfect tan without spending hours in a hot tanning bed or hours sweating it out on the beach with sand grinding into your skin? Buy Instant-Sun Tanning Lotion…The sun tan in the bottle! At only $15.95 a bottle, it’s a bargain! You’ll find this miracle product at your nearest drug store. Buy yours today before swimsuit season begins. 6. This ad is designed to convince you that: a. tanning beds are hot. c. you don’t look good now. b. you need a tan. d. summer is coming soon. 7. This ad tries to get you to use Instant-Sun Tanning Lotion by: a. making you think that a tan is fashionable. b. making it appear that everyone else has a perfect tan. c. giving factual information about various tanning methods. d. comparing it to using tanning beds and going to the beach. 8. Which of the following lines contains a fact? a. You need a tan. c. At $15.95, it’s a bargain! b. The lotion costs $15.95 a bottle. d. This lotion is a miracle product. Questions 9 and 10 refer to the following passage: Central America is made up of seven small countries that have a total land area equal to the size of the state of Texas. This troubled area has been in the news a lot lately. Most of these countries are very poor and need to develop better ways than farming to bring in more money. A civil war has been going on in El Salvador for the past four years. The U.S. has sent money and military advisors to help the government that is in power. U.S. military forces have also been on maneuvers in Honduras. As Central America’s neighbor, we are very interested in these countries and their future. 9. Which statement is a fact? a. Central America is not in the news enough. b. All of the Central American countries need to develop better ways than farming to bring in money. c. A civil war has been going on in El Salvador for the past four years. d. The U.S. believes that Central America’s future is not important. 10. Which statement is an opinion? a. The U.S. military forces have been on maneuvers in Honduras. b. The U.S. has sent money to help the government in power in El Salvador. c. The U.S. has sent military advisors to El Salvador. d. As Central America’s neighbors, we should help them improve conditions there.

Questions 11 and 12 refer to the following passage. Julia Tutwiler was Alabama’s most remarkable educator. Shortly after the Civil War, she began to try to change education in Alabama. When she learned that the University of Alabama and Auburn would not allow girls to enroll, Julia began writing letters, visiting women’s clubs, and seeing elected officials. Soon two girls were admitted to the University of Alabama. Later, Julia became president of Livingston Academy and founded the college at Montevallo. Julia Tutwiler had more influence than any other person on education in Alabama. 11. Which of the following is a fact? a. Julia Tutwiler was Alabama’s most remarkable educator. b. Julia Tutwiler was president of Livingston Academy. c. Julia Tutwiler did not like the University of Alabama. d. Julia Tutwiler had more influence on education in Alabama than any other person. 12. Which of the following is an opinion? a. Julia Tutwiler founded the college at Montevallo. b. Julia Tutwiler tried to get girls admitted to the University of Alabama. c. Julia Tutwiler was president of Livingston Academy. d. Julia Tutwiler was Alabama’s most remarkable educator. Questions 13-14 refer to the following passage: Alabama is made up of four main land areas. They are the Valley and Ridge Region, the Appalachian Plateau, the Black Belt, and the Piedmont. The Valley and ridge section has minerals such as coal, iron ore, and limestone. This section also has the friendliest people. The Appalachian Plateau has the Tennessee River running through it. Farmers in this area grow cotton, hay, and soybeans. Dams on the Tennessee River provide electricity to Alabama’s factories and farms. The Appalachian area is the most important area in the state. The Piedmont area has Cheaha Mountain, which is the highest point in the state. The largest deposit of white marble in the world is also found in this area. The Piedmont area is the best place to live. In the 1800’s the Black Belt was the home of the great cotton plantations. Today, the area is famous for cattle raising and dairies. This is the most beautiful area in the state. 13. Which of the following is a fact? a. Cheaha Mountain is the highest point in Alabama. b. The Black Belt is the most beautiful area. c. The Piedmont area is the best place to live. d. The Appalachian is the most important area in the state. 14. Which of the following is an opinion? a. The Black Belt was the home of great cotton plantations. b. White marble is found in the Piedmont area. c. The Valley and Ridge section has the friendliest people. d. The Valley and Ridge section has several minerals. 15. Read the following statements about athletes and determine which one is a fact. a. Soccer players need hard heads to hit the ball with them. b. Athletic superstars have natural talent and don’t have to be intelligent or work. c. All baseball players have beautiful wives. d. Athletes of great achievement have usually worked very hard.

16. Read the following statements and determine which one is a fact. a. Laws are sometimes difficult to obey. b. Failure never happens to hard workers. c. Money always makes people happy and contented. d. Fall weather came early this year. Questions 17-18 refer to the following passage. How would you like to take a trip around the world in one hour? Visit the United Nations Building in New York, and you will see representatives from France, Africa, and other nations dressed in their native costumes and hear dozens of languages spoken. To date, 149 countries are members of this organization. The U.N. was formed in 1945 to help prevent future wars and conflicts between countries. It is also concerned with helping people lead better lives or those who have lost their homes because of war or natural disaster. United Nations member nations meet yearly for three months unless an international problem develops and then they hold an emergency session. This is the only place where representatives from all countries can discus world problems. 17. Which statement is a fact? a. The United Nations will prevent future wars. b. The United Nations makes people lead better lives. c. The United Nations sometimes meets in emergency session. d. The United Nations stops conflicts between countries. 18. Which statement is an opinion? a. Many languages can be heard in the United Nations building. b. Most important countries of the world belong to the U.N. c. The United Nations was formed in 1945 after World War II. d. Member nations of the U.N. meet once a year. 19. Which statement is a fact? a. The white beaches are Alabama’s most attractive feature. b. The beaches are Alabama’s number one tourist attraction. c. The Gulf Coast is a fantastic place to live. d. None of the above 20. Which statement is an opinion? a. The sandy beaches sometimes wash away due to high tides. b. The temperatures along the Gulf Coast in the summer sometimes reach 100 degrees. c. Gulf Shores is the best beach town on the Gulf coast. d. None of the above

ANSWERS: 1. B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. B 7. D 8. B 9. C 10. D 11. B 12. D 13. A 14. C 15. D 16. D 17. C 18. B 19. B 20. C

AHSGE – LANGUAGE REVIEW (M. Hogue – English 11) NOUN – a person, place, thing or idea Proper Noun – always capitalized; names specifics (Eg. Betty, New York, Saturn Collective Noun – names a group (Eg. family, herd, team Compound Noun – 2 or more nouns together (Eg. ice cream, sidewalk, mother-in-law) Plural Nouns 1. Most nouns, add s - ships, dogs, desks 2. Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add es - classes, taxes, waltzes, matches, brushes 3. Nouns with a vowel before the y, add s - monkeys, turkeys 4. Nouns with a consonant before the y, change the y to i and add es - countries, trophies EXCEPTION: proper nouns, add s - Kennedys 5. Nouns ending in f or fe, ad s or es - gulfs, roofs, beliefs, leaves, shelves, knives, hooves, calves, lives (use a dictionary) 6. Nouns with a vowel before the o, add s - radios, stereos 7. Nouns with a consonant before the o, add es - tomatoes, heroes, potatoes EXCEPTION: 1) musical terms ending in o - always add s - solos, altos, pianos 2) tacos, photos 3) some can go either way - tornados/tornadoes, zeros/ zeroes 8. Irregular plurals - teeth, geese, women, mice, feet, children 9. Plurals that stay the same - sheep, deer, trout, salmon, moose, elk, species, Japanese, Sioux 10. For compound nouns, form the plural of the last word - notebooks, bookshelves 11. For compound nouns that are separated, form the plural on the main or most important word – sisters-in-law, runners-up, mountain goats 12. Foreign plurals -alumnus (sing. male), alumni (pl. male), alumna (sing. female), alumnae (pl. female), phenomenon (s), phenomena (p) 13. Plurals of figures, letters, signs, words used as words - use ‘s - 9‟s, 1990‟s (1900s is acceptable), A‟s, 2‟s, &‟s 14. Numbers - spell out numbers under 100, a number that begins a sentence, and ordinal numbers (not 1st, 2nd...) PRONOUN – Takes the place of a noun Case – the form that a pronoun takes in a sentence Nominative Case – acts as a subject or predicate nominative SINGULAR PLURAL 1st person I we 2nd person you you 3rd person he, she, it they Objective Case – acts as an object (direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition) SINGULAR PLURAL 1st person me us 2nd person you you 3rd person him, her, it them Possessive Case – shows ownership SINGULAR PLURAL 1st person my, mine our, ours 2nd person your, yours your, yours 3rd person his, her, hers, its their, theirs Number – singular (only one) or plural (2 or more) Gender – feminine (female), masculine (male), neuter (either one) 1st person – person speaking 2nd person – person speaking to 3rd person – person speaking about

AGREEMENT – SUBJECT/VERB AND PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT 1. Singular subjects take singular verbs. - Earl attends college. (Sing. verbs end in s.) 2. Plural subjects take plural verbs. - They attend college. (Exceptions: You were right. - plural If I were you, I would go. - Plural) 3. Get rid of prep. phrases to find the subject and verb. - The woman (on the stairs) is Senator Jones. Janet, (as well as Megan), is going. 4. These indefinite pronouns are singular: each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, something, anything, everything, nothing. Everyone in the class likes the story. One of the guitar strings is broken. 5. These indefinite pronouns are plural: several, few, many, both. Several of the women are pilots. Many of the students are going. 6. These indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on what they refer to: some, all any, most, much, none. Most of the day was gone. Most of the cows were grazing. 7. Subjects joined by and take a plural verb. - Ray and Joe like hunting. 8. When subjects are joined by or or nor, make the last subject agree with the verb. - Mark or Donna knows the address. (sing.) Our phones or our doorbell was not working. (sing.) Our doorbell or our phones were not working. (pl.) 9. Collective nouns (name a group) are usually singular.- (choir, herd,…) The class is going on a field trip. 10. A verb agrees with its subject, not the pred. nom. The main ingredient in my hot sauce is peppers. (peppers - PN) 11. No matter where the subject comes in a sentence, it must agree with the verb. - Here is a set of keys. Where is my jacket? 12. Amounts are singular. - Two years is a long time. Five dollars is a lot for that ticket! 13. Every or many a takes singular verbs. - Every mother is so proud! Many a hopeful performer has gone to Broadway in search of fame. 14. Titles take singular verbs. - Gone With the Wind is the title of a book. 15. Don’t is plural. Doesn’t is singular. They don‟t care. It doesn‟t matter. 16. Words that are always singular: civics, economics, electronics, genetics, mathematics, measles, mumps, news, physics. Measles is a disease. 17. Words that are always plural: binoculars, eyeglasses, pliers, scissors, shears, trousers. The binoculars are on the table. 18. Pronoun agreement – Follow the same rules as subject/verb agreement. Each boy left his money. (sing.) Everyone will need his/her money. (sing.) Every girl will need her money. (sing.) The antecedent is the word to which the pronoun is referring. Mary lost her lamb. Her is the possessive pronoun that refers to Mary, the antecedent. T - he pronoun and antecedent must agree in number and in gender. VERB TENSE – indicates the time when an action occurred Present Progressive – Tony is selling magazines. Past Progressive – Tony was selling magazines. Future Progressive – Tony will be selling magazines. Present – happening now – She jumps at the slightest sound Past – already happened – She jumped at the thunder. Future – hasn‟t happened yet – She will jump when it thunders. Present Perfect – has been happening and is still happening – She has jumped at every noise during the storm. Past Perfect – happened before an earlier event; uses had) – She had jumped when the thunder clapped. Future Perfect – will be completed in future; uses shall have or will have – She will have jumped quite a bit when the storm is over. *It is important for the tense to remain the same in the sentence or passage.

VERB – shows action or helps to make a statement. Regular verbs – add d or ed to form past tense. Irregular verbs – change the spelling…don‟t add d or ed. Voice- the form the verb takes to indicate whether the subject performs or receives an action Active Voice- the subject is performing an action. (Eg. – The boy threw the ball.) Passive Voice – when something is being done to the subject…subject isn‟t doing anything…will always consist of some form of the verb be plus the past participle. (Eg. – The ball was thrown by the boy.) CLAUSES Independent – makes a complete thought and can stand alone…a sentence. (Eg. - He threw the ball.) Dependent or Subordinate – doesn‟t make a complete thought and can‟t stand alone...a fragment. (Eg. – Threw the ball.) COMPLETE SENTENCES Complete Sentence – has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. (Eg. – He threw the ball.) Run-on – two independent clauses (sentences) that are incorrectly joined. You cannot join two sentences with a comma. You must have a conjunction to go with the comma. (Eg. – He threw the ball, the player ran to third base. Correction – He threw the ball, and the player ran to third base.) Fragment – a piece of a sentence…not complete. (Eg. – Before the end of the month.) PARALLEL STRUCTURE – using grammatical parts to emphasize a similarity between ideas Examples – The man was old, lonely, and a miser. This is NOT parallel structure. The man was old, lonely, and miserly. This is parallel structure. Not parallel – He was a professional baseball player and also played the violin. Parallel – He was a professional baseball player and also an amateur violinist. (2 nouns) Not parallel – He enjoys skiing and to skate. Parallel – He enjoys skiing and skating. (same form) MODIFERS – give more information about other words in a sentence Participle – verb used as a noun and describes. Eg. – Nobody ever forgets her smiling eyes. The deer, startled by the approaching car, froze in their tracks. Misplaced Participles – placed in the wrong position in a sentence so that it ends up modifying the wrong word. Eg. – The man won the car wearing the blue shirt. (The car was not wearing a blue shirt; the man was.) Correction – The man wearing the blue shirt won the car. Put the phrase next to the word it modifies. DANGLING PARTICIPLES – placed in a sentence but missing a word to modify Incorrect – Having gone to the movies instead of studying, the test score was low. (Did the test score go to the movies instead of studying?) Correct – Having gone to the movies instead of studying, Jeff got a low test score. COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS – USAGE MISTAKES 1. accept - verb - to receive...I accept your invitation. except - prep. - excluding...Everyone except Jon is here. 2. affect - verb - to influence...The rain will affect the game. effect - noun - the result...We felt the effect of the wind. 3. Avoid “all the farther” or “all the faster”...This was as fast as (not “all the faster”) I could go. 4. allusion - reference...He made an allusion to the Bible. illusion - misleading appearance...The magician performed an optical illusion. 5. alumni - male graduate; alumnae - female graduate 6. amount - singular - A large amount of wood is needed. number - plural - A large number of books have been lost. 7. Don‟t use “and etc.” - use “etc.”...Bring paper, books, etc. 8. Don‟t use “where at” - Where is he at?(no)...Where is he? 9. bad - adj... The cake is bad. badly - adv...He played badly. 10. Don‟t use “reason...because” - use “reason...that” - The reason for the eclipse is THAT (not “because”) the moon has come between the earth and the sun. 11. Don‟t use “being as” or “being that” - use because - BECAUSE (not“being as”) it rained, the game was cancelled. 12. beside - by the side of...She is beside me. besides - in addition to...No one besides me knows.

13. between - two items...She sits between you and me. among - more than two...She was chosen among all of her peers. 14. bring - come carrying something...I will bring my money. take - go away carrying something...Take your book home. 15. Don‟t use “done” alone - I done the work. (no) I have done the work. 16. don‟t - do not...I don‟t know. doesn‟t - does not - He doesn‟t know. 17. emigrate - to exit a country...He emigrated from Germany. immigrate - to come into a country. He immigrated to the U.S. 18. fewer - plural - You make fewer mistakes if you revise. less - singular - I have less money today than I did Friday. 19. good - adj. - The cake tastes good. well - adv. - She plays well. 20. Don‟t use “had ought” or “hadn‟t ought”...He test scores ought (not“had ought”) to be back by now. 21. imply - speaker/writer - to suggest...The speaker implied that he was in favor of the bill. infer - listener/reader - to interpret...I inferred from his speech that he was in favor of the bill. 22. in - within...She is in the house. into - from outside to inside...She threw the paper into the trashcan. 23. kind, sort, type - “this” and “that” - sing.; “these” and “those” - pl...This kind of book interests me. Those kinds of books interest me. 24. lie - to rest...I will lie on the sofa. lay - to put...I will lay my book on the table. 25. Don‟t use like for as in a clause...They sounded as if (not “like”) they had not practiced. BUT...She looked like a queen. (OK - prep. ph.) 26. might of/must of - Use “might/must have” ..He must have known. 27. Don‟t use of in place of have...We could have (not “of”) gone. 28. Don‟t use of after inside, off, and outside...He dove off (not “off of”) the diving board. 29. raise - to lift up...We will raise the flag. rise - to go up...The sun will rise. 30. sit - to rest...Sit down. set - to place...Set the box down. 31. slow - adj...The turtle is slow. slowly - adv... He walks slowly. 32. some - adj...He needs some money. somewhat - adv...His grades have improved somewhat. 33. than - comparisons...She is better than you. then - when...Get up, and then go to work. 34. Don‟t use type as an adj. - add of after type...I prefer this type of (not just “type) shirt. 35. Don‟t use when or where to begin a definition...NO - A spoonerism is when you switch the beginning sounds of two words. CORRECT – A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue... 36. Don‟t use where for that...I read that (not “where”) Bush won. 37. who - people...Wasn‟t Beethoven the composer who was deaf? which - things...His first song, which was composed at the age of five, was successful. that - people or things 38. double negatives - two negative words used together...She has not read none of it...CORRECT - She has not read ANY of it. NEGATIVE WORDS: barely, hardly, neither, never, no, nobody, none, no one, not, n‟t, nothing, nowhere, scarcely WORDS OFTEN CONFUSED 1. all ready - all prepared..Are you all ready to go? already - previously..We have already done that. 2. all together - everyone in the same place..We are all together. altogether - entirely..I am not altogether convinced. 3. altar – church alter - to change..Please alter your plans. 4. ascent - a climb..The ascent up the mountain was slow. assent - agreement..Our proposal won their assent. 5. born - given life borne - endured..They have borne their troubles well. 6. brake – car break - shatter; interruption 7. capital - city, money/property, uppercase, major importance. capitol - building 8. clothes - shirts, etc. cloths - fabric

9. coarse - rough..Burlap is a coarse material. course - path of action, class, part of a meal, “golf” 10. complement - DO, IO, PA, PN compliment - praise 11. council - “city council” counsel - advice/advise..Ms. Law will counsel him. counselor - one who gives advice...Ms. Law is a counselor. 12. desert - hot land (des‟ert) desert - to leave..(desert‟) He deserted his family. dessert - sweets 13. formally - dignified..We were formally introduced. formerly - previously..He was formerly the principal of TCHS. 14. ingenious - clever..That is an ingenious plan! ingenuous - innocent; naive..He is as ingenuous as a two-year old. 15. its - possessive..The dog lost its collar. it‟s - it is..It‟s time to go. 16. later - more late latter-2nd of the 2..I can see you at 2:00 or 3:00, but I prefer the latter. 17. lead - “leed” - to go first..Lead the line! led - past tense of lead - He led the line. lead - “led” - pencil\ 18. loose - “loos” - not tight...My shoestrings are loose. lose - not win..We will lose the game. 19. miner - worker in a mine minor - under legal age; small importance - That is of minor importance. 20. moral - good..She is a moral person. morale - spirit..The team‟s morale was high. 21. peace - no war piece - fragment..I want a piece of candy. 22. personal - individual..That is a personal decision. personnel - staff 23. plain - not fancy; flat land - The plains of Texas... plane - airplane, woodworking tool, flat surface (as in geometry) 24. principal - school; most important...The principal idea is be honest. principle - law; rule of conduct..Her principles are strict. 25. quiet – silent quite - very, completely...I‟m not quite finished. 26. rout - big defeat..The game was a rout. route - road 27. stationary - not moving..The cold front is stationary. stationery - letters..Her stationery had her initials on it. 28. straight - not crooked strait - water; distress..Strait jacket 29. their - possessive..Their house is nice. there - where..Put your books over there. they‟re - they are..They‟re here. 30. to - prep. - Let‟s go to the mall. too - also, very..That is too small...I want to go, too. two - 2 31. waist – midsection waste - trash, useless spending..Don‟t waste time. 32. weather - outside conditions whether - conj. - I‟m not sure whether or not I will go. 33. who‟s - who is..Who‟s going? whose - possessive..Whose book is this? 34. your - possessive..Where is your book? you‟re - You‟re very nice. 35. bare – without coverage bear – animal; to bring forth 36. heard – past tense of “to hear” herd – a group 37. stake – a pole steak - meat CAPITALIZATION Rules – Capitalize: 1. the first word in a sentence 2. the pronoun I 3. proper nouns and adjectives - America, American coastline 4. names of people 5. names of towns, counties, states, regions (the East...but not directions...go east of Hwy. 82), countries, continents, islands, mountains, land forms (Mississippi Valley), bodies of water, parks, roads, and highways 6. names of people, organizations, teams, businesses, races institutions, buildings, government bodies, historical

events and periods, special events (the Olympics), holidays 7. names of ships, trains, aircraft, spacecraft, monuments, awards, planets, stars, constellations, but NOT the words sun, moon, star 8. Do not capitalize names of school subjects except for languages and courses names that are followed by a number...French, Algebra I...not math. 9. title in front of a name...Dr. Jones 10. words showing family relationships when used with a person‟s name but NOT when preceded by a possessive...Uncle Jimmy....my mother 11. first and last words and all important words in titles of books, magazines, newspapers (the Tuscaloosa News), poems, stories, plays, historical documents, movies, radio and TV programs, works of art, and musical compositions. Unimportant words include the articles a, an, and the, short prepositions fewer than five letters such as of, to or in, and conjunctions such as and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet. 12. religions, holy days and writings, deities (God, Allah)...but not Greek gods 13. brand names - but not the product - Borden milk 14. first word in a quote 15. NOT seasons – spring 16. In business letters – salutation – Dear Sirs: and in closing – Sincerely yours, PUNCTUATION End Marks Put commas and periods inside quotes. Put a question mark inside the quote if the quote is a question. Otherwise, put it on the outside. (She asked, “Am I in trouble?” Did she say, “I am in trouble”?) Use periods in some abbreviations: ft., Mr., p.m., Ave. Don‟t use them with others such as FBI, TV, OK, ROTC, the states, etc. Commas 1. Use commas to separate items in a series. (I like reading, writing, and sleeping!) 2. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives. (She is an intelligent, thoughtful person.) 3. Join two sentences with a comma and conjunction. (Flacco threw the ball, and McClain caught it.) 4. Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and phrases. (Lydia Cabrera, who was born in Cuba, became a doctor.) An essential clause of phrase doesn‟t need commas. (The boys who won the game should pose for a picture.) 5. Use commas to set off introductory words or phrases. Examples - Oh, I understand. Looking very nervous, she served the ball. In the first round of the tournament, I played very well. (2 prep. ph.) After I left the store, I locked my keys in my car. 6. Use commas to set off interruptions in the sentence. My favorite movie, National Treasure, has a sequel. (appositive phrase) Mom, have you cooked supper yet? (noun of direct address) Set off these expressions with commas: after all, in fact, at any rate, first (second, etc.), by the way, therefore, consequently, meanwhile, for example, moreover, for instance, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, incidentally, of course 7. Use commas in dates and addresses. On Friday, Oct. 23, 2001, my niece was born. Please address all inquiries to 92 Keystone Crossings, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. *Use commas after addresses in sentences…I lived in Miami, FL, until my father lost his job. 8. Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter. (Dear Sue,) 9. Use a comma after the closing of a letter. (Sincerely yours,) 10. Use a comma after a name followed by a suffix. (Will Davis, Jr.) Colons Colons are used before a list of items, especially with the words “as follows” or “the following.” Colons introduce long formal quotes. Used between hour and min., Bible chapter and verse, and after salutation in business letter (Dear Sirs:).

Semicolons Use ; to join two sentences. Use ; to join items that already have commas in them Hyphens Hyphens (-) are used to divide words…divide between syllables, don‟t divide one syllable words. Written numbers twenty-one to ninety-nine use hyphens. Fractions used as adj. use hyphens – three-fourths majority Hyphens prevent awkwardness – de-emphasize Parentheses – ( ) – information that is not as important Brackets – [ ] – omitted quoted material Ellipses - … - other information not listed Dashes – (--) indicates abrupt change in thought Underlining UNDERLINE the following titles: books, plays, movies, magazines, newspapers, art, long musical compositions, record albums/CD's, television series, ships, airplanes, aircraft, and spaceships. Underline words, symbols, and letters referred to and foreign words. Quotation Marks Use QUOTATION MARKS around the titles of the following: articles, short stories, essays, poems, songs, individual episodes of TV series, and chapters in a book. Put quotes around slang words, technical terms, and direct quotes. Capitalize the beginning of quotes. Don‟t capitalize if the quote is interrupted and then continued in one sentence…”I hope,” said Joe, “that I can go.” Period and commas go inside. Colons (:) and semicolons (;) go outside. Question marks (?) and exclamation points (!) …depends on what is inside the quote…”Is that you?” asked Joe. Did he say, “I can‟t come”? Quote within a quote – single quotes: Joe asked, “Did he say „I can‟t go‟?” Apostrophes Rules: 1. singular noun - add „s - a bird‟s nest 2. plural noun ending in s - add „ - players‟ uniforms 3. plural nouns not ending in s - add „s - children‟s toys 4. possessive pronouns - no „ - hers 5. indefinite pronouns - use „ - anyone‟s idea 6. compound words - put possession on the last word - father- in-law‟s hat 7. joint possession - put possession on the last name - Tony and Mia‟s house 8. individual ownership - put possession on both names - Mike‟s and Ron‟s canoes 9. time and amounts need „ - a week‟s vacation, five dollars‟ worth use apostrophes to make letters, numbers, symbols, etc., 10. plural - two r‟s, five c‟s, 2 &‟s,4 and‟s 11. use apostrophes in contractions - can‟t (goes where the missing letter should be)