Curated OER
Semicolon vs. Colon...And What is a Comma Splice?
Designed originally for higher education, this PowerPoint could also be used to introduce your high schoolers to the semicolon, colon, and comma splice. The texts do not contain pictures or graphics; instead, they present information in...
Curated OER
CTBS Mechanics Practice #1
Use this CTBS mechanics worksheet to reinforce the correct use of commas, punctuation, italics, letter writing, and capitalization. Middle schoolers are given information on each of these areas and then answer a total of thirty multiple...
K12 Reader
What is an Appositive?
Appositives, those tricky little words and phrases that provide more information about nouns, are the subject of a series of worksheets linked to this resource.
Novelinks
Words by Heart: Level 3 Writing Assignment
Get in touch with the emotional side of writing by reading Words By Heart. The writing assignment helps learners make personal connections with the text and hone their writing skills by exploring a time that they had to forgive...
University of North Carolina
Revising Drafts
Don't simply proofread ... revise instead! Revising drafts is the topic of the 17th handout in UNC's Writing the Paper series of 24 lessons. Writers discover the importance of revision, as well as steps to follow during the process.
Curated OER
Comma Exercises
Reinforce comma rules with this exercise. Learners add commas to a series of sentences and, using a list of eleven rules, match the rule they followed to each sentence. This worksheet would be best for classes that have had fairly...
Curated OER
War In Iraq Comparison
Fifth graders use the internet to research the Silver Star given to those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Using the information, they write a short report on one of the recipients of the Silver Star. In groups, they visit a...
Curated OER
Bulleted Lists: punctuating items in vertical lists
What is easier to read: a bulleted list or a block of text? Look at different examples with your class and then go over the style guidelines for vertical lists.
Curated OER
Persuasion and Use of Language
Pupils discuss connotative language, hyperbole, allusion, and rhetorical question. In small groups, they read one section of the "Speech to the Virginia Convention" and analyze these devices. Groups present their results to the class.
Curated OER
Lesson 1: What's Unhealthy in this Classroom?
Students discover behaviors and practices that are unhealthy within their classroom environment. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify behaviors and practices that lead to an unhealthy environment, and discuss how to...
Curated OER
Editor Travels U.S. Fixing Errors on Signs
An interesting article on editors helps young writers understand the conventions of written English. They read a news article about an editor traveling America correcting spelling and punctuation errors on signs. They discuss...
Sinclair Community College
Fundamentals of Composition: Punctuation and Capitalization Rules
Set your scholars up for success by teaching them about punctuation and capitalization. This visually pleasing presentation includes a section for each of the following: commas, colons, dashes, semicolons, quotation marks, apostrophes,...
Curated OER
Persuasion and Parallel Structure
Discuss the definition of parallel structure with your high school class. In small groups, they read a section of "The Declaration of Independence" to identify examples of parallel structure. Each learner writes an essay explaining the...
Ogden Museum of Art Education Department
Literacy and Landscapes
As the saying goes, art often imitates life ... and literature! A series of activities designed to accompany a visit to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art encourage writers to find inspiration in various landscapes. The lesson includes a...
Curated OER
Heart to Heart
Candy conversation hearts make writing a sweet pastime. Fifth graders write narratives demonstrating a complete thought and correct punctuation. The trick here is that they must use the words on five candy conversation hearts as part of...
Curated OER
Renewable Energy Sentences
Students construct sentences using nouns and verbs from a "renewable energy" word bank. In this cross curriculum ecology and sentence structure grammar and mechanics lesson, students listen to the book Our Earth: Clean Energy by Peggy...
Curated OER
Yo! Conventions!
Learners get in groups, take a list of words, put them into story form, and punctuate them. They present their story to the class and consider how punctuation changes meaning. Great excercise.
Curated OER
Show You Care
Students construct a four-line poem to be used on the inside of a Valentine's Day card. They use a digital camera to show themselves to their "buddies" (local nursing home patients) who receive the cards on Valentine's Day.
Curated OER
Semicolons
This one-page handout provides an overview and examples of how and when to use a semicolon. It does not include any questions or exercises; however, it does address relevant grammar rules at the secondary level.
Curated OER
Dashes and Hyphens
Review the use of dashes and hyphens. This presentation comes with a series of examples to make the concept understandable. While a useful resource, it could be augmented with a greater number of examples.
Curated OER
Clauses: Essential Building-Blocks
Clear up clause confusion with this grammar handout, complete with a clause identification activity. Using the detailed information and examples of the different types of clauses provided in the worksheet, secondary learners identify and...
Curated OER
Sentence Patterns
Supplement instruction on sentence patterns and types by providing this reference sheet for your class members. Included on this page are definitions of many different sentence patterns and an example of each. A useful item for pupils to...
Curated OER
Macaroni Quotations
Third graders grasp the difficult concept of using quotations. This lesson uses a hands-on approach to assist students in mastering this skill in a fun and easy way! This clever lesson has students use elbow macaroni noodles to highlight...
Curated OER
The Musher's Trail
Second graders follow the Iditarod race that begins in March. They research data and select a musher to trail in the race. Then they write daily in a journal about events that happen on the trail, including pictures from the Website.