Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Helpful Hints on Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

School Wide Writing Prompt #2--October 1st

In an effort to help prepare our students with becoming better writers and the MGWA, there will be a School Wide Prompt. The topic will be expository in nature and will be sent off to professional scorers so that the students can get a true look at where they are. Please make sure you take this prompt very seriously.

6+1 Writing Traits

As many of you may know on  January 19th the 8th grade students will be involved in the Middle Georgia Writing Assessment. This assessment guages the students level of writing ability and helps to determine their placement in their freshman English class. The students will be assessed on six (6) traits which will be listed and defined below.

The 6+1 Trait® Writing analytical model for assessing and teaching writing is made up of 6+1 key qualities that define strong writing. These are:


•Ideas, the main message;

•Organization, the internal structure of the piece;

•Voice, the personal tone and flavor of the author's message;

•Word Choice, the vocabulary a writer chooses to convey meaning;

•Sentence Fluency, the rhythm and flow of the language;

•Conventions, the mechanical correctness
 
Ideas


The Ideas are the main message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with all the supporting details that enrich and develop that theme. The ideas are strong when the message is clear, not garbled. The writer chooses details that are interesting, important, and informative–often the kinds of details the reader would not normally anticipate or predict. Successful writers do not "tell" readers things they already know; e.g., "It was a sunny day, and the sky was blue, the clouds were fluffy white …" Successful writers "show" readers that which is normally overlooked; writers seek out the extraordinary, the unusual, the unique, the bits and pieces of life that might otherwise be overlooked.

Organization


Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the pattern and sequence, so long as it fits the central idea. Organizational structure can be based on comparison-contrast, deductive logic, point-by-point analysis, development of a central theme, chronological history of an event, or any of a dozen other identifiable patterns. When the organization is strong, the piece begins meaningfully and creates in the writer a sense of anticipation that is, ultimately, systematically fulfilled. Events proceed logically; information is given to the reader in the right doses at the right times so that the reader never loses interest. Connections are strong, which is another way of saying that bridges from one idea to the next hold up. The piece closes with a sense of resolution, tying up loose ends, bringing things to a satisfying closure, answering important questions while still leaving the reader something to think about.

Voice


Voice is the writer coming through the words, the sense that a real person is speaking to us and cares about the message. It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic, the wit, the feeling, the life and breath. When the writer is engaged personally with the topic, he/she imparts a personal tone and flavor to the piece that is unmistakably his/hers alone. And it is that individual something–different from the mark of all other writers–that we call Voice.

Word Choice


Word Choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates not just in a functional way, but in a way that moves and enlightens the reader. In descriptive writing, strong word choice resulting in imagery, especially sensory, show-me writing, clarifies and expands ideas. In persuasive writing, purposeful word choice moves the reader to a new vision of ideas. In all modes of writing figurative language such as metaphors, similes and analogies articulate, enhance, and enrich the content. Strong word choice is characterized not so much by an exceptional vocabulary chosen to impress the reader, but more by the skill to use everyday words well.

Sentence Fluency


Sentence Fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear, not just to the eye. How does it sound when read aloud? That's the test. Fluent writing has cadence, power, rhythm, and movement. It is free of awkward word patterns that slow the reader's progress. Sentences vary in length, beginnings, structure, and style, and are so well crafted that the writer moves through the piece with ease.

Conventions


The Conventions Trait is the mechanical correctness of the piece and includes five elements: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar/usage, and paragraphing. Writing that is strong in Conventions has been proofread and edited with care. Since this trait has so many pieces to it, it's almost an analytical trait within an analytic system. As you assess a piece for convention, ask yourself: "How much work would a copy editor need to do to prepare the piece for publication?" This will keep all of the elements in conventions equally in play. Conventions is the only trait where we make specific grade level accommodations, and expectations should be based on grade level to include only those skills that have been taught.

* Please Note that we will cover each one trait each month and continue to review previously learned traits until the day of testing.

Parts of Speech

Since the beginning of school we have been working on parts of speech. This is a lengthy skill, where each grade level has a different aspect of the eight parts of speech to focus on. The depth and complexity of the skill depends on the grade. Please follow our journey through parts of speech at http://www.georgiastandards.org/. The website will give you a description of the standard and the topics covered. We will continue to go over Parts of Speech throughout the year as this is a big component in the students' writing and end of year assessments.

Grammar Sites!!!

Here are some helpful sites that can be used as a study/practice tool

• Simple Subjects and Predicates:  http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html
• 8th Grade Activities and Games: http://www.quia.com/pages/jonesin602.html
• Grammar Practice:     http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm

Homework for the Week of September 13th, 2010

In conjunction with the novel that we will be reading in class, this week's homework will have students writing a historical narrative. The narrative must be about a family member or someone who is important to you. The narrative must be four to five paragraphs. This assignment is Due on Friday, September 17th.

Out of the Dust...Our New Novel

Beginning September 13th we will start reading our first required novel for 8th grade. Many activities will be done with this novel to tie in components essential for student success for both the CRCT and the Writing Assessment.

Don't Be Fooled by a Subordinate/Dependent Clause

Subordinate (dependent) Clause

A subordinate clause does not express a complete though and cannot stand alone as a sentence (ALSO KNOWN AS A SENTENCE FRAGMENT).


Subordinate clauses DEPEND on an independent clause to make a sentence and express a complete thought.


BE CAREFUL subordinate clauses can contain a subject and predicate.

Welcome!!

Welcome to Mrs. Mallory's Language Arts informational blog. This board was established to help aid the students and parents of my classes to have constant knowledge of what is happening in class, as well, as provide additional support where needed. I hope that you will find this site to be beneficial to you as we move from GOOD to GREAT!!