Class Recordings if you miss a day.
Click here to view my lesson about Common Mistakes and Proof Reading Symbols.
Click here to view my lesson about Writing a 5 Paragraph Essay. Click here to view my lesson about Writing An Opener. Click here to view my lesson about Opener & Closer. Click here to view my lesson about Essay Critique. Click here to view my lesson about Brainstorming And Outlines. Click here to view my lesson about Homophones. |
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Grammar Resources
Grammar Music Videos
David Guetta - “Titanium” Lyrics and the Conjunction ‘But’ Carly Rae Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe” Lyrics and Contractions Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake” Lyrics and Progressive Tenses Maroon 5 - “Payphone” Lyrics and Infinitives (Verbals) Gotye - “Somebody That I Used To Know” Lyrics and Dependent Clauses Justin Bieber - “Baby” Lyrics and Compound Sentences Hemingway Style Guide
5 Paragraph Essay Guide
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Simple Sentences
The Core / Simple Sentence - Subjects & Predicates (Verbs) Clauses Clauses and Phrases Adverb Clauses Adverb Clauses Adjective Clauses Noun Clauses Phrases Clauses and Phrases Prepositional Phrases Noun Phrase Appositives Absolute Phrases 1 Absolute Phrases 2 Verbal Phrases Infinitive Phrases (Verbals) Gerund Phrases (Verbals) Present Participial Phrases (Verbals) Past Participial Phrases (Verbals) Spring and Bounce Gone or Went?
Gone is the past participle of to go. Used as the verb of a sentence, it must always be preceded by an auxiliary verb such as has, have, had, is, am, are, was, were, be, or one of their contractions. Went is the past tense of to go. It never takes an auxiliary verb. Incorrect: They gone to the movies. (Gone needs an auxiliary verb.) Correct: They have gone to the movies. Correct: They are gone to the movies. Correct: They went to the movies. Incorrect: You could have went with them. (Went takes no auxiliary verb.) Correct: You could have gone with them. |
In your essay, take a position on the question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
Writing Prompt: Persuasive Essays
A school board is concerned that the state’s requirements for core courses in mathematics, English, science, and social studies may prevent students from taking important elective courses like music, other languages, and vocational education. The school board would like to encourage more high school students to take elective courses and is considering two proposals. One proposal is to lengthen the school day to provide students with the opportunity to take elective courses. The other proposal is to offer elective courses in the summer. Write a letter to the school board in which you argue for lengthening the school day or for offering elective courses during the summer. Explain why you think your choice will encourage more students to take elective courses. Begin your letter: “Dear School Board:”
Source: www.act.org, 2009
Source: www.act.org, 2009
A German home-schooling family facing deportation following the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear their appeal is being allowed to stay in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security has granted the family “indefinite deferred status,” their attorney confirmed to Fox News. That means the Romeike family, who claim the German government is persecuting them because they want to raise their children in accordance with their Christian beliefs, can stay in the United States without the threat of being forced return to their home country, the family’s legal team told Fox News. The family moved to Morristown, Tenn., in 2008 after facing fines and threats for refusing to send their kids to a state-approved school in Germany, which is required by law in that country. If the Romeikes had stayed in Germany, they risked losing custody of their children. In your opinion, does a government have the right to force compulsory PUBLIC school education?
Some high schools require students to pass two years of a foreign language in order to graduate. Some teachers and parents think that the requirement is needed since the world is becoming more interconnected all the time. Other people think that the rule is not necessary since many of the people in the world speak English as a second language and their numbers are increasing. In your opinion, should high school students be required to pass two years of a foreign language in order to graduate?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about one of the points of view mentioned above, or you may give another point of view on this issue. Use specific examples and reasons for your position.
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about one of the points of view mentioned above, or you may give another point of view on this issue. Use specific examples and reasons for your position.
Each year, many books and other educational material are challenged by parents and school communities because they are considered “harmful to minors.” This includes many classic academic works such as Last of the Mohicans and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. However, many people believe that “banning” these books prevents students from learning about relevant issues and shelters them from the realities of the world. In your opinion, should books be banned from school if they contain material that could be considered offensive?
In some cities and towns, many citizens and government officials have proposed a curfew of 11:00 p.m. for anyone under the age of eighteen. Some officials and and citizens support the idea as a way of preventing mischief and vandalism and as a way to help parents to look after the best interests of their children. Other citizens and officials do not support the idea of a curfew because they feel that teenagers should be treated as young adults, and they should be trusted to act appropriately unless they demonstrate an lack of trustworthiness. In your opinion, should your cites and towns adopt curfews for teenagers?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about one of the points of view mentioned above, or you may give another point of view on this issue. Use specific examples and reasons for your position.
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about one of the points of view mentioned above, or you may give another point of view on this issue. Use specific examples and reasons for your position.
In some high schools, many teachers and parents have encouraged the administration to adopt a dress code that sets guidelines for what students can wear in the school building. Some teachers and parents support a dress code because they think it will improve the learning environment in the school. Other teachers and parents do not support a dress code; they think it restricts an individual student’s freedom of expression. In your opinion, should high schools adopt dress codes for students?
Many successful adults recall a time in life when they were considered a failure at one pursuit or another. Some of these people feel strongly that their previous failures taught them valuable lessons and led to their later successes. Others maintain that they went on to achieve success for entirely different reasons. In your opinion, can failure lead to success? Or is failure simply its own experience?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
We know that teenagers who don’t want to be in school usually don’t learn very much, even if they can be coerced into showing up at school most of the time. Unfortunately, many of these obstinate non-learners, besides wasting their own time, also destroy the education of dozens of other students.
Many public school teachers can recount horror stories of how just one or two disruptive teenagers can ruin the classroom environment for everyone else. The teacher may be so busy trying to control one or two troublemakers that the amount of teaching time declines dramatically.
Proponents of the government schools as training centers for global economic competition often point to Japan as a nation which produces highly literate, numerate high school graduates. One of the reasons that Japanese high schools are so successful at teaching calculus, science, foreign languages and other subjects whose mastery eludes so many American high school graduates is that attendance at Japanese high schools is completely voluntary. Nobody has to go to high school in Japan unless he or she wants to.
Should high school be mandatory?
OR
Should high school be optional?
OR
What do you recommend? (Do you have a third option?)
Many public school teachers can recount horror stories of how just one or two disruptive teenagers can ruin the classroom environment for everyone else. The teacher may be so busy trying to control one or two troublemakers that the amount of teaching time declines dramatically.
Proponents of the government schools as training centers for global economic competition often point to Japan as a nation which produces highly literate, numerate high school graduates. One of the reasons that Japanese high schools are so successful at teaching calculus, science, foreign languages and other subjects whose mastery eludes so many American high school graduates is that attendance at Japanese high schools is completely voluntary. Nobody has to go to high school in Japan unless he or she wants to.
Should high school be mandatory?
OR
Should high school be optional?
OR
What do you recommend? (Do you have a third option?)
ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα (One thing I know is that I know nothing.)
~Socrates, paraphrased from Plato's Apology.
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
~Lord Acton
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
~Sea Fever by John Masefield
In recent years, many schools have adopted a curriculum based on “great books.” These schools require students to study certain classic books of Western civilization, arguing that familiarity with these “great books” is essential to education. However, opponents of this curriculum argue that forcing teachers and students to use only the “great books,” most of which are written by white, European authors, results in a biased view of the world. In your opinion, should schools adopt a curriculum based on “great books”?
~Socrates, paraphrased from Plato's Apology.
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
~Lord Acton
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
~Sea Fever by John Masefield
In recent years, many schools have adopted a curriculum based on “great books.” These schools require students to study certain classic books of Western civilization, arguing that familiarity with these “great books” is essential to education. However, opponents of this curriculum argue that forcing teachers and students to use only the “great books,” most of which are written by white, European authors, results in a biased view of the world. In your opinion, should schools adopt a curriculum based on “great books”?
A Parks Board in a large city has received a generous donation and wants to use the donation to benefit the city as a whole. The Board is considering two options, but there is only enough funding for one. One option is to improve the city's parks by planting more flower gardens and creating more recreational areas. The other option is to improve the overall appearance of the city by planting flower beds and small trees along city streets and at intersections. Write a letter to the Parks Board in which you argue for improving the city's parks or for improving the appearance of the city, explaining how your choice will benefit the city as a whole. Begin your letter:
Dear Parks Board:
Dear Parks Board:
There is usually a kernel of truth in the words Oscar Wilde puts in the mouth of his most outrageous characters – they wouldn’t be funny otherwise. One such gem that is worth pondering is: The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.
Is it true that when we most need advice we are least willing to listen to it? Or is good advice always welcome?
Is it true that when we most need advice we are least willing to listen to it? Or is good advice always welcome?
Do you believe Santa is real? Still? Some people don't think it is good to teach kids about Santa Claus. Think about your own Christmas memories, knowing what you now know, would you teach your own children about Santa Claus?
You have 15 minutes.
You have 15 minutes.
Some cities have ordinances that limit the number of pets a city resident can own. Often, the maximum number of pets allowed is limited to three or four. Some people support the limit because they feel it protects them against having a neighborhood overrun with animals that could potentially become a public nuisance. Other people oppose the limit because they feel it infringes upon their rights as private citizens.
In your opinion, should city governments be allowed to limit the number of pets a resident can own?
In your opinion, should city governments be allowed to limit the number of pets a resident can own?
Many religions have different requirements for their followers, and often these requirements can interfere with the day-to-day responsibilities individuals might have. In schools, students may have certain religious restrictions that grant them special privileges that may include getting out of swimming class, ordering from a unique menu in the cafeteria, and even having a lighter academic schedule to allow time for prayer during the school day. Proponents of these privileges claim that religious requirements should take precedence over academics; however, opponents argue that if an individual wants to attend a certain high school, then they must conform to the expectations of that school's academic requirements regardless of personal belief. In your opinion, should students receive unique treatment because of their beliefs?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.