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. |
|
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
|
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
Immigration is a contentious issue. The influx of migrants from all over the world enriches our country but also brings with it problems. In your opinion should immigration be capped.
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
What is the proper way to discipline a student? Research shows that the use of suspensions, when a student is kicked out of school for one or more days, has steadily climbed since the 1970s and that most suspensions today are for minor and non-violent incidents of misbehavior. Some think these misbehaviors could be better addressed through measures that keep kids in school than by turning our kids away from the classroom door.
Should students that get in trouble with school officials, regarding school affairs, receive detention, community service, or a more severe punishment such as suspension or expulsion (permanently kicked out)?
Should students that get in trouble with school officials, regarding school affairs, receive detention, community service, or a more severe punishment such as suspension or expulsion (permanently kicked out)?
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?
We have all heard the terms “idiot box” and “boob tube” to describe TV’s.
Yet when TV’s first became available to the public they were praised as tools
to educate and inform people. Yet for some parents, despite the educational
opportunities of television, the negative aspects (parts) of television
outweigh the benefits and will limit the amount of time their children have or
not have a TV in the house at all. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those
older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.
According to the AAP, the first 2 years of life are considered a critical time
for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of
exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages
learning and healthy physical and social development.
In your opinion, should parents limit the amount of TV children watch? You may argue for TV, against all TV, or for a set limit of TV (you pick: 1 hour per day, 2 hours, etc.)
In your opinion, should parents limit the amount of TV children watch? You may argue for TV, against all TV, or for a set limit of TV (you pick: 1 hour per day, 2 hours, etc.)
Many people think that the most important life
experiences are the complex and difficult ones, such as learning a new
skill, finding a solution to a problem, or overcoming a great obstacle.
These experiences, which can be unpleasant at times, are worthwhile
because of what we learn from them. However, simple joys can be just as
valuable. Uncomplicated activities, such as spending time with friends,
savoring a meal, or appreciating the beauty of nature can bring us great
happiness.
In your opinion, are simple joys as valuable as complex experiences? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
In your opinion, are simple joys as valuable as complex experiences? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
From high school, to college, to professional athletes, as story after story comes out about misconduct on and off the field some people are asking if our country has an unhealthy obsession with sports. Do we praise these people because of their athletic skills and therefore let them get away with things, or are we merely beginning to see what was always there and thus this is evidence that sports is no different from any other hobby, job, or past-time?
In your opinion, do we focus too much on sports?
In your opinion, do we focus too much on sports?
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires all school libraries receiving certain federal funds to install and use blocking software to prevent students from viewing material considered “harmful to minors.” However, some studies conclude that blocking software in schools damages educational opportunities for students, both by blocking access to Web pages that are directly related to the state-mandated curriculums and by restricting broader inquiries of both students and teachers.
In your view, should the schools block access to certain Internet Web sites?
In your view, should the schools block access to certain Internet Web sites?
Thomas Jefferson believed that the will of the majority is "the only legitimate foundation of any government," and that the protection of the public's right to free expression is of primary importance in a democracy. However, there are those who look back through the pages of history and note that when great changes have occurred in history – particularly when great principles are involved – as a rule, the majority is wrong.
The Prompt: What is your view of the claim that the opinion of the majority is not always right? In an essay, support your position by discussion an example (or examples) from literature, the arts, sciences and technology, history, current events, or your own experience or observation.
The Prompt: What is your view of the claim that the opinion of the majority is not always right? In an essay, support your position by discussion an example (or examples) from literature, the arts, sciences and technology, history, current events, or your own experience or observation.
Some high schools in the United States have considered creating separate classrooms for male and female students in subjects such as mathematics and science. Some educators think separate classes will be beneficial because students will be less distracted from learning. Other educators think having separate classes for females and males will not be beneficial because it seems to support false stereotypes about differences in ability between males and females.
In your opinion, should high schools create separate classes for male and female students?
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 you position.
In your opinion, should high schools create separate classes for male and female students?
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 you position.
Obesity is a growing concern among American doctors. With the focus on healthy living and making good choices, the argument has spread to the school system. Should K-12 schools ban junk food sales?
In 2004 the National Assembly, France's legislative body, voted by an overwhelming majority to ban Muslim head scarves and other religious symbols from public schools, a move that underscores (shows) the broad public support for the French secular (non-religious) ideal.
In 2013 a French Government-funded research institute is recommending that the wearing of religious symbols — such as crucifixes, Jewish Kippahs and Muslim headscarves — should be banned in the country's universities to ease "escalating religious tensions in all areas of university life." The controversial law that banned religious symbols in schools, passed in 2004, did not apply to universities. The research institute claims that religious tensions in schools were educed because of this law and it should now be extended to universities.
Yet in spite of this claim, people are still protesting these restrictions and many students in the public schools still try and wear religious items.
Should the French government permit students to wear visible religious symbols in state schools?
In 2013 a French Government-funded research institute is recommending that the wearing of religious symbols — such as crucifixes, Jewish Kippahs and Muslim headscarves — should be banned in the country's universities to ease "escalating religious tensions in all areas of university life." The controversial law that banned religious symbols in schools, passed in 2004, did not apply to universities. The research institute claims that religious tensions in schools were educed because of this law and it should now be extended to universities.
Yet in spite of this claim, people are still protesting these restrictions and many students in the public schools still try and wear religious items.
Should the French government permit students to wear visible religious symbols in state schools?
As Mrs. C is fond of telling me, it is a known fact that we learn by repetition. By allowing children to play violent video games it starts to desensitize them at an early age to the effects of violence. Some analysts theorize that these games were originally designed for military training to help soldiers overcome their hesitancy in shooting the enemy. In your opinion...
Should violent video games be banned?
Should violent video games be banned?
Why does the American school year start in September and end in June?
It's something of a mystery. Did children once "bring in the harvest"
on the family farm all summer in the distant rural past?
Historians at Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum that recreates an 1830s New England farming village, say not. According to the web site and schoolmistress there, farm children went to school from December to March and from mid-May to August. Adults and children alike helped with planting and harvesting in the spring and fall.
Because of the summer breaks American teachers spend weeks every fall just reminding kids of what they forgot over the summer. Which begs the question (makes me ask)...
School should be year-round?
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 you position.
Historians at Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum that recreates an 1830s New England farming village, say not. According to the web site and schoolmistress there, farm children went to school from December to March and from mid-May to August. Adults and children alike helped with planting and harvesting in the spring and fall.
Because of the summer breaks American teachers spend weeks every fall just reminding kids of what they forgot over the summer. Which begs the question (makes me ask)...
School should be year-round?
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 you position.
In the book Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver travels to an island where everyone is smaller than him. In this land of Lilliput children are taken away from their parents when they are born so that they may be raised loyal to the state. In other books, we see ideas of children being taken from their parents (Plato's The Republic) in order to make sure the children are raised "correctly" or being raised to be distrustful of their parents (Orwell's 1984). In this modern day world we hear calls for children to be sent to school younger and younger under the guise of helping to educate them, but critics say it is an attempt to break up the family unit and separate children from their parents, especially their moms. Are parents the first and most important teachers, or are too many parents incompetent and incapable of educating and raising their children?
School children be sent to school at 3 years old?
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 you position.
School children be sent to school at 3 years old?
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 you position.