You will find sample lessons below. The document shared on the screen in each lesson video is the handout that the student will print and fill out while watching the video. (It is recommended that students print several modules at once so that they don’t have to print before each lesson.)
Below the sample lessons you will find an editing exercise from near the end of the course.
Note that for lessons during which the instructional part of the lesson is longer than fifteen to twenty minutes, most of the time students will be directed in the instructions on Google Classroom to complete the instructional part one day/session and the exercise the next day/session unless they are working at an accelerated pace.
Sample Lessons
Level One, Module 6, Lesson 3 – Predicate Nominatives
Level One, Module 8, Lesson 5 – Diagramming Review
Level Two, Module 3, Lesson 1 – Complete Sentences Review
Level Two, Module 4, Lesson 1 – Capitalization Rules
Level Two, Module 7, Lesson 4 – Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Level Two, Module 8, Lesson 1 – Subject vs. Object Pronouns
Level Three, Module 4, Lesson 2 – Essential vs. Nonessential
Level Three, Module 6, Lesson 2 – Apostrophe Usage
Student Writing Samples
Click Here for Descriptive Paragraph and Essay Student Writing Samples
Click Here for Personal Narrative Student Writing Samples
Click Here for Creative Informative Essay Student Writing Samples
Click Here for Guided Research Paper Student Writing Sample
Click Here for Argumentative Essay Student Writing Samples
Editing Exercise Example
The following is an editing exercise from near the end of the course. Students will find the errors and identify the error number (reason) for each error. At this point students will have had instruction over all of the grammar and usage rules. Can you identify all of the errors?
Error Numbers
1. sentence fragment
2. comma needed after an introductory element or commas needed to set off a nonessential clause or phrase within a sentence
- introductory elements: introductory adverb clause, introductory participial phrase, introductory infinitive phrase functioning as an adverb, introductory nonessential appositive phrase, successive introductory prepositional phrases, single introductory prepositional phrase that is five words or more, mild exclamation at the beginning of a sentence (Remember, no comma should be used after an introductory element that is functioning as the subject of the sentence.)
- nonessential clauses and phrases within a sentence: nonessential adjective clauses, nonessential participial phrases, nonessential appositive phrases (remember, adjective clauses beginning with the relative pronoun that are always essential), and parenthetical expressions
3. run-on sentence
4. comma needed before a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses in a compound or compound-complex sentence (Remember that it is correct to use a semicolon, rather than a comma, before a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses that contain commas when the use of another comma would cause confusion.)
5. incorrect capitalization (a word that should be capitalized but isn’t or should not be capitalized but is) – Each letter counts as a separate error. For example, if you change new york city to New York City, that counts as three errors.
6. incorrect spelling or usage of a commonly confused word (will only be words from the Commonly Confused Words reference sheet)
7. incorrect usage of the principal parts of the verb (will only be words from the Principal Parts of the Verb reference sheet)
8. subject-verb agreement error
9. subject pronoun used where an object pronoun is needed
10. object pronoun used where a subject pronoun is needed
11. reflexive/intensive pronoun used where a personal pronoun should be used
12. not a word (only for “words” ending in self or selves)
13. pronoun with an unclear antecedent
14. comma needed between consecutive, coordinate (equal-weight) adjectives
15. them used as an adjective
16. double negative
17. incorrect use of the comparative or superlative form of an adjective or adverb
18. adjective used where an adverb is needed
19. adverb used where an adjective is needed
20. misplaced modifier or dangling modifier
21. possessive form needed before a gerund
22. comma needed between each item in a series
23. commas needed to set off a noun of direct address
24. commas needed in dates and addresses to enclose every item after the first (except when items are joined by a preposition), including between cities, states, and countries and after the last item in a date or address
25. comma used where it should not be
26. error in parallel structure
27. semicolon needed to separate items in a list because the items themselves contain commas
28. semicolon needs to be removed (This error should not be used when the semicolon will be replaced with another punctuation mark and therefore another error, such as a “comma needed” error, is applicable.)
29. colon needed to introduce a list
30. colon used in the wrong place (needs to be moved to a different place in the sentence)
31. colon needs to be removed (This error should not be used when the colon will be replaced with another punctuation mark and therefore another error, such as a “comma needed” error, is applicable.)
32. apostrophe needed to show possession, to form a contraction, or to form the plural of a lowercase letter
33. apostrophe used in the wrong place (needs to be moved to a different place in the word)
34. apostrophe needs to be removed
35. parenthesis or dash used on one side of material but not on the other side
36. quotation marks needed to enclose title of a short story, song, television show episode, essay, speech, short film, article, play of one or two acts, or chapter of a book (one error per title, even if adding two sets of quotation marks)
37. italics (or underlining if writing by hand) needed for the title of a magazine, book, newspaper, academic journal, film, television show, long poem, play of three or more acts, opera, musical album, work of art, or website or the name of an individual train, plane, or ship (one error per title)
38. quotation marks needed to enclose a direct quotation (each set of quotation marks counts as a separate error)
39. single quotation marks needed to enclose a quotation within a quotation (each quotation mark counts as a separate error)
40. incorrect punctuation of a quotation (punctuation mark missing, in the wrong place, or needs to be removed)
41. quotation marks not needed (each set of quotation marks removed counts as a separate error)
Example:
I asked my friend about the event and he said: “It will be held at the park on Main Street”.
I asked my friend about the event, (4) and he said, (40) “It will be held at the park on Main Street. (40)”
40 Errors and 2 Correct Sentence – There may be more than one error per sentence. Leave the top sentence as is and correct the bottom copy of the sentence.
1. The group of students were late to Math class because they had to help clean up a mess in the cafeteria.
The group of students was (8) late to math (5) class because they had to help clean up a mess in the cafeteria.
2. She played real bad and didn’t do nothing to fix her mistakes.
She played really (18) badly (18) and didn’t do anything (16) to fix her mistakes.
3. The teacher, and the students discussed The Most Dangerous Game during their literature circle, and one of the students said that “it was his favorite short story.”
The teacher (25) and the students discussed “The Most Dangerous Game“ (36) during their literature circle, and one of the students said that (41) it was his favorite short story. (41)
4. My little sister (who said she wasn’t scared of roller coasters, screamed so loudly that our parents’ could hear her from the bench where they were waiting.
My little sister, (35) who said she wasn’t scared of roller coasters, screamed so loudly that our parents (34) could hear her from the bench where they were waiting.
5. Either the employees or the manager attends every meeting.
Either the employees or the manager attends every meeting. – correct
6. Walking through the forest, the birds’ chirped loudly in the trees.
Walking through the forest, I heard (20) the birds (34) chirping loudly in the trees.
7. You’re right about Sarah’s singing being the highlight of the show.
You’re right about Sarah’s singing being the highlight of the show. – correct
8. This needs to stay between you and I so please do not tell anyone.
This needs to stay between you and me (9), (4) so please do not tell anyone.
9. I know that Jessica is doubting Bella’s ability to do the work because I heard Jessica tell Mark, “Bella said, “I will take care of it,” but I don’t know if she can do it.”
I know that Jessica is doubting Bella’s ability to do the work because I heard Jessica tell Mark, “Bella said, ‘(39)I will take care of it,‘(39) but I don’t know if she can do it.”
10. My aunt Virginia who lives in New York will be visiting us next week.
My Aunt (5) Virginia, (2) who lives in New York, (2) will be visiting us next week.
11. “Starry Night” is the title of a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh the renowned Dutch artist.
Starry Night (37) is the title of a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh, (2) the renowned Dutch artist.
12. “Do you want to have dessert”? she asked.
“Do you want to have dessert?(40)” she asked.
13. We need to bring the following items to the picnic: sandwiches with turkey, lettuce, and cheese, chips and salsa, and bottles of water, soda, and juice.
We need to bring the following items to the picnic: sandwiches with turkey, lettuce, and cheese; (27) chips and salsa; (27) and bottles of water, soda, and juice.
14. Megan I can’t wait to visit Seattle Washington next summer.
Megan, (23) I can’t wait to visit Seattle, (24) Washington, (24) next summer.
15. She likes reading books, to jog in the mornings, and playing tennis.
She likes reading books, jogging (26) in the mornings, and playing tennis.
16. Although my mom and myself got lost on the way to the party.
Although my mom and I (11) got lost on the way to the party, we finally arrived. (1)
17. Since my brother is taller than me most people think that I am older then him.
Since my brother is taller than I (10), (2) most people think that I am older than (6) he (10).
18. I can’t believe that it has been to years since we moved to the East side of town.
I can’t believe that it has been two (6) years since we moved to the east (5) side of town.
19. Them kid’s rooms are messy.
Those (15) kids‘ (33) rooms are messy.
20. The tall, elegant dancer had went on stage before the music even started.
The tall, elegant dancer had gone (7) on stage before the music even started.
The Grammar and Writing Workshop 