Course Content
A. Grammar Fundamentals
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A.02. Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
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A.03. Select appropriate punctuation to correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
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A.04. Distinguish between phrases and clauses within sentences.
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A.05. Identify prepositional phrases within a sentence.
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A.06. Identify and understand the function of appositives and appositive phrases.
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A.07. Distinguish between dependent and independent clauses.
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A.08. Classify sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
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A.09. Combine sentences effectively using relative clauses.
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A.10. Construct complex sentences using various types of clauses and phrases for stylistic effect.
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A.01. Recognise and differentiate between declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.
B. Noun Usage
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B.01. Review the basic rules for forming and using plural nouns.
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B.02. Form and correctly use plural forms of compound nouns.
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B.03. Apply knowledge of noun usage to improve clarity and precision in writing.
C. Pronoun Usage
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C.01. Identify and correct errors in the use of subject and object pronouns.
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C.02. Distinguish between subjective and objective case pronouns after ‘than’ and ‘as’.
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C.03. Identify and correct pronoun errors involving ‘who,’ ‘whom,’ and ‘whose’.
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C.04. Use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) correctly in sentences.
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C.05. Identify and correct vague pronoun references.
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C.06. Identify all possible antecedents for a given pronoun.
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C.07. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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C.08. Demonstrate mastery of pronoun usage in writing and speaking.
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C.09. Understand and apply the rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement in complex sentence structures.
D. Verb Tense and Voice
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D.01. Form the progressive verb tenses accurately.
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D.02. Form the perfect verb tenses accurately.
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D.03. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense within a paragraph.
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D.04. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
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D.05. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns.
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D.06. Identify participles and their function in modifying nouns.
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D.07. Identify gerunds and explain their functions within sentences.
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D.08. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases and explain their functions.
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D.09. Rewrite sentences effectively using active voice to improve clarity.
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D.10. Distinguish between active and passive voice.
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D.11. Analyse the effect of voice on the tone and impact of a sentence.
E. Subject-Verb Agreement
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E.01. Identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement in simple sentences.
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E.02. Identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement when using indefinite pronouns.
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E.03. Identify and correct verb agreement errors with compound subjects.
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E.04. Apply subject-verb agreement rules in complex sentences with intervening phrases or clauses.
F. Adjectives and Adverbs
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F.01. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives correctly.
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F.02. Use “good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst” correctly in sentences.
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F.03. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs accurately.
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F.04. Use “well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst” correctly in sentences.
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F.05. Apply adjective and adverb usage to enhance descriptive writing.
G. Conjunctions
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G.01. Use the correct pairs of correlative conjunctions (e.g., neither/nor, either/or).
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G.02. Demonstrate effective use of conjunctions to link ideas and create coherent sentences.
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G.03. Understand the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions and their effect on sentence structure.
H. Punctuation Mastery
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H.01. Use commas correctly with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases.
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H.02. Use commas correctly with compound and complex sentences.
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H.03. Use commas correctly with coordinate adjectives.
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H.04. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses effectively.
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H.05. Use semicolons, colons, and commas correctly in lists.
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H.06. Review and apply the rules for using semicolons, colons, and commas effectively.
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H.07. Use dashes correctly to indicate a break in thought or to set off parenthetical elements.
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H.08. Use hyphens correctly in compound adjectives.
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H.09. Determine whether ellipses are used appropriately to indicate omissions.
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H.10. Use apostrophes correctly to indicate plural and possessive nouns.
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H.11. Use apostrophes correctly to indicate compound and joint possession.
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H.12. Identify and correct capitalization errors in various contexts.
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H.13. Master the nuanced use of punctuation to enhance clarity and precision in writing.
I. Misplaced Modifiers
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I.01. Identify misplaced modifiers in sentences with visual aids.
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I.02. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier in a sentence.
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I.03. Determine whether modifiers are used correctly in a given sentence.
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I.04. Rewrite sentences to correct misplaced or dangling modifiers, ensuring clarity and correct meaning.
J. Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Elements
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J.01. Use commas correctly with non-restrictive elements in sentences.
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J.02. Distinguish between restrictive and non-restrictive elements and apply appropriate punctuation.
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J.03. Understand how restrictive and non-restrictive elements impact the meaning of a sentence.
K. Vocabulary Building: Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
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K.01. Identify word pattern analogies.
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K.02. Complete word pattern sentences.
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K.03. Recognize and define words with the prefix “pre-“.
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K.04. Recognize and define words with the prefix “re-“.
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K.05. Recognize and define words with the prefix “sub-“.
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K.06. Recognize and define words with the prefix “mis-“.
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K.07. Recognize and define words with the prefixes “un-“, “dis-“, “in-“, “im-“, and “non-“.
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K.08. Recognize and define words with the suffix “-ful”.
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K.09. Recognize and define words with the suffix “-less”.
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K.10. Recognize and define words with the suffixes “-able” and “-ible”.
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K.11. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots.
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K.12. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words.
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K.13. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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K.14. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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K.15. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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K.16. Analyze the impact of prefixes, suffixes, and roots on word meaning and usage.
L. Vocabulary Building: Word Usage and Relationships
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L.01. Use the correct homophone in a sentence.
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L.02. Identify and correct errors with homophones.
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L.03. Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words.
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L.04. Use context as a clue to the meanings of foreign expressions.
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L.05. Use the correct foreign expression in a sentence.
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L.06. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence.
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L.07. Use words accurately and precisely in writing.
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L.08. Replace words effectively using a thesaurus.
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L.09. Identify and understand nuances in word usage.
M. Vocabulary Building: Analogies and Context
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M.01. Complete basic analogies.
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M.02. Complete challenging analogies.
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M.03. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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M.04. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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M.05. Use context to identify the meaning of a word within a passage.
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M.06. Apply context clues to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases.
N. Reference Skills
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N.01. Use dictionary entries to find word meanings and pronunciations.
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N.02. Use dictionary definitions to understand word meanings.
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N.03. Use dictionary entries to determine correct word usage.
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N.04. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and antonyms.
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N.05. Master the use of reference materials to enhance vocabulary and writing skills.
O. Editing and Revising
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O.01. Use the correct frequently confused word (e.g., “there,” “their,” “they’re”).
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O.02. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused words.
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O.03. Identify and correct errors with frequently confused pronouns and contractions.
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O.04. Correct errors with commonly misspelled words.
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O.05. Correct errors in everyday use of language.
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O.06. Suggest appropriate revisions to improve clarity and conciseness.
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O.07. Apply editing and revising skills to produce polished and error-free writing.
P. Writing Clearly and Concisely
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P.01. Use transitions with conjunctive adverbs to create smooth flow.
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P.02. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons.
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P.03. Identify sentences with parallel structure.
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P.04. Use parallel structure effectively in writing.
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P.05. Remove redundant words or phrases to enhance conciseness.
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P.06. Craft clear and concise sentences through effective word choice and sentence structure.
Q. Research Skills and Academic Integrity
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Q.01. Understand and identify plagiarism.
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Q.02. Learn techniques for paraphrasing and summarizing information.
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Q.03. Apply proper citation methods to avoid plagiarism in academic writing.
R. Organising Writing
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R.01. Order topics from broadest to narrowest effectively.
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R.02. Organise information by topic coherently.
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R.03. Develop effective strategies for outlining and structuring written assignments.
S. Topic Sentences
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S.01. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea of a paragraph.
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S.02. Write effective topic sentences that clearly introduce the main point of a paragraph.
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S.03. Analyse how topic sentences contribute to the overall coherence of a piece of writing.
T. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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T.01. Distinguish facts from opinions effectively.
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T.02. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim.
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T.03. Choose the best evidence to support a claim in an argumentative essay.
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T.04. Identify supporting evidence in a text to strengthen an argument.
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T.05. Evaluate counterclaims to refine and strengthen an argument.
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T.06. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim.
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T.07. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims.
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T.08. Craft well-reasoned and persuasive arguments using evidence-based support.
U. Persuasive Strategies
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U.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements.
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U.02. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos effectively in persuasive writing.
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U.03. Analyse how persuasive techniques influence audience perception.
V. Creative Techniques
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V.01. Understand and use personification effectively in writing.
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V.02. Explore and experiment with other creative writing techniques such as metaphor, simile and symbolism.
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V.03. Apply creative techniques to enhance the artistic quality of written work.
W. Reading Comprehension: Main Idea
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W.01. Determine the main idea of a passage.
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W.02. Summarise the main idea of a passage in a concise and accurate manner.
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W.03. Analyse how supporting details contribute to the main idea of a passage.
X. Reading Comprehension: Audience, Purpose and Tone
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X.01. Identify which text is the most formal based on audience and purpose.
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X.02. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone.
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X.03. Identify the intended audience and purpose of a text.
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X.04. Compare passages to analyse the differences in tone.
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X.05. Assess how the author’s tone influences the reader’s interpretation.
Y. Reading Comprehension: Literary Devices
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Y.01. Identify the narrative point of view in a literary text.
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Y.02. Interpret the meaning of an allusion based on its source.
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Y.03. Recall the source of a common allusion.
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Y.04. Interpret figures of speech used in literary texts.
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Y.05. Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox.
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Y.06. Review and classify various figures of speech.
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Y.07. Analyse the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone in literature.
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Y.08. Understand and appreciate the use of literary devices in enriching written expression.
Z. Reading Comprehension: Analysing Literature
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Z.01. Analyse and interpret short stories (set 1).
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Z.02. Analyse and interpret short stories (set 2).
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Z.03. Compare and contrast different literary works based on themes, characters and plot.
AA. Reading Comprehension: Analysing Informational Texts
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AA.01. Analyse the development of informational passages (set 1).
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AA.02. Analyse the development of informational passages (set 2).
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AA.03. Trace an argument in informational texts (set 1).
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AA.04. Trace an argument in informational texts (set 2).
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AA.05. Analyse rhetorical strategies in historical texts (set 1).
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AA.06. Analyse rhetorical strategies in historical texts (set 2).
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AA.07. Evaluate the effectiveness of rhetorical strategies in conveying information and influencing readers.
