Mastering Writing: Grammar & Punctuation Study Guide

1. STAAR Writing Study Guide 2014

2. Revising and Editing • Spelling • Sentence Structure • Punctuation • Grammar

3. Commonly Confused words: • Their, there, they’re • Their (possessive), there (location), they’re (they are) • Then, than • Then (Time), Than (Comparing) • It’s, its • It’s (It is), Its (Possessive) • Too, two, to • Too (Also, Excessively), Two (number), to (preposition/direction) • In, on, at (prepositions) • Except, accept • Except (But, excluding), Accept (Take)

4. Sentence Structure: • Compound ( , FANBOYS) • You must rest, for you will be taking the test in the morning. • Complex (WABU: When, After, Because, Until, etc.) • Until you submit your application, I cannot help you.

5. Phrases/Clauses: • Phrases/Clauses: • Prepositional phrase (no subject or verb) • under the table, over the table, beside the table, next to the table, on the table, around the table • Appositive phrase (no subject or verb) • Mrs. Gutierrez, the school nurse, gave me an ice pack for my forehead. • Subordinating clause (Sub. conjunction & subject and verb) • While you were out, someone called. • Someone called while you were out.

6. Dictionary Use • Misspelled words • Capitalized words • Prefix/suffix meanings • Hyphenated words • Parts of Speech to determine if used correctly in the sentence

7. Transition words and phrases • Know the meaning • Recognize pattern or relationship (example, agreement, sequence, order, time, adding, comparing, contrasting, cause and effect, concluding) • HOTCASA: • However, On the other hand, Therefore, Consequently, As a result

8. Commas – Study foldable! • Compound sentences • Complex sentences • In a series • Between adjectives of equal rank (not the last adjective before the noun) • After introductory words, phrases, and clauses • To set off parenthetical expressions (names, therefore, of course, not yours) • Nonessential expressions (appositive phrases, participial phrases etc.) • Dates, Geographical names, numbers, addresses, letters

9. Quotation Marks • Direct quotations, speaker tag • Titles of short written works (poems, short stories, songs, TV shows, articles)

10. Possessives • Single vs. plural (make plural first than possessive) • Dog’s leash… • Dogs’ leashes • Irregular plurals (make plural first than possessive) • Man – men’s suits • Wolf – wolves' den

11. Relative Pronouns: Who/Which/That • Who (People) • My friend, who won the award, is now going on a week-long vacation. • That (People, Things/Concepts) • He is the kind of person that will never let you down. • Which (Things/Concepts) • The science fair, which lasted all day, ended with an awards ceremony.

12. Subject-Verb Agreement • Single • Hewas studying for the test last night. • Plural • They were studying for the test last night.

13. VERBS • Irregular Past Tense Verbs no –ed (to sing: I sang) • Verify with a dictionary (usually spells it out for you) • Regular Past Tense Verbs –ed (to walk: I walked)

14. Writing (Essays) • Narrative • Expository

15. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION • Organizational Patterns: cluster, bubble map, list • Indentation • First person (I, me, my) • BME (Beginning, Middle, End) • Lesson Learned (Theme) • Super Sentences, STC (This is a Super Sentence because it has a WABU clause; therefore, I will use them in my composition.) • FANBOYS (compound sentences) • WABU (complex sentences) • When, Whenenver, While; After, Although, As long as; Because, Before; Unless, Until • SAT (WOW) words

16. EXPOSITORY COMPOSITION • Text Structures: Cause/Effect, Problem/Solution, Description, Sequence, Compare/Contrast • Indentation • Introduction Strategies (Anecdote, Quotation, Dictionary, Description, MNM) • Thesis Statement • Super Sentences, Variety • FANBOYS (compound sentences) • WABU (complex sentences) • When, Whenever, While; After, Although, As long as; Because, Before; Unless, Until • SAT (WOW) words • Details/Examples • Definitions/Facts