New Haven Adult School GED Preparation Spring 2012

1. New Haven Adult SchoolGED PreparationSpring 2012 Room 14 Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am-11:30am Instructor: Jami Hiller

2. Quiz: Sentence Structure 1. A complete sentence has: a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and ends with punctuation? True or False. 2. What kind of sentence is this: The girl in the yellow car. 3. How do you combine these sentences: Jack is an actor. He is talented. 4. Combine these sentences using a semicolon. People are interested in gun control. They do not always agree. 5. Is this a parallel sentence: Make sure that the building is clean, safe, and you can afford it.

3. Session 2 Agenda Unit 1: Language Arts, Writing • Quiz • Review Sentence Structure • Correct Homework • Organization • Usage • Mechanics • Discuss Homework • Unit Review pages 145-155 (39 questions) • Journal Writing

4. Correct Homework Sentence Structure: Test questions Revision Correction Effective combination Best way to write underlined portion

5. Writing Test 50 Questions Sentence Structure 30% = 15 questions Organization 15% = 8 questions Usage 30% = 15 questions Mechanics 25% = 12 questions

6. Organization:Effective Paragraphs • Paragraph: a group of related sentences that develops a single main idea. • Topic sentence: main idea of paragraph • Supporting Details: explain the main idea by giving specific details, examples and reasons

7. Sample of Paragraph I would be a knowledgeable and effective sales clerk at Handy Works Hardware. I have studied carpentry and advanced home repairs at Brookline Adult School, where I learned about electric and hand tools, paint mixing, and plumbing. I am also familiar with computerized registers, which I used at my summer job at Standard Stores. As my previous employer will confirm, I am friendly, polite, and helpful when dealing with the public. Finally, I am a quick learner and will be a great asset to your staff.

8. Page 97 • Exercise at bottom of page

9. Organization:Topic Sentences • Exercise on page 100

10. Organization:Paragraphing • Introduction • Body (Details) • Body (Details) • Body (Details) • Conclusion

11. Activity: Kung Fu Kung Fu Kung Fu is the perfect sport for children. First of all, it does not cost much to participate. For example, a typical uniform is less than fifty dollars, and weekly lessons are not expensive compared to other sports. In addition, children learn the benefits of discipline and setting goals. The colored belts keep kids motivated, and each child is able to succeed at his or her own pace. Finally, Kung Fu teaches children how to protect themselves in the world. Children do not learn to fight, but acquire important moves and motions that they can use to defend themselves if necessary. For these reasons, parents should consider Kung Fu as a sport for children.

12. Organization:Clear Transitions • Transition: A word or phrase that signals the relationship from one idea to the next. • No transition: Small banks often discount fees. Average ATM fees are $1.25 at big banks, but $0.86 at small ones. • With transition at beginning of sentence: Small banks often discount fees. For example, average ATM fees are $1.25 at big banks, but $0.86 at small ones. • With transition in middle of sentence: Small banks often discount fees, for example, are $1.25 at big banks, but $0.86 at small ones.

13. Common transitions • In other words (definition) • In the first place (order) • As a matter of fact (supporting detail) • On the other hand (contrast) • As a result (cause and effect) • For this reason (cause and effect)

14. Usage:Subject-Verb Agreement Singular, add –s Plural, no –s a. Ms. Lopez plan the company party every year. b. Ms. Lopez plans the company party every year. a. Volunteers helps with the planning. b. Volunteers help with the planning. a. Pauline and Ray knows some fun activities. b. Pauline and Ray know some fun activities.

15. Collective Noun • Refers to a group of people or things. • Use a singular verb. • The budget committeeare meeting today. • The budget committeeis meeting today. **A committee is made up of more than one person, but the people in the committee are acting together as one, so the subject is singular. **See chart on page 116

16. Usage:Verb Forms & Tenses • Regular verb: add –ed • Irregular verb: change the spelling • Present: Mr. Gomez advises Paula to apply for another job. • Past: He worked with Paula on a special project last year. • Future: Paula will bring her resume to the office next Thursday. • Present Perfect: I have sent along her application to Ms. Hall. • Past Perfect: Previously, Ms. Hall had considered only graduates. • Future Perfect: Paula will have graduated by June.

17. Usage:Consistency & Sequence • Last Wednesday, a woman from my office sat down next to me. She acts like she had never seen me before. • Last Wednesday, a woman from my office sat down next to me. She acted like she had never seen me before. • When I said hello, she does notreact. • When I said hello, she did not react. • If she behaves this rudely again, I become very upset. • If she behaves this rudely again, I will become very upset.

19. Mechanics:Capitalization • Rule 1: Capitalize proper nouns: specific person, place or thing. (Donald Trump, Union City, National Bank) • Rule 2: Capitalize proper adjectives: a descriptive word that comes from the name of a specific person or place. (First American Bank) • Rule 3: Capitalize a title that comes directly before a person’s name. (Mayor Graham) • Rule 4: Capitalize the names of holidays, days of the week, and months of the year. (New Years, Monday, March)

20. Mechanics:Do Not OVER Capitalize • Rule 1: A title or a family name preceded by a, the or personal pronoun (i.e. my). • Alice went to see the dean. • Alice went to see Dean Asher. • Rule 2: Names of seasons are NOT capitalized (fall). • Rule 3: A school subject , unless it is the name of a specific course. • Alice wants to take a history course. • Alice wants to take American History. • Rule 4: A direction word, unless it refers to a region • They walked south to the supermarket. • They grew up in the South. • Rule 5: a geographic place, unless it is part of name on a map. • The school is next to a huge lake. • The school is next to Lake Ontario.

21. Mechanics:Commas • Rule 1: a list of three or more items • Cakes, pies, and cookies will be sold at the carnival. • The students need more pens and paper. (no comma) • Rule 2: between the clauses in a compound sentence. • And, but, or, for, nor, so, or yet. • Everyone is helping, so the bake sale should be a hit.

22. Other Uses for Commas • Beginning a phrase or sentence • No, the bank is closed on Memorial Day. • As a result of overspending, Ron’s funds are low. • When a dependent clause comes at the beginning of a sentence. • When all his bills came in, he was stunned. • He was stunned when all his bills came in. (no comma) • To add information about a noun • Ron, my friend, has 13 credit cards. • Amanda, my sister, is pregnant. • Parenthetical expression: for example, incidentally, or course, however, and on the other hand • Ron has cards, for example, for most stores in the mall.

23. Mechanics:Spelling • John’s sons are young. • Jess’s old car is for sale. • The children’s toys are organized. • Both sons’ books are in the car. • Don’t use an apostrophe with his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, and whose.

24. Contractions • Rule 1: Use an apostrophe to take the place of missing letters in a contraction. • I am= I’m • Do not= Don’t • Incorrect Do’nt • Rule 2: It’s vs. its • It’s raining outside. • The child ate its ice cream.

25. Homonyms • Words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. • See page 140.

26. Homework • Unit 1 Review: • Pages 145-155 • Re-write paragraph of “A Good Student” with the corrections Jami helped you with • Write a paragraph about your favorite hobby.