May 20, 2010 Sentence Fluency Day 3

1. May 20, 2010Sentence Fluency Day 3 • Go sit with a partner. • How does the first paragraph sound when read aloud? • Why? • With your partner, work on fixing the first paragraph so it sounds great read aloud.

2. Today we will: • Practice revising and editing a descriptive essay. • Present a portion of Act 2. • Each group will summarize, identify and describe important characters, translate an important speech, and perform their assigned portion of Act 2. • Make sure you have your study guide out!

3. Chose the sentence that best creates a transition between the ideas expressed in Sentences 6 and 7 of Diane’s draft. • The otter prefers to swim, but it will take to the land if the situation requires. • The otter will dive for stones at the bottom of the river and sometimes catch and release prey. • The otter enjoys playful activities, including chasing other otters, wrestling, and especially sliding. • The otter is active throughout the year from the hottest days of summer to the coldest days of winter.

4. Rewrite Sentence 5 to correct an error in punctuation. • Although it spends most of its time in the water the river otter does occasionally travel by land. • Although it spends most of its time in the water, the river otter does occasionally travel by land.

5. Diane reviewed these rules on subject/verb agreement in a language handbook. • A singular subject requires a singular verb even when other words come between the subject and verb. • A singular subject joined by and to a plural subject requires a plural verb. • Nouns with a plural form but a singular meaning require singular verbs. • Nouns naming groups may take either singular or plural verbs. Rewrite Sentence 4 to correct a subject/verb agreement error. Then write the number of the rule that helped you identify the error.

6. Choose the sentence that most clearly and effectively adds supporting details to Sentence 12 of Diane’s draft. • When the river otter dives, its ears and nostrils close to keep out water, for this allows it to stay underwater for up to four minutes. • When the river otter dives, its ears and nostrils close to keep out water, allowing it to stay underwater for up to four minutes. • When the river otter dives its ears close, and its nostrils close to keep out water, and this allows it to stay underwater for up to four minutes. • When the river otter dives, its ears and nostrils close to keep out water because this allows it to stay underwater for up to four minutes.

7. Diane wanted to include a paragraph in her essay about the river otter as an endangered mammal. Choose the internet site that would most likely provide detailed information about protecting the population of the endangered otter. • The Otter: An organization formed to help educate people about otter habits. • Discover Sea Otters: Discover tens of thousands of lively sea otters. • International Otter Survival Association: A group dedicated to the conservation of all species of otters. • Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, and Marine Animals: An interesting look at how mammals of the ocean care for their young.

8. Homework • We will finish presentations on Monday. • We will have a quiz on Act 2 next week.