Course Content
A. Identifying Sentence Structure
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A.01. Determine if a sentence is declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.
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A.02. Distinguish between phrases and clauses within sentences.
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A.03. Identify independent and dependent clauses.
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A.04. Categorise sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
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A.05. Combine sentences effectively using relative clauses.
B. Basic Grammar Fundamentals
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B.01. Recognise and correct common errors in everyday language usage.
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B.02. Understand and correctly use frequently confused words.
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B.03. Identify and rectify errors involving commonly confused pronouns and contractions.
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B.04. Correct errors with commonly misspelled words.
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B.05. Master correct capitalization rules in various contexts.
C. Parts of Speech: Nouns and Pronouns
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C.01. Form and use plural nouns correctly.
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C.02. Form and use plural forms of compound nouns.
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C.03. Correctly use subject and object pronouns in sentences.
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C.04. Understand pronoun usage after “than” and “as” in comparisons.
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C.05. Use relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) effectively.
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C.06. Identify and correct vague pronoun references.
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C.07. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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C.08. Identify all possible antecedents for pronouns in complex sentences.
D. Parts of Speech: Verbs
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D.01. Distinguish between transitive and intransitive verbs.
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D.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives, and predicate nouns.
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D.03. Recognize participles and their modifying roles in sentences.
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D.04. Identify gerunds and understand their functions within sentences.
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D.05. Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases.
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D.06. Form progressive verb tenses accurately.
E. Subject-Verb Agreement
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E.01. Identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement.
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E.02. Ensure correct verb agreement with indefinite pronouns.
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E.03. Ensure correct verb agreement with compound subjects.
F. Verb Tense Consistency
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F.01. Form perfect verb tenses accurately.
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F.02. Recognise and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense within a passage.
G. Adjectives and Adverbs
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G.01. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives correctly.
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G.02. Use comparative and superlative adverbs effectively.
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G.03. Correctly use “good, better, best, bad, worse, worst.”
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G.04. Correctly use “well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst.”
H. Conjunctions
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H.01. Select the correct pair of correlative conjunctions for balanced sentence structure.
I. Editing for Clarity and Conciseness
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I.01. Remove redundant words or phrases to enhance clarity.
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I.02. Identify and correct double, illogical, and unclear comparisons.
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I.03. Identify sentences that demonstrate parallel structure.
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I.04. Use parallel structure to improve sentence balance and flow.
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I.05. Use transitions with conjunctive adverbs to create smooth connections between ideas.
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I.06. Rewrite sentences to transform passive voice into active voice.
J. Identifying and Correcting Errors
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J.01. Recognise and correct sentence fragments.
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J.02. Recognise and correct run-on sentences.
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J.03. Choose the correct punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons.
K. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
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K.01. Identify misplaced modifiers in sentences.
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K.02. Recognise dangling modifiers and correct them.
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K.03. Evaluate whether modifiers are used correctly and effectively.
L. Punctuation: Commas, Semicolons, Colons, Dashes
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L.01. Use commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases.
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L.02. Use commas effectively in compound and complex sentences.
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L.03. Use commas with coordinate adjectives to improve clarity.
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L.04. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses effectively.
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L.05. Use semicolons, colons, and commas correctly when creating lists.
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L.06. Use dashes to set off parenthetical elements or create emphasis.
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L.07. Use hyphens in compound adjectives to avoid ambiguity.
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L.08. Use ellipses appropriately to indicate omissions or trailing thoughts.
M. Punctuation: Apostrophes
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M.01. Correctly use apostrophes with plural and possessive nouns.
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M.02. Correctly use apostrophes to indicate compound and joint possession.
N. Word Choice: Nuance and Precision
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N.01. Choose words whose connotation and denotation best match the intended meaning in a sentence.
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N.02. Use words accurately and precisely to convey specific meanings.
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N.03. Replace words effectively using a thesaurus to add variety and precision.
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N.04. Explore words with new or contested usages to understand evolving language trends.
O. Vocabulary: Context Clues
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O.01. Determine the meaning of unfamiliar words using synonyms in context.
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O.02. Determine the meaning of unfamiliar words using antonyms in context.
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O.03. Use the overall context of a passage to infer the meaning of a word.
P. Vocabulary: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
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P.01. Sort words based on shared Greek or Latin roots.
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P.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to decipher the meanings of words.
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P.03. Use words as clues to determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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P.04. Determine the specific meanings of common Greek and Latin roots.
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P.05. Determine the meanings of words derived from Greek and Latin roots.
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P.06. Recognise and understand the functions of prefixes (pre-, re-, sub-, mis-, un-, dis-, in-, im-, non-).
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P.07. Recognise and understand the functions of suffixes (-ful, -less, -able, -ible).
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P.08. Apply knowledge of affixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Q. Vocabulary: Homophones and Foreign Words
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Q.05. Use the correct foreign expression in appropriate situations.
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Q.01. Use the correct homophone in a given context.
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Q.02. Identify and correct errors involving the misuse of homophones.
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Q.03. Use etymologies to determine the meanings and origins of words.
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Q.04. Use context as a clue to understand the meanings of foreign expressions.
R. Analogies
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R.01. Solve analogies by identifying relationships between words.
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R.02. Tackle challenging analogies that require a deeper understanding of word relationships.
S. Reference Skills
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S.01. Effectively use dictionary entries to understand word meanings and usage.
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S.02. Utilize dictionary definitions to clarify the precise meaning of words.
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S.03. Use dictionary entries to determine the correct usage of words in context.
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S.04. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and enhance vocabulary.
T. Understanding Literary Devices
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T.01. Identify the narrative point of view in a literary text.
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T.02. Interpret the meaning of an allusion based on its source.
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T.03. Recall the source of a specific allusion.
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T.04. Interpret various figures of speech used in literature.
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T.05. Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox.
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T.06. Analyse the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
U. Analysing Literature
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U.01. Analyse short stories for themes, characters, and plot development (set 1).
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U.02. Analyse short stories for deeper meanings and literary techniques (set 2).
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U.03. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of literary elements in a given text.
V. Analysing Informational Texts
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V.01. Analyse the development of ideas in informational passages (set 1).
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V.02. Analyse the development of complex arguments in informational passages (set 2).
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V.03. Trace the progression of an argument presented in a text (set 1).
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V.04. Trace the evolution of a complex argument across multiple sources (set 2).
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V.05. Analyse rhetorical strategies used in historical texts (set 1).
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V.06. Evaluate the effectiveness of rhetorical strategies in persuading an audience (set 2).
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V.07. Compare and contrast different perspectives presented in informational texts.
W. Reading Comprehension: Main Idea
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W.01. Determine the central main idea of a passage accurately.
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W.02. Summarise key supporting details in relation to the main idea.
X. Reading Comprehension: Audience, Purpose, and Tone
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X.01. Determine which text is most appropriate for a specific audience or purpose.
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X.02. Identify the intended audience and purpose of a written work.
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X.03. Distinguish between subjective and objective tone in different passages.
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X.04. Compare and contrast passages based on their tone.
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X.05. Determine the author’s attitude towards the subject matter in a given passage.
Y. Writing: Organisation and Development
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Y.01. Order topics effectively from broadest to narrowest to create logical structure.
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Y.02. Organise information by topic to create a cohesive and well-structured piece of writing.
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Y.03. Choose the topic sentence that best encapsulates the main idea of a paragraph.
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Y.04. Develop supporting paragraphs with clear and relevant details.
Z. Writing: Argumentation
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Z.01. Distinguish between facts and opinions in argumentative writing.
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Z.02. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim.
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Z.03. Select the most compelling evidence to support a specific claim.
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Z.04. Identify specific evidence within a text that supports a given argument.
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Z.05. Evaluate counterclaims and assess their validity.
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Z.06. Choose the analysis that logically connects evidence to the claim being made.
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Z.07. Transition smoothly and logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims.
AA. Writing: Persuasive Strategies
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AA.01. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements.
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AA.02. Employ appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos effectively in persuasive writing.
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AA.03. Critically assess the use of persuasive techniques in various media.
BB. Writing: Creative Techniques
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BB.01. Use personification effectively to create vivid imagery in writing.
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BB.02. Experiment with various creative writing techniques to enhance expression.
CC. Research Skills
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CC.01. Define plagiarism and understand its consequences.
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CC.02. Identify instances of plagiarism in written work.
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CC.03. Apply ethical research practices to avoid plagiarism.
