Course Content
A. Main Idea
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A.02. Determine the main idea explicitly stated in a text.
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A.03. Infer the main idea of a passage when it is not explicitly stated.
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A.04. Summarise a passage, including the main idea and supporting details.
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A.05. Evaluate the effectiveness of different titles in reflecting the main idea.
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A.06. Compare and contrast main ideas across multiple passages on the same topic.
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A.01. Identify the central topic of a passage.
B. Author’s Purpose and Tone
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B.01. Recognise formal and informal language.
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B.02. Identify the author’s purpose (e.g., to inform, persuade, entertain).
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B.03. Determine the author’s tone in a passage (e.g., humorous, serious, sarcastic).
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B.04. Compare and contrast the tone of different passages on similar topics.
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B.05. Analyse how the author’s word choice contributes to the tone and purpose.
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B.06. Evaluate the effectiveness of the author’s approach in achieving their intended purpose.
C. Point of View
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C.01. Identify the narrator’s point of view (e.g., first person, third person).
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C.02. Explain how the point of view affects the reader’s understanding of the story.
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C.03. Analyse how different points of view can change the interpretation of events.
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C.04. Compare and contrast the impact of first-person and third-person narration.
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C.05. Evaluate the reliability of the narrator based on their point of view and potential biases.
D. Text Structure
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D.01. Recognise common text structures (e.g., cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast, description, sequence).
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D.02. Match causes with their effects in informational texts.
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D.03. Match problems with their corresponding solutions.
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D.04. Compare and contrast information presented in different texts.
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D.05. Identify and explain the purpose of different text structures.
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D.06. Analyse how text structure contributes to the clarity and effectiveness of communication.
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D.07. Create outlines using different text structures to organise ideas.
E. Theme
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E.01. Identify recurring themes in a text.
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E.02. Match quotations with their corresponding themes.
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E.03. Determine the themes of short stories.
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E.04. Analyse how the author develops a theme throughout the text.
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E.05. Compare and contrast themes across different texts.
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E.06. Evaluate the universality and relevance of a theme to different audiences.
F. Literary Devices
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F.01. Identify common figures of speech (e.g., simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, idiom).
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F.02. Classify different types of figures of speech.
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F.03. Interpret the meaning of figures of speech within a text.
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F.04. Analyse the effects of figures of speech on meaning and tone.
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F.05. Explain how literary devices enhance a text’s imagery and emotional impact.
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F.06. Evaluate the author’s use of literary devices in achieving their artistic goals.
G. Visual Elements
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G.01. Interpret information presented in illustrations, charts and graphs.
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G.02. Compare and contrast illustrations of literary and historical subjects.
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G.03. Explain how visual elements contribute to the overall meaning of a text.
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G.04. Analyse the symbolism and imagery conveyed through visual elements.
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G.05. Evaluate the effectiveness of visual elements in engaging the reader and enhancing understanding.
H. Analysing Literature
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H.01. Analyse the elements of a short story (e.g., plot, characters, setting, conflict, resolution).
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H.02. Identify the key conflicts and resolutions within a literary work.
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H.03. Examine how characters’ actions and motivations drive the plot.
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H.04. Explain how the setting influences the mood and themes of a story.
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H.05. Evaluate the author’s skill in crafting a compelling and meaningful narrative.
I. Analysing Informational Texts
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I.01. Read and comprehend informational passages.
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I.02. Trace an argument presented in an informational text.
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I.03. Distinguish between facts and opinions in informational texts.
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I.04. Summarise the main points and supporting evidence in an informational text.
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I.05. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources in informational texts.
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I.06. Analyse the author’s use of rhetorical devices to persuade the reader.
J. Comparing Texts
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J.01. Identify similarities and differences between two texts.
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J.02. Compare two texts with different genres.
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J.03. Compare and contrast the authors’ perspectives on a similar topic.
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J.04. Analyse how different texts address the same theme in unique ways.
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J.05. Evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to presenting information or telling a story.
K. Organising Writing
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K.01. Order topics from broadest to narrowest.
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K.02. Organise information by topic.
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K.03. Use transitions with conjunctive adverbs to connect ideas.
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K.04. Construct well-organized paragraphs with clear topic sentences.
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K.05. Develop outlines to structure essays and reports effectively.
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K.06. Create cohesive arguments with logical flow and transitions.
L. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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L.01. Distinguish facts from opinions.
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L.02. Identify supporting details in literary texts.
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L.03. Choose evidence to support a claim.
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L.04. Identify supporting details in informational texts.
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L.05. Recognise and address counterclaims.
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L.06. Construct persuasive arguments using evidence and reasoning.
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L.07. Evaluate the strength and validity of different arguments.
M. Creative Techniques
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M.01. Identify and analyse examples of personification.
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M.02. Use personification in creative writing.
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M.03. Experiment with other creative writing techniques such as simile, metaphor, and hyperbole.
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M.04. Craft engaging narratives with vivid descriptions and imaginative elements.
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M.05. Develop a personal writing style through experimentation with creative techniques.
N. Editing and Revising
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N.01. Use the correct frequently confused words (e.g., there/their/they’re, to/too/two).
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N.02. Identify errors with frequently confused words.
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N.03. Correct errors with frequently confused words.
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N.04. Suggest appropriate revisions to improve clarity and coherence.
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N.05. Proofread and edit writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
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N.06. Apply feedback from others to revise and improve writing.
O. Research Skills
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O.01. Understand the concept of plagiarism.
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O.02. Identify instances of plagiarism.
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O.03. Correct plagiarism through proper citation and paraphrasing.
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O.04. Conduct effective research using reliable sources.
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O.05. Synthesise information from multiple sources to create original work.
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O.06. Evaluate the credibility and bias of different sources.
P. Prefixes and Suffixes
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P.01. Identify the meanings of common prefixes (e.g., pre-, re-, sub-, mis-, un-, dis-, in-, im-, non-).
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P.02. Form words using prefixes.
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P.03. Identify the meanings of common suffixes (e.g., -ful, -less, -able, -ible).
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P.04. Form words using suffixes.
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P.05. Determine the meaning of words using prefixes and suffixes.
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P.06. Analyse how prefixes and suffixes change the meaning of root words.
Q. Greek and Latin Roots
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Q.01. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.02. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.03. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words.
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Q.04. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.05. Use the meanings of words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.06. Apply knowledge of Greek and Latin roots to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary.
R. Synonyms and Antonyms
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R.01. Choose the synonym of a given word.
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R.02. Choose the antonym of a given word.
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R.03. Find synonyms in context.
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R.04. Find antonyms in context.
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R.05. Differentiate between words with similar meanings.
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R.06. Expand vocabulary by learning synonyms and antonyms.
S. Homophones
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S.01. Use the correct homophone (e.g., there/their/they’re, to/too/two, here/hear).
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S.02. Which definition matches the sentence?
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S.03. Which sentence matches the definition?
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S.04. Distinguish between homophones in context.
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S.05. Understand the different meanings and spellings of common homophones.
T. Shades of Meaning
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T.01. Describe the difference between related words (e.g., happy, joyful, ecstatic).
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T.02. Identify positive and negative connotations.
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T.03. Choose the word with the most appropriate connotation for a given context.
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T.04. Analyse how connotation affects the tone and impact of writing.
U. Analogies
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U.01. Solve simple analogies.
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U.02. Complete analogies.
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U.03. Solve challenging analogies.
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U.04. Identify the relationship between words in an analogy.
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U.05. Create original analogies to demonstrate understanding of word relationships.
V. Context Clues
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V.01. Find words using context.
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V.02. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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V.03. Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context.
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V.04. Use context to identify the meaning of a word.
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V.05. Determine the meaning of domain-specific words with pictures.
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V.06. Employ various context clues to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary in different texts.
W. Reference Skills
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W.01. Arrange words in alphabetical order.
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W.02. Use guide words to locate entries in a dictionary or thesaurus.
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W.03. Use dictionary entries to find definitions, pronunciations, and etymologies.
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W.04. Use dictionary definitions to understand the meaning of words.
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W.05. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and antonyms.
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W.06. Navigate and utilise reference materials effectively to enhance vocabulary and comprehension.
X. Sentences, Fragments and Run-ons
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X.01. Identify the complete subject or complete predicate of a sentence.
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X.02. Identify the simple subject or simple predicate of a sentence.
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X.03. Identify the compound subject or compound predicate of a sentence.
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X.04. Is it a complete sentence or a fragment?
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X.05. Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?
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X.06. Is it a complete sentence, a fragment or a run-on?
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X.07. Identify dependent and independent clauses.
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X.08. Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory?
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X.09. Is the sentence simple, compound or complex?
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X.10. Correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
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X.11. Construct grammatically correct and complete sentences.
Y. Nouns
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Y.01. Identify common and proper nouns.
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Y.02. Form plurals: review
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Y.03. Form plurals of nouns ending in f, fe, o and y.
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Y.04. Form and use plurals of nouns ending in f, fe, o and y.
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Y.05. Form and use plurals: review
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Y.06. Identify plurals, singular possessives and plural possessives.
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Y.07. Form the singular or plural possessive.
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Y.08. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns.
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Y.09. Use nouns correctly in sentences, including proper capitalization.
Z. Pronouns and Antecedents
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Z.01. Identify pronouns and their antecedents.
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Z.02. Use the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent.
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Z.03. Identify vague pronoun references.
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Z.04. Identify all of the possible antecedents.
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Z.05. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
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Z.06. Ensure clear pronoun references to avoid ambiguity in writing.
AA. Pronoun Types
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AA.01. Choose between subject and object pronouns.
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AA.02. Use possessive pronouns.
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AA.03. Use reflexive pronouns.
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AA.04. Compound subjects and objects with ‘I’ and ‘me’.
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AA.05. Compound subjects and objects with pronouns.
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AA.06. Is the pronoun reflexive or intensive?
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AA.07. Identify relative pronouns.
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AA.08. Use relative pronouns: who and whom.
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AA.09. Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which and that.
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AA.10. Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns.
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AA.11. Apply different types of pronouns correctly in various contexts.
BB. Verb Types
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BB.01. Identify main verbs and helping verbs.
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BB.02. Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives and predicate nouns.
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BB.03. Identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
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BB.04. What does the modal verb show?
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BB.05. Use the correct modal verb.
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BB.06. Analyse the function of different verb types in sentence construction.
CC. Subject-Verb Agreement
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CC.01. Use the correct subject or verb.
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CC.02. Use the correct verb – with compound subjects.
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CC.03. Ensure subject-verb agreement in simple and complex sentences.
DD. Verb Tense
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DD.01. Irregular past tense: review.
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DD.02. Simple past, present and future tense: review.
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DD.03. Use the progressive verb tenses.
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DD.04. Form the progressive verb tenses.
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DD.05. Choose between the past tense and past participle.
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DD.06. Use the perfect verb tenses.
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DD.07. Form the perfect verb tenses.
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DD.08. Correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
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DD.09. Maintain consistent verb tense throughout writing.
EE. Adjectives and Adverbs
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EE.01. Identify adjectives.
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EE.02. Identify adverbs.
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EE.03. Is the word an adjective or adverb?
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EE.04. Choose between adjectives and adverbs.
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EE.05. Order adjectives.
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EE.06. Use relative adverbs.
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EE.07. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives.
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EE.08. Good, better, best, bad, worse and worst.
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EE.09. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs.
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EE.10. Well, better, best, badly, worse and worst.
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EE.11. Use adjectives and adverbs effectively to enhance descriptions and convey meaning.
FF. Prepositions
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FF.01. Identify prepositions.
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FF.02. Identify prepositions and their objects.
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FF.03. Identify prepositional phrases.
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FF.04. Prepositions: review.
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FF.05. Use prepositions correctly to show relationships between words in a sentence.
GG. Conjunctions
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GG.01. Identify coordinating conjunctions.
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GG.02. Use coordinating conjunctions.
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GG.03. Identify subordinating conjunctions.
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GG.04. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions.
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GG.05. Fill in the missing correlative conjunction.
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GG.06. Employ conjunctions to connect ideas and create complex sentences.
HH. Contractions
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HH.01. Pronoun-verb contractions.
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HH.02. Contractions with ‘not’.
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HH.03. Form and use contractions correctly, understanding their appropriate context.
II. Punctuation
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II.01. What does the punctuation suggest?
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II.02. Commas with coordinate adjectives.
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II.03. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections and interrupters.
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II.04. Commas with non-restrictive elements.
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II.05. Commas with compound and complex sentences.
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II.06. Use dashes.
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II.07. Apply punctuation marks effectively to clarify meaning and enhance readability.
JJ. Capitalisation
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JJ.01. Capitalising titles.
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JJ.02. Correct capitalisation errors.
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JJ.03. Apply capitalization rules correctly in writing.
KK. Formatting
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KK.01. Formatting titles.
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KK.02. Formatting and capitalising titles: review.
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KK.03. Format written work according to established conventions for titles and other elements.
