English 10 A: Grammar Lab 1

Keep this sheet!!!!

By the end of this semester, you will be expected to understand how to identify and correct the following grammatical problems:

sentence fragment passive voice problems

run-on (fused) sentence lack of parallel structure

comma splice misplaced modifiers

subject-verb nonagreement dangling modifiers

pronoun-antecedent nonagreement

You will also be expected to be familiar with how to deal with often confused words.

On grammar lab days, you will visit various internet sites for both instruction and practice related to these problem areas. Remember that you are in charge of your own learning in mastering this material, so proceed in your own way at your own pace. Just make full use of all time provided for grammar lab work. Part of being in charge of your own learning is keeping a record of how well you do on the exercise, notes on what you understand, and notes on what you don’t understand.

Note: Go to the public drive. Click on my folder to open it. Then click on Grammar Lab 1 to open it to gain easy access to the sites you need for the exercises instead of having to type in the addresses of the sites.

Grammar Lab 1

Topics: Confused Words, Sentence Fragment, Comma Splice, and Run-On (Fused) Sentence

Related Sections in Writers INC (your grammar book): 692-701, 078-079, 078 and 080, and 078 and 082

Powerpoints which we will view as a group if our lab has presentation equipment or which you will need to view individually if our lab does not have presentation equipment: Avoiding Sentence Fragments and Avoiding Run-On Sentences at http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm under Peripherals and Powerpoints Oval

1. To work with often confusing words, go first to http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm

2. Under the Ask Grammar, Quizzes, Etc. Oval, select 170+ Interactive

Quizzes. Do Quizzes 125-132 under Notorious Confusables.

3. To continue working with often confusing words, go next to

www.chompchomp.com; under Word Choice, do as many of the available

exercises as you need to do to use the words they cover correctly.

4. To work with the sentence fragment, the comma splice, and the run-on (fused)

sentence, go first to www.chompchomp.com.

a. Select Terms and Tips to see what you can find out about these

errors.

b. Then select Exercises, and do the exercises pertaining to each

error. You will find seven exercises on the sentence fragment and

five exercises on the comma splice and the run-on (fused) sentence.

5. To continue working with the sentence fragment the comma splice, and

the run-on (fused) sentence, go next to http://college.hmco.com/devenglish/resources/writing_ace/students/

You will find three exercises, one on conjunctive adverbs (one way of correcting the comma splice and the run-on sentence), one on avoiding fragments, and one on avoiding run-on sentences and comma splices. Do all three exercises.

6. Go to

http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/newsat/powertactics/sentcomp/

Read the four sections under The Power Tactics. Then do the four

practice sets and the posttest.

** If you finish all of the assignments listed above, go to www.vocabtest.com to

review the words in Units 1-3. You may also go to www.freerice.com

to work with vocabulary and give rice to the needy, or you may go to

www.brainflips.com to make your own study cards for the vocabulary words

you are currently studying.