Unit One: Grammar

Identify and apply:

• Subjects/Predicates (complete, simple, and compound)
• Nouns (common, proper, singular, plural, and possessive)
• Adjectives
• Verbs (action, linking, and helping)
• Adverbs (modify verb and adjective)
• Prepositional Phrases

Identify and apply activities for common problems:

• Pronouns and antecedents
• Subject/verb agreement
• Don’t and doesn’t problem
• Writing titles

Tools for Effective Communication: Apply Parts of Speech

• Adjectives in action
• Action verbs in action
• Adverbs in action
• Prepositional phrases in action
• Vivid language

Apply Sentence Structure:

• Types of sentences
• Independent and dependent clauses
• Simple and compound sentences
• Complex sentence
• Incomplete thoughts
• Run-on sentence

Apply Figurative Language:

• Onomatopoeia
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification

Unit Two: Composition

Follow the writing process for:

• Paragraphs (descriptive, expository and persuasive)
• Writing a summary
• Personal narrative
• Persuasive personal letter
• Compare and contrast writing
• Expository essay
• Research project

Additional Composition Skills

• Audience and purpose
• Effective use of graphic organizers
• How to choose an appropriate writing form
• Informal and formal writing
• Effective writing skills (strong details, transitions, beginning/middle/end concept, logical sequence of events, variety of sentence structure, effective use of dialogue, and effective use of figurative language including onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, and personification)
• Using a thesaurus for word choice
• Strong details and examples

(Additional Workbook compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing video instruction)

About the Workbook

This is an instructional manual/student workbook for an ADDITIONAL student using the same level of video instruction. Please note that this workbook is not functional without the related video instruction.

(Assessment/Resource Booklet is compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing curriculum)

Assessment/Resource Booklet

• Assessments
  26 grammar assessments in a variety of formats (fill in the blank and multiple choice associated with both sentences and larger compositions), nine composition assessments, and two comprehensive unit tests
• Resources
  Parent/student word lists for composition and multiple graphic organizers

Essentials in Writing comes with your choice of ONLINE streaming or DVD video instruction

• ONLINE STREAMING
  12 month access to ONLINE lesson-by-lesson video instruction (If you choose this option, DVDs will not be shipped)
• DVD
  DVDs are shipped alongside the Textbook/Workbook (If you choose this option, you will not have online video access)