1 st Semester Final Exam Study Guide

1. 1st Semester Final Exam Study Guide

2. Identify Sentence Structure • Simple Sentence – Contains 1 Independent Clause Example: David and his brother played in the snow.

3. Identify Sentence Structure • Compound Sentence– Contains 2 Independent Clauses Example: David and his brother played in the snow, and they had a lot of fun.

4. Identify Sentence Structure • Complex Sentence– Contains 1 Independent Clause and 1 dependent clause Example: David and his brother played in the snowbecause they didn’t have school.

5. Identify Sentence Structure • Compound/Complex Sentence– Contains 2 Independent Clauses and 1 Dependent Clause Example: David and his brother played in the snow, and they had a lot of funbecause they didn’t have school.

6. Identify Dependent Clauses • Dependent Clause– contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete idea. They begin with subordinate conjunctions (i.e. when, if, since, because, whenever, while, although, etc.) Example: If it rains later, we will cancel our plans. John made an A on his test because he studied hard.

7. Identify Independent Clauses • Independent Clause– contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete idea. Example: If it rains later, we will cancel our plans. John made an A on his test because he studied hard.

8. Identify Phrases • Prepositional Phrase– begins with a preposition (on, over, at, to, etc.) and ends with its object. Example: We rented a house at the beach. Our dog jumped over the fence and ran away.

9. Identify Phrases • Appositive– a group of words used to give more description to the noun it follows. Example: Jacob, my next door neighbor, lost his house key. My sister Tianna wants a new jacket for Christmas.

10. Identify Verbals and Phrases • Infinitives– a combination of TO + an action verb Example: We wanted to sing in the concert. I needed to wrap several gifts.

11. Identify Verbals and Phrases • Participles– a verbal that acts as an adjective; most often ends in –ingor -ed Example: The marching band played in the concert. Painted yellow and white, the house looked great. The broken window caused the room to be cold.

12. Identify Verbals and Phrases • Gerunds– a verbal that acts as a noun; ends in –ing Example: Tom got into trouble for cheating. Texting is a hobby of many teenagers. We were responsible for bringing the desserts.

13. Identify Misplaced Modifier • When you add a modifier to a sentence, it needs to be close to what it is describing; otherwise, the sentence will sound awkward. Example: Jane stomped on the bug with no shoes. The boy was sitting on the fence with red hair. I showed my dog to the vet with fleas.

14. Punctuating Titles of Works Books - Underlined or Italicized We read The Outsiders last year. Newspapers - Underlined or Italicized I read the Washington Post every morning. Articles – Quotation Marks The article “How to Train Your Dog” was very helpful. Songs- Quotation Marks Susie sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at the basketball game. Magazines- Underlined or Italicized My People is delivered every Friday.

15. Punctuating Compound Sentences • When you write a compound sentence, you much use a conjunction and comma between the 2 independent clauses OR you may use a semi-colon (with no conjunction). Example: The bell is going to ring, and we will be late. We were late to class; we have detention.

16. Punctuating Dialogue Example: Tonya said, “I hope they are not late.” “They won’t be,” said her father. “They were last time,” she said, “when it was my birthday.”

17. Easily Confused Words • ROAD VS. RODE • LOSE VS. LOOSE • FLEE VS. FLEA • ACCEPT VS. EXCEPT • THEN VS. THAN • CHOSE VS. CHOOSE • STAIRS VS. STARES

18. Subject-Verb Agreement • Tom and Sue (are, is) coming over later today. • All of the apartments on our street (is, are) painted. • Neither Bob nor his brother (is, are) blonde-headed.

19. Edit for Parallel Structure • You must have consistency in your sentences! Examples: These sentences do not have parallel structure! We went hiking, boating, and ran at the campsite. I bought a colorful vest, a knitted sweater, and a jacket. When you eat too much, they can get indigestion.

20. Active VS. Passive Voice • Active voice is used when the subject of a sentence is performing the action. Passive voice is used when the subject is not the one performing the action. Active Examples: My mom bought a gift for me. We went fishing last weekend. Passive Examples: The pencil was thrown by Craig. The first telephone was invented in the 1920s.

21. Identifying Dangling Participles • When you use a participle to modify a noun, the participle must be close to the noun; otherwise, it also becomes a misplaced modifier. Examples: Baking in the oven, the cookies smelled great. Reading a book, my cat jumped onto my lap. Checking the papers, our grades were not good.

22. Identifying Elements of Plot • Satire- ideas or customs are made fun of for the purpose of improving society or being comical • Irony- a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens • Foreshadowing- a writer provides hints (through character dialogue, setting descriptions, plot) that suggests future events in a fictional piece

23. Determining Point of View • 1st Person Point of View- the narrator is a character in the story and tells it from his/her perspective (I, we, me) • 2nd Person Point of View- a character in the story speaks to the reader in terms of you (“The Tell-Tale Heart”) • 3rd Person Point of View- A person not in the story is telling the story and reporting to us like a fly on the wall (they, him, she)

24. Identifying Figurative Language • Simile- using like or as to make a comparison between two unlike things • Example: The phone was light as a feather. • Metaphor- comparing two unlike things by saying one thing is the other. • Smoking cigarettes is an early death sentence. • Hyerbole- an extreme exaggeration • I stood in line for eternity.

25. Identifying Word Usage • Alliteration- repeating a consonant sound • Example: Peppy poodle ; busy bees • Rhyme – end sounds sound similar • I rhyme all the time. • Rhythm- stressed/unstressed sounds • Ex. Doctor Seuss Repetition- repeating a word or group of words