In the Right Direction 3 Goal 6

LANGUAGE ARTS :: SECONDARY RESOURCES :: RIGHT DIRECTION 3 :: GOAL VI: GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE USAGE IN THE NC ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

GOAL VI: GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE USAGE IN THE NC ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

Grammar and Language Usage is a goal that focuses on students' developing increasing proficiency in the understanding and control of their language, including vocabulary development, word choice and syntax, and oral and written communication. Students should learn how to use effective and interesting language including:

standard English for clarity.
echnical language for specificity.
informal usage for effect.

Students should also continue to develop increasing control over grammatical conventions, including sentence formation, conventional usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Most students do not learn grammatical conventions efficiently through memorizing the parts of speech and practicing correct usage and mechanics only through drills and exercises, with the assumption that students will transfer what they learn in grammar study to their own writing and speaking.

Grammar conventions are most efficiently learned when they are learned as part of a practical, functional grammar that:

* is concerned with how the language works in context to achieve a particular purpose with a specified audience.

* uses a minimum number of grammatical terms and a maximum number of examples. (The goals of each course specify the important terminology which students should know.)

* focuses on grammatical components that relate to meaningful sentences in speaking and writing.

* teaches both correct, standard usage and effective sentence sense and style (e.g., the power of dialects in literature and film, the conventions of technical writing).

* teaches appropriate usage in the context of the students' writing and speaking, through:

focused, short lessons based on the demonstrated needs of the students.
discussions of the syntax of student-generated sentences.
activities such as sentence combining, sentence imitating, sentence expanding.
self-editing, peer editing and teacher conferences.

NC ELA SCS (1999), p. 75

The following chart displays the course-by-course expectations for students in Goal VI (Grammar and Language Usage) from Grade 8 through English IV:

Competency Goal 6:
The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.

	Grade 8	Engish I	English II	English III	English IV
6.01	Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:	Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression that:	Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by	Demonstrate an understanding of conventions of language by	Apply knowledge of literary terms, grammar, and rhetoric in order to write clearly, succinctly, and accurately by:
	Using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.	Uses varying sentence types (e.g., simple, compound, complex, compound- complex) purposefully, correctly, and for specific effect.	Employing varying sentence structures (e.g., inversion, introductory phrases) and sentence types (e.g., simple, compound, complex, compound- complex)	Revising writing to reflect voice and style, sentence variety, subtlety of meaning, and tone in consideration of questions being addressed, purpose, audience, and genres.	Revising writing to reflect voice and style, sentence variety, subtlety of meaning, and tone in consideration of questions being addressed, purpose, audience, and genres.
	Using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.	Selects verb tense to show an appropriate sense of time.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.
	Applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.	Applies parts of speech to clarify and edit language.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.
	Using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.
	Using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation.	Addresses clarity and styles through such strategies as parallelism; appropriate coordination and subordination; variety and details; appropriate and exact words; and conciseness.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Recognizing how to use different language conventions (such as loose or periodic sentences, effective use of passive voice, or the importance of strong verbs).
	Determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.	Uses vocabulary strategies such as roots and affixes, word maps, and context clues to discern the meanings of words.	Using word recognition strategies to understand vocabulary and exact word choice (Greek, Latin roots and affixes, analogies, idioms, denotation, connotation).	Decoding vocabulary using knowledge of Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Latin bases and affixes. Discerning the relationship of word meanings between pairs of words in analogies(synonyms/ antonyms, connotation/ denotation).	Continue to refine.
	Extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.
	Evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.	Analyzes the place and role of dialect and standard/ nonstandard English.	Examining textual and classroom language for elements such as idioms, denotation, and connotation to apply effectively in own writing/ speaking.	Analyzing the power of standard usage over nonstandard usage in formal settings such as job interviews, academic environment, or public speaking events.	Analyzing the power of standard usage over nonstandard usage in formal settings such as job interviews, academic presentations, or public speaking events.
	Applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.		Analyzing authors' choice of words, sentence structure, and use of language. Using correct form/format for essays, business letters, research papers, bibliographies. Using language effectively to create mood and tone.	Contrasting use of language conventions of authors in different time periods of United States literature. Continue to refine. Continue to refine.	Understanding how to use and apply grammatical, metaphorical, or rhetorical devices. Contrasting use of language conventions of authors in different time periods of British literature. Continue to refine. Continue to refine.

	Grade 8	English I	English II	English III	English IV
6.02	Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:	Discern and correct errors in spoken and written English by:	Edit for:	Discern and correct errors in speaking and writing at a level appropriate to eleventh grade by:	Discern and correct errors in speaking and writing by:
	Using correct spelling of words appropriate in difficulty for eighth graders and refining mastery of an individualized list of commonly misspelled words.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.	Continue to refine.
	Producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.	Editing for spelling and mechanics. Avoiding fragments, runons,and comma splices.	Spelling Appropriate and correct mechanics (commas, italics, underlining, semi-colon, colon,apostrophe, quotation marks).	Editing for correct spelling and mechanics. Reviewing and refining purposeful use of varying sentence types with correct punctuation.	Editing for correct punctuation, spelling, mechanics, and standard edited American English. Reviewing and refining purposeful use of various sentence types
	Self correcting errors in everyday speech. Independently practicing formal oral presentations.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine.
		Selecting correct subjectverb agreement, consistent verb tense, and appropriate verbs.	Subject-verb agreement, tense choice, pronoun usage, clear antecedents, correct case, and complete sentences.	Refining subject-verb agreement and choice of tense. Reviewing and refining correct pronoun usage, antecedents, and case.	Continue to refine.
		Using and placing modifiers correctly.	Continue to refine.	Extending effective use of phrases and clauses.	Continue to refine.
		Cliches, trite expressions. Parallel structure.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine. Discussing parts of speech as they relate to writing.	Continue to refine. Continue to refine. Continue to refine. Using appropriate transitional words and phrases.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS RESOURCES