The Writing Center

Room 201

Mrs. Julie Hodgson’s Homepage

(a.k.a. Ms. White’s Homepage)

8th Grade Language Arts and Literature

Welcome to the Room 201 homepage!

·        The Language Arts Course Expectations Sheet includes general information about the course.

Useful links:

This Guide to Grammar and Writing sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation includes more than 400 references to help you choose the right word, know when and how to punctuate, or mind other conventions of standard English.  It’s a very handy site since it allows you to click on the exact grammar question you have.

 

Language Arts: Scoring Rubrics

·        Persuasive Writing Rubric

·        6+1 Traits Rubric for Choice Pieces

 

Poetry.

Click on the above link if you would like to create some poetry during Writing Workshop. This page includes helpful hints for generating ideas, using figurative language, and editing and revising your work.

Sentence Fluency.

·        Comma splices make your work hard to read. This link shows you how to correct them.

 

·        Are you using too many words? Read “Omit Needless Words” for help.

 

·        Are pesky run-on sentences making your writing a chore to read?

 

·        Would combining sentences help your writing sound more sophisticated?

 

·        Has anyone ever said your writing is too wordy? Check out this wordiness link.

 

 

 

Conventions.

Not sure about the right word? Need help with run-on sentences? These links give advice to help you revise and edit.

§     Link for writing exercises

·        Apostrophes.

 

·        Comma splices.

 

·        Editor’s marks.

 

·        Its vs. it’s

 

·        Numbers. When to write it out; when to use numerals.

 

·        Run-on sentences.

 

·        Using dialogue correctly.

 

·        They’re/their/there.  Try this activity to get some practice in using these words correctly.

 

These links are very helpful when you’re searching for “the right word” or grammar rule.

Index to the Guide to Grammar and Writing. 

 

Notorious Confusables: Alphabetized List.

 

·        Guide to Grammar and Writing.

Organization.

·        Creating Leads for Persuasive Pieces.

·        Creating Leads for Narrative Pieces.

·        Creating Leads for Stories.

·        General Ideas for Creating Leads.

 

·        Strategies for Writing Conclusions.

 

·        Avoid the Tour-Guide Approach!

 

·        Transitions. Here you’ll find a list of connectives (also, furthermore, etc.) and some hints at creating smooth transitions.

 

Ideas and Content.

·        Use Your Binoculars! A reminder to look at the details when writing.

 

·        Dig for Potatoes! Another reminder to consider what’s most important when writing.

 

·        Slow Down! (or Speed Up!) Especially important when writing stories or personal narratives.

 

·        Snapshots.  A few samples to read.

 

·        Thesis Statements. Read this when writing expository or persuasive pieces. It will help with both ideas, content, and organization.

 

·        Ideas for When You’re Stuck. If you’re not sure what to write about, check out this link for some possible starters.

 

·        Audience and Purpose. Keep these in mind when writing anything!

 

Vocabulary

·        Try www.dictionary.com for a handy online tool!

Nonfiction Article Assessment

§     Open this document for a copy of the assessment sheet.

Word Choice.

·        Other ways to say “said.”

 

·        Don’t be passive! Use the active voice!

 

·        “To be or not to be?” One hint to help you use better verbs.

 

·        Visit www.dictionary.com. 

Debate and Research.

·        A note-taking sheet for books and encyclopedias.

 

·        A note-taking sheet for Internet sources.

 

·        A note-taking sheet for periodicals.

 

·        The difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. 

 

·        Not sure how to put it in your own words? Check out this link for paraphrasing.

 

·        Citing Works at MMS. A list of Works Cited or Bibliography should appear at the end of a research paper.  It provides publication information for each source used in your paper. 

 

·        Master List of Annotated Bibliographies from Students Participating in the 2005 Debate Competition. 

 

Editing and Revising Information and Quizzes.      Aligned with the Connecticut Mastery Test.

        Review the rule here!                                                                             Take the quiz here!                              

                       ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓                                                                ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓                     

 

1.

Capitalization:  Names of people, places, groups, months, days, and holidays.

Titles of people.

(5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1917327.html

 

2.

Capitalization:  First word in dialogue.

and

Capitalization: Names of organizations, nationalities, buildings, historical events.

(5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1927220.html

 

3.

Capitalization: Opening and closing of a letter.

and

Punctuation:  Uses a comma after a letter closing.  

(5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1928179.html

 

4.

 

Punctuation:  Correctly use commas for items in a series.   (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1928841.html

 

5.

Punctuation:  Use  commas in dates.

and

Punctuation:  Use commas with cities and states.

(5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1937021.html

 

6.

Punctuation:  Use commas with appositives. (7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1938776.html

 

7.

Punctuation:  Use commas with parenthetical expressions.  (7, 8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1938825.html

 

8.

Punctuation:  Use commas with participial phrases.

(7, 8)

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1940441.html

 

9.

Apostrophe:  Use an apostrophe for contractions.

(5, 6, 7, 8)

 

 http://www.quia.com/quiz/1941228.html

 

10.

Apostrophe:  Use an apostrophe to show possession.  (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1952110.html

 

11.

Punctuation: Use the semi-colon.  (8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1953228.html

 

12.

Punctuation:  Use the colon to introduce items in a series. (7,8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1957633.html

 

13.

Usage:  Subject-verb agreement for singular and plural subjects.  (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1962462.html

 

14.

Usage:  Subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases.  (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1968100.html

 

15.

Usage:  Using consistent verb tense (present, past, and future)  (5, 6)

 

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1968153.html

 

16.

Usage:  Using simple and perfect tenses. (7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1982757.html

 

17.

Usage:  Pronoun reference (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1982972.html

 

18.

Usage:  Comparative/superlative (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1995068.html for comparative adjectives and

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1995098.html for superlative forms of adjectives

19.

Usage:  a / an and hear / here (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1995130.html

 

20.

Usage:  their / there / they’re (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1995091.html

 

21.

Usage:  to, too, two (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1995466.html

 

22.

Usage:  good/well (7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2009692.html

 

23.

Usage:  it’s / its (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2023823.html

 

24.

Usage: I / me (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2023872.html

 

25.

Usage: know / no (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2047873.html

 

26.

Usage: then / than (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2047846.html

 

27.

Usage: your / you’re (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2047869.html

 

28.

Usage:  whose / who’s (7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2047916.html

 

29.

Usage: were / we’re (5, 6, 7, 8)

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2047920.html

 

30.

Usage: who / whom (8)

 

 

 

 

 

         

If you contact me by telephone, use voicemail extension 116 for general messages or extension 6116 for homework assignments.
I also welcome email messages at WhiteJK@MansfieldCT.org.

Visit our homepage at http://www.mmsnet.org.