7th Grade 
English Class

With Mr. Holes

Inland Lakes
Middle School

Marking Period 4:

Michigan Tip of the Mit

This Page is Under construction!
check back soon for updates!

1. Click on the Student Blog button or go to http://il7thgrade.blogspot.com

2. Click on the word Comments on the bottom right.

3. Click on Post a Comment located at the bottom of the page.

4. Enter username-il7thgrade

password- bulldogs

5. Click on Sign In.

6. Write or paste your comments. When you have checked your work over for any mistakes click Publish Your Comments.

7. You are now finished. Great Job!

Your BLOG write is similar to a FREEWRITE,
except that it must be in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
It must include BRAINSTORMING & ORGANIZING
(Number them 1-8) of 8 items at the top.
You must also include a TITLE along with
your name as the AUTHOR at the bottom.

GRADING: Scores will be out of 30:
8 points for BRAINSTORMING at top
2 points PER LINE TYPED
(more than 10 COMPLETE lines will be extra credit)
2 points for the TITLE and AUTHOR (you) at bottom
30 points total

A PRONOUN is a WORD that replaces a Noun.

A PRONOUN takes the place of a Noun in sentences when that same Noun is used over and over. It keeps the Noun from becoming redundant (boring because it’s overly used).

An ANTECEDENT is the Noun that the PRONOUN refers to or replaces. All Pronouns have ANTECEDENTS.

Pronouns must also agree in Person (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd person).

            Example 1: I don’t like our group’s project.

            Example 2: Mike, if you are hungry, eat a snack.

            Example 3: The student will pass the class if he does his homework.

Pronouns must also agree in Number (singular/plural).
            Example: If parents need childcare services during the assembly, they should contact the school office.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS take the place of Nouns that name persons.

            Examples include: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, myself

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS show ownership or possession. You do not use an apostrophe to make a Pronoun possessive.

            Examples include: my, mine, our, his, her, its, their, your

PRONOUNS are only one of the eight parts of speech.

A NOUN is a WORD that NAMES a person, place, thing, or idea.

In sentences, a NOUN may be located in the SUBJECT (what or who the sentence is about)

Example: The student forgot her homework.

A NOUN may also be in the PREDICATE (gives us information about the subject – repeats or renames the subject).

Example: The library is a great place to find information.

COMMON NOUNS name everyday, generic items

Examples include: boat, student, happiness, river.

PROPER NOUNS name specific persons, places, things, or ideas, and are always CAPITOLIZED

Examples include: Taco Bell, Indian River, Mr. Hirsch

SINGULAR NOUNS name only ONE person, place, thing, or idea. These may be common or proper Nouns.

Examples include: dog, cat, house, love, lake

PLURAL NOUNS name TWO OR MORE persons, places, things, or ideas. These may also be common or proper Nouns.

Examples include: boys, rock concerts, hopes and dreams

A Noun is POSSESSIVE when it is showing OWNERSHIP. It will include a ’s if it is Singular, and a s’ if it is plural

Examples include: Student’s face, Family’s home, Girls’ bathroom

NOUNS are only one of the eight parts of speech.

A VERB is a word that shows ACTION or EXISTENCE (state of being)

A LINKING VERB connects or links a subject to another noun or adjective in the predicate.
Examples include the forms of the verb be: is, are, was, were, am, being, been

Other examples include senses: smell, look, taste, feel, sound, seem, stand, remain, appear

A HELPING VERB helps to form some of the many verb tenses of the main verb.

They wonder if they will pass the class.

Verbs are one of the eight parts of speech.

A Verb has three principal parts: the PRESENT, the PAST, and the PAST PARTICIPLE. The Past and the Past Participle of regular verbs are formed by adding -ed to the present form of the verb. Some IRREGULAR verbs are formed with different spellings. See p.449 of your WriteSource books for examples.

There are SIX Verb TENSES that are formed from the three parts:

1. a verb is in the PRESENT TENSE when it expresses action (or existence) that is happening now or continually

Examples: The universe is gigantic! He sprints to lunch.

2. a verb is in the PAST TENSE when it expresses action (or existence) that is completed at a particular time in the past.

Examples: She ran to the store. I spoke to the class.

3. a verb is in the FUTURE TENSE when it expresses action that will take place. Example: I will finish my homework.

4. a verb is in the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE when it expresses action that began in the past but continues or is completed in the present. To form this, add has or have to the Past Participle.

Example: I have wondered why lunch is so expensive.

5. a verb is in the PAST PERFECT TENSE when it expression action that began in the past and was completed in the past.

To form this, add had to the Past Participle.

Example: I had hoped to sleep in this morning.

6. a verb is in the FUTURE PERFECT TENSE when it expresses action or existence that will begin in the future and will be completed by a specific time in the future.

To form this, add will have to the Past Participle.

Example: By tonight, I will have eaten the entire box of candy.

A COMPLETE SENTENCE contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought.

A sentence FRAGMENT is missing either a subject or a verb.  Examples:

Thinks bugs are awesome! (missing the subject)

My brother, the pain in the neck. (missing a verb – he did what?)

Subjects and Verbs must AGREE in NUMBER.

A SINGULAR subject needs a singular verb (John likes pizza) ,

and a PLURAL subject needs a plural verb (We like pizza)

Agreement in the PRESENT TENSE requires adding an -s or -es to verbs to make them singular. PERFECT PRESENT TENSE agreement requires has (for singular) or have (for plural):

Alice has eaten pizza. They have eaten pizza.

Agreement in the PAST, PAST PERFECT, FUTURE, or FUTURE PERFECT uses the same verb form for both singular and plural: He had eaten the pizza. They ate the pizza.

Alice will eat the pizza. The Students will have eaten the pizza

COMPOUND subjects (connected by the word and) are plural and require plural verbs. Examples:

Alice and Todd love pizza. Neither Alice nor Todd like anchovies.

When the subject is separated from the verb by words or phrases, you must check carefully to see that they agree.

John, as well as Alice and Todd, likes pizza.

(John is the subject, not Alice and Todd)

In the kitchen is the new pizza, hot from the oven.

(the subject is pizza, not kitchen or oven)

Subject must agree even if AFTER (or SPLITTING) the verb.

Is the pizza here? Are the students hungry?

Has John eaten the pizza yet? Have the students eaten yet?

A FOLK TALE is a story passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Folk tales originated with peoples who could neither read nor write, and so they told stories about legendary characters, adventures, role models, and heroes. They are not based on true events.

FOLK TALES may include the following elements:
1. A character called a TRICKSTER who relies on brains and cleverness to overcome a more powerful opponent.

2. Teaching why or how something occurs in the world

3. Using PERSONIFICATION (giving human traits to animals or non-human characters)

4. Displaying human values and cultural heritage

5. Passing on knowledge or wisdom to younger generations: the ‘moral’ of the story

Fairy Tales & Fables Notes

Fairy Tales and Fables are stories that include these typical elements:
* usually short, simple stories or poems
* mysterious and fantastic events, magic, and even wishes
* animals with unusual abilities, or using personification
* other imaginary or magical creatures (and/or monsters)
* the storyteller’s purpose is to teach a moral or lesson
* not always a positive (or good) ending

Fables are ancient literary forms found in most cultures.
They are short, simple stories or poems, usually with animal 
characters, that specifically teaches a lesson.  The moral is usually STATED at the 
end of the fable as a wise saying or teaching.

Fable characters are often animals that act like humans and illustrate 
human failings and weaknesses.

Most Traditional Fairy Tales include old-fashioned details and 
elements.  
Modern Fairy Tales include details and concerns related to contemporary 
life.

Your group’s task today is to look over your I.L. Paragraphs and to REFLECT on your writing.

You will need 5 of your I.L. Paragraphs from which you will choose 5 different Clincher Statements. Try to choose at least TWO that you thing you’ve written very well, and at least ONE that needs more work.

On a separate piece of paper, write out 5 different CLINCHER STATEMENTS, skipping two lines between each, and please number them.

1. Next to each Clincher Statement, write down the TOPIC of the paragraph in 5 words or less.

2. Next to each TOPIC you’ve written, write down 3 short details about that topic. These may be adjectives, facts, or other details that describe the topic.

3. Now rewrite each Clincher Statement (in the second half of your paper) so that it includes the THREE short details about your topic. Use commas between each detail. Number these (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A). Skip two lines between each again, please

4. Circle the best Clincher Statement you’ve written. Write TWO reasons why it is the best C.S.

5. Write a TOPIC SENTENCE (in the 2 blank lines between each) to match up with each Clincher you’ve re-written.