STAAR Writing Study Guide 2014

Revising and Editing Spelling Sentence Structure Punctuation Grammar

Commonly Confused words:◦Their, there, they’re◦Their (possessive), there (location), they’re (they are)

◦Then, than◦Then (Time), Than (Comparing)

◦It’s, its ◦ It’s (It is), Its (Possessive)

◦Too, two, to◦Too (Also, Excessively), Two (number), to (preposition/direction)

◦In, on, at (prepositions)◦Except, accept◦Except (But, excluding), Accept (Take)

Sentence Structure:

◦Compound ( , FANBOYS)◦You must rest, for you will be taking the test in the morning.

◦Complex (WABU: When, After, Because, Until, etc.)◦Until you submit your application, I cannot help you.

Phrases/Clauses: Phrases/Clauses:◦Prepositional phrase (no subject or verb)◦under the table, over the table, beside the table, next to the table, on the table, around the table

◦Appositive phrase (no subject or verb)◦Mrs. Gutierrez, the school nurse, gave me an ice pack for my forehead.

◦Subordinating clause (Sub. conjunction & subject and verb)◦While you were out, someone called.◦Someone called while you were out.

Dictionary Use

◦Misspelled words◦Capitalized words◦Prefix/suffix meanings◦Hyphenated words◦Parts of Speech to determine if used correctly in the sentence

Transition words and phrases

◦Know the meaning◦Recognize pattern or relationship (example, agreement, sequence, order, time, adding, comparing, contrasting, cause and effect, concluding)

◦HOTCASA: ◦However, On the other hand, Therefore, Consequently, As a result

Commas – Study foldable!◦ Compound sentences◦ Complex sentences◦ In a series◦ Between adjectives of equal rank (not the last adjective before the noun)◦ After introductory words, phrases, and clauses◦ To set off parenthetical expressions (names, therefore, of course, not

yours)◦ Nonessential expressions (appositive phrases, participial phrases etc.)◦ Dates, Geographical names, numbers, addresses, letters

Quotation Marks

◦Direct quotations, speaker tag◦Titles of short written works (poems, short stories, songs, TV shows, articles)

Possessives

◦Single vs. plural (make plural first than possessive)◦Dog’s leash… ◦Dogs’ leashes

◦Irregular plurals (make plural first than possessive)◦Man – men’s suits◦Wolf – wolves' den

Relative Pronouns: Who/Which/That

◦Who (People)◦My friend, who won the award, is now going on a week-long vacation.

◦That (People, Things/Concepts)◦He is the kind of person that will never let you down.

◦Which (Things/Concepts)◦The science fair, which lasted all day, ended with an awards ceremony.

Subject-Verb Agreement

◦Single ◦He was studying for the test last night.

◦Plural◦They were studying for the test last night.

VERBS

Irregular Past Tense Verbs no –ed (to sing: I sang)◦Verify with a dictionary (usually spells it out for you)

Regular Past Tense Verbs –ed (to walk: I walked)

Writing (Essays)

Narrative

Expository

NARRATIVE COMPOSITION◦ Organizational Patterns: cluster, bubble map, list◦ Indentation◦ First person (I, me, my)◦ BME (Beginning, Middle, End)◦ Lesson Learned (Theme)◦ Super Sentences, STC (This is a Super Sentence because it has a WABU clause;

therefore, I will use them in my composition.)◦ FANBOYS (compound sentences)◦ WABU (complex sentences)

◦ When, Whenenver, While; After, Although, As long as; Because, Before; Unless, Until

◦ SAT (WOW) words

EXPOSITORY COMPOSITION◦ Text Structures: Cause/Effect, Problem/Solution, Description, Sequence,

Compare/Contrast◦ Indentation◦ Introduction Strategies (Anecdote, Quotation, Dictionary, Description, MNM)◦ Thesis Statement◦ Super Sentences, Variety◦ FANBOYS (compound sentences)◦ WABU (complex sentences)

◦ When, Whenever, While; After, Although, As long as; Because, Before; Unless, Until◦ SAT (WOW) words◦ Details/Examples◦ Definitions/Facts