Secondary Language Arts Grammar: A Review of the Eight Parts of Speech

Curriculum page : Language Arts Curriculum : Language Arts Lesson Plans

Appropriate for Grade: 7

Supporting Mastery of Outcome: 711 (This lesson will focus exclusively on the parts of speech dimension of outcome 711: "Identify the eight parts of speech....")

Lesson Objective: Students will...

1. use the web site to review the eight parts of speech which they have previously studied in HBJ7 and Write Source 2000,

2. complete the review test at the end of the parts of speech web site section; in addition, as part of taking the review test, students will be expected to explain why they identified each tested part of speech as they did, and

3. apply this knowledge in examinations and in written compositions.

4. NOTE: The web site test does tell the students if their answers are right or wrong, but it does not explain why. This lesson expects the student to take the next step and to explain why. Explanations for answers may be obtained by contacting the English/Language Arts Curriculum Supervisor. Answer explanations are not included with the lesson.

Time Needed to Complete the Lesson: The minimum time for this lesson is two, forty minute periods. This lesson may develop into a much longer unit depending on the number of activities assigned and the student's level of understanding of the eight parts of speech.

Materials Needed to Complete the Lesson:

1. Sebranek, Patrick Verne Meyer, and Dave Kemper. Write Source 2000, 1^st ed.
        Burlington, Wisconsin: Write Source Publishing House, 1990.
2. Strickland, Dorothy S. et al., eds. HBJ Language 7. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt
        Brace Jovanovich Publishers, 1990.
3. NOTE: These texts should be used prior to using this lesson (see "Lesson Procedures" for specific parts of speech pages).

Web Site Required to Complete the Lesson.:

http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~jobrown/la.html Use link 2. While at link 2, use the "forward" and "back" icons. The other icons are not supportive of this lesson

NOTE (1): This web site may be used as a whole to learn or reinforce all eight parts of speech, or it may be utilized to focus on one specific part of speech only. This is a very good student resource and can be used individually or as a classroom activity. The best use of this lesson would be in a lab setting where each student could work at his/her own pace.

NOTE (2): Terminology may vary for some concepts. Review the concepts to be used before students gain access to the web site.

Lesson Procedures:

1. After studying the "Identification Section" of the parts of speech units in HBJ 7 (nouns - pp.78-79; verbs - pp. 126-129; pronouns - pp. 224-225, and 228-239; adjectives - pp. 268-271; adverbs - pp. 280-282; prepositions - pp. 322-330; conjunctions - pp. 331-332; interjections - pp. 334-335) and Write Source 2000 (parts of speech in sections 719-795), students will visit the language arts web site listed.

2. Students may work individually or in small groups to review the parts of speech information presented at the web site.

3. As students are reviewing the web site information provided for each part of speech, students will also complete the following activities for selected parts of speech.

Web Site Headings

"What is a Verb?"

Directions: In each example sentence, replace the action verb or state of being verb with an alternative verb. (You may change the meaning of the sentence.)

"What is a Noun?"

"Noun Gender"

Directions: Write sentences replacing the following gender-specific nouns with other nouns having the same meaning but without having gender connotations.

1. fireman
2. postman
3. policeman
4. salesman

"What is a Pronoun"

"Subjective Personal Pronoun" (Nominative Case Personal Pronouns)

Directions: For each pronoun listed, write an original sentence.

"Objective Personal Pronouns" (Objective Case Personal Pronouns)

Directions: For each pronoun listed, write an original sentence.

"Possessive Personal Pronouns" (Possessive Case Pronouns)

Directions: Choose three of these pronouns and write original sentences using the chosen pronouns.

"Demonstrative Pronouns"

Directions: Answer the following questions:

What are the singular, demonstrative pronouns? _________ and ________.

What are the plural, demonstrative pronouns? ________ and ________.

"Indefinite Pronouns"

Directions: Choose three indefinite pronouns and write original sentences. Following this, write three sentences substituting nouns for the pronouns used in the sentences. Keep the sentence context the same for both sentences.

"What is an Adjective?"

Directions: Several of the adjectives highlighted in the first seven sentences could be used as nouns (truck, kitchen, mine, coal, Christmas, music and mahogany). Write original sentences using each of these words as nouns.

"What is an Adverb?"

Directions: Write a sentence using an adverb that ends in "ly."

"What is a Preposition?"

Directions: Using the list of prepositions provided, write a sentence using one prepositional phrase as an adverb.

"What is a Conjunction?"

Directions: Write a sentence using a coordinate conjunction to connect two words. Now write a compound sentence using the same conjunction to connect two clauses. (Don't forget to place a comma before the conjunction.)

"Subordinating Conjunctions"

Directions: Write a complex sentence using a subordinating conjunction with the first clause.

"What is an interjection?"

Directions: Write a sentence using an interjection ("a word added to a sentence to convey emotion") at the beginning of the sentence. (Do not use interjections included in the examples.)

Lesson Assessment: Students will be successful in this lesson if they are able to:

1. use the web site appropriately to review parts of speech,

2. complete the additional exercises provided for each lesson,

3. complete the "Review: Parts of Speech" exam at a 100% level, (NOTE: Students have the option to choose the correct answer again if they choose incorrectly the first time.) and

4. explain why they identified their answer as the part of speech they listed.

(NOTE: Explanations for answers are available from the English/Language Arts Curriculum Supervisor. The test does not ask for explanations. The added explanations are a special dimension of this lesson.)

For additional information about this lesson, please contact Jeanette Fougeron, Morton Middle School, or Patrick J. Salerno, English/Language Arts Curriculum Supervisor, Omaha Public Schools.