MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: Unit 7, Lesson 1
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Focus of the lesson: editing—sentence fragments and runon sentences
Usage / Mechanics
The usage / mechanics domain comprises the writer's ability to form
competent, appropriately mature sentences and the use of word level
features that cause written language to be acceptable and effective for
standard discourse. This domain includes the system of symbols and
cueing devices a writer uses to help readers make meaning.
Features:
 Sentence Formation
 Usage
o Standard Inflections
o Comparison of Adjectives / Adverbs
o Agreement
 Mechanics
o Capitalization
o Spelling
o Punctuation
o Formatting
A list of all the errors that may be considered when eighth grade writing
samples are assessed can be found on pp. 4-5 of this lesson.
You revised your paper to make it clear, concise, coherent, and complete.
In the editing process, you try to make sure that your paper is correct—
that is, that sentences are correctly formed, that words are used and spelled
according to rules of English usage, and that punctuation is accurate.
In the revision stage, sentences were reviewed for their complexity and
variety. The editing process focuses on sentence correctness—the
elimination of sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: Unit 7, Lesson 1
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SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
A sentence fragment is part of a sentence that is written as if it were a whole
sentence, with a capital letter at the beginning and a period, question mark,
or an exclamation point at the end. A fragment may lack a subject, a
complete verb, or both, and a fragment may depend for its meaning on the
sentence before it.
The fragments in the following examples are italicized.
1.
Hamlet sees his father's ghost frequently. Which almost makes him insane.
Revision: Hamlet's frequent sightings of his father's ghost almost make him
insane.
2.
Thousands of young people gathered in protests. Or helped distribute
pamphlets to distant areas.
Revision: Thousands of young people gathered in protests or helped
distribute pamphlets to distant areas.
3.
There may be errors in measurement. A possibility that results from faulty
equipment.
Revision: As a result of faulty equipment, there may be errors in
measurement.
ACTIVITY 7-1-1
Click on the link below to access practice with editing to correct
sentence fragments.
Sentence Fragments: Exercise 2
Check your draft for sentence fragments by reading it out loud,
backwards, sentence by sentence. Out of normal order, sentence
fragments stand out clearly.
2.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
Run-on sentences (sometimes called fused sentences) are created when
clauses that could each stand alone as a sentence are joined with no
punctuation or words to link them. Run-on sentences must either be divided
into separate sentences or joined by adding words or punctuation.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: Unit 7, Lesson 1
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ACTIVITY 7-1-2
Click on the link below to access an explanation and samples of runon sentences. After reading the explanatory materials, complete the
first activity (Sentences 1-10 in PART 1).
Run-on Sentences
ACTIVITY 7-1-3
Check your draft for sentence fragments and run-on sentences,
and correct all problems.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: Unit 7, Lesson 1
Grade 8: English Writing Test
Sentence Formation, Usage, and Mechanics: Skills List
Listed below are skills in the areas of sentence formation, usage, and mechanics
(capitalization, punctuation, formatting, and spelling) which may be addressed on
both the multiple choice and the direct writing components of the Grade 8 English
writing test.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive but to provide examples of the
skills which may be addressed on the writing test at grade 8.
Standard Sentence Formation
Use complete sentences
Avoid comma splices
Avoid fused sentences (run-ons)
Usage
Correct use of the following:
subject-verb agreement
"I" in compound subject situations
"Me" as a direct or indirect object
them, those
good, well
pronoun antecedent agreement
adjective comparisons
adverb comparisons
adverbs instead of adjectives where appropriate (e.g., "He played really well."
instead of "He played real well.")
verb tenses (including the use of helping verbs)
plurals (-s, -es, changes in spellings)
possessives (singular and plural)
negatives (avoid double negatives)
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MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION: Unit 7, Lesson 1
Use of correct words (e.g., "Give them your respect and be friendly." instead of
"Give them your respect and show yourself friendly.")
Maintain tense consistency
Mechanics
Punctuation
Correct use of the following:
periods, question marks, or exclamation points at the end of sentences
periods after abbreviations
commas around interrupters (includes nouns of address and appositives)
commas in dates, series, addresses
commas before certain clauses
punctuation in and around dialogue
quotation marks around dialogue and title of articles
apostrophes in singular and plural
Capitalization
Capitalize:
the first word of a sentence
proper nouns
"I"
school subjects as needed
"Mom" and "Dad" when appropriate
Format
indent paragraphs or double space between them
paragraph dialogue correctly
divide words between syllables with a hyphen at end of line
Spelling
spell frequently used and common words correctly
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