1-on-1 Tutoring. The Mechanics of Writing Correct Sentences. Grammar & Usage
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 12
I will present all the same content contained in my ongoing course on sentence composition, however I will be able to fully engage with a students one-on-one and not move on from a concept until they "get it". I can also tailor the lessons to their exact reading level. Like a building rising brick by brick, writing unfolds one sentence at a time. The quality of sentences largely determines the quality of writing. The goal of this class is to provide sentence-composing activities to help students build better sentences. Each lesson will begin with the grammar “rules” for that particular lesson, but the emphasis, and bulk of our time, will be spent practicing with real sentences. I will primarily seek to teach grammar in conjunction with everyday speech and usage patterns. It is important to continue stressing the basics at this age. We will go over the fundamentals and then build from there. I have found that students improve their writing at a steady pace when lessons play to the learners' strengths and build up their weaknesses. We will learn the rules of correct word choice and mechanics, and start with examples that come naturally - from the way we talk - to enforce these rules. Next, we will move onto more complex examples aimed at improving the students' writing. Brick by brick - one sentence at a time. What we cover each session will be learner led, determined by their writing level and needs. I will check in to see what the learner thinks they need to work on and am more than happy to accommodate requests from parents to focus on certain areas. Just let me know! Lessons include: Contractions, Homonyms and Commonly Confused Words Subject-Verb Agreement Pronouns Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Coordination and Subordination Parallelism Revising Sentences Transition Words Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences Apostrophes with Possessives Commas Punctuation in Clause Separation Most of these lessons will be introduced and then revisited for practice on an ongoing basis. Here is an example of a typical lesson: A modifier is a descriptive word or phrase. 1. Place a modifier as close as possible to the word or phrase it describes. The woman who delivered the package spoke to the man. The batter with the red shirt hit a home run. 2. A MISPLACED MODIFIER is a modifier in the wrong place in a sentence. If the modifier is far from the word it describes, the sentence might change meaning or not make sense. Read the following sentences and note if the modifier is in the correct place in the sentence or misplaced. 1. We saw many smashed houses driving through the storm. 2. The storm even wrecked the sidewalks. 3. Scarcely people could believe the damage. 4. The storm was barley over when people came to help. 5. Nearly everyone pitched in. 6. First, a list was given to each owner with many items. 7. Then Marta picked up the clothes for the children that had been left in the box. 8. The house was rebuilt by the owners destroyed by the storm. Describe a bad storm. Use at least three sentences that have correctly placed modifiers. 3. Every modifier must describe a specific word in a sentence. Example: Coming up the stairs, he heard the clock strike six. (Coming up the stairs describes he.) 4. A sentence cannot make sense if the modified word is missing. A DANGLING MODIFIER is a modifier that does not describe anything in the sentence. Watch for dangling modifiers and rewrite them. Dangling modifier: Driving down the road, a bad accident happened Correct: Driving down the road, they saw a bad accident happen. Correct: While they were driving down the road, a bad accident happened. Rewrite each sentence to correct the dangling modifier. 1. While passing a large rock, a clap of thunder made me scream. 2. Sailing up the harbor, the pier was seen. 3. Flying over the town, the cars and houses looked like toys. 4. While putting the chair together, the screw was lost. 5. Opening the jar, the sauce spilled all over the floor. 6. Walking up the steps, the packages fell. Complete each sentence. Include a word that can be modified by the phrase that is already written. Example: Eagerly waiting for news, Eagerly waiting for news, I jumped at the ring of my cellphone. 1. Going to my class, 2. Angry at her husband, 3. Already hungry, 4. Without thinking,
Learning Goals
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
Form and use the perfect (e.g., I had walked; I have walked; I will have walked) verb tenses.
Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Education from Xavier University
I have a B.A. in Literature (and credential to teach high school English), M.Ed. and have taught many English classes as part of the faculty at a community college. I have tutored learners one-one-one ranging from grade 4 through adults working on their GED.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$49
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 21 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
1-2 learners per class