Teaching Writing Skills Effectively

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Teaching Writing SkillsEffectively

• Developed and Presented by
• Steck-Vaughn

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Keys to GED Success

• Youve asked the question.
• Here is the answer for which youve been waiting!

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Keys to GED Success

• GED Testing Service (GEDTS) researched targeted
  areas of most missed questions based on 2007
  data.
• Steck Vaughn was provided with the data to
  develop a new GED series targeted to the most
  missed questions.

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• Getting Started with GED Key Skills

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Instructional Features

• 20 targeted skills in each book identified by a
  special symbol
• Teaching Tips
• Pretest with a Performance Analysis Chart
• Four-page skill lessons with step-by-step
  strategies and GED practice questions
• Official GED Practice Test Form PA
• Answers and explanations

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Sample GED Key Skills

• Sentence Fragments
• Integrating Outside Information
• Graphic Literacy
• Recognizing Faulty Logic and Misconception
• Elapsed Time
• Lines and Angles

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Keys to GED Success

• Three questions to be answered
• What do students need to understand and be
  able to do?
• What learning experiences and instruction will
  promote that understanding?
• What changes need to occur to the existing
  curriculum to ensure students have the right
  learning experiences and instruction?

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GED Writing Skills Test

• Question Types
• Correction 45
• What correction should be made to a sentence or
  paragraph?
• Revision 35
• What is the best way to write the underlined
  selection?
• Construction Shift 20
• What is best way to rewrite an entire sentence,
  or combine two sentences?

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Language Arts, Writing

• Key Skills
• Organization
• Sentence Structure
• Comma Splice
• Construction Shift
• Independent Clauses
• Sentence Fragment
• Usage
• Verb Tense
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Pronoun Case
• Mechanics
• Homonyms

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Sample Question

• Sentences 1 and 2 I need a copy of my birth
  certificate. In order to apply for Social
  Security.
• The most effective combination of sentences 1
  and 2 would include which group of words?
• a copy, birth certificate, and ordering
• applying for a certificate with Social Security
• certificate, but the reason why is because
• certificate in order
• to apply and to need
• Option (4) certificate in order

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Sample Question

• Sentence 13 Because you get textbooks,
  assignments, and consultation for only 450.00,
  and this includes employment counseling after you
  graduate, this will surprise you.
• The most effective revision of sentence 13 would
  begin with which group of words?
• Youre in for a surprise and because you get
• Surprise with your textbook
• Because you are getting many things that will
  surprise you
• Is a result of the surprise and 450.00
• Youre in for a surprise! You get
• Option (5) Youre in for a surprise! You get

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Sentence Fragments

• Read one sentence at a time.
• Does it make sense without other information?
• Does it have a subject and a verb?
• Can it stand alone?
• If not, it is probably a sentence fragment.

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Sentence Fragments

• Ways to correct a sentence fragment
• Supply a subject or a verb to make a complete
  thought.
• Rushing like a maniac to the car, late as usual.
• I was rushing like a maniac to the car, late as
  usual.

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Sentence Fragments

• Ways to correct a sentence fragment
• Join dependent and independent clauses with a
  comma.
• Whenever I regret the past. I focus on the
  present and the future.
• Whenever I regret the past, I focus on the
  present and the future.

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Sentence Fragments

• Ways to correct a sentence fragment
• Combine sentence fragments with related sentences
  to form complete ideas.
• The music on the radio today. It is often an
  expression of anger.
• The music on the radio today is often an
  expression of anger.

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Sentence Fragments

• Celebrities such as movie stars, royalty, and
  rock bands often have difficulty living private
  lives. So many photographers and fans. They
  invade a stars privacy. The public demands to
  know about personal milestones such as marriage
  and the birth of children.
• Identify the fragment.

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Comma Splices

• A comma splice occurs when 2 independent clauses
  are joined with a comma.
• Can the words on either side of the comma stand
  alone as complete sentences?

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Comma Splices

• Ways to correct a comma splice
• Make two sentences.
• Our car broke down, we were stranded in the
  middle of nowhere.
• Our car broke down. We were stranded in the
  middle of nowhere.

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Comma Splices

• Ways to correct a comma splice
• Join with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
• Our car broke down, so we were stranded in the
  middle of nowhere.

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Comma Splices

• Ways to correct a comma splice
• Relate one clause to another by using a
  subordinating conjunction.
• When our car broke down, we were stranded in the
  middle of nowhere.

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Comma Splices

• Ways to correct a comma splice
• If the ideas in the clauses are closely related,
  join them with a semicolon.
• Our car broke down consequently, we were
  stranded in the middle of nowhere.

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Comma Splices

• An ordinary kitchen timer can be used in an
  unexpected way. Some couples use this simple
  household item as a timekeeper, it may be used
  when there is a disagreement. This practice may
  help to keep a simple difference of opinion from
  turning into a nasty argument.
• Fix the comma splice.

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Combining Sentences

• Combining short sentences can improve the style
  and clarity of writing.
• Decide what relationship exists between the ideas
  in the sentences.
• Be sure to combine the sentences in a way that
  keeps the ideas related.

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Combining Sentences

• Ways to combine sentences
• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
• She looked for an apartment. She couldnt find
  one.
• She looked for an apartment, but she couldnt
  find one.

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Combining Sentences

• Ways to combine sentences
• Use a subordinating conjunction and a comma.
• He wanted a new car. He couldnt afford one.
• Although he wanted a new car, he couldnt afford
  one.

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Combining Sentences

• Ways to combine sentences
• Turn one sentence into a prepositional phrase.
• The dog ran very fast. The dog wore a red
  collar.
• The dog with the red collar ran very fast.

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Combining Sentences

• Ways to combine sentences
• Use a semicolon with closely related sentences.
• She went to work. She did her job.
• She went to work she did her job.

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Verb Tenses

• Verb tenses signal when events happen.
• Clue words such as now, last week, and next year
  help readers and writers know when an action
  takes place.
• Pay attention to all the clue words in a
  paragraph so you can choose correct verb tenses.

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Verb Tenses

• Last week, my supervisor will ask me about
  overtime work.
• Change will ask to asked.
• Last week, my supervisor asked me about overtime
  work.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

• These errors are common in sentences that begin
  with There is or There are.
• Look ahead to the subject, which comes after the
  verb in this type of sentence.
• Errors are also common in sentences with compound
  subjects.
• Students need to learn the rules for these types
  of sentences.

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Pronouns

• Common errors
• Julie and me are going to the game.
• Johnny told the story to Mark and I.
• We like to shop at that store because they dont
  pressure you.
• Incorrect use of reflexive pronouns.

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Spelling Homonyms

• Edit the following real-world writings for
  homonym bloopers!
• If your interested in learning more about our
  Websight, e-mail us.
• This product comes with an unconditional
  guarantee. It's high quality will make you're
  life better!
• Body fat problems? We can help. Of coarse you
  need patients when it comes to reducing the
  access around you're waste.
• I don't want to loose you to. Its much to much
  too bear.

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Problem Words
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Organization

• Teach students how to
• Organize words and phrases into effective
  sentences.
• Organize sentences into effective paragraphs.
• Organize paragraphs into effective paragraphs.
• Organize sentences in order and then divide into
  paragraphs to create an effective passage.

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Sample Question

• Which revision should be made to sentence 4?
• move sentence 4 to the beginning of paragraph A
• move sentence 4 to follow sentence 1
• move sentence 8 to beginning of paragraph C
• move sentence 4 to follow sentence 9
• remove sentence 4
• Which revision would improve the effectiveness of
  the document?
• remove paragraph A
• remove paragraph E
• join paragraphs A and B
• join paragraphs C and D
• join paragraphs D and E

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Sample Question

• Sentence 13 Because you get textbooks,
  assignments, and consultation for only 450.00,
  and this includes employment counseling after you
  graduate, this will surprise you.
• The most effective revision of sentence 13
  would begin with which group of words?
• Youre in for a surprise and because you get
• Surprise with your text book
• Because you are getting many things that will
  surprise you
• Is a result of the surprise and 450.00
• Youre in for a surprise! You get

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Combining Sentences

• Your flight to Chicago will take six hours. You
  may want to bring reading material or work to
  pass the time.
• Your flight to Chicago will take six hours, so
  you may want to bring

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Topic Sentences

• State the main idea of the paragraph
• Read all the supporting details and sentences of
  the paragraph.
• Try to summarize the main idea in one sentence.
• Ask yourself, Could a reader predict what the
  paragraph is about based only on that sentence?

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Irrelevant Sentences

• Do not relate to the topic, either by providing
  detail about the topic or by providing a
  transition to another paragraph
• Unnecessary information
• Personal information
• Misplaced information

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Text Divisions within Paragraphs

• If the paragraph contains more than 6 sentences,
  should it be divided into 2 paragraphs?
• Are all sentences related to the same topic?
• Is there a sentence that just doesnt fit?
• Is the paragraph logically organized?

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Activity 1

• Now its time to try an activity.
• Open your envelopes.
• Put the sentences in the correct order.

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Activity 1

• And the answer is
• Scientists are learning a great deal about the
  aging process.
• With the increasing number of baby boomers who
  are reaching maturity, this is an important area
  of research for todays world.
• The knowledge that is being learned will allow
  doctors to help their patients live longer and
  better lives.
• They will be able to defeat diseases associated
  with the aging process and perhaps even delay the
  onset of old age.
• Although the answers to the aging process may not
  exist today, they may be very much of the world
  of tomorrow.

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Text Divisions within Documents

• Errors to correct on GED Writing Test
• No topic sentence
• Misplaced sentences
• Very short paragraphs
• Paragraphs that are short and undeveloped
• Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence and
  supporting details.

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Teaching Tips

• Interactive Organizational Activities
• Combining and dividing sentences and paragraphs
• Identifying topic sentences
• Removing irrelevant information
• Contextualized (Real-Life) Situations
• Editing authentic materials for errors and error
  patterns
• Using homonyms correctly in real-world writing

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Teaching Tips

• Have students search for error patterns in
  authentic materials, such as newspapers, ads.
• Teach grammar and punctuation through discussion
  and explanation.
• Have students read aloud passages that have been
  written or choices made on a question.
• Have students keep a journal of grammar rules and
  application learned from their studies.
• When editing text, have students read back-wards
  to make sure they havent missed a word.

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Improving the Essay Score

• Read the essay prompt carefully.
• Write down key words from the topic.
• Plan your essay.
• Make your case.
• Avoid making lists of reasons.
• Use paragraphs to divide text.

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Improving the Essay Score

• Write legibly.
• Avoid repetition.
• Avoid using big words just for the sake of using
  them.
• Edit your essay.
• Use your time wisely.

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Websites

• www.rhlschool.com/english.htm
• www.usingenglish.com/handouts/index.php
• www.ket.org/ged2002/writing
• www.grammar-monster.com
• www.able.state.pa.us/able/cwp/view.asp?a138Q716
  97

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RHLSchool.com
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UsingEnglish.com
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Pre-GED Writing Skills

• Use TABE to identify problem areas.
• Practice Practice Practice!!!

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TABE 9 10 Levels M D

• New skills tested
• Progressive tense
• Subordinating clauses (even in Level M)
• Transitional devices
• Appositives
• Misplaced modifiers
• Inflectional endings

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TABE 9 10 Level A

• New items on Level A
• Relative pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Adverb comparatives
• Punctuation in compound sentences

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TABE Fundamentals

• 10 books with
• Relevant content
• Real-life examples
• Reproducible student answer sheets
• Students progress through NRS levels more quickly.

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• Questions

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