TAKS Multiple Choice Skills

1. Superlatives/ Comparatives Subject/ Verb agreement Introductory commas for clauses, phrases, words and transitions Identify sentences that do not have errors. Fragments Revision questions Sentence Combining Spelling Prepositional Phrases Focus and Coherence Conjunctions using the comma FANBOYS- (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) Verb Tense Capitalization Commas in a series TAKS Multiple Choice Skills

2. Examples for: Superlatives, Verb tense, and Fragments • Superlatives- Scientist and archaeologists jostle for the most best vantage point. Change most best to best. • Verb Tense Shift-She relayed information in diagrams, maps, and drawings, and often including her impressions of the men’s morale. Change including to included, because relayed is past tense, and including is the present participle tense. All verbs in a sentence should have the same tense. • Fragments-This time hitting the second tower. Revision- This time the second tower was hit. A sentence must relay a complete thought.

3. Pronouns/ Subject/Verb Agreement

4. Subject/Verb Agreement Final “S” Rules • Always add an “s” to the end of the verb when the subject or pronoun is third person singular. • The only time you use “has” instead of “have” is when you are using third person singular because you remove the “ve” and add “s.” • For the verb “to be,” use “is” present, and “was” past for singular subjects and pronouns, • And “are” present and “were” past for plural subjects and pronouns.

5. “To Be” Verb

6. Prepositional Phrases & Clauses • Always protect the phrase, phrases or clauses in a sentence with commas. • Identify phrases/clauses- find the original sentence, identify within that sentence if there are added details that do not have to be there for the sentence to be a complete thought. • Phrases/clauses elaborate sentences with details that give additional, needed, or interesting information, and are also used to combine sentences. • You use prepositional phrases/clauses during the writing stage, when writing the body of your paper, using the depth techniques, and during revision.

7. Clauses/ Phrases Examples • Introductory clause- located in the beginning of the sentence- Although the firefighters sacrificed themselves to save lives many lost their own lives in the process. Insert a comma after the first lives. • Appositive phrase- renames the subject in the sentence- Rose O’Neal Greenhow, a widow and mother of four children was a prominent Washington socialite. Add a comma after children to protect the appositive phrase on both sides. (needs two body guards) • Compound Sentence with a clause using the conjunction word (for)-People were mummified and buried as well as they could possibly afford, for they believed they would be traveling to the afterlife. Add a comma before the conjunction word for.

8. Commas in a Series/ Focus & Coherence/ Transitions • Commas in a series- separate a list of items using a comma. Example-High ranking officials priests, and other nobles who had served the pharaoh and his queen had fairly elaborate burials. Add a comma after officials to separate it from priests. • Focus & Coherence- A question will ask, “Which sentence does NOT belong?” Choose the answer for the sentence that does not directly talk about the topic. • Transitions-Which sentence, word, or phrase will appropriately lead into the next idea.

9. Sentence Combining/Conjunctions with FANBOYS • When answering, “What is the best way to combine sentences 11 & 12?” first read the sentences. • Next find the sentences that best restate the ideas in sentences 11 & 12. • Check for improper placement of punctuation and for repetitive words. (Don’t choose sentences with these errors.) • Conjunctions- if there are sentences combined with FANBOYS conjunctions, make sure there is a comma inserted before the FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)

10. Hook Imagery Question Dialogue Quote Anecdote Fact Seven Types of Introductions

11. Detail Imagery Location Compare/ Contrast Simile Personal Anecdote Metaphor Types of Elaboration Strategies • Dialogue • Quotation (not Contrived • Adjectives • Action Words • Description • Examples • Question

12. Writing Conclusions3 Types • End with a lesson you learned from the experience. • End with a value gained like friendship, happiness, respect, appreciation. • End with a moral to the story like what comes around goes around, or you don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.