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Course Standards
General Course Information and Notes
Version Description
The purpose of this course is to continue to develop students' awareness, understanding, and application of language arts as it applies to oral communication concepts and strategies for public debate in a variety of given settings. Some work outside of the regular school day may be required.General Notes
The content should include, but not be limited to, the following:- delivering and analyzing a variety of argument and debate formats such as
- Lincoln-Douglas
- team debate
- delineating and evaluating the argument and specific claims in an oral or written text by
- citing specific text evidence
- assessing the validity of the evidence and soundness of the reasoning
- determining the sufficiency of evidence for success
- recognizing when irrelevant evidence or faulty reasoning is introduced
- demonstrating appropriate formal and informal public speaking techniques for audience, purpose, and occasion
- eye contact and body movements
- voice register and choices of language
- use of standard English
- using research and writing skills to support selected topics and points of view
- across a range of disciplines
- using a range of sources, including digital
- assessing the veracity of claims and the reliability of sources
- determining different types of evidence (e.g., documentary evidence in the social sciences, experimental evidence in the realm of natural sciences)
- determining reliable print and digital sources
- demonstrating use of techniques for timing and judging debates and other forensic activities
- collaboration amongst peers, especially during the drafting and practicing stages
Instructional Practices: Teaching from well-written, grade-level instructional materials enhances students' content area knowledge and also strengthens their ability to comprehend longer, complex reading passages on any topic for any purpose. Using the following instructional practices also helps student learning.
- Reading assignments from longer text passages, as well as shorter ones when text is extremely complex.
- Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.
- Asking high-level, text-specific questions and requiring high-level, complex tasks and assignments.
- Requiring students to support answers with evidence from the text.
- Providing extensive text-based research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).
General Information
Educator Certifications
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Learn to distinguish between passive and active voice and how to revise sentences by changing them from passive to active voice in this magic-themed, interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to distinguish between a gerund phrase that's used as a subject and one that's used as a subject complement. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also practice using gerund phrases as subjects or subject complements in sentences of your own. Using gerund phrases can add detail and variety to your writing.
This is Part One of a two-part series. Click HERE to launch "Part Two: Using Gerund Phrases as Objects" [coming soon].
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Compare and contrast how William Wordsworth established multiple themes within two of his poems: "Lines Written in Early Spring" and "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud."
This interactive tutorial is part 3 of 3. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Continue to analyze William Wordsworth's poem "Lines Written in Early Spring" to determine multiple themes and craft thematic statements.
This interactive tutorial is part 2 of 3. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Part 1: Identifying Multiple Topics in a Poem
- Part 3: Comparing Themes Across Two Poems -- Including Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Study William Wordsworth's poem "Lines Written in Early Spring" to identify multiple topics and, in the next tutorial, to determine themes and craft thematic statements.
This interactive tutorial is part 1 of 3. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Part 2: Determining Multiple Themes of a Poem
- Part 3: Comparing Themes Across Two Poems -- Including Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to use verbs and verb phrases to convey specific meanings through the use of specific verb tenses: past perfect tense and past perfect progressive tense.
This interactive tutorial is Part Two in a two-part series. You should complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to launch Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to use verbs and verb phrases to convey specific meanings through the use of specific verb tenses: simple past tense and past progressive tense.
This interactive tutorial is Part One in a two-part series. In Part Two, you'll explore the use of past perfect tense and past perfect progressive tense. Make sure to complete both parts!
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Study "Leisure," a poem by Amy Lowell, to determine a theme of the poem and craft a thematic statement. At the end of this interactive tutorial, you'll use what you've learned throughout this two-part series to compare and contrast a theme in "Leisure" by Amy Lowell and a theme in "Leisure" by W. H. Davies and how these themes are developed.
Make sure to complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to launch Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to determine a theme of a poem, craft a thematic statement, and write a summary of the poem "Leisure" by W. H. Davies.
This interactive tutorial is Part One of a two-part series. In Part Two, you'll study "Leisure" by Amy Lowell to determine a theme of the poem and craft a thematic statement. By the end of this series, you will compare and contrast a theme in each poem and how these themes are developed.
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to use verb phrases in particular tenses to convey specific meanings. In this interactive tutorial, you'll explore the use of four verb tenses: simple future, future progressive, future perfect, and future perfect progressive.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing with verbs and verb phrases in different tenses to convey specific meaning. In Part Two, you'll work with three perfect tenses--present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.
We recommend that you complete Part One before starting Part Two. In Part One, you'll work with three simple tenses: past, present, and future. Click HERE to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how verbs and verb phrases can convey specific meanings through the use of three verb tenses--simple present, present progressive, and present perfect--in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing with verbs and verb phrases in different tenses to convey specific meaning. In Part One, you'll work with past tense, present tense, and future tense.
We recommend that you complete Part Two after Part One. In Part Two, you'll work with three tenses: present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect. Click HERE to view Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by using phrases. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about absolute phrases and how they can add interest, depth, and variety to your writing!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by using phrases. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about adverb prepositional phrases. Using adverb prepositional phrases will help add interest, depth, and variety to your writing!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing with two types of phrases that can function like adjectives in a sentence: the participle phrase and the prepositional phrase. In this interactive tutorial, you'll discover how phrases can help add detail and specificity to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Read excerpts from Maya Angelou's book of essays, Letter to My Daughter. In this interactive English Language Arts tutorial, you'll identify an important idea in each excerpt and examine how the author develops the important idea throughout the section of text.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about parallel form in this interactive English Language Arts tutorial. In this tutorial, you'll use parallel form with lists in sentences, identify sentences that contain parallel form and sentences that contain faulty parallelism, and practice editing sentences that contain faulty parallelism. You'll also examine how parallel form can add smoothness, clarity, and gracefulness to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by using prepositional phrases. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn how prepositional phrases add description and specificity and help make your writing more interesting.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by using noun phrases in this interactive tutorial. Although noun phrases can be used in many ways, here you'll learn how they can be used as the subject of a sentence or the object of a verb to add interest, detail, and specificity to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay in this tutorial series. This tutorial is Part Three of a three-part series. In Part Three, you’ll study her poem "Recuerdo." You'll identify the topic of the poem, determine a theme of the poem, and explain how the theme is developed through specific words and phrases.
You're encouraged to complete the previous tutorials in this series before beginning Part Three.
Click HERE to launch Part One.
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay in this tutorial series. This tutorial is Part Two of a three-part series. In Part Two, you’ll study her short poem "Second Fig." You'll identify the topic of the poem, determine a theme of the poem, and explain how the theme is developed through specific words and phrases.
Make sure to complete all three parts!
Click HERE to launch Part One.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore three short poems by the famous American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and practice determining a theme for each poem in this three-part, interactive tutorial series. In Part One, you’ll identify the topic of the short poem “First Fig.” Then, you’ll select words and phrases from the poem that address the topic of the poem. Finally, you’ll determine a theme in the short poem. By the end of this series, you should be able to explain how a theme is developed and supported by specific words and phrases throughout a short poem.
Make sure to complete all three tutorials in this series!
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn 12 new academic vocabulary terms in this interactive tutorial! You'll practice the words' synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech, and context clues in order to add them to your vocabulary.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice identifying faulty reasoning in this two-part, interactive, English Language Arts tutorial. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations.
Make sure to complete Part One before Part Two! Click HERE to launch Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to identify faulty reasoning in this two-part interactive English Language Arts tutorial. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations.
Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click HERE to open Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore and explain multiple points of view in the story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol, which is set in 19th century St. Petersburg, Russia. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also observe the culture of this society from multiple angles.
This is the second tutorial in a two-part series. Click HERE to launch Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine excerpts from a powerful speech regarding women, equality, and individuality in this interactive English Language Arts tutorial. You'll study excerpts from "The Solitude of Self” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and examine how her choice of words, descriptions, and observations help reveal point of view. You'll also analyze how rhetoric, specifically the use of logos and pathos, can help advance an author's point of view.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn multiple points of view in the story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol. In this two-part interactive tutorial, you’ll study excerpts from this story set in 19th century St. Petersburg, Russia. By the end of this tutorial series, you should be able to explain how the multiple points of view within the story allows readers to observe the culture of this society from multiple angles.
Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence.
In Part Four, you'll use what you've learned throughout this series to evaluate Kennedy's overall argument.
Make sure to complete the previous parts of this series before beginning Part 4.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence. By the end of this four-part series, you should be able to evaluate his overall argument.
In Part Three, you will read more of Kennedy's speech and identify a smaller claim in this section of his speech. You will also evaluate this smaller claim's relevancy to the main claim and evaluate Kennedy's reasons and evidence.
Make sure to complete all four parts of this series!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence. By the end of this four-part series, you should be able to evaluate his overall argument.
In Part Two, you will read more of Kennedy's speech, identify the smaller claims in this part of his speech, and examine his reasons and evidence.
Make sure to complete all four parts of this series!
Click HERE to launch Part One.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Click HERE to launch Part Four.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence. By the end of this four-part series, you should be able to evaluate his overall argument.
In Part One, you will read the beginning of Kennedy's speech, examine his reasons and evidence in this section, and identify the main claim of his argument.
Make sure to complete all four parts of this series!
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Click HERE to launch Part Three.
Click HERE to launch Part Four.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about claims, reasons, and evidence using excerpts from a speech by author J.K. Rowling. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn how to identify an author’s claims and examine the fairness of an argument based on the soundness of its foundation, which should be built layer by layer with solid claims, reasons, and evidence.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the effect of literary devices in this interactive English Language Arts tutorial. Specifically, you will explore the effect of metaphors and imagery on a text. First, you’ll determine when an author uses these devices in a text, and then you’ll examine how they contribute to the meaning and beauty of the text.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" by using this interactive tutorial! In this tutorial, you'll examine some commonly confused pronouns. These pronouns have their own doppelgangers, which often trick people into believing that they have the same meaning, when in fact, their meanings can be very different. This tutorial will guide you out of doppelganger danger so that you will be able to distinguish the appropriate pronoun from its tricky double!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" as you examine six pairs of commonly confused words in this interactive tutorial. Learning how to correctly use these commonly confused words will help you avoid some of the most common spelling mistakes.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" as you examine six pairs of commonly confused words. Learning how to correctly use these commonly confused words will help you avoid some of the most common spelling mistakes.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine a first person perspective on what it's like to witness a total solar eclipse. In this tutorial, you will study excerpts from “Total Eclipse,” an essay written by Annie Dillard. Your overarching goal will be to analyze Dillard’s word choices throughout a portion of her essay that focuses on the fear of the unknown.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Examine five pairs of commonly confused words in this interactive tutorial. This tutorial focuses on language and resolving issues of complex usage. You will examine pairs of words that are often confused in order to learn the correct use of each word. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to accurately use these ten commonly confused words.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" as you examine fourteen homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Learning how to use these homophones correctly in this interactive tutorial will help you avoid some of the most common spelling mistakes.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" as you examine eleven homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Learning how to use these homophones correctly in this interactive tutorial will help you avoid some of the most common spelling mistakes.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Avoid "doppelganger danger" as you examine twelve homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Learning how to use these homophones correctly in this interactive tutorial will help you avoid some of the most common spelling mistakes.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about adverb clauses, a flavorful ingredient that can enhance your sentences. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about adverb clauses and how these clauses can add interest, depth, and variety to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about adjective clauses, a flavorful sentence ingredient that can enhance your sentences. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about adjective clauses and how these clauses can add interest, depth, and variety to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by combining clauses. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn how to combine independent and dependent clauses to add interest, depth, and variety to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases in an informational text about the Bermuda Triangle in this three-part, interactive tutorial. In Part 2, you'll practice determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary using context clues and dictionary skills.
Click below to complete all three parts!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases in an informational text about the Bermuda Triangle in this three-part, interactive tutorial. In Part 3, you'll practice determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary using context clues and dictionary skills.
Click below to complete the first two parts.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases in an informational text about the Bermuda Triangle in this three-part, interactive tutorial. In Part 1, you'll practice determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary using context clues and dictionary skills.
Click below to complete all three parts!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to enhance your writing by using phrases. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn all about participle phrases. Using participle phrases will help add interest, depth, and variety to your writing!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Want to learn about Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous female aviators of all time? If so, then this interactive tutorial is for YOU! This tutorial is Part Two of a two-part series. In this series, you will study a speech by Amelia Earhart. You will practice identifying the purpose of her speech and practice identifying her use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, Kairos). You will also evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's rhetorical choices based on the purpose of her speech.
Please complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Want to learn about Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous female aviators of all time? If so, then this interactive tutorial is for YOU! This tutorial is Part One of a two-part series. In this series, you will study a speech by Amelia Earhart. You will practice identifying the purpose of her speech and practice identifying her use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, Kairos). You will also evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's rhetorical choices based on the purpose of her speech.
Please complete Part Two after completing this tutorial. Click HERE to view Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice analyzing word choices in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe in this interactive tutorial. In this tutorial, you will examine word meanings, examine subtle differences between words with similar meanings, and think about emotions connected to specific words. You will also analyze the impact of specific word choices on the meaning of the poem. This tutorial is Part Two of a two-part series on Poe's "The Raven."
Part One should be completed before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to open Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice analyzing word choices in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe in this interactive tutorial. In this tutorial, you will examine word meanings, examine subtle differences between words with similar meanings, and think about emotions connected to specific words. You will also analyze the impact of specific word choices on the meaning of the poem.
This tutorial is Part One of a two-part series on Poe's "The Raven." Click HERE to open Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice using textual details and connotative meanings to help you determine a narrator's tone in this two-part, interactive tutorial. This tutorial series features excerpts from Ayn Rand's dystopian novella, Anthem.
Make sure to complete Part One before you begin Part Two. Click HERE to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to create a Poem in 2 Voices in this interactive tutorial. This tutorial is Part Three of a three-part series. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a Poem in 2 Voices using evidence drawn from a literary text: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
You should complete Part One and Part Two of this series before beginning Part Three. Click HERE to launch Part One. Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to turn words into other words in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn tips for transforming nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, adjectives into adverbs, and much more!
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice writing different aspects of an expository essay about scientists using drones to research glaciers in Peru. This interactive tutorial is part four of a four-part series. In this final tutorial, you will learn about the elements of a body paragraph. You will also create a body paragraph with supporting evidence. Finally, you will learn about the elements of a conclusion and practice creating a “gift.”
This tutorial is part 1 of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 1)
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 2)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 3)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 4)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Acquire new vocabulary through this interactive tutorial. You'll learn definitions for 15 new words, as well as their parts of speech, their synonyms and antonyms, and you'll practice using them in context.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to write an introduction for an expository essay in this interactive tutorial. This tutorial is the third part of a four-part series. In previous tutorials in this series, students analyzed an informational text and video about scientists using drones to explore glaciers in Peru. Students also determined the central idea and key details of the text and wrote an effective summary. In part three, you'll learn how to write an introduction for an expository essay about the scientists' research.
This tutorial is part 1 of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 1)
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 2)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 3)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 4)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to analyze how the text structure, order of events, and relationships between events build throughout a text to create meaning in this interactive tutorial that features a chapter from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This tutorial is part two of a two-part series.
Part One should be completed before Part Two. Click to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to identify the central idea and key details of a text, as well as how to write an effective summary in this interactive tutorial. This tutorial is the second tutorial in a four-part series that examines how scientists are using drones to explore glaciers in Peru.
This tutorial is part 1 of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 1)
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 2)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 3)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 4)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about how researchers are using drones, also called unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, to study glaciers in Peru. In this interactive tutorial you will practice citing text evidence when answering questions about a text.
This tutorial is part 1 of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 1)
- Drones and Glaciers: Eyes in the Sky (Part 2)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 3)
- Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 4)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to analyze how the text structure, order of events, and relationships between events build throughout a text to create meaning in this interactive tutorial that features a chapter from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
This tutorial is part 1 of a 2-part series. Click HERE to open part 2.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice using textual details and connotative meanings to help you determine a narrator's tone in this two-part, interactive tutorial. This tutorial series features excerpts from Ayn Rand's dystopian novella, Anthem. Part One should be completed before beginning Part Two.
Click HERE to launch Part Two.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn ways to help you avoid plagiarism in this interactive tutorial. You will also learn how to follow a standard format for citation and how to format your research paper using MLA style. Along the way, you will also learn about master magician Harry Houdini. This tutorial is part two of a two-part series on research writing.
Part One should be completed before Part Two. Click to view Part One.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice creating a concluding paragraph for an argumentative essay. This tutorial will focus on four elements of an effective conclusion: transitions, summary, synthesis, and a gift.
This interactive tutorial is part 4 in a 4-part series about writing an essay. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1 - Planning Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 2 - Introductions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 3 - Body Paragraphs in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 4 - Conclusions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about paraphrasing and use of direct quotes in this interactive tutorial about research writing. Along the way, you'll also learn about master magician Harry Houdini. This tutorial is part one of a two-part series.
Check out Avoiding Plaigiarism: It's Not Magic here.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Practice creating a body paragraph for an argumentative essay on e-waste. This interactive tutorial will focus on four elements of an effective body paragraph: transitions; the topic sentence; reasons and evidence; and a brief wrap up.
This interactive tutorial is part 3 in a 4-part series about writing an essay. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1 - Planning Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 2 - Introductions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 3 - Body Paragraphs in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 4 - Conclusions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to create an organized, detailed introductory paragraph for an argumentative essay using the H.E.A.R.T. approach. H.E.A.R.T. is an acronym that standards for hook the reader, establish the context, address the argument, reveal the main points, and tie it together with transitions.
This interactive tutorial is part 2 in a 4-part series about writing an essay. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1 - Planning Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 2 - Introductions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 3 - Body Paragraphs in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 4 - Conclusions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how language functions in different contexts, and you will learn how to make effective choices for meaning or style in your own writing. You will learn how to integrate information into an original text selectively in order to maintain the flow of ideas, avoid plagiarism, and follow a standard format for citations while integrating source texts. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to read a source text, select relevant information from that text, and selectively integrate that information into your own writing, while correctly citing your sources.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to create an outline to help you prepare to write an essay. You will read an informational text about technotrash, also called electronic waste or e-waste. Then, you will work on creating an outline that could help you write an argumentative essay about this topic. The outline will include a claim or thesis statement, main ideas, reasons, evidence, counterclaims, and rebuttals.
This interactive tutorial is part 1 in a 4-part series about writing an essay. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1 - Planning Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 2 - Introductions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 3 - Body Paragraphs in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Part 4 - Conclusions in Argument Writing: E-Waste
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Acquire new vocabulary through this interactive tutorial. You'll learn definitions for 15 new words, as well as their parts of speech, their synonyms and antonyms, and you'll practice using them in context.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Review strategies for acquiring new vocabulary and then learn fifteen new words in this interactive tutorial. You'll also practice using the words in a variety of ways to help you add them to your vocabulary.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn several ways to determine the meaning of an unknown word, including context clues, word parts, and dictionary skills. In this interactive tutorial, you'll apply these strategies to text passages from John Muir's book A Thousand-mile Walk to the Gulf, which includes vivid descriptions of Florida in the late 1800s.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Review vocabulary strategies to use when you are unsure about the meaning of words in a text. We will also review the literary term tone. By the end of this tutorial you should be able to apply your skills to determine the meaning of unknown words in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. You should also be able to analyze the words and phrases that Lincoln uses in order to determine his tone in the Gettysburg Address.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore the topic of invasive exotics in Florida while you learn to distinguish relevant from irrelevant information in research sources, identify authoritative sources from a group of varied resources, and dissect a research question in order to identify keywords for a search of resources. With this interactive tutorial, you'll also learn to use advanced search features to find appropriate sources to address a research question and assess the usefulness of sources when addressing a specific research question.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how a speaker uses rhetoric to advance his purpose in this interactive tutorial. To achieve the final objective, you will learn how to determine a speaker’s purpose, identify different uses of rhetoric, and explain the impact of rhetoric on the speaker’s purpose. This tutorial will use excerpts from President Wilson's "War Message to Congress" from 1917.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Remember the Holocaust and consider the cost of indifference as you read selected excerpts from texts written by the late Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. In this interactive tutorial, you'll look carefully at his words so that we may think critically and deeply about his central ideas. You'll also identify the important supporting details of a central idea and explain how the central idea is refined by specific details.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to define and identify several literary elements, including theme, topic, and plot summary, and explain the differences between them as you focus on Scout—one of the main characters from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In this interactive tutorial you'll also analyze how her words, thoughts, and actions develop important themes of the novel and use your skills to develop a theme statement.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore types of figurative language, specifically personification and hyperbole, in the prologue of the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. In this interactive tutorial, you'll analyze the effect those figurative language elements have on the beginning of the story.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Identify examples of figurative language, specifically simile, metaphor, and personification, within two poems: William Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and William Shakespeare’s “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” With this interactive tutorial, you'll explore how each poet’s use of figurative language and word relationships contribute to a poem’s meaning.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.
In this tutorial, you will be working with excerpts from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” You should also be able to use dictionary entries to discover additional word meanings and confirm your predictions of what words mean. Finally, you should be able to examine a passage and use all of these strategies to determine the meanings of the words so that you can understand what Patrick Henry was trying to say to his fellow revolutionaries and statesmen.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Discover how to analyze and author's claim. Have you ever wanted to make a statement or have your voice heard? If so, you are not alone. Speakers and writers have been working to have their voices heard by making claims since communication first began. By the end of this tutorial you should be able to define what a claim is, determine an author’s claim, distinguish details in a text that develop an author’s claim, and discriminate details and techniques an author uses to refine a claim. More specifically, you will use these skills in this tutorial to closely examine two texts: one by Sojourner Truth and one by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to understand the rhetorical techniques that speakers use to advance their point of view. First, we will explore and answer the questions: What is rhetoric? What is the rhetorical triangle? What are modes? Then, you will learn how to identify and analyze how speakers use rhetorical techniques. Finally, you will identify the point of view in a speech and then explain how it is advanced through the use of rhetoric. You will then practice these skills on several speech excerpts.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to define the term theme and use some key literary elements such as characters, character traits, and plot to help you determine a theme. This interactive tutorial will also help you distinguish the difference between themes and topics in a work of literature and how to use topics in a story to help you determine themes. Then you'll work to determine a theme in a an excerpt from Book 12 of The Odyssey and then write a theme statement based on the evidence in the text.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Analyze a famous speech by the late-President Ronald Reagan to find what the text says directly and indirectly. This interactive tutorial will challenge you to prove your points with evidence by referring to what is explicitly or directly stated in a text, as well as show what textual evidence you used to infer what the author simply hinted at.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn about noun clauses, a flavorful ingredient that can enhance your sentences. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about noun clauses and how these clauses can add interest, depth, and variety to your writing.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Tutorials
This video provided by the team at the Purdue Owl is a great way to be introduced to formatting a paper in Microsoft Word (including things like titles, headings, page margins, line spacing, etc.) using MLA format. The video will show you exactly how to format your paper using your computer, screenshots of Microsoft Word will leave no confusion on how to follow each step.
Type: Tutorial
Learn how to create a Works Cited page with this step-by-step guide. A short video walks you through all of the formatting and style choices you need to make for your next source-based paper. It specifically explains what information must be included for the following sources: books, articles, maps, newspapers, websites, and more.
Type: Tutorial
In this activity from the Online Tutorial for Effective Writing of Northern Illinois University, you will take a pre-test to identify weaknesses in familiarity with, and use of, MLA and APA styles as well as using a formal writing style. After reviewing the mini-lesson on the missed items, you will be presented with additional interactive quizzes for each style type. The arrows at the bottom of each mini-lesson will lead you to these quizzes for extra practice and support.
Type: Tutorial
This activity from the Online Tutorial for Effective Writing from Northern Illinois University provides you with a pre-test to identify any weaknesses in understanding how to organize and revise your writing. After reviewing the mini-lesson on the missed items, you will be presented with additional interactive quizzes for each error type. The arrows at the bottom of each mini-lesson will lead you to these quizzes for extra practice and support.
Type: Tutorial
This activity From the Online Tutorial for Effective Writing from Northern Illinois University provides you with a pre-test to identify any weaknesses in the most common grammatical errors. After reviewing the mini-lessons on the missed items, you will be presented with additional interactive quizzes for each error type. The arrows at the bottom of each mini-lesson will lead you to these quizzes for extra practice and support.
Type: Tutorial
In this animated video from TEDed, you will learn about the power of metaphors in your reading and in your writing. The video explores questions like: "How do metaphors help us better understand the world?", as well as "What makes a good metaphor?"
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in recognizing parallel structure. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in maintaining parallel structure. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in maintaining parallel structure. You will get feedback after every typed response. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in recognizing parallel structure. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial you will learn how to use MLA format and documentation in your academic papers. You will be able to work at your own pace. Also, throughout the tutorial you will receive plenty of examples to model in your paper.
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in maintaining parallel structure. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in maintaining parallel structure. You will get feedback after every typed response. The site also includes an explanation of the rules of parallel structure that you can refer to as you complete this exercise.
Type: Tutorial
This is a guide to the composition and usage of clauses, including independent and dependent clauses. A PowerPoint and several practice quizzes are provided to help students with independent clauses and recognizing clause functions.
Type: Tutorial
This is a comprehensive guide that can help students with writing. This resource includes materials that will help students write in different formats, including personal essays, cause/effect papers, essays about literature, and research papers. There are materials that will help students with different aspects of the writing process, including how to develop an introduction or conclusion, how to write a thesis statement, and how to effectively use transitions.
Type: Tutorial
This is a comprehensive guide to the proper use of prepositions and prepositional phrases. Several interactive quizzes are provided.
Type: Tutorial
This is an online guide to adjective usage. It includes informational text about rules of adjective usage, a video from Schoolhouse Rock, and several interactive quizzes.
Type: Tutorial
This is a comprehensive guide to adverb usage. Detailed definitions, explanations, and examples are provided. It also provides links to two quizzes for students to individually practice their skills at using adverbs correctly. There is also a video from Schoolhouse Rock on adverbs.
Type: Tutorial
This is a comprehensive guide to conjunctions and their usage. The resource also includes the engaging video "Conjunction Junction" from Schoolhouse Rock; it explains the various functions of conjunctions.
Type: Tutorial
This is a comprehensive guide to the usage of nouns. Interactive quizzes are provided, as well as an engaging video from Schoolhouse Rock on the use of nouns.
Type: Tutorial
This guide explains how to vary sentence length and structure to add interest and expression to writing. It includes several online quizzes covering variety in modifier placement, variety in subject placement, and identifying sentence types. Quizzes include the correct answers with explanations.
Type: Tutorial
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