D.L.P. – Week SixGRADE SEVEN

Day One – Skills• Punctuation – Comma – Introductory Subordinate Clause

When a sentence begins with a subordinate (dependent) clause, the clause must be followed by a comma. If the subordinate clause ends the sentence, no commas separates it from the independent one.

• Redundancy – Elimination of

Redundancy means that a writer says something more than once. Being repetitive in writing is unnecessary. (Ex. In my opinion I believe)

• Numbers – As Words or Numerals

If the number is less than one hundred, it must be written as a word unless it is a score, weight, height, time, or date. If the number is over one hundred, be consistent in how it is written. Do not mix and match some words with some numerical aspects. (2 thousand is incorrect. It should be two thousand. 5 dollars is incorrect. It should be five dollars.)

Because a mongoose is less than two feet long you might expect it to lose in a fight with a cobra.

DAY ONE – SENTENCE ONE

Because a mongoose is less than two feet long, you might expect it to lose in a fight with a cobra.

Cobras can grow as long as up to 6 feet in length.

DAY ONE – SENTENCE TWO

Cobras can grow up to six feet in length.

Day Two – Skills• Punctuation – Colon –Items in a Series

When a list of items is included in a sentence so that the reader is warned that a list is coming, a colon must precede the list. However, if the reader gets no forewarning that a list will be coming, no colon is needed.

• Plurals – Formation of

Most nouns are made plural by simply adding an s or es. (boys, churches) However, some words change completely in their spelling. (tooth-teeth, child-children) Some nouns remain the same whether they are singular or plural. (fish, moose) When unsure of how a plural is spelled, check a dictionary.

• Punctuation – Comma – Items in a Series

If more than two items are used in a list, this is called items in a series. Each item in the list must be separated by a comma including a comma before the conjunction.

Cobras live in: Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies.

DAY TWO – SENTENCE ONE

Cobras live in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies.

Mongeese can kill mice rats and snakes.

DAY TWO – SENTENCE TWO

Mongooses can kill mice, rats, and snakes.

Day Three– Skills• Agreement – Subjects that are Compound

Compound subjects connected by and are plural which then makes them need a plural verb. When compound subjects are connected by either/or or neither/nor, the subject of the second part is made to match the verb. (either the book or the papers are…. neither the books or the paper is)

• Spelling – ie/ei

Most English words follow the rule, “I before e except after c.” Hence, these words are spelled as such: piece and ceiling.

• Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences occur when two complete thoughts run together without proper connection or punctuation. Run-ons can be corrected in one of three ways. First, simply separate the two sentences with proper end punctuation. However, if the two sentences can be connected by meaning, connect them with a comma and the proper conjunction. Finally, the two sentences can have a semicolon placed between them in the clauses relate closely in meaning. Note that the sentence following the semicolon would not begin with a capital unless that word is a proper noun or the pronoun I.

Neither the mongoose nor the cobra are found roaming freely in North America.

DAY THREE – SENTENCE ONE

Neither the mongoose nor the cobra is found roaming freely in North America.

The mongoose is a feirce animal it can be tamed.

DAY THREE – SENTENCE TWO

The mongoose is a fierce animal, but it can be tamed.

Day Four– Skills• Verb Usage – To Choose

The verb choose is an action verb that is irregular. In the past it loses an o to form chose. In the past participle it changes to chosen.

• Confused Words – its/it’s

Its is a possessive pronoun. It’s is a contraction formed by combining it and is. Both of these words must fit in the sentence for the contraction to be used.

• Modifiers – Misplaced

A misplaced modifier occurs when the word(s) used to describe something are not placed in the sentence properly. Sometimes the modifier is simply too far away from what it describes. At other times, the modifier is placed near something else that it mistakenly describes.

The cobra choosed it’s victim carefully.

DAY FOUR – SENTENCE ONE

The cobra chose its victim carefully.

The cobra attacked the bird with a sharp twist.

DAY FOUR – SENTENCE TWO

With a sharp twist, the cobra attacked the bird.

Day Five– Skills• Punctuation – Period in an Abbreviation

When a word is abbreviated, a period must be used to show that the word has been shortened. (Mister – Mr. street – st.)

• Capitalization – Proper Nouns – Organizations

Names of specific organizations and government departments need to be capitalized. Follow the rules for capitalization in a title to decide which words in the multi-word name are capitalized.

• Punctuation – Comma – Coordinate Adjectives

Two adjectives next to each other that could include the word and between them should be separated by a comma. (big, red boat)

Mongooses can’t be brought into the US without a permit from the bureau of sport fisheries and wildlife.

DAY FIVE – SENTENCE ONE

Mongooses can’t be brought into the U.S. without a permit from the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.

A mongoose has stiff yellowish-gray hair with brownish-black streaks.

DAY FIVE – SENTENCE TWO

A mongoose has stiff, yellowish-gray hair with brownish-black streaks.