Hamilton HS Business and Interactive Technology
Ms. Amber Allen
Fall 2009
Grammar Girl Assignments
Objectives: Students will become familiar with, understand, and apply grammar
conventions and grammatical language in their writing and speaking. Students will enjoy
grammar.
Standards: 1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions – Students write and
speak with a command of Standard English conventions. (1.1 – control of grammar,
diction, and sentences, 1.2 – accurate spelling and punctuation, and 1.3 – manuscript
requirements.)
Procedure: Students will listen online to a podcast from
www.grammar.quickanddirtytips.com. They will post a 3-5 sentence summary of what
they just learned, they will give two examples of the topic addressed in the podcast, and
then they will respond to a classmate’s post. This post will go on
www.candyanddirt.blogspot.com.
Assignment: After listening to or reading the podcast, type a 3-5 sentence summary
(remember, a summary states the main idea, then major points from the article, but all in
your own words). Come up with 2 original examples that show you understand the
grammar rule or concept just presented in the podcast. Finally, read a few of your
classmate’s posts, then respond to one of the posts. The response should be insightful, a
correction, or a question. It should not be whether you liked it or not. Explain what was
helpful about what the person wrote, what was wrong, or why you do not understand
what the person wrote.
Note: Any copying from the podcast script itself will result in a zero for the assignment;
that is plagiarism.
Assessment/Grading:
There may be a pop quiz on Grammar Girl podcasts at any time. Be aware. Grammar
Girl questions will also be on the final exam.
A – The post includes a 3-5 sentence thoughtful summary, 2 original examples, and 1
meaningful response to a classmate.
B – The post includes a 3-5 sentence somewhat thoughtful summary, 1 original example
or 2 incorrect examples, and 1 meaningful response to a classmate.
C – The post includes a 3-5 sentence summary, but is not really thoughtful. The
examples may be there, but do not demonstrate understanding. There is no meaningful
response to a classmate.
D – The post includes a 1-2 sentence summary, but shows little or no understanding of
the podcast. The examples my be there, but demonstrate no understanding. There is no
respond to a classmate.
F – The post was copied from the podcast or was not done.
Due Dates: All Grammar Girls are due on a Tuesday.
Reading the code below: GG = Grammar Girl. The next number is the order in which
they are assigned, a total of 16 different lessons. The number after the period is the
number of the episode, according to the Grammar Girl website. The title is also listed, so
make sure you do the correct podcast. Ask questions if you are confused or unsure.
GG# 1.103: “Subject-Verb Agreement” - September 15
GG#2.30: “Sentence Fragments” - September 22
GG#3.49: “Run-on Sentences” - September 29
GG#4.136: “Complex-Compound Sentences” - October 06
GG#5.45: “Comma Splice” - October 13
GG#6.42: “Semicolons” - October 20
GG#7.92: “Apostrophes” - October 27
GG#8.55: “Misplaced Modifiers” - November 03
GG#9.141: “Appositives” - November 10
GG#10.59: “Ellipses” - November 17
GG#11.46: “Active voice versus Passive Voice” - November 24
GG#12.153: “Do you overuse "Of"?” - December 01
GG#13.180: “How to use parallel structure correctly” - December 08
GG#14.125: “Comparatives versus Superlatives” - December 15
GG#15.12: “Wordiness and Idioms” - January 12
GG#16.18: “Excessive Redundant Redundancies”- January 19
Note: The two necessary websites are below:
www.grammar.quickanddirtytips.com
www.candyanddirt.blogspot.com