1. Edit-Me Monday
Subject & Predicates: Copy the sentences. Underline complete subject. Circle the simple subject. Draw two lines under each compound predicate, and draw a box around each simple predicate in the compound predicate.
1. The star of the show is a bottle-nosed dolphin.
2. A dolphin breathes and expels water through a blowhole on its head.
Objects, Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives : Copy the sentence. Label the term that described the boldfaced word. Is it a direct object, indirect object, predicate adjective, or predicate noun?
3. Many varieties of tuna are valuable to fisherman.
Appositives: Copy the sentence. Underline the appositive.
4. The sound waves bounce off the object and return to the dolphin, a creature sensitive to such waves.
Prepositional Phrases: Copy the sentence. Underline the prepositional phrase. Circle the preposition. Draw a box around its object.
5. Humans have been very fond of dolphins for a long time.
Verbals: Draw a line under the simple subject. Draw two lines under the simple predicate. Draw a box around each participial phrase. Circle each infinitive phrase.
6. You can learn to tell alligators and crocodiles apart.
Sentences: Add the correct punctuation. Label the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory.
7. What an awesome sight a moose is

2. Test Prep Tuesday
Think about the five (5) W’s and one (1) H – who, what, when, where, why and how. Think about how you can use them to explain what is happening in a text. The word explain appears frequently on Reading Tests. Knowing this word will help you understand what is being asked in the question, bettering your chance of arriving at the correct answer.
Read the short passage. The words in parenthesis are synonyms for difficult vocabulary.
“As I rounded the next bend, I saw a startlingly large, black feline cross the road with an unhurried, sinuous (twisting), fluid movement. Its thick, sinewy (strong) shoulders suggested massive strength and speed, like that of engine pistons. As it passed, it turned to stare at me and its great, yellow, black- slitted orbs (circles) were caught in the headlights. I noticed it’s pricked, tufted ears and its short, coarse, raven-black coat before it turned, raising and waving its curved snake of a tail as if making a victory salute. The spectral vision dissolved into the bushes, leaving me with a thumping heart and the feeling that I had witnessed a supernatural manifestation (act).” 1. Write the (5) W’s and (1) H for this passage.
2. Write three examples of words and/or phrases from the text to explain how the author describes what is happening.

3. Word Work Wednesday
Synonyms: Read the words given and add another synonym that has nearly the same meaning as the group of words.
rich, lavish, plentiful, abundant, _____________
to ridicule, mock, deride, jeer, _______________
carefully, prudently, gingerly, ________________
to contaminate, pollute, sully, _______________
impassive, phlegmatic, unresponsive, _____________
a costume, semblance, a pretense, _______________
harsh, bleak, forbidding, saturnine, ______________
provisional, inconclusive, questionable, _____________
cunning, underhanded, perfidious, ________________
word for word, exact, verbatim, _________________

4. Rewrite these weak thesis statements to make them better.
Thoughtful Thursday
Identifying Claims for Arguments: In each row below, compare the statements in the first and second columns. Then explain why the statement in the Better Claim column is more effective as a claim for an argumentative essay.
Weak Claim
Better Claim
Explanation
Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger and first published in 1951.
Catcher in the Rye describes the difficulties of growing up anywhere, not just in the United States. 1.
Many adults enjoy reading novels.
Reading novels such as Catcher in the Rye helps students to develop their imagination. 2.
I liked Huckleberry Finn more than Catcher in the Rye.
Huckleberry Finn tells readers more about American culture than does Catcher in the Rye. 3.
Rewrite these weak thesis statements to make them better.
4. In his article Stanley Fish shows that we don't really have the right to free speech.
5. This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.
There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment.
The government has the right to limit free speech.

5. Poetry Friday
Grammar in Poetry: Let’s review some grammar.
1. Do you remember the parts of speech? There are eight, list them.
Parts of Speech Poem: A parts of speech poem has 5 lines and must follow the format below: Line 1 is one article and one noun, Line 2 is an adjective, a conjunction, and another adjective, Line 3 is one verb, one conjunction, and one verb, Line 4 is one adverb, Line 5 is one noun or pronoun that relates to line one
2. Directions: Write out the 8 parts of speech. Following the poem format above, write your own Parts of Speech poem
Example: “Winston”
A Pug
Wrinkly and silly
Playing or eating
Adorably
Winnie
-Mrs. May