NMMS 2021 WRITING CAMP - The Conventions Pyramid!

NMMS 2022 WRITING CAMP - The Conventions Pyramid!

IF EVERYONE GETS TO THE TOP OF THIS PYRAMID THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB ON THE FSA!!

Multiple Choice

The _____ separates each item in a list of words or phrases in a sentence.

• Comma ,

• Question mark ?

• Apostrophe ‘

Multiple Choice

We use a ____ to indicate that a sentence is asking something.

• Quotation mark “

• Question mark ?

• Exclamation point !

Multiple Choice

The _____ indicates that a sentence is a statement.

• Period .

• Semi-colon ;

• Comma ,

Multiple Choice

An ______ is added to a word, often along with the letter “s,” to indicate possession.

• Semi-colon ;

• Quotation mark “

• Apostrophe ‘

Multiple Choice

The ______ is used in pairs to surround words that are dialogue or copied text.

• Quotation mark “

• Exclamation point !

• Semi-colon ;

Multiple Choice

You can use a ______ to connect two complete sentences that are closely related.

• Question mark ?

• Exclamation point !

• Semi-colon ;

Multiple Choice

Use the ______ to separate two independent clauses that are joined by a conjunction.

• Period .

• Comma ,

• Quotation mark “

Multiple Choice

You use the _____ to show a shouted or strongly emotional statement.

• Apostrophe ‘

• Quotation mark “

• Exclamation point !

Multiple Choice

When two words are contracted into one, the _____ joins them, indicating missing letter(s.)

For example, “do not” becomes “don’t” and “will not” becomes “won’t.”

• Comma ,

• Question mark ?

• Apostrophe ‘

Multiple Choice

The ____ indicates the abbreviation of a word, title, or name.

For example, “Doctor” becomes “Dr.” and “government” becomes “govt.”

• Semi-colon ;

• Question mark ?

• Period .

Choose the correct homophone in the following sentences.

​

Multiple Choice

I will (meet, meat) you at seven o’clock tonight.

• meet

• meat

Multiple Choice

The (dear, deer) ran across the road, and I had to slam on my brakes to miss it.

• dear

• deer

Multiple Choice

(Their, They’re) going to Italy for two weeks.

• Their

• They’re

Don't let them confuse you:

• Their – possessive plural

• They’re – they are

• There – where

Multiple Choice

Try not to (brake, break) the silence in the room.

• brake

• break

Multiple Choice

We have one more (weak, week) of school before spring break!

• weak

• week

Multiple Choice

The fire (wood, would) was all wet from the rain outside.

• wood

• would

Multiple Choice

We are going (there, their) tomorrow after school.

• there

• their

Multiple Choice

I feel (weak, week) because I did not have breakfast this morning.

• weak

• week

Multiple Choice

My (aunt, ant) gave me one hundred dollars for my birthday.

• aunt

• ant

Multiple Choice

Her voice was (horse, hoarse) from all the yelling at the football game last night.

• horse

• hoarse

Multiple Choice

The (dough, doe) needs to sit out for a while before I can make it into a pizza crust.

• dough

• doe

Multiple Choice

They went (threw, through) the tunnel to the underground city.

• threw

• through

Multiple Choice

My dog, Lillie, always wags her (tail, tale) when I walk in the door.

• tail

• tale

Multiple Choice

Can you try to untie this (not, knot) please?

• not

• knot

Multiple Choice

We (blue, blew) bubbles at the bride and groom when they walked out of church.

• blue

• blew

Multiple Choice

Simon is a great storyteller. He tells the best tall (tails, tales).

• tails

• tales

Multiple Choice

We have one more (weak, week) of school before spring break!

• weak

• week

Multiple Choice

A frog ____

• leap

• leaps

Multiple Choice

The dogs ___

• bark

• barks

Multiple Choice

She ____ well.

• does

• do

Multiple Choice

They ___ well.

• does

• do

Multiple Choice

We ___ to the bus stop.

• run

• runs

Multiple Choice

____ sings beautifully.

• She

• They

Multiple Choice

____ wash clothes.

• He

• They

Multiple Choice

The ___ play outside.

• children

• child

Multiple Choice

The bird ____ seeds.

• eat

• eats

Multiple Choice

The cars ____ very slowly.

• drive

• drives

Multiple Choice

They ___ very funny.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Many people helped the United States gain independence.

• some people, however, fought against them.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Travis said, “Another one of those people was Paul Revere.”

• Bob stated, “the first person in space was really a dog!”

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• “My favorite song,” declared Socrates, “is by john coltrane.”

• “I read a famous poem,” said Kim, “about Paul Revere.”

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• Dear mr. Okafor,

• Dear Ms. Adams,

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• In 2012 President Obama ran for reelection.

• In 1918 president Wilson planned the League of Nations.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• Bob Newhart, phd.

• Eve Tanaka, M.D.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• Carl Healy jr.

• Carl Healy Sr.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• My Aunt Meg spent marched for women’s rights when she was in high school.

• My aunt Peg organized her classmates in an act of civil disobedience.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is incorrect?

• Chicago

• Dade County

• Hawai’i

• spain

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• the house of representatives

• North Miami Middle School

• the senate

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• snickers candy bar

• Converse basketball shoes

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• All real New Yorkers wear Black puffa jackets.

• No true miamian goes to south beach.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• Chinese cooking

• german football

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• The Middle Ages

• The renaissance

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is incorrect?

• Friday

• July

• autumn

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct?

• Vietnamese

• chilean

Multiple Choice

We do not ____ new ideas.

• accept

• except

ACCEPT –

“to receive”

​

Multiple Choice

They are _____ for new ideas.

• all ready

• already

ALL READY - “completely prepared”

​

Multiple Choice

Few people ____ scientists understand outer space.

• except

• accept

EXCEPT -

“other than”

​

Multiple Choice

Ideas have ____ changed.

• Already

• All ready

ALREADY -

“before” or

“by this time”

​

Multiple Choice

The planets _____ weigh less than the sun.

• all together

• altogether

ALL TOGETHER -

“in a group”

​

Multiple Choice

In May the moon appeared ____ Mars.

• beside

• besides

BESIDE - “next to”

​

Multiple Choice

Most stars are _____ too distant to study.

• all together

• altogether

ALTOGETHER - “completely”

​

Multiple Choice

_____ Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus have rings.

• Besides

• Beside

BESIDES -

“in addition to”

​

Multiple Choice

Mercury is ____ Venus and the Sun.

• between

• among

BETWEEN -

Use "between" for two people or things.

​

Multiple Choice

____ a planet to study.

• Choose

• Chose

CHOOSE -

“to select;”

present tense

​

Multiple Choice

Last year we ____ Mars.

• choose

• chose

CHOSE –

“selected;”

past tense

​

Multiple Choice

Meteor trails are seen ____ the stars.

• among

• between

AMONG - Use "among" when talking about groups of three or more.

​

Multiple Choice

The drought ____ plant growth.

• effected

• affected

AFFECT is usually a verb that means "to act on or change someone or something."

​

*Affect can be a noun which refers to an observable emotional response. For example, "His affect did not change after hearing the news."​

​

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/affect-vs-effect-usage-difference

​

​

Multiple Choice

The second cup of coffee had no ____.

• effect

• affect

EFFECT is usually a noun that means "a change that results when something is done or happens," or "a particular feeling or mood created by something."​

​

*Effect can be a verb. As a verb, effect generally means "to cause to come into being" or "accomplish." For example, "The strike effected change within the company."

​

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/affect-vs-effect-usage-difference​

​

Multiple Choice

Construction will ____ traffic in the area.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

He added a scarf to the outfit for stylish ____.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

The law goes into ____ next week.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

The compost positively ____ plant growth.

• affected

• effected

THAN is used in comparisons

​

THEN indicates time.

​

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/when-to-use-then-and-than

​

​

Multiple Choice

We will have to wait until ___.

• than

• then

Multiple Choice

She is taller ___ I am.

• than

• then

Multiple Choice

I am sorry for your ___.

• lost

• loss

Multiple Choice

I don't want to ___ all of the money that I worked for and saved.

• loose

• lose

Multiple Choice

That cell phone case is ___.

• mine's

• mine

Multiple Choice

My favorite neighbors when I was little were the ____.

• Kennedy's

• Kennedys

Multiple Choice

The funniest dog in the neighborhood was the ____.

• Kennedys

• Kennedys'

Multiple Choice

Any animal can be dangerous if you get too close to __ baby.

• its

• it's

Multiple Choice

___ a really amazing turn of event.

• It's

• Its

ITS is possessive (belonging to)

​

IT'S is a contraction for "it is."

​

​

​

Multiple Choice

What is a passing score on the FSA Writing Examination?

• 5

• 7

• 25

Multiple Choice

Which acronym is used to remember the FSA Writing rubric?

• PEC - Purpose, focus, & organization; Evidence & elaboriation; and Conventions

• RAM - Remember And Make it happen

• PSA - Please Stay Awake

Multiple Choice

If your essay is organized, uses a variety of transitional strategies, and maintains an objective tone then you are doing well with which rubric category?

• Purpose, focus, & organization

• Evidence & elaboration

• Conventions

Multiple Choice

Objective writing does not mean ___

• the writer is not taking sides

• the writer is sticking to just the facts

• the writer is sharing all of her his their personal opinions about the topic

Multiple Choice

What does the "A" stand for in RAFT?

• awesome

• eager

• audience

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of essay formats used in the FSA?

• argumentative and informative/explanatory

• aspirational and inspirational

• apologetic and antiseptic

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: Planning before you write is a very important part of getting your highest score on the FSA.

• TRUE

• false

Multiple Choice

As I read the articles, I _____ evidence from the articles that support my 2 or 3 reasons from the planning sheet (I label each evidence R1, R2, or R3 for the reason it supports)

• underline

• ignore

• erase

Multiple Choice

After reading all the articles, I _____ to my Planning Sheet to see if I need to make changes my claim and/or my reasons.

• return

• ignore

• lie

Multiple Choice

Your introduction paragraph should NOT start with ____.

• an attention grabber

• a hook

• a thesis

Multiple Choice

When writing an argumentative essay, your thesis statement should be ____

• your claim plus your reasons

• a rhetorical question

• a drawn out anecdote

Multiple Choice

How does every paragraph in an essay start?

• indenting

• skipping lines

• emojis

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE:

I am going to try my very best on the FSA Writing Exam.

• TRUE

• false

That's it!

How did we do?

NOU SE NOU

Sapre aude​