8th Grade Language Arts Skills

Reading | Writing | Elements of Language | Review Help
Page last edited 2/27/2009
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a site for teachers | a PowerPoint show | Adobe Acrobat document | a Word document sound | video format | interactive lesson | a quiz | lesson plan | to print

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1. Asking Questions - the types of questions depend on the answer to that first important question: Why am I reading this? Once you establish a purpose for yourself, you can then ask which questions will help you achieve that goal. This page asks students to rank a set of questions on a scale of one to five.
2. Questioning Toolkit - seventeen types of questions from the educational journal, FNO

1. Antonyms - find antonym of words
2. Synonym & Antonym Word Encounters - Level 1 words | Level 2 words | Level 3 words
3. Synonym.com - type a word in the box and find a synonym, or antonym, of the word.
4. Words with multiple meanings - students fill in the blanks from a word list
5. Context is the Key - students use context clues to determine the meaning of a word
6. Using Multiple Meanings - students decide which sentences use a word correctly
7. Say it Another Way - Fill in the blank with a synonym for the missing word.
8. The Thesaurus - a reference book that lists words and their synonyms - Drag and drop the words to the right thesaurus entry.

1. Captions Help Tell the Story - students look at three pictures and try to determine which caption fits best
2. Looking for the Fine Print - students read advertisements to practice reading critically
3. News Stories with Comprehension Quizzes [from the BBC] - (1) White loafers and passport control, (2) Hungry ferrett causes rail scare, (3) Dyslexic boy's site wins top award, (4) Otters head for towns and cities, (5) Demolition fears after city blaze.
   1. News Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC - Choose carefully, not all of these would be appropriate for 8th grade students. Also, take a look at a section of stories which include math in the news and the quiz
4. Using Graph and Charts
   1. Interpreting a Data Chart - students practice by answering questions about what can be found in a grid chart
   2. Interpreting Column Graphs - students practice by answering ten questions about the graph
   3. Interpreting Circle (Pie) Graphs - students practice by answering eight questions about the graph
5. Read All About It! - Newspapers are divided into standard sections. Students use sections to predict where types of stories would be found
6. Reading Headlines - students read eight headlines and try to determine what the article is about
7. Reading Headlines - Match the newspaper headlines on the left to the newspaper section on the right.
8. What’s On a Map? - eight questions about using various parts of a map

1. Concept Maps Explained - Concept maps and story webs are visual ways to structure ideas. (sample included
2. Five main types of organizers - links showing examples of many types
3. Short Story Elements - online quiz

1. Finding the Main Idea
2. Locating the Main Ideas of Paragraphs with Main-Idea Maps
3. Main Idea - The main idea of a passage or reading is the central thought or message.
4. Main Idea - Building Blocks of Comprehension
5. Main Idea - The main idea of a paragraph is what all the sentences are about. Read the paragraph and ask, “What’s your point?”
6. Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure - Challenge your students by letting them practice using a reading comprehension test designed for prospective teachers. (This site recommends that you use a printed copy of the page)
7. Reading Comprehension - free reading comprehension worksheets for teachers and parents - includes original stories, poems, essays, and articles
8. Summarize as You Read - When you summarize, eliminate unnecessary details. Focus on the main idea of the whole passage.
9. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 1 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
10. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 2 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
11. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 3 - a bit harder than 1 & 2 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." Then add another example that could be included in that group. Be as specific as you can. - a worksheet to print, not interactive

1. Making The Relationship Explicit Between Your Ideas - from UniLearning - Academic Writing
2. Cause and Effect Diagrams - Lesson showing how to think through causes of a problem
3. Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer - Use this to help determine relationships.
4. Cause and Effect Lesson - explore some cause and effect situations using graphic organizers
5. Cause-and-Effect Writing Challenges Students - The cause-and-effect relationship is both a way of thinking and a format for writing. Teachers who emphasize cause-and-effect writing say that they are helping students learn to think critically as well as write cogently. Read what three experienced teachers have to say about this teaching approach, which can be used with students of all ages. This is an article from Education World magazine .

1. Drawing Inferences - how to be a critical reader
2. How are They Selling It? - students read three advertisements and evaluate the type of persuasive writing being employed
3. Inference Notes - Use this diagram to help interpret inferences.
4. Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions - descriptions of the various ways to aid you in reaching a conclusion
5. Rules of Inference - Lesson discussing the rules of inference.
6. Teaching Students to Make Inferences

1. Guess What Comes Next - students read a passage and predict what would happen next
2. The World's Greatest Contralto by Babette Albin - As you read the story, write your questions and ideas about it on another sheet of paper. Then complete the next page.
3. Prediction Guide - Guided questions help students in making, grounding and revisiting their predictions.

1. Looking for the Fine Print - students read advertisements to practice reading critically

1. Complete sentence using correct vocabulary word - select easy, medium or hard
2. Match the Definition Exercises: - Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 (These activities are not interactive, but the answers are at the bottom of this page)
3. Rootonym - Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 - studying the roots/cells: cess/ced, cept/cip and cur.
4. Vocabulary University - acquire and retain vocabulary.
5. Rooty's Weekly Root - Three Rootonym® puzzles per week with 4 words per puzzle

1. Reading for a Purpose - Nine activities to check understanding about the purposes of different sorts of text
2. Different Types of Text - Do you understand the purpose of different text types and the main differences between them? Online quizzes
3. The writer's purpose and voice - from a site on preparing for the GRE
4. Finding the purpose of each paragraph - from a site on preparing for the GRE
5. Writing to Persuade - Persuasion means making someone with a different point of view from your own change their mind to your way of thinking.
6. Sample assignment - Invent an X-ray satellite, name it, draw a picture of it. Write a one- to two-page persuasion letter addressed to your Congressperson or essay for your local newspaper in order to obtain funding for your X-ray astronomy mission.
7. Writing to Persuade Rubric - Perhaps your students can understand writing to persuade better by seeing this rubric.

1. Walk Two Moons: An Integrated Unit - integrated study combining setting, theme, point of view, character, and plot with geography and geometry

1. An Overview of Poetry - a comprehensive show on the topic of rhythm and rhyme
2. Poetry Terms - [this link opens on a new page] Quia quiz; tools a poet uses to convey a message

1. A one-page handout giving examples of each poetic device
2. A concept map to use when you work with your students on these topics
3. A Fun Way to Teach Similes - a lesson idea from Bruce Lansky
4. Alliteration or Simile - Choose whether each statement is an alliterative phrase, simile or neither.
5. Bud, Not Buddy - [these links open on new pages] quizzes on similes & metaphors Matching | Flashcards | Concentration
6. Chasing Metaphors - students explore the figurative language of metaphors by turning a series of objects, concepts, events, or characters into metaphors, first in written form and then by creating a video with images, text, and sound [Quick Time required]
7. Do you know your metaphors? - drag words to make a metaphor
8. Do you know your similes? - drag the nouns to complete a Simile (Refresh the page to get a new set.)
9. Figurative Language - terms, definitions, and an example
10. Figurative Language Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] alliteration, similes and metaphors, personification, connotation and imagery
11. Literary Devices Quizzes - [these links open on new pages] similes, metaphors, personification, slang/dialect and allusions - Matching | Concentration | Flashcards
12. Metaphor Lists - a selection of metaphors by category, complete with sample usage and interpretation
13. Metaphor Battleship Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] Quia quiz using the Battleship game format
14. Metaphor Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] a five-question quiz at Quia
15. Mataphor Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] a ten-question quiz at Quia
16. Metaphor Quiz to print
17. Poetic Devices - a classroom sign about the forms of poetic devices
18. Poetry writing practice web .
19. Practicing onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, simile and metaphor
    1. Word Play 1 | Word Play 2 | Word Play 3 | Word Play 4 | Word Play 5 | Word Play 6
20. Simile lesson with a printable quiz
21. Simile Quiz to print
22. Similes and Metaphors - Identify the comparison in each sentence as a simile or a metaphor [ignore the email address blank].

1. Fact Monster Analogy of the Day
2. Analogy Quiz which requires students to type the word to complete the analogy
3. Analogy Lesson from Diana Dell
4. Analogy quiz 1 [this link opens on a new page] at Quia posted by Diana Dell
5. Analogy quiz 2 [this link opens on a new page] at Quia posted by Diana Dell
6. Awesome Analogies [this link opens on a new page] for one or two players - posted at Quia
7. Discovery School Analogy Quizzes
   1. AnalogyQuiz8
   2. AnalogyQuiz9
   3. AnalogyQuiz10
8. Puzz.com has a quiz with 152 analogies - pick one or two a day and practice this valuable skill
9. Analogy PowerPoint Show template - you make modifications to use with your students

1. Text Types- Online game helping learn about the different text types such as persuasion, informative, descriptive, or instructive.
2. Analyzing Political Ads - Students will view current political ads and learn how they make use of various commercial ad appeals. Students will also develop familiarity with basic videography terms.
3. Affluenza: A PBS Program - Lessons such as "Be an Adbuster!" and "What are Advertisers Selling?" are based on Affluenza, a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over consumption. The lessons can be used without the video.

1. Point of View - Exploring Point of View
2. Point of View - Definition of Point of view
3. Point of View and Why it is important - Ian Bone; PDF format
4. Point of View Exercise - Can use this as a class activity
5. Point of View - Two Heads Aren't Always Better Than One - suggestions regarding choosing a point of view for your writing
6. Point of View - Beginning Writer's Craft ( free webhost; could be blocked by some school filters)
7. Characters and Point of View - " The point of view -- how you choose to tell your story -- determines the voice of your writing."

1. Point of View; Third Person - lesson plan

1. Foreign Words and Phrases - The English meanings given are not necessarily literal translations.
2. Common foreign phrases - Select a language and find familiar phrases.
3. Common Foreign Words and Phrases - How many foreign phrases do you know? Can you guess the translation?

1. A concept map to use when you work with your students on these topics
2. Poetic Devices - a classroom sign about the forms of poetic devices
3. Shakespearean alliteration insults - have fun while reinforcing the concept of alliteration

1. Proverbs Around the World- Analyze information and assess meaning from prior knowledge - Print this sheet and have group discussions on meanings.

1. Writing Dialogue - "Personally, I think dialogue can make or break a story. Here are some tips I’ve discovered that may help you with yours," said Elizabeth Rose.
2. Writing Dialogue - This is a dialogue sheet which can be used to teach students to include the basic characteristics of good dialogue in their own writing. The form may be modified to include whatever characteristics the instructor desires.
3. 12 Exercises for Improving Dialogue from the Writer's Resource Center
4. Narrative and Dialogue - A Contrast In Writing Styles

1. Using Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart to illustrate verbal and situational irony
2. Critical Concepts - Verbal Irony
3. Critical Concepts - Dramatic Irony

1. Using Picture Books to Explore Identity, Stereotyping, and Discrimination - Lesson plan with handouts.
2. Censorship in the Classroom - Lesson plan with handouts
3. Native Americans - EdSITEment Lesson plan
4. Holiday Stereotyping - Lesson Plan with handouts

1. Stressed and unstressed syllables - Use these rules to help with base words.
2. Word emphasis - change meaning of sentence by the stress put on words.

1. Brainchild Test - (This quiz opens in a new page. Close the page when finished to return to this list.) 12 questions - Students should use the summary page after finishing this test to practice their areas of weakness.
2. Eighth Grade Reading - Read the introduction and the passage that follows. Then read each question and mark the circle next to the correct answer.
3. How are They Selling It - students read three advertisements and evaluate the type of persuasive writing being employed
4. Inflation in Russia - read and answer questions
5. Looking for the Fine Print - students read advertisements to practice reading critically
6. News Stories with Comprehension Quizzes [from the BBC] - (1) White loafers and passport control, (2) Hungry ferrett causes rail scare, (3) Dyslexic boy's site wins top award, (4) Otters head for towns and cities, (5) Demolition fears after city blaze.
   1. News Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC - Choose carefully, not all of these would be appropriate for 8th grade students. Also, take a look at a section of stories which include math in the news and the quiz
7. Read a Contract - and answer questions
8. Reading Comprehension Quiz - Online quiz
9. Reading Comprehension stories - Interactive quizzes online for 5 stories - Each text is followed by a grammar exercise and summary writing exercise.
10. Reading Exercises - Comprehension, Fill in and Sequencing
11. What are They Selling - students critically evaluate six advertisements

1. Persuasive Writing
2. The Five Paragraph Essay Wizard - Persuasive Essay and prompts (Note: this free site will occasionally exceed its allocated data transfer)
3. The Power of Persuasive Writing is a three week communication skills and interdisciplinary middle school Internet project. (a WebQuest)
4. Which Writing? (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] Students choose an appropriate format for writing. (Author - Carol Rine)

1. The Colon - an explanation from The Guide to Grammar and Writing
2. Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
3. Semicolons in Compound Sentences - Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses in a compound sentence.
4. Semicolon and Colon Quiz - this quiz is interactive and self checking
5. Grammar and Style: Semicolons - from the Writer's Handbook
6. Using Colons Effectively - Click on "The sentence, please!" and a sentence to edit will appear in the top text-area.
7. Using Commas - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
8. Proofreading for Commas - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
9. Review: The Comma - Using a separate sheet of paper, rewrite each sentence to correct the comma usage. (answers provided)
10. A Brief, No-Nonsense Guide to Comma Usage (plus a great cartoon)

1. Bibliographic Blunders (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] use note cards to collect information. (Author - Carolyn Garner)
2. Take Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph of a news story

1. Transitions indicate relations, whether from sentence to sentence, or from paragraph to paragraph. This is a list of "relationships" that supporting ideas may have, followed by a list of "transitional" words and phrases  that can connect those ideas:
2. Using Transitions - Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper
3. Writing Research Papers: Transition Words and Phrases
4. Writing Academic Essays - transition words
5. A chart of the transitional devices - also called conjunctive adverbs or adverbial conjunctions
6. Transitional Devices (Connecting Words) - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
7. Transitional Devices - transitional guides are connectives (symbols,words, phrases; sometimes whole sentences and paragraphs) that make possible a smooth "passing over" from one idea to the next.

1. A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices - definitions and examples of more than sixty traditional rhetorical devices, all of which can still be useful today to improve the effectiveness, clarity, and enjoyment of your writing
2. Creating an Argument - This exercise will guide you through the prewriting, organizing and writing stages of producing a philosophy.
3. Critical Reasoning Warm-ups - (Scroll down, it's there!) These are warm-ups for people who are somewhat familiar with critical reasoning questions. These questions are a good way to start your brain thinking before you answer the real questions.
4. Take Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph of a news story

1. Class Exercise: Paragraph Coherence - Practice creating paragraphs that treat one main topic in a common-sense order
2. Cohesion: using repetition and reference words to emphasize key ideas in your writing
3. Paragraph Coherence - a paragraph to read followed by questions to answer
4. Paragraph Coherence Exercise - identify a potential topic sentence for the paragraph, identify what information presented in the paragraph is irrelevant, and then arrange what relevant information is left into a more coherent, well-structured paragraph
5. Paragraph Development - Coherence
6. Paragraph Coherence - Coherence in a paragraph is the technique of making words, phrases, and sentences move smoothly and logically from one to the other
7. Paragraph Structure Exercise - number sentences in an appropriate order to form a well-structured paragraph

1. Information Elimination (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] model, instruct, and practice narrowing a topic for expository writing. (Author - Julie Thompson)
2. Irrelevance Quiz - Click on the sentences that are irrelevant.
3. Paragraph Unity Worksheet - Cross out the irrelevant sentences and put the numbers of
   those in the spaces provided.
4. Straying off the point - Identify which sentences are not connected to the main focus of the paragraph.

1. Prewriting Tactics (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] organize and group related ideas. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
2. Step-by-step Guide to Brainstorming - an effective way to generate lots of ideas and then determine which idea(s) best solves the problem
3. Prewriting Techniques from Friends University Writing Center
4. Prewriting Techniques from Mason, Kentucky

1. Critically Analyzing Information Sources -evaluating a physical information source
2. Evaluating Web Pages - Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask
3. Quality Information Checklist - Here are eight ways of checking information on web sites.
4. TV News Magazines and the Credibility Issue: The Scope of the Problem - article about reliability.

1. Compose a Thesis Statement - Now that you have decided, at least tentatively, what information you plan to present in your essay, you are ready to write your thesis statement.
2. How To Write a Thesis Statement
3. Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements – from the OWL at Purdue

1. Anecdotes - 30 inspiring anecdotes

1. Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs - Write a t in front of the topic sentence and an s in front of the supporting sentence

1. Power Proofreading - Choose your level of skill and your areas of concepts to practice with an interactive activity (choose grade 8) There are over two dozen different passages to choose from.

1. Figurative Language - terms, definitions, and an example
2. Literature-Figurative Language-Part 1 - Read these lines from poems. Identify the meaning you think fits best.

1. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1
2. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2

1. Quiz on Using Quotation Marks - from the Guide to Grammar and Writing, sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation, Hartford, CT
2. Quotation Marks and Colons - online quiz
3. Quotation Marks: Exercise to be printed and completed by students at their desk | answer to the exercise
4. Quotation Marks - Place commas and periods inside, not outside, quotation marks. Place all other punctuation outside quotation marks unless it was contained in the original source.
5. The Gallery Of "Misused" Quotation Marks
6. Quotation Marks - In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.
7. Single Quotation Marks - Use single quotation marks for a quotation or title using quotation marks inside another quotation or title which uses quotation marks.
8. Worksheet - fifteen sentences to edit [quotation marks]
9. Worksheet from Georgia Southern University - three passages to edit [quotation marks]

1. Building the Literature Classroom - generic envisionment-building lesson that can be adapted to and used with any literary text

1. Developing Paragraphs - ideas and activities on how to elaborate paragraphs.
2. Guide toWriting Academic Essays - Guide to help support one's thesis.
3. Outline - Outline of how to create a thesis.
4. Thesis Paper help - ideas on giving the specifics, the precise details that will help your reader feel the full weight of your thought

1. Take Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph of a news story
2. Trailblazing Introductions (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] Students develop a sense of beginning by using strong leads. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
3. Trailblazing Conclusions (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] Students develop a sense of ending by using closure and thought-provoking statements. (Author - Laurie Ayers)

1. Expository prompts - prompts that have personal connections between the writer and their ideas.
2. The Expository Essay - Sample essays to study.
3. Expository Essay Collection - Prompts and examples.
4. Writing Expository Introductions and Conclusions - Do's and don'ts of introductions and conclusions.

1. Quiz - identify the following types of paragraphs: expository, narrative, persuasive, and descriptive.
2. Quiz - match a prompt to narrative, expository, persuasive, or descriptive writing.

1. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Teen Time, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
2. Recognizing Prepositions - The following paragraph is taken from Ernest Hemingway's short story "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Click on the prepositions in the order in which they appear and they will appear in the text-area below the paragraph.
3. Quiz on Prepositions - For each question, choose the single best answer.
4. Prepositions at the Crossword I - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
5. Prepositions at the Crossword II - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
6. Prepositions at the Crossword III - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
7. Recognizing the Function of Phrases - When you click on "Start this test," you will be presented with a sentence.
8. Verb and Preposition Combinations I - a quiz from the English-Zone
9. Verb and Preposition Combinations II - a quiz from the English-Zone
10. Verb and Preposition Combinations III - a quiz from the English-Zone

1. Apostrophes with Possessive Nouns - a grammar quiz [ignore the part about email address]
2. Catastrophes of Apostrophic Proportions - a quiz on apostrophes
3. Exercises in Plurals and Possessives - place a C by correct items and an I by incorrect items
4. Grammar Blast - Choose your grade level and practice grammar skills
5. Interactive Grammar Quizzes - many topics covered
6. Online Grammar Quizzes - many categories to select from
7. Parts of Speech - Noun, Verb, Preposition, etc. Interactive quizzes
8. Parts of Speech Quiz -Select correct part of speech
9. Plural and Possessive Nouns - By clicking on a bubble, identify whether the highlighted word is a plural or possessive noun and then click on the "Submit Answer" button.
10. Possessives and Irregular Plurals - 25 items in the quiz
11. Possessive Noun Practice - a six question quiz
12. Possessive Noun Quiz - a five question quiz [when asked to enter your name, enter X]
13. Possessive Pronouns and Contractions - a ten question quiz [when asked to enter your name, enter X]
14. Possessive Pronouns Used as Adjectives - a ten question quiz [when asked to enter your name, enter X]
15. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Memo to Employees, Dimes for Rhymes, Views from our Viewers, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.

1. Controlling Shifts in Verb Tense - General guideline: Do not shift from one tense to another if the time frame for each action or state is the same.
2. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; E-mail to HME-TV Staff, Sour Sid on Sports, You Solve it, Weather or Not, Animal Alarm, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
3. Parts of Speech - Noun, Verb, Preposition, etc. Interactive quizzes
4. Subject/verb agreement - Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. Other SV agreement quizzes Quiz 2 | Quiz 3
5. Subject and Verb Agreement from LEO: Literacy Education Online
6. Subject Verb Agreement Quiz
7. There is  or  there are?
8. Tag Questions 1 - Present Tense/To Be Verb/Affirmative
9. The CopyCat Game 1 from English-Zone
10. Making Subjects and Verbs Agree - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
11. Subject-Verb Agreement - from The Writer's Handbook
12. Subject Verb Agreement from Big Dog's Grammar
13. Identifying transitive verbs - definition and examples
14. Transitive verb quiz - quiz for classroom practice
15. Transitive / Intransitive Verb - Lesson and follow up quiz; second set of lessons and followup quiz
16. Transitive and Intransitive verbs - definition and examples
17. Transitive/Intransitive Quiz - interactive quiz
18. Transitive/ Intrasitive Quia quiz - [this link opens on a new page]
19. Transitive / Intrasitive - [this link opens on a new page] another Quia quiz
20. Transitive/ Intrasitive online quiz - interactive quiz
21. Transitive Lesson - Lesson and activity
22. Verb Classification Quiz - online quiz
23. The grammar outlaw - Disagreeing Subject and Verb, AKA The Disagreeable Sentence
24. Practicing past, present & future tenses - Tense Activity 1 | Tense Activity 2 | Tense Activity 3
25. Practicing adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, verbs - Word Skills 1 | Word Skills 2 | Word Skills 3

1. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Word Workout, Eat Your Heart Out, Teen Time, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement - LEO: Literacy Education Online
3. Agreement: pronoun antecedent from Big Dog's Grammar. After reviewing this material take an interactive quiz.
4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement - This tutorial will help you accomplish the following learning objectives: define and understand pronoun agreement, choose pronouns that agree with their antecedents in number, person, and gender and check and apply your skills.
5. Pronoun Case - The case of some pronouns depends on their function in sentences or clauses. This lesson is followed by an interactive quiz.
6. Pronoun Case - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
7. Practicing adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, verbs - Word Skills 1 | Word Skills 2 | Word Skills 3

1. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1
2. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2
3. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Eye It - Buy It, Kids' Quiz, The Young and the Clueless, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
4. Comparative & Superlative Quiz - Click the answer buttons to see the answers.
5. Practicing adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, verbs - Word Skills 1 | Word Skills 2 | Word Skills 3

1. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1
2. Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2
3. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Interviews with Ingrid, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
4. Practicing adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, verbs - Word Skills 1 | Word Skills 2 | Word Skills 3
   

1. Conjunctions - Conjunctions are words used as joiners. Different kinds of conjunctions join different kinds of grammatical structures.
2. Repairing Run-On Sentences
3. Avoiding Comma Splices, Fused Sentences, and Run-On's from LEO: Literacy Education Online
4. Combining Sentences for Variety and Clarity - several methods and examples are given, however this page only combines two sentences.
5. The Need to Combine Sentences - Sentences have to be combined to avoid the monotony that would surely result if all sentences were brief and of equal length. This lesson is followed by three quizzes.

1. Definition of interjections - explanation
2. Interjections - list and meanings
3. Interjection Lesson -
4. Interjection Worksheet - Worksheet and lesson plan
5. Interjection Quiz - checks your answers
6. Interjection Test - Use as class lesson for understanding
7. Interjection Quiz - identify the interjection

1. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement - Explanation
2. Making the pronoun and its antecendent agree - explanation
3. Pronoun Agreement - 5 interactive quizzes; can also print quizzes
4. Pronoun Agreement - tips to help make it easy
5. Pronoun Agreement Quiz - interactive
6. Pronoun- Antecedent Quiz - answers checked
7. Sample Quiz - can be used for class discussion

1. Compound sentences - online quiz
2. Commas and Colons - online quiz
3. Quiz on Comma Usage
4. Using Commas: Exercise 1 || Exercise 2 || Exercise 3 || Exercise 4 || Exercise 5
5. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Tacky Travel, RoboChef, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
6. Conjunctions - Click on the buttons to find the correct answer
7. Conjunctions Quiz I - Click the answer buttons to see the answers.
8. Conjunctions Quiz II - Combine the sentences using the conjunction given in parentheses.
9. Conjunction-itis Popup - Find the correct conjunction form to combine two short sentences together into one! (a Quia quiz)

1. Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement - Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.
2. A Second Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement - After each sentence select the verb form that will best fit in the blank. The explanation will describe the process of arriving at the correct choice for that sentence.
3. Third Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement - Select the appropriate verbs from the drop-down menus to complete each sentence correctly. There are thirty-three "opportunities for error" in these paragraphs.
4. Making Subjects and Verbs Agree: Exercises - a worksheet to print, not interactive
5. Let's see whether you understand subject-verb agreement. - Read each sentence, enter your response in the space provided, and then press "Submit" to check your answer.
6. Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz - Select the correct verb form to agree with the subject.
7. Subject-Verb Agreement: The Sore Thumb of Grammar
8. Subject/Verb Agreement - Click the answer button to see the answer.
9. ESL Subject Verb Agreement Quiz 1 - In the quiz questions , choose the correct verb so that subject and verb agree.
10. ESL Subject Verb Agreement Quiz 2 - Take this quiz after mastering the quiz questions and their rules in the first

1. Pronoun Case Quiz - Fill in the blank; answers are checked
2. Pronoun Case Quiz One- drop-down option menus where you must select the appropriate pronoun form; answers are checked
3. Pronoun Case Quiz Two - drop-down option menus where you must select the appropriate pronoun form; answers are checked
4. Pronoun Case Practice - Print this out or use as whole class activity.
5. Pronoun Case Practice - interactive quiz
6. Pronoun Case Quiz - interactive

1. Double Negatives - three progressively hard quizzes.
2. Double Negatives Worksheets - print these off for your class.
3. Double Negatives - a quiz

1. Comparative/Superlative Quiz - interactive quiz, scores quiz and checks answers
2. Comparative/ Superlative Quiz - choose answer, then select "see the answer" button.
3. Comparative and Superlative Practice - lesson then practice

1. Quiz on Forms of Who - Select the correct form of the word who or whoever from the choices provided after each sentence.
2. Sit or Set Quiz - Complete the sentences using the proper form of "sit" or "set."
3. Past Tenses of Sit/Set and Lay/Lie - What is the correct verb form in each sentence?
4. Raise or Rise? - Make a choice by clicking on the radio button, then compare it with the correct answer hidden under the answer button.
5. Rise/Raise Practice Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] from Quia
6. Confusing Verbs: Raise / Rise
7. The Notorious Confusables - Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | Quiz 3 | Quiz 4 | Quiz 5

1. The sentence, please! - A sentence containing a comma splice will appear in a text-area. Repair the sentence.
2. Avoiding Comma Splices II - A sentence containing a comma splice will appear in a text-area. Repair the sentence.
3. Correct run-on sentences - online quiz - separating the independent clauses
4. Correct run-on sentences - online quiz - adding a comma and a conjunction
5. Ccorrect run-on sentences - online quiz - embed one clause in each sentence
6. Correct run-on sentences - online quiz - hanging the word or words in bold to a verbal or a verbal phrase
7. Repairing Run-On Sentences - After each run-on sentence select the remedy that would best repair that sentence
8. Fragments and Run-On's - After each sentence, select the option which best describes that sentence.
9. Avoiding Comma Splices, Fused Sentences, and Run-On's - Interesting visual effects are used to make the point.
10. Identify run on sentences - online quiz
11. A test of the Emergency Grammar System - It is only a test. Actually, it isn't even a test ... and it contains more than grammar. Oh, never mind.... give it a try

1. Appositive worksheet - combine sentences using appostives
2. Infinitives - Lesson and quiz
3. Infinitive or Gerund - online quiz
4. Introduction to appositives - lesson and exercise
5. Jeopardy style game on appositives - online interactive game.
6. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Local News Report, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
7. Present: Infinitive and 3rd person singular - online quiz
8. Quiz - online quiz on appositives.

1. Using Italics and underlining in APA style - brief explanation of appropriate usage.

1. Phrase Practice Exercise - Print out this exercise for student practice. Answers online.
2. Power Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Pains in the Neck, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.

1. Agreement of pronouns and antecedents - online quiz
2. Exercise on Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Errors - Answer page
3. Quiz on Pronoun Usage - fill in the blank in the sentence
4. Quiz on Pronoun Forms - fill in the blank in the sentence
5. Quiz on Sentence Body Parts - Sentences illustrate problems; students choose correct what the problem represents.

1. Sample Tests - released sample items from the Illinois State Board of Education

1. FCAT Sample Reading Test - [2008] sample questions and test taking tips
   1. FCAT Sample Answer Book - [2008]
2. FCAT Sample Writing Test - [2008] sample questions and test taking tips
   1. FCAT Sample Answer Book - [2008]
3. Texas end-of-year reading test from 2003

1. Grade Eight English Questions - Nine weekly sheets to print and distribute (read selections and answer questions)
2. Brainchild Test - (This quiz opens in a new page. Close the page when finished to return to this list.) 12 questions - Students should use the summary page after finishing this test to practice their areas of weakness.
3. Eight Grade Reading Test - Online quiz that covers most areas of Standardized testing. Click on Return to Program to begin test.
4. Reading Comprehension stories - Interactive quizzes online for 5 stories - Each text is followed by a grammar exercise and summary writing exercise.

1. Online Lessons - Cloze exercises, speed reading and more
2. Online Practice for Reading - Many choices of text selections - Choose specific activity from the frame on the left to practice skills.
3. Cloze Tests Exercises - Scroll to find Cloze tests in the list of Tests and Exercises.
4. Cloze Test: (Reading test - Proficiency level) - Students are to complete the text with one word in each gap.
5. Cloze Test: (Exploration - Why in the World?) - Students are to complete the text with one word in each gap.
6. Cloze Test: (Juliet) - longing for Romeo to arrive - Act III, Scene 2.
7. Cloze Test: (The Chink) - A long (and fairly difficult) cloze exercise about the experiences of a young man of Japanese extraction during World War Two.