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TV411: Sentence Fragments
Details
Main Website:
Activity Website:
Activity Description
Grammar is not a favorite topic for many students. This Web site includes an entertaining video on Sentence Fragments. Watch the video then discuss clauses, independent clauses, and dependent clauses, do a recognition activity in groups/pairs, and do an independent worksheet on finding sentences with dependent and independent clauses.
The site also offers a wide variety of other topics in video format, many with worksheets or other resources to use. See the More Ways section below.
Preparation
- The video comes from Vimeo which may be blocked at your school. So test the site to be sure the video will play at your school.
- Preview the video and resources at the site. Set the volume appropriate for your classroom.
- Download and print the Dependent & Independent Clauses worksheet (PDF) from the TV411 Web site.
- Also print the Example Document: Independent and Independent Clauses
Teacher Tips
- Beware of the advertising sections on each page. Avoid them and teach your students to do like wise.
- Discuss vocabulary: clause, dependent clause, independent clause, complex sentence, subordinate conjunction
More Ways
- This TV411 Web site is full of writing activities including: creative and personal writing, and grammar. To find these, select Writing on the navigational bar near the top of the page. Videos are included as well as lessons and worksheets to download. Topics of interest include:
- Grammar: Apostrophes, Figures of Speech, and Transitions
- Writing for Work: Cover Letter, Create a Data Shee, Model Resume
- If you are looking for reading, vocabulary, basic math, basic science, and finance, the site offers a variety of other entertaining videos and other resources. Titles you may be interested in include:
- Reading: Summarizing, Poetry, Campaign Literature, Glossary, Leases, Road Map, Globe, Medicine Labels, Newspaper Headlines, Newspaper, Restating legalese
- Vocabulary: Words with Multiple Meanings, Using Dictionaries, Learning New Words, What is a Thesaurus?, Compound Words, Homonyms, Medical Words, Prefixes, Suffixes, Synonyms and Antonyms
- Basic Math in Everyday Life: Figuring Area, Budgets, Multiplication, Carpenter Math, Estimating a Painting Job, Computing Take Home Pay, Tracking Weight Loss, Utility Bills, Ratios in the Kitchen, Computing Averages, Comparing Cell Phone Plans, Math and Money Schemes, Travel Math, Unit Pricing, Football: Percentages, Decimals, and Probability, Basketball: Percentages and Fractions, Fractions and Rhythm, Store Discounts, Smart Shopping, Tipping, Basic Geometry in Origami, Baseball: Perimeter
- Science: Bacteria, Heat, Carbohydrates, Photosynthesis, Elements
Program Areas
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
- ESL: English as a Second Language
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
Levels
- All Levels
- Intermediate Low
- Intermediate High
- Advanced
Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement
Purpose: Set a positive tone for the lesson and engage students.
Instructions:
- Ask students to share a funny or interesting sentence about their weekend.
- Emphasize the importance of complete sentences.
Introduction
Purpose: Introduce the concept of sentence fragments through an entertaining video.
Instructions:
- Play the Vimeo video on Sentence Fragments.
- Discuss key concepts covered in the video, such as clauses, independent clauses, and dependent clauses.
- Address any questions or concerns.
Presentation
Engagement
Group/Pair Recognition
Purpose: Reinforce understanding through a collaborative activity.
Instructions:
- Divide students into small groups or pairs.
- Distribute printed Dependent & Independent Clauses worksheet.
- Have students work together to identify independent and dependent clauses in sentences.
- Encourage discussion and collaboration.
Presentation
Sentence Deconstruction
Purpose: Analyze sentences as a class to identify clauses.
Instructions:
- Display sentences on the board or provide printed examples.
- Lead the class in analyzing each sentence, and identifying independent and dependent clauses.
- Encourage students to explain their thought processes.
Practice
Engagement
Enhancement
Independent Practice
Purpose: Allow students to apply what they learned individually.
Instructions:
- Distribute the Example Worksheet: Independent and Dependent Clauses.
- Instruct students to work in pairs to identify clauses in the provided sentences.
- Circulate the classroom to provide guidance and support.
- Gather as a class to discuss clauses that were more difficult. Pairs create new examples (without identifying the type). Share clauses with the class. Have others identify type of clause
Evaluation
Enhancement
Class Discussion
Purpose: Assess understanding through verbal communication.
Instructions:
- Facilitate a class discussion on clauses, fragments, and complete sentences.
- Ask students to share examples they found challenging or interesting.
- Clarify any misconceptions and provide additional explanations as needed.
Application
Enhancement
Extension
Follow-up Day
Purpose: Reinforce learning and encourage discussion.
Instructions:
- On a follow-up day, engage students in a discussion about clauses, fragments, and complete sentences.
- Encourage students to share examples they found in their independent practice.
- Assign homework or additional practice if needed.
Documents
- Independent and dependent clauses - Independent and Independent Clauses
- Sentence Fragments.png - Screenshot of TV411's video lesson on Sentence Fragments
Subjects
- Language Arts - Writing
- Language Facility
- Organization of Ideas
- Writing Conventions
- Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Sentence Structure
- Usage
- Writing
- Basic Sentences
Standards
- Language
- CCR Anchor 1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Tags
fragments, independent clause, sentence, subordinate conjunction, tv411, dependent clause
Creative Commons License
CC BY-NC-SA:This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.