Grade: Grade 11 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Advanced Grammar Lesson: 6 of 6 SAT: StandardEnglishConventions ACT: English

Unit Checkpoint

Unit Review

This checkpoint assesses your mastery of the advanced grammar skills covered in this unit. Before taking the assessment, review these key concepts:

Grammar Deep Dive (Lesson 1)

  • Subject-verb agreement with complex subjects (compound, collective, indefinite)
  • Pronoun case and reference
  • Verb tense consistency and logical sequence
  • Sentence boundary errors (run-ons, fragments, comma splices)

Expression of Ideas Mastery (Lesson 2)

  • Rhetorical effectiveness and precision
  • Logical transitions and coherence
  • Sentence combining for concision
  • Style and tone consistency

Text-Based Grammar Practice (Lesson 3)

  • Analyzing grammar in passage context
  • Identifying pronoun antecedents across sentences
  • Maintaining tense consistency within paragraphs
  • Evaluating transition logic

Writing Application (Lesson 4)

  • Strategic use of appositives, participial phrases, and absolutes
  • Sentence variety for emphasis and flow
  • Eliminating wordiness and redundancy
  • Parallel structure in lists and comparisons

Editing Workshop (Lesson 5)

  • Systematic error detection strategies
  • Time management for standardized tests
  • Process of elimination techniques
  • Common punctuation rules

Quick Reference

Subject-Verb Agreement Quick Guide

Subject Type Rule Example
Compound with "and" Usually plural The cat and dog are playing.
Compound with "or/nor" Agrees with closer subject Neither the cats nor the dog is outside.
Collective nouns Usually singular (acting as unit) The committee has decided.
Indefinite pronouns Most are singular Everyone needs to participate.
Intervening phrases Ignore; find true subject The box of supplies is here.

Pronoun Case Quick Guide

Case Use Pronouns
Subjective Subject of verb I, you, he, she, it, we, they, who
Objective Object of verb/preposition me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom
Possessive Shows ownership my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, our/ours, their/theirs, whose

Unit Assessment

Directions: Complete this assessment to demonstrate your mastery of advanced grammar concepts. Aim for at least 80% accuracy before moving to the next unit.

Part A: Error Identification (Questions 1-4)

Identify the error type in each sentence.

1. The team of researchers have published their findings in a prestigious journal.

  1. Subject-verb agreement error
  2. Pronoun case error
  3. Run-on sentence
  4. No error

2. After reviewing the applications, the decision was made by the committee to interview five candidates.

  1. Comma splice
  2. Dangling modifier
  3. Faulty parallelism
  4. No error

3. The museum's collection includes paintings, sculptures, and exhibiting ancient artifacts.

  1. Subject-verb agreement error
  2. Pronoun reference error
  3. Faulty parallelism
  4. No error

4. Each of the participants were required to sign a consent form before the study began.

  1. Subject-verb agreement error
  2. Verb tense error
  3. Pronoun case error
  4. No error

Part B: Passage-Based Questions (Questions 5-8)

The impact of social media on political discourse has been profound and multifaceted. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook (5) enables citizens to engage directly with elected officials, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers. (6) However, these same platforms have also been criticized for spreading misinformation and creating echo chambers that reinforce existing beliefs.

Research suggests that the relationship between social media use and political polarization (7) are complex. While some studies indicate that heavy social media users become more extreme in their views, others find no significant correlation. (8) The truth, as is often the case with emerging technologies, likely lies somewhere in between.

5.

  1. enables (NO CHANGE)
  2. enable
  3. is enabling
  4. has enabled

6. Is "However" the appropriate transition?

  1. Yes, it correctly signals a contrast
  2. No, it should be "Therefore"
  3. No, it should be "Furthermore"
  4. No, it should be "Meanwhile"

7.

  1. are (NO CHANGE)
  2. is
  3. were
  4. being

8. The underlined sentence is:

  1. Grammatically correct and effective
  2. A run-on sentence
  3. A sentence fragment
  4. Contains a comma splice

Part C: Revision for Clarity (Questions 9-10)

9. Choose the most effective revision: "Due to the fact that the experiment yielded unexpected results, the researchers made the decision to conduct additional trials."

  1. Because the experiment yielded unexpected results, the researchers decided to conduct additional trials.
  2. The experiment yielded unexpected results, and so the researchers made the decision to conduct additional trials due to this fact.
  3. Making the decision to conduct additional trials, the researchers found that the experiment yielded unexpected results.
  4. No revision needed.

10. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?

  1. The program focuses on teaching critical thinking, developing communication skills, and to prepare students for careers.
  2. The program focuses on teaching critical thinking, developing communication skills, and the preparation of students for careers.
  3. The program focuses on teaching critical thinking, developing communication skills, and preparing students for careers.
  4. The program focuses on critical thinking being taught, communication skills being developed, and students being prepared for careers.

Part D: Application (Questions 11-12)

11. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?

  1. The project was complex; and time-consuming.
  2. The project was complex; it required months of preparation.
  3. The project was complex; because it involved multiple teams.
  4. The project was; complex and time-consuming.

12. In the sentence "The reporter asked the senator about their stance on the policy," what is the grammatical issue?

  1. Subject-verb agreement
  2. Pronoun-antecedent agreement (unclear if "their" refers to reporter or senator)
  3. Verb tense inconsistency
  4. No grammatical issue

Check Your Understanding

Answer Key

  1. A - "Team" is singular; should be "has published."
  2. B - Dangling modifier; "the decision" did not review applications. Should be "After the committee reviewed the applications, it decided..."
  3. C - Items should be parallel: "paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts" (all nouns).
  4. A - "Each" is singular; should be "was required."
  5. B - "Platforms" is plural; requires "enable."
  6. A - "However" correctly signals the contrast between enabling engagement and spreading misinformation.
  7. B - "Relationship" is singular; requires "is."
  8. A - The sentence is grammatically correct with proper structure.
  9. A - Eliminates wordiness ("due to the fact that" becomes "because"; "made the decision to" becomes "decided to").
  10. C - All items use gerund form: teaching, developing, preparing.
  11. B - Semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses.
  12. B - "Their" is ambiguous; could refer to either the reporter or the senator.

Scoring Guide

  • 10-12 correct (83-100%): Excellent! You have mastered the concepts in this unit. Proceed to the next unit.
  • 8-9 correct (67-75%): Good understanding. Review the lessons for any question types you missed.
  • 6-7 correct (50-58%): Developing. Revisit Lessons 1-3 before moving on.
  • Below 6 (under 50%): Additional practice needed. Work through all lessons again before retaking this checkpoint.

Reflection

After completing this assessment, consider:

  • Which error types do you consistently identify correctly?
  • Which concepts still require more practice?
  • How confident do you feel about grammar questions on standardized tests?
  • What strategies helped you most during this unit?

Next Steps

  • If you scored 80% or higher, proceed to the next ELA unit
  • Create flashcards for grammar rules you find challenging
  • Practice with official SAT and ACT grammar questions
  • Keep an error log to track patterns in your mistakes
  • Review this unit periodically to maintain your skills

Unit Complete

Congratulations on completing the Advanced Grammar unit! You have developed essential skills for the SAT and ACT English/Writing sections. Continue practicing to maintain and strengthen these skills.