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In grade 11 SBC teachers guide strand 2 writing unit 2 topic 6 is standard English conventions (sentence structure, usage and punctuation). The content background of this topic Content Background:

Content Background:
Conventions for Academic and Formal Purposes
1. Spelling of words – e.g. favour/favor, program/programme
2. Redundant words – nevertherless, meanwhile,
3. Non-standard words – aint, gonna, wanna, bilas, sing-sing
Sentence structure
What is Sentence Structure? A sentence’s “structure” is the way its
words are arranged. In English, we have four main sentence structures:
the simple sentence, the compound sentence, the complex sentence,
and the compound-complex sentence.
In the examples, independent clauses are green, dependent clauses are
purple, and conjunctions are orange. Here are examples of each type of
sentence:
1. The boy ran. Simple Sentence
2. The boy ran and he ate popcorn. Compound Sentence
3. After the boy ran, he ate popcorn. Complex Sentence
4. After the boy ran, he ate popcorn
and he drank a big soda. Compound-complex sentence
An independent clause has a subject and a predicate and makes
sense on its own as a complete sentence (The boy ran). Dependent
clause has a subject and a predicate;but, it can’t be a sentence. It
provides extra details about the independent clause, and it doesn’t
make sense on its own (After the boy ran).
Types of Sentence
Structure
Parts
Independent
Clause Dependent Clause Uses Conjunction
Simple Sentence one none sometimes
Compound Two or more none always
Complex One or more One or more usually
Compound Complex Two or more One or more always
Can you please help me explain this content background to teach grade 11 and provide further notes with examples, exercises and with the answer to teach my students

1 answer

Certainly! Below is a comprehensive explanation of the content background on English conventions, particularly focusing on sentence structure, including examples, exercises, and answers to help teach your grade 11 students.

Content Background Explanation: English Conventions

1. Conventions for Academic and Formal Purposes

Spelling of Words:

  • Variety in English: The English language can vary between American and British English. For example:
    • "favour" (British) vs. "favor" (American)
    • "program" (American) vs. "programme" (British)
  • Activity: Ask students to research and list five more pairs of words that differ between American and British English.

Redundant Words:

  • Definition: Redundant words refer to words that unnecessarily repeat information. Avoid using them to make writing clearer and more concise.
  • Examples:
    • "nevertherless" (should just be "nevertheless")
    • "meanwhile" (can be replaced with "during", "at the same time" as necessary)
  • Activity: Have students identify and correct sentences that contain redundant words.

Non-standard Words:

  • Definition: These are informal words or phrases often used in spoken English but considered inappropriate in formal writing.
  • Examples:
    • "ain't", "gonna", "wanna", "bilas" (slang terms), "sing-sing"
  • Activity: Ask students to convert sentences containing non-standard words into standard English.

2. Sentence Structure

What is Sentence Structure?

  • Definition: Sentence structure refers to the way words are arranged within a sentence and includes how clauses are combined. There are four main types of sentence structures in English.

Main Types of Sentence Structures:

  1. Simple Sentence:

    • Definition: Contains one independent clause.
    • Example: "The boy ran."
    • Exercise: Write three simple sentences about your favorite activities.

  2. Compound Sentence:

    • Definition: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
    • Example: "The boy ran, and he ate popcorn."
    • Exercise: Combine the sentences "The sun sets." and "It gets dark." into a compound sentence.

  3. Complex Sentence:

    • Definition: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
    • Example: "After the boy ran, he ate popcorn."
    • Exercise: Create a complex sentence using the independent clause "She studied hard."

  4. Compound-Complex Sentence:

    • Definition: Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
    • Example: "After the boy ran, he ate popcorn, and he drank a big soda."
    • Exercise: Write a compound-complex sentence using the independent clauses "He enjoys basketball" and "He plays on weekends," along with a dependent clause of your choice.

Summary of Clauses

  • Independent Clause: Has a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence (e.g., "The boy ran.").
  • Dependent Clause: Has a subject and predicate but cannot stand alone (e.g., "After the boy ran"). It gives additional information.

Visual Representation of Sentence Structure

| Type of Sentence | Independent Clauses | Dependent Clauses | Conjunctions | |-------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|----------------------| | Simple Sentence | 1 | 0 | Sometimes | | Compound Sentence | 2 or more | 0 | Always | | Complex Sentence | 1 or more | 1 or more | Usually | | Compound-Complex Sentence| 2 or more | 1 or more | Always |

Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following sentences to eliminate redundant words:

  1. "The teacher shared his opinion."
  2. "He is a very unique artist."
  3. "We can plan ahead for the future."

Answers:

  1. "The teacher shared his opinion." (Correct as is.)
  2. "He is a unique artist."
  3. "We can plan for the future."

Exercise 2: Identify the type of sentence structure in the following examples:

  1. "When she arrived, I was already there."
  2. "I wanted to go, but it was too late."
  3. "The dog barked, and the cat hid under the bed."
  4. "Although it was raining, we went for a walk, and we enjoyed it."

Answers:

  1. Complex Sentence
  2. Compound Sentence
  3. Compound Sentence
  4. Compound-Complex Sentence

Teaching Strategy

  • Interactive Learning: Incorporate group discussions, peer review, and collaborative exercises to encourage students to practice these conventions.
  • Visual Aids: Use sentence diagrams or color-coded examples to illustrate the different sentence structures.
  • Writing Practice: Have students apply their knowledge in writing assignments, proofreading each other’s work for sentence structure and conventions.

This content background, along with exercises and activities, will effectively help your grade 11 students understand standard English conventions and sentence structure, thus enhancing their writing skills for academic and formal purposes.