Praxis Core - Grammar 5723 | Part 01 | Overview | Clauses | Punctuation | Kathleen Jasper
TLDRIn this video transcript, Kathleen Jasper discusses the structure and components of the Practice Core Exam, focusing on grammar. She emphasizes the importance of understanding grammar for both the multiple-choice and writing sections of the exam. Jasper covers key grammar topics such as pronoun-antecedent agreement, subject-verb agreement, and structural relationships including phrases and clauses. She also delves into punctuation, highlighting common errors like comma splices and the misuse of coordinating conjunctions, known as 'Fanboys'. The summary provides a clear explanation of how to identify and correct errors, using examples from the exam to illustrate the concepts. Jasper's guidance is aimed at helping learners improve their grammar skills, which in turn, will enhance their performance in both sections of the Practice Core Exam.
Takeaways
- 📚 The Practice Core exam combines multiple-choice questions with writing sections, allowing strong performance in one area to support the other.
- 🎯 The multiple-choice section constitutes 40% of the exam, emphasizing the importance of understanding grammar and structure.
- 💡 Pronoun-antecedent agreement, pronoun number and person, and subject-verb agreement are critical grammar concepts assessed in nearly every grammar test.
- 📝 Understanding phrases and clauses, as well as identifying misplaced and dangling modifiers, is essential for structural grammar questions.
- 🔗 Coordinating conjunctions, also known as 'Fanboys' (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), are often paired with punctuation to connect sentences correctly.
- 🚫 A comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are separated only by a comma, is a punctuation error.
- 🔍 Identifying independent clauses is key to recognizing where strong punctuation, like a semicolon or period, is needed instead of a comma.
- ✅ The correct answer choice (A) in multiple-choice questions will always be listed as 'no change', representing the original sentence if it's grammatically correct.
- 📌 Misuse of pronouns and collective nouns, such as using a plural pronoun with a singular noun (e.g., 'the board are'), is a common grammatical mistake.
- ❌ Never use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction (Fanboy) as it is unnecessary and incorrect.
- 🧐 Paying close attention to the sentence structure and the use of pronouns can help identify errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement and subject-verb agreement.
Q & A
What is the structure of the practice core exam discussed in the transcript?
-The practice core exam combines multiple-choice questions and writing sections, which means performance in grammar can aid in writing and vice versa.
What is the significance of doing well in all sections of the exam?
-Performing well in all sections helps to achieve the best overall score possible, as grammar proficiency can assist with writing tasks and vice versa.
What does the term 'selected response' refer to in the context of the exam?
-In the context of the exam, 'selected response' is a term used to describe multiple-choice questions where students select the correct answer from options A, B, C, D, and E.
Why is identifying the subject in a sentence important when dealing with pronoun-antecedent agreement?
-Identifying the subject is crucial because it helps determine the correct pronoun-antecedent agreement, ensuring that the pronoun matches the subject in number (singular or plural).
What is the role of coordinating conjunctions, also known as Fanboys, in sentences?
-Coordinating conjunctions, or Fanboys, are used to connect two independent clauses. They are often used with punctuation, like commas, to separate different parts of a sentence.
What is a comma splice and why is it considered incorrect in grammar?
-A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are separated by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. It is incorrect because commas alone are not strong enough to separate two independent clauses.
What are the three main grammatical relationships discussed in the transcript?
-The three main grammatical relationships discussed are pronoun-antecedent agreement, pronoun number in person, and subject-verb agreement.
What is the significance of the word 'there' in the example sentence provided?
-In the example sentence, 'there' is a pronoun that should agree with its antecedent, which is 'the board of directors'. The use of 'there' instead of 'its' indicates a pronoun-antecedent disagreement.
Why are semicolons considered strong punctuation?
-Semicolons are considered strong punctuation because they can separate two independent clauses without the need for additional coordinating conjunctions.
What is the trick mentioned for identifying pronoun-antecedent agreement in exam questions?
-The trick is to slow down and locate the subject when encountering the word 'there' in a question. This indicates that pronoun-antecedent agreement is likely being tested.
What are the four aspects of word choice discussed in the transcript?
-The four aspects of word choice discussed are idiomatic expressions, frequently confused words, wrong word choice, and redundancy.
What are the punctuation marks that students are assessed on in the exam?
-Students are assessed on the use of commas, semicolons, and apostrophes in the exam.
Outlines
📚 Introduction to Practice Core Grammar Series
Kathleen Jasper introduces the first part of a three-part grammar series. She explains that the Practice Core exam combines multiple-choice and writing sections, emphasizing the importance of performing well in both to achieve the best score. The video covers various grammar topics including pronoun antecedent agreement, subject-verb agreement, phrases and clauses, punctuation, and word choice. Kathleen highlights the significance of understanding these concepts for both the grammar and writing components of the exam.
🧐 Pronoun Antecedent Agreement and Subject-Verb Agreement
The focus shifts to pronoun antecedent agreement and subject-verb agreement using the example of 'the board of directors are having their meeting today.' Kathleen clarifies that 'the board' is a singular collective noun, thus requiring a singular verb form 'is having.' She also addresses the correct use of the possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with the singular noun 'board.' The paragraph illustrates the common mistake of misidentifying the subject due to a prepositional phrase and the importance of recognizing pronoun-antecedent agreement in exam questions.
🔍 Phrases, Clauses, and Punctuation Errors
Kathleen discusses phrases and clauses, coordinating conjunctions (Fanboys), and punctuation errors. She explains that a comma cannot separate two independent clauses without creating a comma splice, which is incorrect. The correct way to join independent clauses is by using a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., 'and', 'but'), or a semicolon. She also warns against the incorrect use of a semicolon with a Fanboy, emphasizing that semicolons are strong enough to separate independent clauses on their own. The paragraph provides a clear understanding of how to properly punctuate sentences with multiple independent clauses.
📐 Identifying and Correcting Errors in Sentence Structure
The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of identifying independent clauses and the correct use of punctuation to connect them. Kathleen explains that a semicolon can separate two independent clauses without additional punctuation, whereas a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (Fanboy) is also acceptable. She advises against using a semicolon with a Fanboy, as it is unnecessary and incorrect. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to look out for errors in punctuation and the need to correctly identify the function of different parts of a sentence to answer exam questions accurately.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Practice Core Exam
💡Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
💡Subject Verb Agreement
💡Phrases and Clauses
💡Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
💡Coordinating Conjunctions
💡Parallel Structure
💡Idiomatic Expressions
💡Punctuation
💡Comma Splice
💡No Change Option
Highlights
Introduction to the Practice Core Exam, which combines multiple-choice and writing sections.
Emphasis on the importance of performing well in both grammar and writing for the best score.
Explanation of the multiple-choice section constituting 40% of the exam.
Highlighting the use of the term 'selected response' as a synonym for multiple-choice questions.
Discussion on pronoun antecedent agreement, pronoun number, person, and subject verb agreement.
Importance of understanding grammatical relationships for successful test-taking.
Introduction to structural relationships, including phrases and clauses.
Identification of misplaced and dangling modifiers as key areas to focus on.
Explanation of coordinating conjunctions, also known as 'Fanboys'.
Discussion on parallel structure and its role in sentence construction.
Coverage of word choice, including idiomatic expressions and frequently confused words.
Emphasis on the significance of punctuation, including commas, semicolons, and apostrophes.
Guidance on identifying and correcting errors in sentences, with a focus on pronoun antecedent agreement.
Strategy for dealing with multiple-choice questions, starting with option 'A' as 'no change'.
Example of correcting a sentence with a collective noun and its corresponding pronoun.
Advice on avoiding the common mistake of misidentifying the subject in a sentence.
Explanation of how to identify and correct comma splices and the use of coordinating conjunctions.
Clarification on the proper use of semicolons to separate independent clauses.
Strategy for identifying independent clauses and the appropriate punctuation to use.
Transcripts
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