• Unit 1: The Building Blocks of English

    Unit 1 introduces us to grammar structures. For many, English grammar is something they've been learning since grade school. Even when we feel like we know the rules well, a refresher can help us articulate the structure we're using. When we can name the structure, it's easier to identify and correct when not used appropriately. In this unit, we'll review grammar structures in general and then look at specific uses of parallelism, modifiers, and rhetorical modes. When employed correctly, these structures make a text easy for a reader to comprehend and clarify our ideas.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • identify and correct common structure errors in English;
      • identify parallel structure formation;
      • recognize and employ modifiers appropriately; and
      • evaluate organizational structures in a piece of writing.

      • 1.1: Recognizing Parallel Structures

        • Grammar and Mechanics Page
          Now that we know what a grammar structure is, let's consider parallel sentence structures, or parallelism, and how they influence a sentence. Parallelism refers to using the same grammar structures throughout a sentence. Look at this examples: Parallel: The math teacher needed to include subtraction, multiplication, and division in the third term. Non-parallel: The math teacher needed to include subtracting, multiplication, and dividing in the third term. Can you identify the error? To maintain parallel structure and make a sentence easy to follow, we need to keep words and phrases in the same grammar tense, time, and number. In this example, the parallel structure uses the ending -tion to do this. Read this resource for more examples and a deeper explanation of how parallel structures work.
        • How to Use Parallel Structure in Your Writing Page

          Review this list of recommended strategies to help you improve your grammar.

      • 1.2: Using Modifiers to Describe

        • Adjectives and Adverbs Book

          Descriptions add detail to what we read and help the reader "see" what the writer is thinking. In English we use modifiers to do this. When we know how different modifiers are used, we can better understand their meaning and build our vocabulary. This resource shows how adjectives and adverbs are used to modify a word or phrase. An adjective is a word that describes a noun (a person, a place, or a thing). Adjectives give us information about something so we can better understand it. Similar to an adjective, an adverb describes a verb and offers the reader more information about an action. Read this resource to learn how modifiers are used in English.

      • 1.3: Using Structure to Organize

        • Modes of Rhetoric Book

          Structure doesn't just stop at a single sentence. We use organizational structures to determine the best ways to fit sentences together in a text. Authors choose a mode, rhetoric, or organization scheme that is most appropriate for their message and place their sentences in that order. By recognizing these modes of rhetoric, we can see how authors may revise a text to make it clear to the reader. Review these examples for ways to organize sentences.

      • Unit 1 Knowledge Check

        • Unit 1 Knowledge Check Page

          In Unit 1, we learned how to identify and use correct grammatical structures. Now, you'll practice recognizing correct and incorrect structures and consider how to make unclear sentences easy for the reader to follow.

      • Unit 1 Assessment

        • Unit 1 Assessment Quiz
          Receive a grade

          Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

          • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
          • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
          • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.