Writting Skills

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Introduction
How to Use This Book

Pretest

Lesson 1
Capitalization

General rules, specific rules regarding proper nouns and adjectives

Lesson 2
Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points

Ending a sentence, alternate uses for periods

Lesson 3
Avoiding Faulty Sentences

Sentence fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices

Lesson 4
Commas and Sentence Parts

Relating commas to clauses and phrases

Lesson 5
Commas that Separate

Independent clauses, items in a series, items in a date or address, two or more adjectives preceding a noun, contrasting elements and words

Lesson 6
Semicolons and Colons

Introductions, subordinate relationships, common confusions with punctuation

Lesson 7
Apostrophes and Dashes

Using apostrophes to show possession or omission, dashes to emphasize

Lesson 8
Quotation Marks

Dialogue, direct quotations, other punctuation, double and single quotation marks

Lesson 9
"Designer" Punctuation

Hyphens, parentheses, brackets, ellipses, diagonal slashes

Lesson 10
Verb Tense

Present, past, future tenses; switching tenses; subjunctive mood

Lesson 11
Using Verbs to Create Strong Writing

Capturing a reader's interest; using active voice