The Love Connection

A WebQuest for 6th Grade Language Arts

Introduction:

Do you want to know who the oldest living couples are? Well, I'll tell you, they're sentences! These love birds take a lot of time and dedication in staying together. Each day, they are challenged with trials of run-ons, fragments, and other obstacles that try to keep them apart. But, yet they stay together. In this webquest, you will learn the secrets of their success. You will learn the "love story" of combining sentences.

The Tasks:

To better understand the relationship of sentences and how they "stay together," you will explore several topics. To learn more about sentence combining, you will answer they following questions:

How do I use punctuation correctly in order to join sentences together?
What do subordinating and coordination clauses have to do with combining sentences?
How can I improve my writing by knowing how to correctly combine sentences?
How do I avoid using choppy sentences by using transitional words?
How many different ways can I combine sentences?
Based on the previous four sites, how much have I learned about combining sentences?

The Process:

In order to accomplish the task listed above, there are some fantastic websites visit that will be your keys to success. Each one one has its own "secret of success" in finding out out how sentences stay together, so pay close attention as you board the "love train!!"

1. On this website, The Interlink, it will help you examine all the elements of combining sentences. For example, the use of punctuation, subordination, coordination, reduction, and apposition are all looked at as ways to combine sentences. This site also gives definitions of each concept. Go to this site and read bout how there are several parts to combining sentences. Take a look at some of the examples. Once you've read over these rules, go to The Writer's Choice and practice!
2. How can combining sentences help my writing? At All the Definitions, this site tells what sentence combining is and how it can help one's writing. This site also tells how to use key points in combining sentences. Some of these are the use of key words or phrases.
3. Next, we examine the use of transitional words. The Choppy Sentences site also teaches a few "tricks of the trade" for avoiding choppy sentences. In this site, students will also be given several examples of sentences being combined. See how many transitional words you can think of and then use them in a sentence!
4. Now it's time for fun! This site is an actual chapter in a book. Chapter 7 discusses combining sentences and various ways to do this. Lesson number 6 of the chapter, "Fun with Grammar," allows a cooperative learning exercise. This game requires at least 3-4 students to work together. AT this site, find a few buddies to work with while combining sentences.
5. It's time--Quiz Time!! But before you take this quiz, review your skills at Guidelines for Combining. Students take a quiz on combining sentences and then check their work against the computer. This way, students can work alone and still compare their work. The quiz covers all skills learned from previous sites and their exercises. Take the quiz from this site and then check your answers. If you scored 95% or better, you've accomplished all your goals. If you did not score this high, then please re-take the quiz!

The Evaluation:

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Punctuation	Display several punctuation errors and has no sense of punctuation accuracy.	Understands some concepts regarding the punctuation rules of combined sentences.	Shows a real knowledge of knowing how to correctly punctuate sentences, but there are a few minor mistakes.	There is a an exemplary level of punctuation accuracy. All examples are correct and without any error.
Usage of Conjunctions	Conjunctions are used incorrectly and there is no evidence of understanding ho, why, or where they should be used when combining sentences.	Conjunctions are often used incorrectly, however; there is evidence that conjunctions are understood and more practice is needed.	Few mistakes were made while using conjunctions and there is strong evidence that they are understood.	There are no mistakes made in this area. All conjunctions are used correctly and the student easily distinguishes between the two types of conjunctions.
Writing Skills and Variation of Combining Sentences	Shows no evidence of competent writing skills. The student can only combine sentences in 1-2 ways each time. There is no variation.	Somewhat competent in writing, but needs practice. Variation level of combining sentences is at about 3-4 types, but there could be more versatility.	Almost competent in writing and using sentence combining, Variation of sentences is good, but some clarity is lost.	Extremely competent in writing. No clarity issues exist. Also, variation level is high and very coherent and easily understood.
Sentence Structure	Sentence structure is poor and without direction. There is no coherency and a total lack of understanding in combining sentences.	Sentence structure is okay, but needs more practice. Clear sentences are evident, but again more practice is needed.	Sentence structure is good, but there are some clarity issues. Basic understanding of how to combine sentences.	Sentence structure is very clear, concise, and cohesive. All sentences written have no mistakes and structure is superb!

Conclusion:

In conclusion, by viewing this webquest, you will have accomplished several things. You will know how to combine sentences properly by using correct punctuation, clauses, and transitional words. Most of all, you have learned the secrets of keeping the love alive as your sentences live happily ever after.

Credits & References:

There are several sites that helped in making this webquest a success. One site was BellsnWhistles. Another site was Arttoday. Also, Images at Google provided several pictures for this site.

Teacher Advice:

This lesson was specifically designed for 6th grade students in Language Arts.

Students will need to have a basic understanding of proper punctuation, sentence parts, and basic grammatical rules such as capitalization and subject-verb agreement.

This lesson is organized in such a way that one student per class period, could complete the tasks. This is based on at least a 55 minute time allotment. The lesson is single-disciplinary.

The teacher can easily instruct this lesson because every step is basically self-directed. It would be beneficial; however, to run through the webquest first before assigning it to make sure that all the prerequisite skills have been met.

If your computer time is limited or your computers are limited, then it might be a good idea to allow two students to work through the webquest at once. This way, they can take turns completing the exercises. They can also help each other. I do not, however; recommend more than two students working together unless they are doing the group activity.

The only human resource needed is a facilitator to guide the students and to make sure that they are on task. One teacher is sufficient for this webquest.

Created by Tisha Stewart for EDU 506 @ FHU School of Education by Dr. Bruce Lewis on November 10, 2001.