Sentence Combining Answer and Study Tips

Tonight: Study expository and grammar notes, practice on NoRedInk

Sentence Combining Championship #3

#1

• History books emphasize the English settlements at Jamestown in 1607 and Plymouth in 1620 as part of a major immigration pattern.
• The English settlements at Jamestown in 1607 and Plymouth in 1620 are emphasized in history books as part of a major immigration pattern.
• History books emphasize English settlements that were part of a major immigration pattern; the settlements were at Jamestown ……

#2

• But such emphasis may overlook a basic fact: three generations of Mexicans had put down roots in the desert southwest while the English were still anchoring their ships.
• But such emphasis may overlook the basic fact that three generations of Mexicans had put down roots in the desert southwest while the English were still anchoring their ships.
• While the English were still anchoring their ships, three generations….

#3

• America was still far from being a republic because a rich culture had been created by the Mexican descendants of the Toltecs, Aztecs, Mayans, and Spanish soldiers.
• America was still far from being a republic; a rich culture had been created by the Mexican descendants of the Toltecs, Aztecs, Mayans, and Spanish soldiers.
• ???

#4

• Mexicans were like the American Indian tribes; they welcomed Anglo visitations at first, but they later came to regret their decision as the Anglo intentions became increasingly clear.
• Mexicans were like the American Indian tribes who welcomed Anglo visitations at first but later came to regret their decision as Anglo intentions became increasingly clear.

#5

• When the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, Mexicans found themselves second-class citizens, living on foreign land that had once belonged to them.
• Mexicans became second-class citizens who found themselves living on foreign land which had once belonged to them as the Mexican-American War ended in 1848.

#6

• In exchange for paying $15 million, the United States received California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and parts of Utah and Nevada.

#7

• Many Mexican-Americans lost land that their families had owned for centuries because they did not understand the tax system and failed to file title claims.

#8

• Others were cheated by unscrupulous deed keepers who stole titles and failed to record them.

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Reminders for Tomorrow’s STAAR Writing Test

Good luck tomorrow! Remember:

⦁ The better you plan (4 square), the better your essay will be. Plan rough drafts with line limits. (3/10/10/3)

⦁ Give yourself 30-45 minutes to revise and edit. Remember – EVERYTHING rides on a strong, clear thesis.

⦁ When you think you’re ready for final copy, STOP AND ASK YOURSELF, “What revision steps did I focus on to get my last essay up a score point?” Go back and revise specifically for those steps!

⦁ Write small, use paragraph breaks but no line skipping, and PROOFREAD MANY TIMES before calling it done. 🙂