Writing Standards: Strengthening Writing for Purpose and Audience (CCSS.W.8.5)
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Common Core 8th Grade ELA › Writing Standards: Strengthening Writing for Purpose and Audience (CCSS.W.8.5)
Yesterday our school held a pep rally to kick off the fall season. Posters lined the hallway, and the marching band warmed up near the cafeteria. Walking past the gym, the cheers were deafening. I could hear the drumline echo through the lockers, and the mascot practiced its routine by the doors. Ms. Cruz asked us to head to our seats quickly so the program could start on time. The captains from each team spoke briefly about their goals and thanked the volunteers who helped plan the event. Even though rallies can get loud, this one felt spirited but respectful. After the principal's brief speech, we filed outside for a short parade around the track. The energy left everyone smiling, and I left feeling excited about the games ahead.
Which revision best corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence "Walking past the gym, the cheers were deafening."?
Walking past the gym, I heard deafening cheers from the pep rally.
Walking past the gym, the pep rally was deafening.
When I was walking past the gym, the deafening cheers could be heard by me.
Walking past the gym, there were deafening cheers.
Explanation
A correctly places the person doing the walking ("I") next to the modifier and uses clear, active wording. The other options leave the modifier dangling or use an expletive subject that still lacks a logical doer.
This year our student council wants to make practical changes that students will notice. At our first meeting, we brainstormed ways to improve both the flow of the cafeteria and the sense of community in homerooms. We also reviewed last year's survey to prioritize projects that matter to different grade levels. This year, we hope to improve the lunch line, creating a fairer seating chart, and to host monthly town halls. With clear goals and a schedule, we can check our progress and adjust if we hit obstacles. We plan to share updates in morning announcements and invite suggestions through a drop box in the library. If everyone participates, we can keep the focus on listening and solving problems together. Along the way, we will celebrate small wins so people stay motivated. By the end of the semester, we hope our changes feel normal, not new.
Which revision best corrects the faulty parallel structure in the sentence "This year, we hope to improve the lunch line, creating a fairer seating chart, and to host monthly town halls."?
This year, we hope improving the lunch line, create a fairer seating chart, and host monthly town halls.
This year, we hope to improve the lunch line, to create a fairer seating chart, and to host monthly town halls.
This year, we hope to improve the lunch line, creating a fairer seating chart, and hosting monthly town halls.
This year, we are hoping to improve the lunch line, to create a fairer seating chart, and host monthly town halls.
Explanation
B makes all items in the series parallel by repeating the infinitive form ("to improve," "to create," "to host"). The other options mix forms or introduce additional nonparallel elements.
For our science project, our team compared how different soil types affect plant growth under the same amount of light. We collected potting soil from three locations and measured moisture each day with the same tool. After two weeks, we graphed the heights and made notes about leaf color. When the team presented findings to Ms. Diaz, they said the conclusion needed more support. We decided to add one more trial so our data would be stronger, and we also revised our claim to match what the evidence showed. On Friday we will submit a final report and practice our presentation so that our timing stays within the limit. Working together has taught us to double-check procedures and explain our reasoning clearly. After hearing Ms. Diaz's feedback, we updated our outline before revising the slides.
Which revision best clarifies the pronoun-antecedent relationship and eliminates ambiguity in the sentence "When the team presented findings to Ms. Diaz, they said the conclusion needed more support."?
When the team presented their findings to Ms. Diaz, they said the conclusion needed more support.
When the team presented findings to Ms. Diaz, it said the conclusion needed more support.
When the team presented its findings to Ms. Diaz, she said the conclusion needed more support.
When presenting findings to Ms. Diaz, they said the conclusion needed more support.
Explanation
C clearly identifies Ms. Diaz as the speaker and uses "its" to agree with the collective noun "team." The others remain ambiguous, shift meaning, or introduce a dangling modifier.
The last period of the day in our class is quiet writing time, which I usually enjoy. Today, however, the clock seemed to tick a little faster than usual because we were finishing our final drafts. I reviewed my thesis and checked that each paragraph had strong evidence. When the bell rang students rushed to finish their last sentences and turn in the essays. I clipped my pages together, put my name on the rubric, and placed everything in the tray. Our teacher reminded us to proofread aloud next time so that small errors don't slip through. Walking out, I felt relieved and a bit proud because I had revised three times and asked a peer to review my work. The room settled into a soft scratch of pencils and the whir of the vent. By the door, the turn-in tray filled quickly.
Which sentence is written correctly?
When the bell, rang students rushed to finish their last sentences and turn in the essays.
When the bell rang students, rushed to finish their last sentences and turn in the essays.
When the bell rang, students rushed, to finish their last sentences, and turn in the essays.
When the bell rang, students rushed to finish their last sentences and turn in the essays.
Explanation
D correctly places a comma after the introductory clause and avoids unnecessary commas within the main clause. The other options misplace or overuse commas.
Walking through the museum, the ancient sculptures fascinated me. Our class moved quietly from room to room, taking notes and whispering about our favorite pieces. I lingered in the gallery of marble figures, noticing the smooth surfaces and the careful details carved into hands and faces. A guide explained how artists shaped stone with simple tools and patience. When we reached the last exhibit, a towering statue seemed to glow under the skylight. I tried to sketch it, but my pencil could not capture its size. The visit made me realize how much work goes into preserving art so everyone can see it. On the bus ride home, I reread my notes and added questions to research later. It was the kind of trip that stays with you, long after the doors have closed.
The opening sentence contains a dangling modifier. Which revision best corrects the error while keeping the original meaning?
Walking through the museum, the ancient sculptures fascinated me even more.
As I walked through the museum, I was fascinated by the ancient sculptures.
Walking through the museum; the ancient sculptures fascinated me.
Walking through the museum, the ancient sculptures were fascinating to see.
Explanation
B makes the subject of the introductory phrase ("I") match the subject of the sentence, correctly linking the modifier. A, C, and D leave "the ancient sculptures" as the subject, so the phrase still dangles and illogically suggests the sculptures were walking.
Last month I started a school blog where I review books and share tips for staying organized. The first week felt exciting but messy, because I rushed and posted without much planning. To improve my posts, I plan to outlining my ideas, revising for clarity, and to meet with a teacher who can give feedback. I also want to track which topics get the most views so I can focus on what helps readers. Several classmates already commented that the calendar printable was useful. Next, I'm drafting a guide to balancing homework with clubs, and I want it to be more polished than my earlier entries. If I slow down and follow a routine, I know the blog will become more helpful and easier to read for everyone who visits.
Which revision best corrects the faulty parallel structure in the third sentence?
To improve my posts, I plan outlining my ideas, revising for clarity, and to meet with a teacher who can give feedback.
To improve my posts, I plan to outline my ideas, revising for clarity, and meet with a teacher who can give feedback.
To improve my posts, I plan to outlining my ideas, to revising for clarity, and to meet with a teacher who can give feedback.
To improve my posts, I plan to outline my ideas, to revise for clarity, and to meet with a teacher who can give feedback.
Explanation
D makes all items in the series parallel by using the same infinitive form: to outline, to revise, and to meet. A, B, and C mix gerunds and infinitives or omit needed "to," creating mismatched structure.
Our neighborhood organized a weekend cleanup of the park, and dozens of volunteers signed up online. We met early Saturday morning with rakes, trash bags, and work gloves. Each of the volunteers brought their own plan for which area to tackle first, so we divided into small groups. The creek bank collected the most litter, while the playground mostly needed leaves swept from under the swings. By lunchtime, we had filled several bins and stacked branches near the curb for pickup. A few neighbors brought lemonade and reminded everyone to take shade breaks. Before we left, we talked about planting native flowers that would attract pollinators and require little watering. The day felt productive, and we agreed to meet again next month to keep the momentum going.
Which revision best corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement error in the third sentence?
Each of the volunteers brought his or her own plan for which area to tackle first, so we divided into small groups.
Each of the volunteers brought their own plans for which area to tackle first, so we divided into small groups.
All of the volunteers brings their own plan for which area to tackle first, so we divided into small groups.
Each of the volunteers brought they're own plan for which area to tackle first, so we divided into small groups.
Explanation
A matches the singular indefinite pronoun "Each" with the singular pronoun phrase "his or her." B keeps the number mismatch, C has a subject–verb error, and D uses the incorrect form "they're."
Preparing my science fair experiment took longer than I expected, but the process taught me to plan carefully. I wanted reliable results, so I wrote a detailed procedure and tested each step twice. My first trial went smoothly, yet the second one showed me that I had measured the solution too quickly. After reviewing the data I recalibrated the scale and adjusted the timing. I also labeled the beakers and cleaned the workspace between tests to avoid contamination. By the end of the weekend, the results were consistent, and I revised my chart to make the pattern easy to see. Next time, I will begin earlier so I can spend more time designing the display board and refining my explanation.
Which revision adds the necessary comma to correct the error in the fourth sentence?
After reviewing the data I, recalibrated the scale and adjusted the timing.
After reviewing the data; I recalibrated the scale and adjusted the timing.
After reviewing the data, I recalibrated the scale and adjusted the timing.
After reviewing the data, I recalibrated the scale, and adjusted the timing.
Explanation
C correctly places a comma after the introductory dependent clause. A misplaces the comma, B uses an unnecessary semicolon, and D adds an extra comma before a compound predicate.
Last Friday, our student council met to finalize plans for the winter charity drive. We reviewed last year's feedback, set a realistic goal, and assigned volunteers to specific tasks. Walking down the hallway, the poster announcing our meeting caught my eye. I realized the design was too crowded, so I suggested we simplify the layout and add more white space. Everyone agreed that clearer visuals would help students understand how to donate and where to drop off items. By the end of the period, we had a timeline, a list of responsibilities, and a draft schedule for social media posts. We left feeling organized and confident that the drive would launch smoothly next week. Before leaving, we checked with our advisor about reserving the cafeteria.
Which revision best corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence "Walking down the hallway, the poster announcing our meeting caught my eye."?
Walking down the hallway, I noticed a poster announcing our meeting.
While walking down the hallway, the poster announcing our meeting caught my eye.
Walking down the hallway; I noticed the poster announcing our meeting.
I was walking down the hallway, the poster announcing our meeting caught my eye.
Explanation
Choice A makes the subject of the modifier clear (I) and correctly attaches it to the action. B repeats the dangling modifier error, C misuses a semicolon, and D creates a comma splice.
To prepare for our journalism field trip, our teacher asked us to brainstorm story angles and practice interviewing. We researched the museum's current exhibit and read background articles about the artifacts. The itinerary aims to visit the museum, having lunch in the park, and to interview a curator. I volunteered to draft sample questions so we could gather quotes efficiently. We also discussed safety procedures and created a buddy system to make sure no one gets lost. After dividing roles, we planned how to organize notes and photos when we return to school. The goal is to produce a short multimedia feature that our classmates will enjoy and that captures the exhibit's main ideas. With a checklist in place, our team feels ready to report like professionals.
Which revision creates parallel structure in the sentence "The itinerary aims to visit the museum, having lunch in the park, and to interview a curator."?
The itinerary aims visiting the museum, having lunch in the park, and interviewing a curator.
The itinerary aims to visit the museum, to have lunch in the park and interview a curator.
The itinerary aims to visit the museum; have lunch in the park; and to interview a curator.
The itinerary aims to visit the museum, have lunch in the park, and interview a curator.
Explanation
Choice D uses the same verb form for all items (visit, have, interview), creating clear parallel structure. A is ungrammatical after "aims," B mixes forms (to have … interview), and C misuses semicolons and also mixes forms.