IXL skill plan | English Early High School plan for the ACT® Aspire

Skill plan for the ACT^® Aspire - English Early High School

IXL provides skill alignments with recommended IXL skills for every student. Find the IXL skills that are right for you below!

Performance level

Emerging
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Emerging
Production of Writing
Determine the purpose of an essay		1. Identify the author's purpose
Determine the purpose of an essay
1. Identify the author's purpose

Determine the purpose of individual sentences		1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements
Determine the purpose of individual sentences
1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements

Logically sequence information in a paragraph or essay		1. Trace an argument 2. Organize information by main idea
Logically sequence information in a paragraph or essay
1. Trace an argument 2. Organize information by main idea

Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay		1. Choose evidence to support a claim 2. Identify supporting details in informational texts 3. Identify supporting details in literary texts
Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay
1. Choose evidence to support a claim 2. Identify supporting details in informational texts 3. Identify supporting details in literary texts

Introduce main ideas in an essay		1. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea 2. Identify thesis statements
Introduce main ideas in an essay
1. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea 2. Identify thesis statements

Use transition words and phrases		1. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs
Use transition words and phrases
1. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs
Knowledge of Language
Identify how style and tone develop throughout a piece of writing		1. Which sentence is more formal? 2. Compare passages for tone
Identify how style and tone develop throughout a piece of writing
1. Which sentence is more formal? 2. Compare passages for tone

Precisely communicate ideas and relationships		1. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons 2. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim
Precisely communicate ideas and relationships
1. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons 2. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim

Identify redundancy		1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Identify redundancy
1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Conventions of Standard English
Identify faulty sentence structure		1. Is it a complete sentence or a fragment? 2. Is it a complete sentence or a run-on? 3. Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on?
Identify faulty sentence structure
1. Is it a complete sentence or a fragment? 2. Is it a complete sentence or a run-on? 3. Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on?

Identify errors in subject-verb agreement		1. Correct errors with subject-verb agreement 2. Use the correct verb – with compound subjects
Identify errors in subject-verb agreement
1. Correct errors with subject-verb agreement 2. Use the correct verb – with compound subjects

Identify errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement		1. Identify pronouns and their antecedents 2. Use the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent
Identify errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement
1. Identify pronouns and their antecedents 2. Use the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent

Identify errors in verb formation and inappropriate verb tense shifts		1. Irregular past tense: review 2. Simple past, present, and future tense: review 3. Form the progressive verb tenses 4. Form the perfect verb tenses
Identify errors in verb formation and inappropriate verb tense shifts
1. Irregular past tense: review 2. Simple past, present, and future tense: review 3. Form the progressive verb tenses 4. Form the perfect verb tenses

Use modifiers including comparative and superlative adjectives		1. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives
Use modifiers including comparative and superlative adjectives
1. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives

Use prepositions and other idiomatic language		1. Identify prepositional phrases
Use prepositions and other idiomatic language
1. Identify prepositional phrases

Use commas in a series or after introductory phrases		1. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, and interrupters 2. Commas with series, dates, and places
Use commas in a series or after introductory phrases
1. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, and interrupters 2. Commas with series, dates, and places

Avoid errors with semicolons		1. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses
Avoid errors with semicolons
1. Use semicolons and commas to separate clauses

Use apostrophes		1. Form the singular or plural possessive 2. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns
Use apostrophes
1. Form the singular or plural possessive 2. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns

Close
Production of Writing
Determine the purpose of an essay		1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1
Determine the purpose of an essay
1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1

Determine the purpose of individual sentences		1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements
Determine the purpose of individual sentences
1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements

Add or delete sentences, phrases, or words to improve a paragraph		1. Suggest appropriate revisions
Add or delete sentences, phrases, or words to improve a paragraph
1. Suggest appropriate revisions

Determine if an essay has logical sequencing		1. Trace an argument: set 1
Determine if an essay has logical sequencing
1. Trace an argument: set 1

Use transition words and phrases		1. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
Use transition words and phrases
1. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
Knowledge of Language
Use a consistent style and tone		1. Which text is most formal?
Use a consistent style and tone
1. Which text is most formal?

Precisely communicate ideas and relationships		1. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons
Precisely communicate ideas and relationships
1. Avoid double, illogical, and unclear comparisons

Avoid redundancy		1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Avoid redundancy
1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Conventions of Standard English
Avoid faulty sentence structure		Sentences, fragments, and run-ons 1. Identify sentence fragments 2. Identify run-on sentences Sentence types 3. Identify dependent and independent clauses 4. Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
Avoid faulty sentence structure
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons 1. Identify sentence fragments 2. Identify run-on sentences Sentence types 3. Identify dependent and independent clauses 4. Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?

Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement		1. Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement
Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement
1. Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement

Avoid errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement		1. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
Avoid errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement
1. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person

Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense		1. Form the progressive verb tenses 2. Form the perfect verb tenses 3. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense
Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense
1. Form the progressive verb tenses 2. Form the perfect verb tenses 3. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Use modifiers including comparative and superlative adjectives		1. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs
Use modifiers including comparative and superlative adjectives
1. Form and use comparative and superlative adverbs

Identify errors with prepositions and other idiomatic language		1. Identify prepositional phrases 2. Interpret figures of speech
Identify errors with prepositions and other idiomatic language
1. Identify prepositional phrases 2. Interpret figures of speech

Use commas in a series or after introductory phrases		1. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases 2. Commas with series, dates, and places
Use commas in a series or after introductory phrases
1. Commas with direct addresses, introductory words, interjections, interrupters, and antithetical phrases 2. Commas with series, dates, and places

Avoid errors with semicolons		1. Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists 2. Semicolons, colons, and commas: review
Avoid errors with semicolons
1. Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists 2. Semicolons, colons, and commas: review

Use apostrophes		1. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns 2. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession
Use apostrophes
1. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns 2. Identify and correct errors with compound and joint possession

Use commas with subordinating or coordinating clauses		1. Commas with compound and complex sentences
Use commas with subordinating or coordinating clauses
1. Commas with compound and complex sentences

Ready
Production of Writing
Determine if an essay accomplishes a rhetorical purpose		1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2
Determine if an essay accomplishes a rhetorical purpose
1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2

Determine the purpose of individual phrases or words		1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements 2. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing
Determine the purpose of individual phrases or words
1. Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements 2. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing

Add, delete, or revise content to improve a paragraph		1. Suggest appropriate revisions
Add, delete, or revise content to improve a paragraph
1. Suggest appropriate revisions

Determine if paragraph sequencing is logical		1. Trace an argument: set 2
Determine if paragraph sequencing is logical
1. Trace an argument: set 2

Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay		1. Choose the best evidence to support a claim 2. Identify supporting evidence in a text
Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay
1. Choose the best evidence to support a claim 2. Identify supporting evidence in a text

Introduce main ideas in an essay		1. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea 2. Identify thesis statements
Introduce main ideas in an essay
1. Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea 2. Identify thesis statements
Knowledge of Language
Use a consistent style and tone		1. Compare passages for tone
Use a consistent style and tone
1. Compare passages for tone

Precisely communicate ideas and relationships		1. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence 2. Use words accurately and precisely 3. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
Precisely communicate ideas and relationships
1. Choose the word whose connotation and denotation best match the sentence 2. Use words accurately and precisely 3. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims

Avoid redundancy		1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Avoid redundancy
1. Remove redundant words or phrases
Conventions of Standard English
Avoid faulty sentence construction		Sentences, fragments, and run-ons 1. Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons Parallel structure 2. Identify sentences with parallel structure 3. Use parallel structure
Avoid faulty sentence construction
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons 1. Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons Parallel structure 2. Identify sentences with parallel structure 3. Use parallel structure

Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement		1. Identify and correct errors with indefinite pronoun-verb agreement
Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement
1. Identify and correct errors with indefinite pronoun-verb agreement

Avoid errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement		1. Identify vague pronoun references 2. Identify all of the possible antecedents
Avoid errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement
1. Identify vague pronoun references 2. Identify all of the possible antecedents

Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense		1. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense
Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense
1. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Identify misplaced modifiers		1. Misplaced modifiers with pictures 2. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier
Identify misplaced modifiers
1. Misplaced modifiers with pictures 2. Select the misplaced or dangling modifier

Use prepositions and other idiomatic language		1. Interpret figures of speech
Use prepositions and other idiomatic language
1. Interpret figures of speech

Exceeding
Production of Writing
Revise content to improve the essay as a whole		1. Replace words using a thesaurus 2. Explore words with new or contested usages
Revise content to improve the essay as a whole
1. Replace words using a thesaurus 2. Explore words with new or contested usages

Determine the purpose of individual sentences, phrases, or words		1. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing
Determine the purpose of individual sentences, phrases, or words
1. Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing

Add, delete, or revise content to improve a paragraph		1. Suggest appropriate revisions
Add, delete, or revise content to improve a paragraph
1. Suggest appropriate revisions

Analyze sequencing to develop rhetorical purpose		1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1 2. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2
Analyze sequencing to develop rhetorical purpose
1. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 1 2. Analyze rhetorical strategies in historical texts: set 2

Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay		1. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim
Use supporting details to improve a paragraph or essay
1. Identify stronger and weaker evidence to support a claim

Connect ideas in a paragraph to the focus of the essay		1. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs
Connect ideas in a paragraph to the focus of the essay
1. Transitions with conjunctive adverbs

Use transition phrases to connect ideas between paragraphs		1. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
Use transition phrases to connect ideas between paragraphs
1. Transition logically between claims, evidence, analysis, and counterclaims
Knowledge of Language
Use a consistent style and tone		1. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone 2. Compare passages for tone
Use a consistent style and tone
1. Compare passages for subjective and objective tone 2. Compare passages for tone

Precisely communicate ideas and relationships		1. Domain-specific vocabulary in context: science and technical subjects 2. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim
Precisely communicate ideas and relationships
1. Domain-specific vocabulary in context: science and technical subjects 2. Choose the analysis that logically connects the evidence to the claim

Avoid redundancy
Avoid redundancy

Conventions of Standard English
Avoid faulty sentence structure		1. Identify active and passive voice 2. Rewrite the sentence in active voice
Avoid faulty sentence structure
1. Identify active and passive voice 2. Rewrite the sentence in active voice

Avoid errors in agreement		1. Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects 2. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
Avoid errors in agreement
1. Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects 2. Correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person

Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense		1. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense
Avoid errors in verb formation and inappropriate shifts in verb tense
1. Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Use modifiers, including adverbs and comparative and superlative adjectives		1. Good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst 2. Well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst
Use modifiers, including adverbs and comparative and superlative adjectives
1. Good, better, best, bad, worse, and worst 2. Well, better, best, badly, worse, and worst

Avoid misplaced modifiers		1. Are the modifiers used correctly?
Avoid misplaced modifiers
1. Are the modifiers used correctly?

Use prepositions and other idiomatic language		1. Interpret the figure of speech
Use prepositions and other idiomatic language
1. Interpret the figure of speech

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