Independent and Dependent Clauses
What is an independent clause?
A group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought.
What is a thesis statement?
Answer: The main claim or central idea of an essay.
What is dialogue?
Answer: The words characters speak to one another.
What is the beginning paragraph of an essay called?
Answer: The introduction
What does the R in RACE stand for?
Answer: Restate the question.
Is this an independent or dependent clause?
"Because Maya studied hard"
Dependent clause
Where is a thesis statement usually found in an informative or argumentative essay?
Answer: Near the end of the introduction.
What punctuation marks are usually used to show dialogue?
Answer: Quotation marks.
What is the main idea or claim of the essay usually found near the end of the introduction?
Answer: The thesis statement.
Question: What does the A in RACE stand for?
Answer: Answer the question.
Is this an independent or dependent clause?
"Jordan finished his homework."
Independent Clause
Which is a stronger thesis?
A. Butterflies are interesting.
B. Butterfly wings help butterflies survive by controlling temperature, providing camouflage, and helping them escape predators.
B
Which sentence correctly uses dialogue?
A. Maria said I am ready.
B. Maria said, "I am ready."
B. Maria said, "I am ready."
What are paragraphs 2 and 3 usually called?
Answer: The body paragraphs.
Question: What does the C in RACE stand for?
Answer: Cite evidence from the text.
Complete this sentence with an independent clause:
"Although it was raining, _________."
Answers may vary.
"we went outside."
Write a thesis statement for this topic:
"How does Lemony Snicket create a gloomy tone in The Bad Beginning?"
Answers may vary.
Lemony Snicket creates a gloomy tone in "The Bad Beginning" by using negative descriptions of the house where the Baudelaire children went to live and showing how bad Count Olaf treated them.
Why do authors include dialogue in narratives?
Answer: To reveal character, show emotions, develop relationships, and move the plot forward.
What is the purpose of the fourth paragraph?
Answer: It is the conclusion, which wraps up the essay and reminds the reader of the main idea.
Question: What does the E in RACE stand for?
Answer: Explain how the evidence supports your answer.
Identify the clauses:
"When the bell rang, the students packed their books and left the classroom."
Dependent: "When the bell rang." Independent: "the students packed their books and left the classroom."
What three things should a strong thesis statement generally communicate?
Answer: The topic, the main claim/idea, and the main points or reasons that will be developed in the essay.
What can dialogue reveal about a character without directly telling the reader?
Answer: Their personality, feelings, relationships, beliefs, attitude, or motivations.
Put the four paragraphs in the correct order:
Conclusion — Body Paragraph 2 — Introduction — Body Paragraph 1
Answer:
Introduction → Body Paragraph 1 → Body Paragraph 2 → Conclusion
Question: A student answers a question, gives a quote from the text, and explains the quote. Which part of RACE is missing?
Answer: Restate the question.