English Language Arts
Grade 12
15 min
Correct capitalization errors
Correct capitalization errors
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify and correct capitalization errors in complex sentences involving historical periods, literary movements, and geographical regions.
Apply title case capitalization rules consistently to titles of literary works, articles, and essays according to a specified style guide (e.g., MLA).
Differentiate between proper adjectives that require capitalization (e.g., Shakespearean) and those that have become common (e.g., herculean).
Correctly capitalize personal, professional, and official titles when used with a name or in place of a name.
Analyze the rhetorical and stylistic effects of unconventional capitalization in literary texts, such as in the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
Edit their own academic writing for capitalization accuracy, enhancing clarity and p...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Proper NounThe specific name of a person, place, organization, or thing. These are always capitalized.Instead of 'a river in Egypt,' the proper noun is 'the Nile River.'
Proper AdjectiveAn adjective formed from a proper noun, used to describe a noun. These are typically capitalized.The term 'Shakespearean sonnet' uses a proper adjective derived from the proper noun 'Shakespeare.'
Title CaseThe capitalization convention used for titles of works, where the first and last words, and all 'major' words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are capitalized.The title of Oscar Wilde's play is *The Importance of Being Earnest*, not *The Importance of being Earnest*.
Historical/Literary PeriodA specific, named era...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule of Titles and Subtitles (MLA Style)
In Title Case, capitalize the first word, the last word, and all principal words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), prepositions (of, in, on), or coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) unless they are the first or last word.
Use this rule for titles of books, articles, plays, and other works cited in academic writing. Consistency is key to professional presentation.
Rule of Specificity for Nouns
Capitalize nouns that refer to a specific, named entity. Do not capitalize general or common nouns.
This rule helps distinguish between a general concept and a specific instance. For example, you study 'history' (a general subject), but you take 'History of the British Monarchy' (a specific course title).
Rule...
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Challenging
The poetry of Emily Dickinson is famous for its unconventional capitalization. What is the most likely rhetorical or stylistic effect of her frequent, and sometimes seemingly random, capitalization of common nouns?
A.To place special emphasis or personify abstract concepts, giving them the weight of proper nouns.
B.To adhere to older, pre-standardized English capitalization rules from the 17th century.
C.To confuse the reader and obscure the literal meaning of the poem.
D.To indicate which words should be read with a louder volume or higher pitch.
Challenging
Which of the following complex sentences is fully and correctly capitalized?
A.In my paper, 'The Wasteland: A modernist Manifesto,' I argue that T.S. Eliot's poem, a key text from the Modernist Period, reflects the disillusionment following world war I.
B.In my paper, 'The Wasteland: A Modernist Manifesto,' I argue that T.S. Eliot's poem, a key text from the modernist period, reflects the disillusionment following World War I.
C.In my paper, 'The Wasteland: A Modernist Manifesto,' I argue that T.S. Eliot's poem, a key text from the Modernist period, reflects the disillusionment following World War I.
D.In my paper, 'the wasteland: a modernist manifesto,' I argue that T.S. Eliot's poem, a key text from the Modernist period, reflects the disillusionment following world war I.
Challenging
The 'Rule of Specificity' states that you capitalize nouns referring to a specific, named entity. Which sentence below contains an error that VIOLATES this rule?
A.The President of the United States will deliver the State of the Union address tonight.
B.My mother works as a federal judge in the ninth circuit court.
C.We crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a cruise ship.
D.I am reading the Declaration of Independence for my American history class.
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