English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Identify text structures
Identify text structures
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define and identify different types of pronoun shifts (person, number, gender).
Explain the importance of consistent pronoun usage for textual clarity and coherence.
Analyze sentences and paragraphs to locate instances of inappropriate pronoun shifts.
Apply rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement to correct pronoun shifts.
Revise their own writing to eliminate inconsistent pronoun usage, enhancing the overall structure and readability.
Differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate pronoun usage in various contexts.
Articulate how consistent pronoun usage contributes to the logical flow and understanding of a text's structure.
Ever read something that suddenly made you feel like the author was talking to someone else, or about a different person...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun or another pronoun to avoid repetition. Examples include 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' 'they,' 'you,' 'I,' 'we,' 'one.'Instead of 'Sarah went to the store, and Sarah bought apples,' we say 'Sarah went to the store, and *she* bought apples.'
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers back to. It's the word that the pronoun replaces.In 'When Maria finished her homework, *she* went outside,' 'Maria' is the antecedent for the pronoun 'she.'
Pronoun ShiftAn inconsistent or illogical change in the person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), or gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) of p...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Maintain Consistent Person
Do not shift unnecessarily from one person (first, second, or third) to another within the same sentence or paragraph.
If you start writing in the third person (e.g., 'one,' 'a student,' 'they'), continue to use third-person pronouns. If you use the second person ('you'), stick with it. Shifting creates confusion about who the subject is.
Maintain Consistent Number
Ensure pronouns consistently agree in number (singular or plural) with their antecedents.
If your antecedent is singular (e.g., 'a person,' 'each student,' 'the team'), use a singular pronoun (e.g., 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' 'its'). If your antecedent is plural (e.g., 'people,'...
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Challenging
The following paragraph contains multiple pronoun shifts: 'If a student wants to improve their writing, you should first read more. Reading exposes a person to new ideas. It also shows them different ways to structure a sentence.' Which option best revises the paragraph for consistent pronoun usage?
A.If a student wants to improve their writing, they should first read more. Reading exposes them to new ideas. It also shows them different ways to structure a sentence.
B.If students want to improve their writing, they should first read more. Reading exposes them to new ideas. It also shows them different ways to structure a sentence.
C.If you want to improve your writing, one should first read more. Reading exposes a person to new ideas. It also shows one different ways to structure a sentence.
D.If a student wants to improve her writing, you should first read more. Reading exposes her to new ideas. It also shows you different ways to structure a sentence.
Challenging
A classmate argues, 'Using singular 'they' is always an error. The tutorial proves that 'Every student should bring their book' is wrong.' Based on a critical understanding of the tutorial and modern usage, which statement is the most accurate evaluation of this argument?
A.The argument is completely correct; singular 'they' is always a grammatical mistake.
B.The argument is incorrect; the tutorial states that singular 'they' is always acceptable in formal writing.
C.The argument is partially correct for formal writing, but it ignores the fact that singular 'they' is widely accepted in informal contexts to avoid gendered language.
D.The argument is correct because the tutorial's main goal is to teach informal English, where 'his or her' is preferred.
Challenging
How does the inappropriate pronoun shift in the following sentence weaken the structure of an argumentative essay? 'First, the city must invest in public transportation to reduce traffic. After implementing this change, you will see a significant decrease in air pollution.'
A.It shifts the gender of the pronoun, confusing the reader about who is responsible.
B.It creates an ambiguous reference, making it unclear what 'you' refers to.
C.It shifts the tone from a formal, objective argument (third person) to a direct, informal address (second person), undermining the author's credibility and logical consistency.
D.It creates a number shift, as 'city' is singular and 'you' can be plural.
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