Activities

1. Given a set of descriptions of an adjective, create a single sentence, ordering the adjectives following conventional patterns.
   
   
2. Select, from a given set of sentences,  the sentence that uses the best adjective order, according to conventional patterns.

3. Examine a set of sentences to determine that common patterns of adjectives. Identify the patterns you see.
   
   
4. Construct sentences using two to three adjectives, adhering to conventional adjective patterns.

5. Critique a descriptive paragraph and revise to reflect conventional adjective patterns.
   
   
6. Explain the importance of using conventional adjective patterns.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. The student will arrange two to three phrases about a single noun (e.g. “the frog is green”, “the frog is small”) into a single sentence, ordering the adjectives according to conventional patterns. Present the sentences out of conventional order to ensure that students are aware of the accepted order and able to utilize it independently. Common mistakes may include students stringing sentences together with “and” or putting the adjectives together in the order they are presented.

2. Given a set of sentences using the same adjectives in different orders, the student will choose the sentence that utilizes the most conventional adjective patterns. Present sentences with 2-3 adjectives, as well as sentences using a conjunction to combine adjectives to check for student understanding.

3. The student will examine a given set of sentences to determine what common patterns adjectives generally take. They will identify the patterns that appear in the given sentences. Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to:
   
   
   1. Size, color
   2. Size, shape
   3. Observation, descriptor (beautiful red bag)

4. The student will create novel sentences that adhere to conventional adjective patterns. Look for students to include a variety of adjective patterns (you may wish to have them perform the exercise in question 3 and then create a sentence for each pattern that they identify).

5. Given a paragraph containing non-conventional adjective use, the student will critically review the paragraph to determine which incidences of adjective use are incorrect. The student will revise the incorrect usages to reflect conventional adjective patterns.

6. The student will craft an explanation of the importance of conventional adjective patterns, either in writing or verbally, that demonstrates their knowledge of those patterns and their importance in writing. Look for the student to include what the conventional patterns are, when commas are used in a list of adjectives, and the benefits of ordering adjectives in a conventional order.