Proper capitalization is an essential part of writing correctly, particularly as students progress to more complex text forms in their academic and personal lives. Capitalization isn't just about aesthetics; it's about clarity, respect for proper nouns, and understanding the rules that govern how we communicate in written form. Here are five practice worksheets tailored for 7th graders to reinforce these crucial skills:
Worksheet 1: Identifying Proper Nouns
Understanding what to capitalize starts with recognizing proper nouns. This worksheet involves a list of sentences where students need to identify and capitalize the proper nouns. For example:
- my favorite book is “the hobbit.”
- i visited the golden gate bridge last summer.
Students will need to rewrite these sentences with correct capitalization:
- My favorite book is “The Hobbit.”
- I visited the Golden Gate Bridge last summer.
✍️ Note: A proper noun refers to specific names, titles, or places, and must be capitalized.
Worksheet 2: Titles and Headings
Titles of books, movies, articles, and headings within text have specific rules for capitalization. This worksheet provides practice in correctly capitalizing such titles:
- a tale of two cities
- chapter one: the beginning
Here, students will need to capitalize the major words:
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Chapter One: The Beginning
Focus on major words but be aware of exceptions like prepositions and conjunctions with less than five letters unless they start or end the title.
Worksheet 3: Geographical Names
The third worksheet is dedicated to geographical names, where students correct sentences with incorrect capitalization:
- i live near the mississippi river.
- the city of london is famous for the tower bridge.
Corrected sentences look like this:
- I live near the Mississippi River.
- The city of London is famous for the Tower Bridge.
Worksheet 4: Days, Months, Holidays, and Seasons
These have specific rules for capitalization. Here, students will practice identifying and correcting errors:
- my favorite season is fall.
- i’ll visit my grandparents on thursday.
Properly capitalized:
- My favorite season is Fall.
- I’ll visit my grandparents on Thursday.
Worksheet 5: Quotations and Dialogue
Capitalization in quotes can be tricky. This worksheet involves rephrasing dialogues:
- she said, “i love reading.” and he replied, “me too.”
The correct version would be:
- She said, “I love reading.” And he replied, “Me too.”
✍️ Note: Capitalize the first word of a quotation, even if it’s within a sentence or a dialogue tag.
As you complete these worksheets, remember that capitalization isn't just about following rules; it’s about enhancing readability and giving respect to proper names, places, and important moments. By practicing these worksheets, 7th graders will become adept at spotting when and where capitalization is needed, ensuring their writing is clear, respectful, and correct. The knowledge gained will help them in crafting better written communication, impressing teachers, and setting a solid foundation for future writing tasks.
Why is capitalization important in writing?
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Capitalization helps in distinguishing specific names, places, and titles, making the text clearer and easier to understand. It also shows respect for proper nouns and adds structure to sentences.
Are there any exceptions to capitalizing titles of books, movies, or songs?
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Yes, common exceptions include prepositions, articles, and conjunctions that are less than five letters long, unless they are the first or last word in the title. Major words, however, are always capitalized.
Should seasons be capitalized?
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Generally, seasons are not capitalized unless they start a sentence or are part of a proper noun or title.
