High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Language Arts - Writing Syllabus

Language Arts - Writing syllabus: all 5 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

1. 1

   Standard English Grammar and Usage

   5 topics

   • Parts of Speech
     • Nouns, pronouns, and antecedents
     • Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
   • Subject-Verb Agreement
     • Agreement with compound and collective subjects
     • Intervening phrases and inverted order
   • Pronoun Usage
     • Pronoun-antecedent agreement
     • Subjective, objective, and possessive case
     • Vague and ambiguous pronoun reference
   • Verb Tense and Form
     • Consistent tense within a passage
     • Irregular verbs and correct forms
   • Modifier Placement and Dangling Modifiers
2. 2

   Mechanics: Punctuation, Capitalization, and Spelling

   4 topics

   • End and Internal Punctuation
     • Commas in series, clauses, and appositives
     • Semicolons and colons
   • Apostrophes and Possessives
     • Singular and plural possession
     • Contractions vs. possessive pronouns
   • Capitalization Rules
   • Commonly Confused Words and Spelling
     • Homophones (their/there/they're, your/you're)
     • Frequently misspelled words
3. 3

   Sentence Structure and Revision

   4 topics

   • Sentence Boundaries
     • Run-ons and comma splices
     • Sentence fragments
   • Combining and Coordinating Sentences
     • Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
     • Parallel structure in lists and pairs
   • Improving Clarity and Conciseness
   • Effective Word Choice and Tone
4. 4

   Organization and Effective Writing

   4 topics

   • Logical Sequencing of Ideas
     • Ordering sentences and paragraphs
     • Transitions and connective words
   • Paragraph Unity and Coherence
   • Relevance: Adding and Deleting Information
   • Introductions and Conclusions
5. 5

   The Argumentative Essay

   5 topics

   • Analyzing the Prompt and Source Texts
     • Identifying two opposing positions
     • Taking a clear stance
   • Planning and Thesis Development
     • Writing a defensible claim
     • Outlining supporting reasons
   • Developing Support with Evidence
     • Drawing on provided passages
     • Addressing the opposing view
   • Drafting and Revising the Response
     • Clear organization and transitions
     • Editing for grammar, usage, and mechanics
   • Understanding the 6-Point Scoring Rubric

High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Language Arts - Writing flashcards — 51 questions with answers

1. What are the eight traditional parts of speech in English?

   Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

2. What is the difference between a common noun and a proper noun?

   A common noun names a general person, place, or thing (city) and is not capitalized; a proper noun names a specific one (Chicago) and is always capitalized.

3. What job does an adverb perform, and what kinds of words can it modify?

   An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, often telling how, when, where, or to what degree (e.g., quickly, very).

4. What is the basic rule of subject-verb agreement?

   A verb must agree with its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

5. In subject-verb agreement, how do you treat two singular subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'?

   The verb agrees with the subject nearer to it; with 'or'/'nor' joining two singular subjects, use a singular verb (e.g., 'Neither the dog nor the cat is hungry').

6. Does the verb agree with the subject or with a phrase that comes between the subject and verb (e.g., 'The box of nails ___')?

   It agrees with the true subject, ignoring intervening phrases: 'The box of nails IS heavy' (subject = box, singular).

7. What is the difference between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun? Give examples.

   Subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) act as the subject; object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) receive the action or follow a preposition.

8. What must a pronoun agree with in number and gender?

   A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number and gender (e.g., 'Each student brought HIS OR HER book').

9. What is a vague or ambiguous pronoun reference, and why is it an error?

   It occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one antecedent or has no clear antecedent, leaving the reader unsure what the pronoun means.

10. How do you choose between 'who' and 'whom'?

    Use 'who' as a subject (it does the action) and 'whom' as an object (it receives the action or follows a preposition); 'whom' pairs with him/her.

11. What do the three simple verb tenses express?

    Simple present (habitual or general action), simple past (completed action), and simple future (action yet to happen).

12. What does the present perfect tense express, and how is it formed?

    It expresses an action that began in the past and continues or has relevance now; formed with 'has/have' + past participle (e.g., 'has finished').

13. What is an unnecessary shift in verb tense, and how is it corrected?

    It is illogically switching tenses within a passage (e.g., past to present) without reason; fix it by keeping tense consistent unless the time frame truly changes.

14. What is a misplaced modifier?

    A modifier positioned so it appears to describe the wrong word, causing confusion; it should be placed next to the word it modifies.

15. What is a dangling modifier, and how is it fixed?

    A modifier (often an introductory phrase) whose intended subject is missing from the sentence; fix it by adding the logical subject right after the phrase (e.g., 'Walking home, I saw the dog').

16. What are the three main end punctuation marks and their uses?

    Period ends a statement, question mark ends a direct question, and exclamation point ends a strong or emphatic statement.

17. When should a comma be used before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)?

    Use a comma before a FANBOYS conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when it joins two independent clauses.

18. What is the rule for commas with introductory elements and items in a series?

    Place a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause, and use commas to separate three or more items in a series.

19. How do you form the possessive of a singular noun versus a plural noun ending in -s?

    Add 's to a singular noun (the dog's bone) and add only an apostrophe to a plural noun ending in -s (the dogs' bones).

20. What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

    'Its' is the possessive form (belonging to it); 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'. Possessive pronouns never use apostrophes.

High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Language Arts - Writing FAQ