Ten-Minute
Grammar
CAPITALIZATION
OBJECTIVES:
1. Students should understand that…
a. Proper nouns should be capitalized, and common nouns should not.
b. The first word of a quotation should be capitalized.
c. People’s titles should be capitalized only when it is used as part of their name or in place
of their name.
d. Words derived from proper nouns (like languages) are always capitalized.
e. In titles of publications, the first and last word are always capitalized, and all other words
are capitalized except articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions.
2. Students should be able to…
a. Avoid the most common capitalization errors in their own writing.
b. Recognize and correct capitalization errors when proofreading.
LITERATURE:
This unit contains example selections from the novel Sunrise
over Fallujah by Walter Dean Meyers.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
One
Capitalization
Identify the capitalization errors in the following sentences and re-write the words that need
to be changed (there is at least one in each sentence):
1. We went to new york city last year.
2. I brought a book called sights to see in the city.
3. There were a ton of people there, and many of them spoke languages
other than english.
4. At the World Trade Center Memorial, we met an awesome cop named
officer Fernandez.
5. When it was time to leave, I asked my parents, “can we come back next
year?”
Correct any words with capitalization errors in the following paragraph (there are 11
incorrect words in all):
6. One of my favorite parts of the trip was seeing the statue of liberty. I
learned that it was a gift to the united states from the french. On
another day, we met the Mayor; his name was mayor Bloomberg.
Mom and dad thought it was outrageous how expensive everything
was. Dad said, “next year we’re going to las vegas.”
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 EIGHT LETTERS: Create as many words as you can using three or more of the
letters below (at least one eight-letter word is possible):
RUDOTASW
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Two
Capitalization
In your own words, write a capitalization rule that explains the following correction (Your
rule could start with “You should capitalize…”):
1. nile river = Nile River
That River there = that river there
2. I said, “hello.” = I said, “Hello.”
3. president Washington = President Washington
was the first President
was the first president
4. french, spanish, american = French, Spanish, American
Based on the rules you deduced above, find the capitalization error in each sentence below:
5. I want to go to disneyland in california.
6. She asked, “why is your hair purple?”
7. Our class wrote letters to senator Kennedy last year.
8. This pancake house down the road has great german pancakes; and one
of the cashiers is bilingual, so you can order in spanish if you want.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 VOWEL COMBINATOR: The vowel combination “ou” can sound like the
“ow” in “wow” or like the soft “u” in “much.” List as many words as you can that
contain this vowel combo.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Three
Capitalization
Yesterday, you deduced the following the capitalization rules. Create your own example
sentence for each rule:
1. Proper nouns should be capitalized, and common nouns should not.
2. The first word in a quotation should be capitalized.
3. A person’s title should be capitalized only when it’s used as a name or
as part of a name.
4. Words that come from proper nouns (like languages) should be
capitalized.
General Grammar Review – Read the following excerpt from Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter
Dean Meyers and then answer the questions:
The sadness in Halima’s voice bothered me, but then I thought
about the village men who had been killed, and remembered her
saying that they were going to Baghdad to get ready to fight
Americans.
5. List at least four nouns from this sentence.
6. Who is the antecedent of the pronoun “her” in the second line?
7. List at least three verbs from this sentence.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 DESCRAMBLER: Try to sort out the five scrambled words below:
WOSC EPJES DWNIOW RAMECRE YRAMDEDA
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Four
Capitalization
In titles of things like books, movies, and articles, the first and last
word are always capitalized, and all other words are capitalized
except articles (a, an, the), short conjunctions (and, but, or, as, if),
and prepositions (of, over, beyond, through).
Rewrite the following titles with correct capitalization:
1. Harry potter And The half-blood Prince
2. lizzie bright and the buckminster boy
3. second Star To The Right
4. the Curious case of Benjamin button
Using the proper proofreading marks, correct the six errors in this excerpt from Sunrise over
Fallujah by Walter Dean Meyers:
“Your not allowed to treat iraqis,” captain Coles said.
“I’ve got a few rolls of clean bandages and and some antibiotics,” Miller
said. “I don’t think its going to make a major difference in the War.”
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 CATALOGUE CREATOR: The root word “-aster- / -astr-” means “star.”
How many words can you list that contain this root?
Ten-Minute
Grammar
QUIZ
DAY
Capitalization
REVIEW FOR TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. When should a noun be capitalized?
2. When starting a quotation in the middle of a sentence, which word
should be capitalized?
3. When would words like “mom” and “dad” be capitalized, and when
would they not?
4. Why are words like black and white not capitalized while AfricanAmerican and Caucasian are capitalized?
5. Identify the capitalization errors in the following sentence:
a. king augustus arbuckle, the ruler of buckland, wrote a book about
his experiences called becoming The supreme Leader Of A
completely unknown Country. In the book, Augustus says, “to be
honest, being a king kind of stinks.”
Extra
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Five
Capitalization
Correct any capitalization errors you find in the following paragraphs (there are 5 in each):
1. For my birthday, I wanted a new Game Console. I was hoping for a
nintendo game system, but mom thought they were still too expensive.
I said, “what if I pay for half of it?” She still wouldn’t give in.
2. barack obama was elected as president in 2008. Since taking office in
2009, president Obama’s approval rating has gone up and down, just
like other Presidents’ ratings have in the Past.
3. The neighbors down the street adopted a little girl from china last year.
A few months later, the neighbors in the next house brought home a
two-year-old vietnamese orphan, and my friend’s mom and dad
became Foster parents to a boy from guatemala. At the end of the year,
mom said, “Looks like love is contagious.”
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 FOUR-LETTER WORDS: Take the four-letter word below and change one letter
to make a new four-letter word (keep it clean!) Then take that word and change
one letter to make a new word. Then take that word and… You get the picture.
ARMY
Extra
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Six
Capitalization
REMEMBER: In titles of things like books, movies, and articles, the
first and last word are always capitalized, and all other words are
capitalized except articles (a, an, the), short conjunctions (and, but,
or, as, if), and prepositions (of, over, beyond, through).
Correct the capitalization of the following titles:
1. The dangerous book for Boys
2. the Absolutely True Diary Of A part-time Indian
3. the last book in the universe
4. the Lord Of The Rings
Using the proper proofreading marks, correct the six errors in this excerpt from Sunrise over
Fallujah by Walter Dean Meyers:
I told victor that the women had named the monkey sergeant Yossarian
and thatthe name was from a book called catch-22. Victor said that it was
stupid to give a Monkey a name. I said, “hey, women do that kind of thing.”
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 FIXER-ROOTER: How many words can you think of that have the same
prefix, suffix, or root as the multisyllabic word below?
UNCONSCIONABLE
(unjustly excessive)
Extra
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Seven
Capitalization
Read the following excerpts from Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Meyers. Identify the
capitalization errors in each sentence (there is at least one in each sentence):
1. Yesterday (or the day before, I couldn’t tell) the iraqi 5th corps formally
surrendered.
2. I wanted to write to dad and tell him about the war being over, but he
is still acting sour about me being in the army.
3. Major Sessions said, “we’ve been asked to help a woman find her son.”
4. We dropped major Sessions off in the Green Zone and me, Jonesy, and
Marla went with Captain Coles and Jamil.
5. We met the iraqi kids. Only they weren’t the same kids we had played
the first Game with.
6. “Hey, birdy, you getting a bad feeling about this game?” captain Coles
asked.
7. “people from three villages wanted to play,” Omar said, holding up
three fingers. “They all know about the game and want to play against
the americans.”
8. The old man spoke in arabic, and I looked at ahmed.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 ANAGRAM: Rearrange the letters in the nonsense phrase below to
create new words that actually make sense.
CLUMSY MIME PROS
(Hint: competition)
DAY
Four
DAY
Four
Capitalization
Name:
Name:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
“Your not allowed to treat iraqis,” captain
Coles said.
Capitalization
“Your not allowed to treat iraqis,” captain
Coles said.
“I’ve got a few rolls of clean bandages and
“I’ve got a few rolls of clean bandages and
and some antibiotics,” Miller said. “I don’t think
and some antibiotics,” Miller said. “I don’t think
its going to make a major difference in the War.”
its going to make a major difference in the War.”
DAY
Four
DAY
Four
Capitalization
Name:
Name:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
“Your not allowed to treat iraqis,” captain
Coles said.
Capitalization
“Your not allowed to treat iraqis,” captain
Coles said.
“I’ve got a few rolls of clean bandages and
“I’ve got a few rolls of clean bandages and
and some antibiotics,” Miller said. “I don’t think
and some antibiotics,” Miller said. “I don’t think
its going to make a major difference in the War.”
its going to make a major difference in the War.”
DAY
Six
DAY
Six
Capitalization
Name:
Name:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
I told victor that the women had named the
Capitalization
I told victor that the women had named the
monkey sergeant Yossarian and thatthe name
monkey sergeant Yossarian and thatthe name
was from a book called catch-22. Victor said
was from a book called catch-22. Victor said
that it was stupid to give a Monkey a name. I
that it was stupid to give a Monkey a name. I
said, “hey, women do that kind of thing.”
said, “hey, women do that kind of thing.”
DAY
Six
DAY
Six
Capitalization
Name:
Name:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
I told victor that the women had named the
Capitalization
I told victor that the women had named the
monkey sergeant Yossarian and thatthe name
monkey sergeant Yossarian and thatthe name
was from a book called catch-22. Victor said
was from a book called catch-22. Victor said
that it was stupid to give a Monkey a name. I
that it was stupid to give a Monkey a name. I
said, “hey, women do that kind of thing.”
said, “hey, women do that kind of thing.”
____ One of the president’s key allies was Prime Minister
Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.
____ One of the president’s key allies was Prime Minister
Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.
5. The invasion of baghdad, Iraq’s capital city, eventually led
to the capture of saddam hussein, the president of Iraq.
5. The invasion of baghdad, Iraq’s capital city, eventually led
to the capture of saddam hussein, the president of Iraq.
Identify the capitalization errors using the proper
proofreading marks (there are three errors in each.)
4. ____ One of the President’s key allies was prime minister
Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.
4. ____ One of the President’s key allies was prime minister
Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.
Identify the capitalization errors using the proper
proofreading marks (there are three errors in each.)
____ The president said, “we know that Iraq, in the late
1990s, had several mobile Biological Weapons labs,”
____ The president said, “we know that Iraq, in the late
1990s, had several mobile Biological Weapons labs,”
____ One reason for the war was that U.S. leaders
suspected Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction.
____ One reason for the war was that U.S. leaders
suspected Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction.
3. ____ The president said, “We know that Iraq, in the late
1990s, had several mobile biological weapons labs,”
2. ____ One reason for the war was that U.S. leaders
suspected iraq of possessing Weapons of mass destruction.
2. ____ One reason for the war was that U.S. leaders
suspected iraq of possessing Weapons of mass destruction.
3. ____ The president said, “We know that Iraq, in the late
1990s, had several mobile biological weapons labs,”
____ The war in Iraq, also called operation Iraqi freedom,
began in March, 2003.
____ The war in Iraq, also called operation Iraqi freedom,
began in March, 2003.
1. ____ The war in Iraq, also called Operation Iraqi
Freedom, began in March, 2003.
PERIOD:
Capitalization
1. ____ The war in Iraq, also called Operation Iraqi
Freedom, began in March, 2003.
NAME:
Quiz
Put a check mark by the sentence that uses correct
capitalization:
PERIOD:
Capitalization
Put a check mark by the sentence that uses correct
capitalization:
NAME:
Quiz
Capitalization
Capitalization
American combat mission in Iraq has ended.”
American combat mission in Iraq has ended.”
11. _____ Late night with David Letterman
12. _____ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
11. _____ Late night with David Letterman
12. _____ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
13. through the looking glass (book)
14. mr. smith goes to washington (movie)
15. the forest of hands and teeth (book)
16. the declaration of independence (historical document)
13. through the looking glass (book)
14. mr. smith goes to washington (movie)
15. the forest of hands and teeth (book)
16. the declaration of independence (historical document)
Rewrite the following titles with correct capitalization:
10. _____ Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
10. _____ Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
Rewrite the following titles with correct capitalization:
9. _____ To Kill a Mockingbird
Are the following titles correctly capitalized? (Yes or No)
Casualties in the war in Iraq.
9. _____ To Kill a Mockingbird
Are the following titles correctly capitalized? (Yes or No)
Casualties in the war in Iraq.
8. as of june, 2011, there had been over 4,700 U.S. and ally
August of 2010, President Barack Obama said, “the
August of 2010, President Barack Obama said, “the
8. as of june, 2011, there had been over 4,700 U.S. and ally
7. In a speech from the Oval Office of the white house in
occupation of their Country.
occupation of their Country.
7. In a speech from the Oval Office of the white house in
continued to battle iraqis who fought against the american
6. Even after victory was declared later in 2003, U.S. forces
Page
Two
continued to battle iraqis who fought against the american
6. Even after victory was declared later in 2003, U.S. forces
Page
Two
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Extra
Practice
Capitalization
NAME:
PERIOD:
REMEMBER that you should capitalize…
a.
b.
c.
d.
Proper nouns but not common nouns
The first word of a quotation
A person’s title only when it is used as part of the person’s name
Words derived from proper nouns (like languages or nationalities)
Put a check mark by the sentence that uses correct capitalization:
1. _____ On march 19, 2003—two days after demanding that Saddam hussein and his Sons
surrender and leave Iraq within 48 hour—the U.S.-led Coalition begins bombing baghdad.
_____ On March 19, 2003—two days after demanding that Saddam Hussein and his sons
surrender and leave Iraq within 48 hour—the U.S.-led coalition begins bombing Baghdad.
2. _____ Outlining the purpose of invading Iraq, President Bush says, “The people of the United
States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime.”
_____ Outlining the purpose of invading Iraq, president Bush says, “the people of the United
States and our friends and Allies will not live at the mercy of an Outlaw regime.”
3. _____ On March 20th at 7:57 A.M., the first confirmed skirmish between American and Iraqi
forces takes place.
_____ On March 20th at 7:57 A.M., the first Confirmed Skirmish between american and iraqi
forces takes place.
4. _____ After encountering little serious resistance, U.S. forces roll into Central baghdad and take
control of iraq's Capital City.
_____ After encountering little serious resistance, U.S. forces roll into central Baghdad and take
control of Iraq's capital city.
5. _____ On April 9th, Marines pull down a giant statue of Saddam in Firdos Square amidst
celebrating Iraqis.
_____ On April 9th, marines pull down a giant Statue of Saddam in firdos square amidst
celebrating Iraqis.
In the examples below, identify the capitalization errors using the proper proofreading
marks (the number in parentheses tells how many errors are in each paragraph):
6. (8) Sitting in the co-pilot's seat of a Navy S-3B Viking, president Bush landed May 1 on the USS
abraham lincoln, an aircraft Carrier stationed off the coast of san Diego. Dressed in a flight suit,
he gave a Nationally televised victory speech from the carrier's flight deck and declared, “major
combat operations in iraq have ended.”
7. (9) By June, 2003, over 50 american troops had been killed since major Combat operations
were declared over. secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld blamed continued problems in Iraq
on the last remnants of Saddam's baathist regime, claiming that the level of Violence is not
different from everyday Crime in a major U.S. City.
8. (8) After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, david Kay led the U.S. weapons inspection team known as
the iraq survey group. In less than one year, Kay told a Senate committee that no weapons of
mass destruction (or WMDs) had been found in Iraq. On january 28, he testified, “it turns out
that we were all wrong.” However, he maintained that he still believed the War was the right
thing to do in light of the continuing threat posed by saddam.
9. (15) In early february, 2004, various Media outlets reported that U.S. forces had stormed a
house in baghdad and found a computer disk containing a letter addressed to senior al-qaeda
terrorist figures. The writer, believed to be the jordanian insurgent zarqawi, asked for assistance
in waging a Civil War of religious Extremism in Iraq and claimed to be behind 25 attacks on
american and other coalition Forces. U.S. officials point to the letter, saying, “there is clearly a
plan on the part of Outsiders to come into this Country and spark civil war.”
(Example sentences take from “Seven Years in Iraq: An Iraq War Timeline” at www.time.com.)
On the lines below, write 5 example sentences of your own about war. In each sentence,
include ONE capitalization error. When you’re finished, go back and edit your own errors
using the proper proofreading marks.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Extra
Practice
Capitalization
NAME:
PERIOD:
In titles of things like books, movies, and articles, the first and last
word are always capitalized, and all other words are capitalized
except articles (a, an, the), short conjunctions (and, but, or, as, if),
and prepositions (of, over, beyond, through).
Circle the title that is capitalized correctly:
1. Hitler Youth: growing up in Hitler’s shadow
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow
2. the Kane Chronicles, Book Two: the Throne of Fire
The Kane Chronicles, Book Two: The Throne of Fire
3. The Power of Six
the Power of Six
4. The Catcher In The Rye
The Catcher in the Rye
5. Pretty Good for a Girl: The Autobiography of a Snowboarding Pioneer
Pretty Good for a girl: the autobiography of a Snowboarding Pioneer
6. Courage the Cowardly Dog
Courage the cowardly Dog
7. Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Use the proper proofreading marks to correct the capitalization errors in the following titles:
8. Children Of the Dust Bowl: the True Story of the school at Weedpatch Camp
9. Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar Children
10. to Kill A Mockingbird
11. Lord Of The Flies
12. Soul Surfer: a True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to get back on the Board
13. Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends
14. How to train Your Dragon
Rewrite the following titles with the correct capitalization:
15. children of the great depression _____________________________________________
16. what happened to goodbye ___________________________________________
17. return of the king __________________________________
18. the tales of beedle the bard ___________________________________________
19. a child called “it”: one child’s courage to survive
________________________________________________________________________
20. late night with conan o’Brien ___________________________________________
21. transformers: revenge of the fallen ____________________________________________
Now it’s your turn to create the examples!
Write your own title to match the following descriptions. Each title must be at least three
words long and must have at least one word that is NOT capitalized:
22. A science fiction novel about clones:
______________________________________________________________________________
23. A nonfiction book about American history:
______________________________________________________________________________
24. A TV show about strange scientific discoveries:
______________________________________________________________________________
25. A novel about life in junior high:
______________________________________________________________________________
26. A movie about the zombie apocalypse:
______________________________________________________________________________