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English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 30 minutes

When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)

Punctuation

CCSS L.11-12.2CCSS L.11-12.1.AEngland: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: When NO punctuation is needed (SAT).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Spotting unnecessary commas

Leads to: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Spotting unnecessary commas). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this sentence correct? The results of the experiment surprised everyone. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • We visited, the museum in the morning and the park in the afternoon. • We visited the museum in the morning and the park in the afternoon. • We visited the museum in the morning, and the park in the afternoon. • We visited the museum, in the morning and the park in the afternoon. (We visited, the museum in the morning and the park in the afternoon. / We visited the museum in the morning and the park in the afternoon. / We visited the museum in the morning, and the park in the afternoon. / We visited the museum, in the morning and the park in the afternoon.) → We visited the museum in the morning and the park in the afternoon.Prompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.
  3. Is this sentence correct? Researchers, in Kenya have found a new species of frog. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: When NO punctuation is needed (SAT). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The species ___ in 2021 lives only on one mountain.
  • Step 1: Don't separate subjects from verbs, verbs from objects, or prepositions from objects; essential information takes no commas.
  • Step 2: 'Discovered in 2021' identifies which species: no commas.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The species discovered in 2021 lives only on one mountain."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: discovered
  • Answer: discovered
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The poet Gwendolyn Brooks won: the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Among the items discovered in the tomb ___ a bronze mirror and two clay lamps. (were / were: / were; / were,) → werePrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Among the items discovered in the tomb ___ a bronze mirror and two clay lamps. (were; / were / were: / were,) → werePrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?
  2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The most surprising result of the survey was that teenagers read more than adults. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Spotting unnecessary commas.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Punctuating complex sentences accurately.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The research team found that the glacier was retreating faster than expected.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  2. Question 2

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Among the items discovered in the tomb ___ a bronze mirror and two clay lamps.

    • A. were
    • B. were,
    • C. were:
    • D. were;

  3. Question 3

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The research team ___ that the glacier was retreating faster than expected.

    • A. found,
    • B. found
    • C. found:
    • D. found;

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Scientists who study volcanoes are often called volcanologists.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  5. Question 5

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Scientists who study volcanoes ___ often called volcanologists.

    • A. are;
    • B. are:
    • C. are,
    • D. are

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Among the items discovered in the tomb were a bronze mirror and two clay lamps.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

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Answer key: When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)

  1. 1. A. correct

  2. 2. A. were

  3. 3. B. found

  4. 4. A. correct

  5. 5. D. are

  6. 6. A. correct