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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 30 minutes

Punctuating complex sentences accurately

Punctuation

CCSS L.11-12.2CCSS L.9-10.2.ACCSS L.9-10.2.BEngland: A-level English LanguageEngland: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Punctuating complex sentences accurately.

  • 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: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT); Semicolons in lists that contain commas; When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT); Semicolons in lists that contain commas; When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this sentence correct? The dates are Monday, 3 March; Tuesday, 11 March; and Friday, 21 March. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
  2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The festival features music from Brazil, Ghana and Peru. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?
  3. Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The author (who wrote her first novel at seventeen [?] now teaches creative writing. (, / — / ) / no punctuation) → )Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Punctuating complex sentences accurately. 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 sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef.
  • Step 1: In complex sentences every mark must do its job: commas after openers and around non-essential parts, semicolons between clauses or complex list items, colons after complete clauses, matching pairs of dashes.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.
  • Answer: Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.
  • 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. Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • Although, the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however they recommended repairs within five years. • Although the bridge was old engineers declared it safe, however, they recommended repairs within five years. • Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years. • Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe, however they recommended repairs within five years. (Although, the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however they recommended repairs within five years. / Although the bridge was old engineers declared it safe, however, they recommended repairs within five years. / Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years. / Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe, however they recommended repairs within five years.) → Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years.Prompt: Check each boundary in turn: introductory clauses, non-essential information, joining independent clauses, lists, colons and quotations.
  2. Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Check each boundary in turn: introductory clauses, non-essential information, joining independent clauses, lists, colons and quotations.

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 sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef. (Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef. / Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef. / Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef. / Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.) → Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.Prompt: Check each boundary in turn: introductory clauses, non-essential information, joining independent clauses, lists, colons and quotations.
  2. Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? The town's well-known annual festival, which attracts visitors from across Europe, begins on Friday. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Check each boundary in turn: introductory clauses, non-essential information, joining independent clauses, lists, colons and quotations.

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT).
  • 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

  • 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-12.

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

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Punctuating complex sentences accurately

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.

    • A. Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef.
    • B. Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef.
    • C. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef.
    • D. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.

  2. Question 2

    Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef. • Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef. • Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef.

    • A. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.
    • B. Speakers included Dr Lee; a geologist, Ms Ortiz; a novelist, and Mr Haddad; a chef.
    • C. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist, Ms Ortiz, a novelist, and Mr Haddad, a chef.
    • D. Speakers included: Dr Lee a geologist; Ms Ortiz a novelist; and Mr Haddad a chef.

  4. Question 4

    Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? Although, the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however they recommended repairs within five years.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • "It isn't over," she said. "until the last whistle blows." • "It isn't over," she said, "until the last whistle blows." • "It isn't over," she said, "Until the last whistle blows." • "It isn't over" she said, "until the last whistle blows."

    • A. "It isn't over," she said. "until the last whistle blows."
    • B. "It isn't over," she said, "until the last whistle blows."
    • C. "It isn't over," she said, "Until the last whistle blows."
    • D. "It isn't over" she said, "until the last whistle blows."

  6. Question 6

    Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? "It isn't over," she said. "until the last whistle blows."

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

  1. 1. D. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.

  2. 2. A. yes, it is correct

  3. 3. A. Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef.

  4. 4. B. no, it is not correct

  5. 5. B. "It isn't over," she said, "until the last whistle blows."

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct