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.

Is this sentence correct? The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Scientists who study volcanoes are: often called volcanologists. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?
Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages. (, / — / ) / ;) → )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.

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.
Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not 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.

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." ("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.") → "It isn't over," she said, "until the last whistle blows."Prompt: Check each boundary in turn: introductory clauses, non-essential information, joining independent clauses, lists, colons and quotations.
Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? The results were clear — the new vaccine worked, but the team wanted a larger trial. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not 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? • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted. • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- A. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted.
- B. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- C. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- D. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
2
Question 2
Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? The results were clear — the new vaccine worked, but the team wanted a larger trial.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
3
Question 3
Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted. • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- A. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- B. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- C. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted.
- D. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
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? • 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.
- A. Although, the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however they recommended repairs within five years.
- B. Although the bridge was old engineers declared it safe, however, they recommended repairs within five years.
- C. Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe, however they recommended repairs within five years.
- D. Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years.
6
Question 6
Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted. • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted. • My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- A. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- B. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston Jamaica still makes the best patties, I've ever tasted.
- C. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
- D. My grandmother who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.

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Answer key: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

1. B. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
2. B. no, it is not correct
3. D. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.
4. B. no, it is not correct
5. D. Although the bridge was old, engineers declared it safe; however, they recommended repairs within five years.
6. A. My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.