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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT)

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2CCSS L.11-12.2England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (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: Colons and dashes before an explanation or list (SAT); Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses

Leads to: Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (SAT); 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 (Colons and dashes before an explanation or list (SAT); Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Mount Everest the highest mountain on Earth is on the border of Nepal and China. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
  2. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The hikers faced one serious problem [?] the bridge had collapsed. (: / , / no punctuation) → :Prompt: Is everything BEFORE [?] a complete sentence? If not, don't use a colon.
  3. In which sentence does [?] need this: —? (The answer was simple [?] practise every day. / Only one player had scored in every match [?] Lina Moreno. / The scientist — who had worked on the project for a decade [?] finally published her results.) → The scientist — who had worked on the project for a decade [?] finally published her results.Prompt: Is everything BEFORE [?] a complete sentence? If not, don't use a colon.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (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 punctuation mark belongs at [?] Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
  • Step 1: Interruptions come in matching pairs: two commas, two dashes, or two brackets — never a mix.
  • Step 2: Close the appositive with a comma.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: ,
  • Answer: ,
  • 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 punctuation mark belongs at [?] Marie Curie, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes [?] studied radioactivity. (, / — / ) / ;) → ,Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this mark: —? (Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. / The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years. / The museum's newest exhibit — a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.) → The museum's newest exhibit — a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?

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. In which sentence does [?] need this mark: ,? (The museum's newest exhibit — a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors. / The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw. / The museum's newest exhibit, a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.) → The museum's newest exhibit, a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  2. Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] Marie Curie, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes [?] studied radioactivity. (, / — / ) / ;) → ,Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Colons and dashes before an explanation or list (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

  • Move on to: Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (SAT); 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-10.

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

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Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The museum's newest exhibit, a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.

    • A. ,
    • B. —
    • C. ;
    • D. no punctuation

  2. Question 2

    In which sentence does [?] need this mark: ,?

    • A. The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw.
    • B. Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
    • C. The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages.

  3. Question 3

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.

    • A. ,
    • B. —
    • C. ;
    • D. no punctuation

  4. Question 4

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw.

    • A. ,
    • B. —
    • C. )
    • D. ;

  5. Question 5

    In which sentence does [?] need this mark: )?

    • A. The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages.
    • B. Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
    • C. Marie Curie, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes [?] studied radioactivity.

  6. Question 6

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The old lighthouse — which had been dark for decades [?] was lit again for the festival.

    • A. ,
    • B. —
    • C. )
    • D. ;

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Answer key: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT)

  1. 1. A. ,

  2. 2. B. Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

  3. 3. A. ,

  4. 4. B. —

  5. 5. A. The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages.

  6. 6. B. —