• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Semicolons; Commas: restrictive vs non-restrictive, coordinate adjectives). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. (Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. / Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. / Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. / Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art.) → Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The book, that I lent you, is overdue. • The book that I lent you is overdue. (The book, that I lent you, is overdue. / The book that I lent you is overdue.) → The book that I lent you is overdue.Prompt: Is the clause essential to identify the noun, or just extra information?
3. Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Lions hunt in groups: and tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone. (Lions hunt in groups: and tigers usually hunt alone. / Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone. / Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone. / Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone.) → Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

• Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
• Share the objective: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT). Read the success criteria together.

• 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 museum reopened in spring___ its new wing displays fossils from Patagonia.
• Step 1: Joining clauses correctly avoids comma splices and fragments.
• Step 2: Both sides are main clauses with no conjunction, so a semicolon is needed.
• Step 3: So the answer is: ;
• Answer: ;
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The town's oldest building — a stone ___ dates from the 1300s. (chapel; / chapel — / chapel, / chapel) → chapel —Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?
2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Researchers collected three kinds of samples___ soil, water, and air. (; / , and / — and / :) → :Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?

• 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• 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? The expedition faced one major obstacle___ a glacier that blocked the only pass. (. / , and / : / ;) → :Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?
2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The violinist rehearsed for hours each day___ she still felt unprepared. (; but, / : but / , / , but) → , butPrompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.