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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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? We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. (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)? Among the items discovered in the tomb were, a bronze mirror and two clay lamps. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Ask what the two parts on either side of the gap are: subject + verb? verb + object? preposition + object?
  3. 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?

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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? • 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? "It isn't over," she said. "until the last whistle blows." (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 · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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? • The expedition needed: three things, funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition, needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition needed three things; funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. (The expedition needed: three things, funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. / The expedition, needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. / The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. / The expedition needed three things; funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.) → The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.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? Speakers included Dr Lee, a geologist; Ms Ortiz, a novelist; and Mr Haddad, a chef. (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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • The results were clear, the new vaccine worked — but the team wanted a larger trial. • The results were clear — the new vaccine worked — but the team wanted a larger trial. • The results were clear: the new vaccine worked; but, the team wanted a larger trial. • The results were clear — the new vaccine worked, but the team wanted a larger trial.

    • A. The results were clear, the new vaccine worked — but the team wanted a larger trial.
    • B. The results were clear — the new vaccine worked — but the team wanted a larger trial.
    • C. The results were clear: the new vaccine worked; but, the team wanted a larger trial.
    • D. The results were clear — the new vaccine worked, but the team wanted a larger trial.

  2. Question 2

    Is every punctuation mark in this sentence correct? The students, who had finished early, were allowed to leave but the others stayed until four.

    • 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? My grandmother, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, still makes the best patties I've ever tasted.

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

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • The expedition needed: three things, funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition, needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice. • The expedition needed three things; funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.

    • A. The expedition needed: three things, funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.
    • B. The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.
    • C. The expedition, needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.
    • D. The expedition needed three things; funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.

  6. Question 6

    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

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly throughout? • The students who had finished early, were allowed to leave, but the others stayed until four. • The students, who had finished early, were allowed to leave but the others stayed until four. • The students who had finished early were allowed to leave but, the others stayed until four. • The students who had finished early were allowed to leave, but the others stayed until four.

    • A. The students who had finished early, were allowed to leave, but the others stayed until four.
    • B. The students, who had finished early, were allowed to leave but the others stayed until four.
    • C. The students who had finished early were allowed to leave but, the others stayed until four.
    • D. The students who had finished early were allowed to leave, but the others stayed until four.

  8. Question 8

    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

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Answer key: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

  1. 1. B. The results were clear — the new vaccine worked — but the team wanted a larger trial.

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

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

  4. 4. A. yes, it is correct

  5. 5. B. The expedition needed three things: funding, a ship and a crew willing to spend a winter in the ice.

  6. 6. A. yes, it is correct

  7. 7. D. The students who had finished early were allowed to leave, but the others stayed until four.

  8. 8. A. yes, it is correct