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English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes

Spotting unnecessary commas

Punctuation

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Spotting unnecessary commas.

  • 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: Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses; Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Leads to: When NO punctuation is needed (SAT)

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 (Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses; Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?). 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? Students, who feel unwell, must see the nurse. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
  2. Which option completes the sentence correctly? (Ana has one grandmother.) Ana's grandmother ___ still swims every day. (who is ninety / , who is ninety,) → , who is ninety,Prompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
  3. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] I love autumn [?] the leaves turn gold and red. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Spotting unnecessary commas. 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, with no unnecessary commas? • The students who finished early helped tidy the room. • The students who finished early, helped tidy the room. • The students, who finished early helped tidy the room. • The students who, finished early helped tidy the room.
  • Step 1: Don't put a single comma between subject and verb, verb and object, or before an essential clause or phrase.
  • Step 2: The clause is essential, and no comma separates subject and verb.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The students who finished early helped tidy the room.
  • Answer: The students who finished early helped tidy the room.
  • 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. Is this sentence correct? The students who, finished early helped tidy the room. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • The results of the experiment surprised everyone. • The results, of the experiment surprised everyone. • The results of the experiment, surprised everyone. • The results of the experiment surprised, everyone. (The results of the experiment surprised everyone. / The results, of the experiment surprised everyone. / The results of the experiment, surprised everyone. / The results of the experiment surprised, everyone.) → The results of the experiment surprised everyone.Prompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.

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, with no unnecessary commas? • The painting was sold at auction for a record price. • The painting was sold at auction, for a record price. • The painting, was sold at auction for a record price. • The painting was sold, at auction for a record price. (The painting was sold at auction for a record price. / The painting was sold at auction, for a record price. / The painting, was sold at auction for a record price. / The painting was sold, at auction for a record price.) → The painting was sold at auction for a record price.Prompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.
  2. Is this sentence correct? The painting was sold at auction, for a record price. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Find the subject and the verb. Is there a comma between them? That's wrong.

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses.
  • 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: When NO punctuation is needed (SAT).
  • 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-9.

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

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Spotting unnecessary commas

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct? The results of the experiment, surprised everyone.

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

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • She explained, that the bridge was unsafe. • She explained that the bridge was unsafe. • She, explained that the bridge was unsafe. • She explained that, the bridge was unsafe.

    • A. She explained, that the bridge was unsafe.
    • B. She explained that the bridge was unsafe.
    • C. She, explained that the bridge was unsafe.
    • D. She explained that, the bridge was unsafe.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence correct? The painting was sold at auction for a record price.

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

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • Researchers, in Kenya have found a new species of frog. • Researchers in Kenya have found, a new species of frog. • Researchers in Kenya, have found a new species of frog. • Researchers in Kenya have found a new species of frog.

    • A. Researchers, in Kenya have found a new species of frog.
    • B. Researchers in Kenya have found, a new species of frog.
    • C. Researchers in Kenya, have found a new species of frog.
    • D. Researchers in Kenya have found a new species of frog.

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence correct? Researchers in Kenya, have found a new species of frog.

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

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • The results of the experiment, surprised everyone. • The results of the experiment surprised, everyone. • The results, of the experiment surprised everyone. • The results of the experiment surprised everyone.

    • A. The results of the experiment, surprised everyone.
    • B. The results of the experiment surprised, everyone.
    • C. The results, of the experiment surprised everyone.
    • D. The results of the experiment surprised everyone.

  7. Question 7

    Is this sentence correct? Researchers in Kenya have found a new species of frog.

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

  8. Question 8

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly, with no unnecessary commas? • The painting was sold at auction, for a record price. • The painting was sold, at auction for a record price. • The painting was sold at auction for a record price. • The painting, was sold at auction for a record price.

    • A. The painting was sold at auction, for a record price.
    • B. The painting was sold, at auction for a record price.
    • C. The painting was sold at auction for a record price.
    • D. The painting, was sold at auction for a record price.

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Answer key: Spotting unnecessary commas

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

  2. 2. B. She explained that the bridge was unsafe.

  3. 3. A. yes, it is correct

  4. 4. D. Researchers in Kenya have found a new species of frog.

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

  6. 6. D. The results of the experiment surprised everyone.

  7. 7. A. yes, it is correct

  8. 8. C. The painting was sold at auction for a record price.