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English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 45 minutes

Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT)

Punctuation

CCSS L.11-12.2CCSS L.9-10.2England: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (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: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Apostrophes for possession

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 (Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Apostrophes for possession). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which shows possession correctly? the changing room of the players (the players changing room / the player's changing room / the players' changing room / the players's changing room) → the players' changing roomPrompt: Who is the owner? One owner or more than one?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Maya Angelou, an acclaimed poet and ___ also worked as a journalist. (memoirist: / memoirist; / memoirist, / memoirist) → memoirist,Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?
  3. Choose the correct word. Read the clue in brackets. ___ going to rain later. (it is) (Its' / It's / Its) → It'sPrompt: Does the word show ownership, a contraction, or just a plural?

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT). 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 choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance.
  • Step 1: Use 's for singular possessives, s' for plural possessives ending in s, and no apostrophe for plain plurals. Essential (restrictive) names take no commas.
  • Step 2: One owner possesses the noun that follows: 's.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The museum's decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: museum's
  • Answer: museum's
  • 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 choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The architect's most famous ___ glass-walled library, opened in 2004. (building: a / building a / building, a / building; a) → building, aPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance. (museums' / museum's / museums / museum) → museum'sPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?

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 choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Marine biologist ___ has spent two decades studying coral reefs. (, Ana Ruiz / , Ana Ruiz, / Ana Ruiz / Ana Ruiz,) → Ana RuizPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ annual migration covers more than 3,000 kilometres. (herd's / herds' / herd / herds) → herd'sPrompt: Does the word show possession, or is it simply plural?

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT).
  • 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-11.

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

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Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Marine biologist ___ has spent two decades studying coral reefs.

    • A. , Ana Ruiz
    • B. Ana Ruiz
    • C. Ana Ruiz,
    • D. , Ana Ruiz,

  2. Question 2

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ findings were published in a leading journal last spring.

    • A. researchers'
    • B. researchers
    • C. researchers's
    • D. researcher's

  3. Question 3

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ decision to lower ticket prices doubled attendance.

    • A. museums
    • B. museum's
    • C. museums'
    • D. museum

  4. Question 4

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The two ___ reports reached opposite conclusions.

    • A. agency's
    • B. agencys'
    • C. agencies
    • D. agencies'

  5. Question 5

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ annual migration covers more than 3,000 kilometres.

    • A. herd
    • B. herd's
    • C. herds'
    • D. herds

  6. Question 6

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ largest moon, Ganymede, is bigger than the planet Mercury.

    • A. solar system's
    • B. solar systems
    • C. solar systems'
    • D. solar-systems

  7. Question 7

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The architect's most famous ___ glass-walled library, opened in 2004.

    • A. building, a
    • B. building a
    • C. building: a
    • D. building; a

  8. Question 8

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Each of the ___ wings is covered in tiny scales that reflect light.

    • A. butterflys'
    • B. butterflies
    • C. butterfly's
    • D. butterflies's

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Answer key: Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT)

  1. 1. B. Ana Ruiz

  2. 2. A. researchers'

  3. 3. B. museum's

  4. 4. D. agencies'

  5. 5. B. herd's

  6. 6. A. solar system's

  7. 7. A. building, a

  8. 8. C. butterfly's