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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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? Toni Morrison an American novelist won the Nobel Prize in 1993. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
  2. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] Only one player had scored in every match [?] Lina Moreno. (: / ; / no punctuation) → :Prompt: Is everything BEFORE [?] a complete sentence? If not, don't use a colon.
  3. In which sentence does [?] need this: :? (The festival offers [?] music, food and fireworks. / The festival offers three things [?] music, food and fireworks. / Ana packed [?] a tent, a stove, two maps and a first-aid kit.) → The festival offers three things [?] music, food and fireworks.Prompt: Is everything BEFORE [?] a complete sentence? If not, don't use a colon.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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 punctuation mark belongs at [?] The museum's newest exhibit, a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors. (, / — / ; / no punctuation) → ,Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this mark: ,? (The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years. / The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw. / My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.) → My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?

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 punctuation mark belongs at [?] The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years. (, / — / ) / no punctuation) → )Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this mark: )? (My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December. / The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages. / The museum's newest exhibit — a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.) → The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages.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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The volcano's last eruption (in 1913 [?] destroyed three villages.

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

  2. Question 2

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

    • A. The museum's newest exhibit, a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.
    • B. The author (who wrote her first novel at seventeen [?] now teaches creative writing.
    • C. Marie Curie, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes [?] studied radioactivity.

  3. Question 3

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The author (who wrote her first novel at seventeen [?] now teaches creative writing.

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

  4. Question 4

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

    • A. The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years.
    • B. The old lighthouse — which had been dark for decades [?] was lit again for the festival.
    • C. My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.

  5. Question 5

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] Marie Curie, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes [?] studied radioactivity.

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

  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. ;

  7. Question 7

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

    • A. The museum's newest exhibit — a full-size model of a blue whale [?] attracts thousands of visitors.
    • B. My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.
    • C. The old lighthouse — which had been dark for decades [?] was lit again for the festival.

  8. Question 8

    Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years.

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

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

  1. 1. C. )

  2. 2. B. The author (who wrote her first novel at seventeen [?] now teaches creative writing.

  3. 3. C. )

  4. 4. B. The old lighthouse — which had been dark for decades [?] was lit again for the festival.

  5. 5. A. ,

  6. 6. B. —

  7. 7. B. My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December.

  8. 8. C. )