Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.AEngland: GCSE English Language (AO6 punctuation)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolons in lists that contain 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: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Leads to: 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 (Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] When the bell rang [?] everyone left. (; / , / no punctuation) → ,Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
In which sentence does [?] need this: ,? (I love autumn [?] the leaves turn gold and red. / She trained hard [?] and she won the race. / Our team practised every day [?] as a result, we reached the final.) → She trained hard [?] and she won the race.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The museum was closed [?] so we went to the park instead. (; / , / 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: Semicolons in lists that contain 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? • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.
Step 1: When list items contain commas, separate the items with semicolons; simple lists use commas.
Step 2: Items already contain commas, so semicolons separate the items.
Step 3: So the answer is: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
Answer: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
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.

Is this sentence correct? She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. (The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.) → The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.Prompt: Do the list items already contain commas?

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.

Is this sentence correct? The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. (The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. / The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.) → The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.Prompt: Do the list items already contain commas?

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.
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 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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Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
- A. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
- B. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.
- C. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
- D. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
2
Question 2
Is this sentence correct? She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
3
Question 3
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The panel included Dr Ruiz; a marine biologist, Ms Chen; a journalist, and Mr Patel; a teacher. • The panel included; Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, Mr Patel, a teacher. • The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, and Mr Patel, a teacher. • The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher.
- A. The panel included Dr Ruiz; a marine biologist, Ms Chen; a journalist, and Mr Patel; a teacher.
- B. The panel included; Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, Mr Patel, a teacher.
- C. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, and Mr Patel, a teacher.
- D. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher.
4
Question 4
Is this sentence correct? We need; eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
5
Question 5
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland.
- A. The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.
- B. The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
- C. The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland.
- D. The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland.
6
Question 6
Is this sentence correct? We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
7
Question 7
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Prizes went to Ana, who sang, Leo, who juggled, and Mia, who danced. • Prizes went to Ana; who sang, Leo; who juggled, and Mia; who danced. • Prizes went to Ana, who sang; Leo, who juggled; and Mia, who danced. • Prizes went to: Ana who sang, Leo who juggled; Mia who danced.
- A. Prizes went to Ana, who sang, Leo, who juggled, and Mia, who danced.
- B. Prizes went to Ana; who sang, Leo; who juggled, and Mia; who danced.
- C. Prizes went to Ana, who sang; Leo, who juggled; and Mia, who danced.
- D. Prizes went to: Ana who sang, Leo who juggled; Mia who danced.
8
Question 8
Is this sentence correct? The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Semicolons in lists that contain commas

1. C. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
2. B. no, it is not correct
3. D. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher.
4. B. no, it is not correct
5. B. The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
6. A. yes, it is correct
7. C. Prizes went to Ana, who sang; Leo, who juggled; and Mia, who danced.
8. A. yes, it is correct