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English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 45 minutes

Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.ACCSS L.8.2England: KS3 English (punctuation)England: GCSE English Language (AO6)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.

  • 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: Semicolons; Spotting and fixing comma splices

Leads to: When is a colon correct?; Spotting unnecessary commas; Semicolons in lists that contain commas

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 (Semicolons; Spotting and fixing comma splices). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal. • I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal. • I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal. • I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal. (I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal. / I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal. / I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal. / I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal.) → I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
  2. Is this sentence correct, a comma splice, or a run-on? We missed the bus we walked to school. (correct / comma splice / run-on (fused) sentence) → run-on (fused) sentencePrompt: Count the independent clauses (subject + verb that could stand alone).
  3. Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. (Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.) → Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

Hook · 5 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?. 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: What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] When the bell rang [?] everyone left.
  • Step 1: Semicolons join two independent clauses without a conjunction (also before however/therefore); commas go before and/but/so between clauses and after openers.
  • Step 2: After an introductory dependent clause: 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. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this: ;? (When the bell rang [?] everyone left. / Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year. / The film was long [?] but it was gripping.) → Some birds migrate thousands of miles [?] others stay put all year.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

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. In which sentence does [?] need this: ;? (The film was long [?] but it was gripping. / The museum was closed [?] we went to the park instead. / When the bell rang [?] everyone left.) → The museum was closed [?] we went to the park instead.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  2. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The tickets sold out in minutes [?] demand was huge. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Semicolons.
  • 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 is a colon correct?; Spotting unnecessary commas; Semicolons in lists that contain commas.
  • 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-8.

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

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Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] I love autumn [?] the leaves turn gold and red.

    • A. ;
    • B. ,
    • C. no punctuation

  2. Question 2

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

    • A. When the bell rang [?] everyone left.
    • B. She trained hard [?] and won the race.
    • C. The tickets sold out in minutes [?] demand was huge.

  3. Question 3

    What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] We went to the park [?] because the museum was closed.

    • A. ;
    • B. ,
    • C. no punctuation

  4. Question 4

    In which sentence does [?] need this: ;?

    • A. The museum was closed [?] we went to the park instead.
    • B. We went to the park [?] because the museum was closed.
    • C. The museum was closed [?] so we went to the park instead.

  5. Question 5

    What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] When the bell rang [?] everyone left.

    • A. ;
    • B. ,
    • C. no punctuation

  6. Question 6

    In which sentence does [?] need this: no punctuation?

    • A. She trained hard [?] and won the race.
    • B. Our team practised every day [?] as a result, we reached the final.
    • C. I love autumn [?] the leaves turn gold and red.

  7. Question 7

    What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The phone that I bought [?] stopped working.

    • A. ;
    • B. ,
    • C. no punctuation

  8. Question 8

    What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] She trained hard [?] and won the race.

    • A. ;
    • B. ,
    • C. no punctuation

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Answer key: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

  1. 1. A. ;

  2. 2. A. When the bell rang [?] everyone left.

  3. 3. C. no punctuation

  4. 4. A. The museum was closed [?] we went to the park instead.

  5. 5. B. ,

  6. 6. A. She trained hard [?] and won the race.

  7. 7. C. no punctuation

  8. 8. C. no punctuation