English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 60 minutes
Commas with titles and descriptions before names (SAT)
Punctuation
CCSS L.11-12.2CCSS L.9-10.2England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT English
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Commas with titles and descriptions before names (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: Essential or non-essential? Commas with appositives and clauses
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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (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.
- Is this sentence correct in formal written English? The film that we saw last night was filmed in Iceland. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
- Which option completes the sentence correctly? (I have two brothers.) My brother ___ is a chef. (Sam / , Sam,) → SamPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
- Is this sentence correct in formal written English? (I have only one brother.) My brother, Sam, is a chef. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Remove the words. Do we still know exactly who or what is meant?
Hook · 6 min
- Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
- Share the objective: Commas with titles and descriptions before names (SAT). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 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 award went to ___ for her novel about a family of lighthouse keepers.
- Step 1: No comma between a title and the name that follows it; commas around a non-essential description that follows a name.
- Step 2: Title + name = no commas.
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The award went to author Niamh Kelly for her novel about a family of lighthouse keepers."
- Step 4: So the answer is: author Niamh Kelly
- Answer: author Niamh Kelly
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 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 in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina astronaut in space, later directed the Johnson Space Center. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: A job title or description placed directly before a name (biologist Lena Park) works like part of the name: no commas.
- Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The study, published by ___ found that city trees reduce summer temperatures. (climate scientist Ana Ruiz, / climate, scientist Ana Ruiz, / climate scientist, Ana Ruiz, / climate scientist Ana Ruiz) → climate scientist Ana Ruiz,Prompt: A job title or description placed directly before a name (biologist Lena Park) works like part of the name: no commas.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Historian, Ana Petrova, argues that the treaty was signed under pressure. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: A job title or description placed directly before a name (biologist Lena Park) works like part of the name: no commas.
- Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ___ led the team that reached the summit in record time. (mountaineer, Tenzin Lhamo, / mountaineer Tenzin Lhamo, / mountaineer Tenzin Lhamo / mountaineer, Tenzin Lhamo) → mountaineer Tenzin LhamoPrompt: A job title or description placed directly before a name (biologist Lena Park) works like part of the name: no 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: 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
- 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