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English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 60 minutes

Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT)

Writing & Editing

CCSS L.9-10.2.ACCSS L.9-10.1England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT EnglishEngland: GCSE English Language (SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT).

  • 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: Fragments and run-on sentences; Semicolons

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Fragments and run-on sentences; Semicolons). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a fragment, a run-on, or a correct sentence? The storm was loud I couldn't sleep at all. (fragment / run-on / correct sentence) → run-onPrompt: Does it have a main clause (a subject and verb that can stand alone)?
  2. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. (Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. / Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. / Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art. / Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art.) → Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
  3. Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The kettle boiled; and Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled; Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled, Mum made tea. • The kettle boiled: and Mum made tea. (The kettle boiled; and Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled; Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled, Mum made tea. / The kettle boiled: and Mum made tea.) → The kettle boiled; Mum made tea.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

Hook · 6 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT). 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 painting, which hangs in the north gallery___ is one of the artist's earliest works.
  • Step 1: Sentence boundary questions test whether you can join or separate clauses correctly.
  • Step 2: The non-restrictive clause opened with a comma, so it must close with one.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: ,
  • Answer: ,
  • 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.
  1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The glacier has retreated almost two kilometres since 1950___ scientists expect the pace to increase. (: / (no punctuation) / ; / ,) → ;Prompt: Decide whether each side of the gap is a complete main clause.
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The engineer who designed the tower___ studied architecture in Lisbon before moving to Toronto. (; / : / (no punctuation) / ,) → (no punctuation)Prompt: Decide whether each side of the gap is a complete main clause.

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.
  1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? In 1903, the Wright brothers made the first powered flight___ it lasted just twelve seconds. (, / (no punctuation) / , and / ;) → ;Prompt: Decide whether each side of the gap is a complete main clause.
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The painting, which hangs in the north gallery___ is one of the artist's earliest works. (; / . / (no punctuation) / ,) → ,Prompt: Decide whether each side of the gap is a complete main clause.

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Fragments and run-on sentences.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • 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-9.

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

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Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The engineer who designed the tower___ studied architecture in Lisbon before moving to Toronto.

    • A. ,
    • B. ;
    • C. :
    • D. (no punctuation)

  2. Question 2

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Marine iguanas are found only in the Galápagos Islands___ they are the only lizards that forage in the sea.

    • A. , they
    • B. . They
    • C. they
    • D. , and, they

  3. Question 3

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The orchestra rehearsed for six months___ its performance was praised by critics across the country.

    • A. ,
    • B. , and
    • C. and,
    • D. (no punctuation)

  4. Question 4

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The researchers tested two hypotheses___ the first concerned diet; the second, exercise.

    • A. :
    • B. (no punctuation)
    • C. ; and
    • D. ,

  5. Question 5

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The glacier has retreated almost two kilometres since 1950___ scientists expect the pace to increase.

    • A. (no punctuation)
    • B. :
    • C. ,
    • D. ;

  6. Question 6

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The painting, which hangs in the north gallery___ is one of the artist's earliest works.

    • A. ;
    • B. (no punctuation)
    • C. ,
    • D. .

  7. Question 7

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Many species of bamboo can grow almost a metre in a single day___ making them among the fastest-growing plants on Earth.

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

  8. Question 8

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Although the village is remote___ it attracts thousands of hikers each summer.

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

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Answer key: Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT)

  1. 1. D. (no punctuation)

  2. 2. B. . They

  3. 3. B. , and

  4. 4. A. :

  5. 5. D. ;

  6. 6. C. ,

  7. 7. A. ,

  8. 8. C. ,