Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 60 minutes

After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (SAT)

Grammar

CCSS L.11-12.1CCSS L.7.1.CEngland: SAT Standard English Conventions (Form, Structure, and Sense)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (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: Fixing dangling participle phrases; Modifier placement in complex sentences

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Fixing dangling participle phrases; Modifier placement in complex sentences). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Tired after the race, Ana took a long nap. (correct / dangling modifier) → correctPrompt: Ask: who or what is doing the action in the opening phrase?
  2. This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Hungry and cold, the hut was a welcome sight. • The hut, hungry and cold, was a welcome sight. • Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut. • Hungry and cold the hut was welcome. • Hungry and cold, the hut looked welcoming. (The hut, hungry and cold, was a welcome sight. / Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut. / Hungry and cold the hut was welcome. / Hungry and cold, the hut looked welcoming.) → Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut.Prompt: Who is really doing the action in the opening phrase?
  3. Having studied the river for a decade, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly? (the biologist noticed that the salmon were returning. / it became clear that the salmon were returning. / the return of the salmon was noticed. / the salmon were seen returning by the biologist.) → the biologist noticed that the salmon were returning.Prompt: Who or what does the opening phrase describe?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (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? Like her earlier paintings, ___ • Frida Kahlo, in her new work, explores identity. • Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain. • identity and pain are explored by Frida Kahlo. • Frida Kahlo explores identity and pain in her new work.
  • Step 1: An introductory modifier must be followed directly by the noun it describes; otherwise it dangles.
  • Step 2: Paintings must be compared with work, not with the artist.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain.
  • Answer: Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain.
  • 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. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Having analysed samples from forty lakes, the conclusion was that the pollution came from farm runoff. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Who or what is described by the opening phrase?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Like her earlier paintings, ___ • Frida Kahlo, in her new work, explores identity. • identity and pain are explored by Frida Kahlo. • Frida Kahlo explores identity and pain in her new work. • Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain. (Frida Kahlo, in her new work, explores identity. / identity and pain are explored by Frida Kahlo. / Frida Kahlo explores identity and pain in her new work. / Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain.) → Frida Kahlo's new work explores identity and pain.Prompt: Who or what is described by the opening phrase?

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. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Discovered in 2014, the fossil revealed that the dinosaur had feathers. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Who or what is described by the opening phrase?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Hoping to reduce traffic, ___ • city officials introduced a congestion charge. • traffic was reduced by a congestion charge. • a congestion charge was introduced by city officials. • the introduction of a congestion charge followed. (city officials introduced a congestion charge. / traffic was reduced by a congestion charge. / a congestion charge was introduced by city officials. / the introduction of a congestion charge followed.) → city officials introduced a congestion charge.Prompt: Who or what is described by the opening phrase?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Fixing dangling participle phrases.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • 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

eurekami

After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Built to withstand earthquakes, swaying gently prevents the tower from cracking.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  2. Question 2

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Hoping to reduce traffic, ___ • traffic was reduced by a congestion charge. • the introduction of a congestion charge followed. • a congestion charge was introduced by city officials. • city officials introduced a congestion charge.

    • A. traffic was reduced by a congestion charge.
    • B. the introduction of a congestion charge followed.
    • C. a congestion charge was introduced by city officials.
    • D. city officials introduced a congestion charge.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Like her earlier paintings, identity and pain are explored by Frida Kahlo.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Hoping to reduce traffic, traffic was reduced by a congestion charge.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  5. Question 5

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Built to withstand earthquakes, ___ • swaying gently prevents the tower from cracking. • engineers designed the tower to sway gently. • the designers made sure that the tower sways. • the tower sways gently instead of cracking.

    • A. swaying gently prevents the tower from cracking.
    • B. engineers designed the tower to sway gently.
    • C. the designers made sure that the tower sways.
    • D. the tower sways gently instead of cracking.

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Discovered in 2014, the fossil revealed that the dinosaur had feathers.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  7. Question 7

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A pioneer of computer science, ___ • Ada Lovelace wrote what is often called the first published computer program. • Ada Lovelace's notes included the first published program. • it was Ada Lovelace who wrote the program. • the first published computer program was written by Ada Lovelace.

    • A. Ada Lovelace wrote what is often called the first published computer program.
    • B. Ada Lovelace's notes included the first published program.
    • C. it was Ada Lovelace who wrote the program.
    • D. the first published computer program was written by Ada Lovelace.

  8. Question 8

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Unlike most birds, penguins cannot fly but are excellent swimmers.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (SAT)

  1. 1. B. incorrect

  2. 2. D. city officials introduced a congestion charge.

  3. 3. B. incorrect

  4. 4. B. incorrect

  5. 5. D. the tower sways gently instead of cracking.

  6. 6. A. correct

  7. 7. A. Ada Lovelace wrote what is often called the first published computer program.

  8. 8. A. correct