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

Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (SAT)

Punctuation

CCSS L.11-12.2CCSS L.9-10.2.AEngland: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)England: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (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: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT); Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT)

Leads to: ACT-style editing: NO CHANGE or a better option?

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 (Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT); Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which punctuation mark belongs at [?] My cousin, who lives in Wellington [?] is visiting in December. (, / — / ; / no punctuation) → ,Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this mark: —? (The researchers (based at a university in Chile [?] tracked the penguins for ten years. / Lagos, Nigeria's largest city [?] is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. / The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw.) → The final match — played in pouring rain [?] ended in a draw.Prompt: Find where the extra information STARTS. What mark opened it?
  3. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The town's oldest building — a stone ___ dates from the 1300s. (chapel; / chapel / chapel — / chapel,) → chapel —Prompt: Are the parts on each side complete main clauses?

Hook · 6 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (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 data were incomplete. ___ the scientists published a preliminary report.
  • Step 1: Conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, nevertheless) can't join clauses with just commas: use a semicolon or full stop before them and a comma after.
  • Step 2: 'Still' starts a new sentence and is followed by a comma.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: Still,
  • Answer: Still,
  • 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)? The experiment was repeated three times; however, the results remained the same. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Is there a complete sentence on both sides of the transition word?
  2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The experiment was repeated three ___ the results remained the same. (times, however, / times however / times; however, / times; however) → times; however,Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on both sides of the transition word?

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? Prices rose sharply in ___ as a result, sales fell. (March / March; / March, / March:) → March;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on both sides of the transition word?
  2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The experiment was repeated three times; however, the results remained the same. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Is there a complete sentence on both sides of the transition word?

Watch out for

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

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Matching pairs: comma–comma, dash–dash, bracket–bracket (SAT).
  • 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: ACT-style editing: NO CHANGE or a better option?.
  • 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

Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The data were incomplete. ___ the scientists published a preliminary report.

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

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The museum, however; is open until nine on Fridays.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  3. Question 3

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Bees are vital ___ many crops would fail without them.

    • A. pollinators; indeed,
    • B. pollinators; indeed
    • C. pollinators, indeed,
    • D. pollinators indeed

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The team lost its first two matches; nevertheless, it won the championship.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Bees are vital pollinators; indeed, many crops would fail without them.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  6. Question 6

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Some critics praised the film. ___ found it slow.

    • A. Others however
    • B. Others; however,
    • C. Others, however,
    • D. Others, however;

  7. Question 7

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The data were incomplete. Still the scientists published a preliminary report.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  8. Question 8

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The author had never visited ___ her descriptions of the city are vivid.

    • A. Venice even so
    • B. Venice; even so,
    • C. Venice; even so
    • D. Venice, even so,

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Answer key: Punctuating however, therefore and other conjunctive adverbs (SAT)

  1. 1. A. Still,

  2. 2. B. incorrect

  3. 3. A. pollinators; indeed,

  4. 4. A. correct

  5. 5. A. correct

  6. 6. C. Others, however,

  7. 7. B. incorrect

  8. 8. B. Venice; even so,