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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes

Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Punctuation

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolons in lists that contain commas.

  • 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: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Leads to: Punctuating complex sentences accurately

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 (Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] She trained hard [?] and she won the race. (; / , / no punctuation) → ,Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  2. In which sentence does [?] need this: no punctuation? (When the bell rang [?] everyone left. / The museum was closed [?] so we went to the park instead. / The phone that I bought [?] stopped working.) → The phone that I bought [?] stopped working.Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]
  3. What punctuation (if any) belongs at [?] The forecast said sunshine [?] however, it rained all day. (; / , / no punctuation) → ;Prompt: Is there a complete sentence on BOTH sides of [?]

Hook · 6 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Semicolons in lists that contain commas. 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 sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.
  • Step 1: When list items contain commas, separate the items with semicolons; simple lists use commas.
  • Step 2: Items already contain commas, so semicolons separate the items.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Answer: The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.
  • 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? The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. (The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland.) → The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.Prompt: Do the list items already contain 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.
  1. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. • The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland. (The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon, France, Turin, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. / The tour visits Lyon; France, Turin; Italy, and Geneva; Switzerland.) → The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.Prompt: Do the list items already contain commas?
  2. Is this sentence correct? We need eggs, flour; and sugar for the cake. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Do the list items already contain 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: Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.
  • 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: Punctuating complex sentences accurately.
  • 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-10.

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

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Semicolons in lists that contain commas

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct? The panel included; Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, Mr Patel, a teacher.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

    • A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • D. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence correct? The tour visits: Lyon France; Turin Italy; and Geneva Switzerland.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. • We need eggs, flour; and sugar for the cake. • We need; eggs, flour and sugar for the cake. • We need eggs; flour; and sugar for the cake.

    • A. We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.
    • B. We need eggs, flour; and sugar for the cake.
    • C. We need; eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.
    • D. We need eggs; flour; and sugar for the cake.

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence correct? The dates are Monday, 3 March, Tuesday, 11 March, and Friday, 21 March.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada. • She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

    • A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.
    • B. She has lived in: Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, Halifax, Canada.
    • C. She has lived in Cork, Ireland, Perth, Australia, and Halifax, Canada.
    • D. She has lived in Cork; Ireland, Perth; Australia, and Halifax; Canada.

  7. Question 7

    Is this sentence correct? The tour visits Lyon, France; Turin, Italy; and Geneva, Switzerland.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  8. Question 8

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The panel included Dr Ruiz; a marine biologist, Ms Chen; a journalist, and Mr Patel; a teacher. • The panel included; Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, Mr Patel, a teacher. • The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher. • The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, and Mr Patel, a teacher.

    • A. The panel included Dr Ruiz; a marine biologist, Ms Chen; a journalist, and Mr Patel; a teacher.
    • B. The panel included; Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, Mr Patel, a teacher.
    • C. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher.
    • D. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist, Ms Chen, a journalist, and Mr Patel, a teacher.

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Answer key: Semicolons in lists that contain commas

  1. 1. B. no, it is not correct

  2. 2. C. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.

  3. 3. B. no, it is not correct

  4. 4. A. We need eggs, flour and sugar for the cake.

  5. 5. B. no, it is not correct

  6. 6. A. She has lived in Cork, Ireland; Perth, Australia; and Halifax, Canada.

  7. 7. A. yes, it is correct

  8. 8. C. The panel included Dr Ruiz, a marine biologist; Ms Chen, a journalist; and Mr Patel, a teacher.