Unit

Comma Usage

Local Objective

At the end of this unit, students will be able to...

a. Use the comma correctly to separate the day of the month from the year.

b. Use the comma correctly to separate the name of a city from the state or country in which it is located.

c. Use the comma correctly to set off the name of a person spoken to.

d. Use the comma correctly after introductory words, such as yes and no.

e. Use the comma correctly to set apart words or names in a series.

f. Use the comma correctly before and after a direct quotation.

g. Use the comma correctly after the greeting of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter.

h. Use the comma correctly in a compound sentence.

Objective used to evaluate students


Yes

Assessment Activity

Informal Evaluations-Teacher observations will be made during all guided practice. Several sentences will be used for lecture and student understanding. Guided practice will occur after each of the eight uses of commas is introduced.

Independent Activities-Daily assignments will be made as necessary after quided practice is accomplished and achieved. In independent practice, students will participate in a class writing of a story. Each student is to add a sentence to the story that contain a comma that either a) separates day of month from the year, b) separates name of a city from state or country, c) sets off a name of a person spoken to, d) after introductory words, e) sets apart words or names in a series, f) before and after a direct quote, g) after a greeting of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter, or h) in a compound sentence. Students will also complete daily assignments independently.

End of Unit Exam-Students will take a unit exam of the eight uses of commas demonstrating their knowledge of how to appropriately use commas.

Level of Expectation

80%

List of concepts and Evaluation Types


ConceptEvaluation Type
Independent ActivityCR
Class StoryPE
Unit ExamCR

Learning Activity

The students will:

1.  Understand that a comma usually signals a pause in a sentence or a separation between related ideas. It is important realize that there are eight uses for commas.

2.  Participate in the discussion about the eight uses of commas followed by several examples done on the smartboard or markerboard..

3.  Practice using commas to a) separate day of month from the year, b) separate name of a city from state or country, c) set off a name of a person spoken to, d) after introductory words, e) set apart words or names in a series, f) before and after a direct quote, g) after a greeting of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter, and h) in a compound sentence.

4.  Complete an independent assignment where they will show individual understandings of each use.

5.  Participate in a fun project with the class. The teacher will give one person in the group the first line of a story such as "Once upon a time there was a man who was rich, but he could never stay in one place." Each student is to add a sentence containing at least one comma to the story. The story can be silly, but each sentence should build on the ones before it. When all have contributed, the story can be copied and the commas identified.

6. Take a unit exam of the eight uses of commas demonstrating their knowledge of using the comma correctly to separate the day of the month from the year, using the comma correctly to separate the name of a city from the state or country in which it is located, using the comma correctly to set off the name of a person spoken to, using the comma correctly after introductory words, such as yes and no, using the comma correctly to set apart words or names in a series, using the comma correctly before and after a direct quotation, using the comma correctly after the greeting of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter, and using the comma correctly in a compound sentence.

Instructional Method

The teacher will:

1.  Discuss with students how a comma usually signals a pause in a sentence or a separation between related ideas.  Lecture on the eight uses for commas.

2.  Provide several examples on the smartboard or markerboard to show the eight uses of commas.

3.  Guide students as they practice using commas to a) separate day of month from the year, b) separate name of a city from state or country, c) set off a name of a person spoken to, d) after introductory words, e) set apart words or names in a series, f) before and after a direct quote, g) after a greeting of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter, and h) in a compound sentence.

4.  Guide students as they complete independent assignments that show their understanding of the eight uses of commas.

5.  Guide students as the participate in a fun project.  On a sheet of paper,

Content Standards

CA 1, CA 4

Process Standards

1.10

Resources

McDougal, Littell Basic Skills in English

Markerboard/Smartboard

Posterboard/Markers

Correction Exercise

Additional Exercises Available

Tutoring

Enrichment Exercise

Have the students write a sentence illustrating each of the rules. Posters can be made displaying rules.

Special Needs

Peer Coaching/Tutoring

Shortened Assignments

Rule: One less comma than the number of words in a series.

GLEs v1.0


GLE CodeDisciplineStrandBig IdeaConceptGrade Level/CourseGLE
CA/2/2/C/07/aCommunication ArtsWritingCompose well-developed text using standard English conventionsPunctuationGrade 7In composing text, use - comma rules for punctuating various sentence structures - correct format in writing titles - quotation marks in dialogue - lons in business letter salutations

GLEs v2.0 and CLEs


GLE CodeDisciplineStrandBig IdeaConceptGrade Level/CourseGLE
CA/W/2/C/7/b.Communication ArtsWritingCompose well-developed textOrganization and Sentence Structure7th GradeCompose text with a logical order
CA/W/2/C/7/d.Communication ArtsWritingCompose well-developed textOrganization and Sentence Structure7th GradeCompose text with a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences
CA/W/2/C/7/eCommunication ArtsWritingCompose well-developed textOrganization and Sentence Structure7th GradeCompose text with cohesive devices, especially transitions
CA/W/2/E/7/b.Communication ArtsWritingCompose well-developed textConventions7th GradeIn written text, use commas and quotation marks in dialogue, and semi-colon in compound sentences