Melissa Anderson
Lesson: Lack of Commas in a Series.
Objective:
SWBAT recognize a series of items within a sentence.
SWBAT implement commas into a sentence to be able to differentiate
between items.
SWBAT understand the use of the Oxford Comma.
Rationale:
The placement of commas can change the meaning of a sentence drastically.
Using commas in a series is no exception to this. Without these commas, it is hard to
distinguish one item from another in a list. Students need to be able to recognize
these different items and actions and learn how to properly separate them with
commas. The use of the Oxford Comma is also important to this lesson, since it is
used mainly for clarification purposes between two separate things.
Materials:
White Boards/Markers
Worksheet
Pencil/Pen
Paper
Procedures:
1. Write down agenda on board.
2. Bring up slideshow.
3. Show students “The Hook” (TLAC #12)—Commas can change the meaning of
sentences. (1 min)
4. Warm Up—Write a list about what you did last night. (8 min)
a. Then, create a complete sentence using the items on the list.
b. Have a couple students write their sentences on the board. Do they
use commas? Why is this important?
c. Show students my sentence. The first one I use and instead of
commas. Does this make sense? What can I do to make it flow better
when reading it?
d. Show students the sentence that has commas in it.
5. Go through slideshow. When and where is there a place for commas in a
series? Discuss the Oxford Comma. Is it important? (5 min)
6. Think Aloud (Mechanically Inclined) Revised. (10 min)
a. Students will be given a list of items, verbs, and nouns within their
table groups.
Melissa Anderson
b. They will have to create three sentences using these words and write
them on the board, making sure to underline the items in the series
and marking the commas in a different color like I did in the
slideshow.
c. Go around the room and ask students to read through their sentences,
correcting groups that did not make correct sentences.
7. Tell students that their homework is to look for sentences that use serial
commas in the next chapter of their real life. Do they use the Oxford comma?
Bring one of these sentences in for homework for tomorrow. (1 min)
Assessment:
The assessment will be when students go around their groups and write
down their sentences on the boards. This will help ensure me that they understand
the concept. Also, the homework assignment of bringing in a sentence from the
reading will also make sure that they understand what a sentence with serial
commas looks like.