Bellwork
Write one example sentence
for each of the comma rules
we reviewed yesterday (Try
to do it from memory!).
(Have your notes ready to go!)
The Semicolon
Objective: to demonstrate
an understanding of
semicolon rules by
correctly placing them in
example sentences.
PURPOSE: using a semicolon in your
writing can help increase your sentence
fluency, thereby making your writing more
interesting to read.
I have grown fond of semicolons in recent years. . . . It is
almost always a greater pleasure to come across a semicolon
than a period. The period tells you that that is that; if you
didn't get all the meaning you wanted or expected, anyway
you got all the writer intended to parcel out and now you
have to move along. But with a semicolon there you get a
pleasant little feeling of expectancy; there is more to come;
read on; it will get clearer.__ Lewis Thomas
Read the following examples and
write a rule for its use on your slate.
• Jerry chased Tom around the house;
he was not quite fast enough to catch
him.
• Puff Daddy likes to flaunt his money;
he throws million dollar parties.
• Hillary Duff is not a real blonde; she
dyed her hair to get attention.
SEMICOLONS
RULE # 1
•Use between independent
clauses IF they are not joined by
and, but, or, nor, for, so or yet.
EXAMPLE: Ben likes
Cheerios; he eats them for
breakfast every morning.
For today’s practice…
You only need to record the word that
comes right before the semicolon and
then the semicolon.
Example: He was sad; she was happy.
On your slate you would writesad;
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Sandy soaked up the
sun she used SPF 45 to
avoid burning.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Sandy soaked up the
sun; she used SPF 45 to
avoid burning.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. Justin had his heart
broken he has a hard
time trusting beautiful
women.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. Justin had his heart
broken; he has a hard
time trusting beautiful
women.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
3. Love is blind envy
has its eyes wide open.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
3. Love is blind; envy
has its eyes wide open.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
4. When Mirano eats
breakfast why does he
drink three cups of
coffee?
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
4. When Ross eats
breakfast, why does he
drink three cups of
coffee?
SEMICOLONS
RULE # 2
•Use between independent clauses
joined by conjunctive adverbs or
transitional expressions.
EXAMPLE: Sam is planning to
become a lawyer; however, he is also
interested in becoming a teacher.
SEMICOLONS
Conjunctive Adverbs
otherwise
therefore
however
consequently
indeed
nevertheless
meanwhile
instead
besides
SEMICOLONS
Transitional Expressions
as a result
for instance
for example
that is in spite of
in conclusion
in other words
in fact
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Only two people wanted
to eat pizza as a result we
ordered Chinese food for
dinner.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Only two people wanted
to eat pizza; as a result, we
ordered Chinese food for
dinner.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. The rain made driving
difficult nevertheless we
arrived safely.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. The rain made driving
difficult; nevertheless, we
arrived safely.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
3. One should never come
to school naked instead,
one should come fully
dressed every single day.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
3. One should never come
to school naked; instead,
one should come fully
dressed every single day.
SEMICOLONS
RULE #3
•Use to separate independent
clauses joined by a coordinating
conjunction when the first
clause(sentence) contains one or
more commas.
EXAMPLE - Goofy sat with Mickey,
Minnie, and Pluto; and Donald sat with
Daisy, Huey, Louie, and Dewey.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Yesterday she bought a
dress, perfume, a scarf,
and boots and he bought
slacks, cologne, a tie and a
watch.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. Yesterday she bought a
dress, perfume, a scarf,
and boots; and he bought
slacks, cologne, a tie and a
watch.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. Kenny’s favorite
subjects in school were
English, science and math
yet Sarah’s were recess
and nap time.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. Kenny’s favorite
subjects in school were
English, science and math;
yet Sarah’s were recess,
lunch, and nap time.
Read the following examples and
write a rule for its use on your slate.
• He went to Las Vegas, Nevada; San
Diego, California; and Tucson,
Arizona.
• Tiffany loved Back to the Future,
with Michael J. Fox; Rambo, with
Stalone; and Pretty Woman, with Julia
Roberts.
SEMICOLONS
RULE #4
•Use between items in a series if
the items contain commas.
EXAMPLE - You may take your test on
Wednesday, October 20; Thursday,
October 21; or Friday, October 22.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. The summer reading list
includes The Scarlet Letter, by
Nathaniel Hawthorne The Color
Purple, by Alice Walker and The
Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara
Kingsolver.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
1. The summer reading list
includes The Scarlet Letter, by
Nathaniel Hawthorne; The Color
Purple, by Alice Walker; and The
Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara
Kingsolver.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. The president has appointed
the following students on the
committee: Eric Clapton, music
Steven Spielberg , movies Usher,
dance and Anne Rice, novels.
SEMICOLONS
Practice:
2. The president has appointed
the following students on the
committee: Eric Clapton, music;
Steven Spielberg , movies; Usher,
dance; and Anne Rice, novels.
CLOSURE
On a separate sheet of paper, write an
example sentence of each semicolon rule.
(Label your sentences by the rule they are
representing)
LET’S PRACTICE!
Take a moment to review all
four rules in your mind. Let’s
practice!
Write an example sentence for each
semicolon rule. (Label your
sentences by the rule they are
showing)
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
1.I get bored on summer vacation;
I like coming back to school.
Rule # 1
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
2. Johnny made a sandwich with
tomatoes, lettuce, and pastrami it
tasted delicious.
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
2. Johnny made a sandwich with
tomatoes, lettuce, and pastrami; it
tasted delicious.
Rule # 3
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
3. Many people think Walt Disney
was a creative genius in fact, many
people think of him as the father of
the cartoon industry.
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
3. Many people think Walt Disney
was a creative genius; in fact, many
people think of him as the father of
the cartoon industry.
Rule # 2
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
4. Wilma went shopping for
clothes, music, and shoes and I
went shopping for books, food,
and pictures.
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
4. Wilma went shopping for
clothes, music, and shoes; and I
went shopping for books, food, and
pictures.
Rule # 3
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
5. I have lived in Lake Forest,
California Flagstaff, Arizona and
Tucson, Arizona.
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
5. I have lived in Lake Forest,
California; Flagstaff, Arizona;
and Tucson, Arizona.
Rule #4
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
6. Only five students had done all
their homework assignments for
the year therefore, Ross is not a
very happy camper.
LET’S PRACTICE!
Read the following sentences
and decide where the semicolon
goes in each sentence.
6. Only five students had done all
their homework assignments for
the year; therefore, Ross is not a
very happy camper.
Rule # 2
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• Over Ross’ long years of life,
he has traveled to Paris,
France Rotarua, New
Zealand and Dublin, Ireland.
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• Over Ross’ long years of life,
he has traveled to Paris,
France; Rotarua, New
Zealand; and Dublin, Ireland.
• Rule #4
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• The man puked all over the
sidewalk however his pet dog
quickly cleaned up the mess.
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• The man puked all over the
sidewalk; however, his pet
dog quickly cleaned up the
mess.
• Rule #2
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• Felicia came into class with a
gallon of milk it was part of
her new all dairy diet.
Semi-colon Review: Place the semicolon(s) in the correct spot.
• Felicia came into class with a
gallon of milk ; it was part of
her new all dairy diet.
• Rule #1
Closing1: Correct the errors on your
slate and be ready to explain why
they are wrong.
• He wanted to go to the store,
however; he did not have a ride.
• Andrea wanted to attend the U
of A, in Arizona, Berkley, in
California, and Notre Dame, in
Indiana.
Closing 2
• What are some ways that
you could incorporate
semicolons into your writing
more frequently? Explain.
Be ready to share.