Using commas: the listing and conjoining uses

Presented by Shelley Barrett-Catton

Missoula Adult Basic & Literacy Education Program

Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center

310 South Curtis

Missoula, MT 59801

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to write and edit sentences with commas. The two uses of commas focused on in this lesson are listing and conjoining. I wanted to make a lesson plan that could be used by volunteers and would not overwhelm students with all of the comma rules at one time.

Instructional Procedure:

Anticipatory Set: Discuss what they already know about commas. Find out how they think commas are used.

Introduction: Go over the listing and conjoining use of commas. Use the web site 330 Grammar: Using Commas. http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/comma.htm

Modeling/ Guided practice: Teacher models 1 or two sentences for each of the following and then has student write 1 or 2 sentences with the teacher guiding them. Do not go on to the next number until you feel that student has an understanding for the number, which you are working on.

Listing use

1.  Nouns: Have students think of at least 3 people they have seen today and make it into a sentence using commas (Can also use things they have eaten, places they have been,

2.  Verbs: Have students write a list of things they have done today and make it into a sentence using commas.

3.  Adjectives Have them make a list of adjectives describing their favorite actor or actress. Have them make it into a list using commas.

Conjoining use

4.  Using the information you learned while guiding the student through the listing use, help them write sentences using and, or, but, and so.

5.  Do some more practice with the conjoining use using the words since, because and while.

Independent Practice: Have them work independently on the computer doing the 2 comma exercises on the web site.

If the student needs more practice with coordinating conjunctions here is a site with another quiz on working with coordinating conjunctions

http://webster.comnet.edu/grammar/commas.quizzes/nova1.htm

Assessment: GED Skill Focus p. 197 Steck- Vaughn Writing

Follow up: Websites: http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

This is a very thorough website on commas. It takes students systematically through using commas. It also has a nice PowerPoint video on comma usage, which I have found useful for students.

This is another thorough website. It is a bit wordy, but is clear and has some good interactive exercises.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_comma.htm

Plato Commas (Tutorial, drill, Mastery test)

Commas in Pre GED books

Comma in GED exercise book