Every punctuation mark matters: A mini-lesson on semicolons
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=260
A lesson plan for grades 6–8 English Language Arts
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”” demonstrates that even the smallest punctuation mark signals a stylistic decision, distinguishing one writer from another and enabling an author to move an audience. In this mini-lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students first explore Dr. King’s use of semicolons and their rhetorical significance, then apply the lesson to their own writing by searching for ways to follow Dr. King’s model and use the punctuation mark in their own writing.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 6
- Goal 4: The learner will use critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
- Objective 4.01: Determine the purpose of the author or creator by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
- exploring any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, or propaganda techniques.
- identifying and exploring the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
- analyzing the effects of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.
- Objective 4.01: Determine the purpose of the author or creator by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
- using a variety of sentence types correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
- using appropriate subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
- demonstrating the different roles of the different parts of speech in sentence construction.
- using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
- using phrases and clauses correctly (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
- determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words by using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffices) of words.
- extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
- exploring the role and use of dialects and of standard English to appreciate appropriate usage in different contexts.
- developing an awareness of language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
Grade 7
- Goal 4: The learner will refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate text and multimedia.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
- examining any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, or propaganda techniques.
- exploring and evaluating the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
- understanding the effect of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
- using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
- using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
- applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
- using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
- using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
- determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
- extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
- determining when and where dialects and standard/nonstandard English usage are appropriate.
- applying language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
- choosing language that is precise, engaging, and well suited to the topic and audience.
- experimenting with figurative language and speech patterns.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
Grade 8
- Goal 4: The learner will continue to refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator and the impact of that purpose by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
- evaluating any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, and/or propaganda techniques.
- evaluating the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
- evaluate the effects of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator and the impact of that purpose by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
- using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
- using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
- applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
- using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.
- using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g. prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses.)
- determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
- extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
- evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.
- applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
