1. Investigating how language works: making meaning with punctuation
Y8 Language Detectives
Investigating how language works: making meaning with punctuation

2. Punctuation jokes
Why did the pregnant woman yell “Wouldn’t! Couldn’t! Shouldn’t!” when she was in labour?
She was having contractions.
Why did the comma break up with the apostrophe?
Because it was too possessive.
Whole class: Show the question, guess the punchline.
Pairs to fours to whole class: Using the jokes, explain the two different uses of the apostrophe.

3. Punctuation for meaning
Dear John, I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours? Gloria
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever.
When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria
Whole class: Read both versions of Gloria’s letter to John.
Ask: The writer has used exactly the same words in each letter. Is the punctuation also the same?
Highlight examples of how the use of punctuation has created completely different meanings.
A key learning point in this lesson is to underline the idea that punctuation is a creative tool to help shape meaning in writing, not just about getting full stops in the right place, BUT that if they are to deliberately craft sentences and manipulate meaning, they need to know how to use punctuation correctly, as does this writer.
The emphasis in this lesson is on how commas are used.

4. How do I know when to use commas?
“You put a comma when you need to take a breath; if it’s a quick breath you put a comma, but if it’s a longer breath you put a full stop.”
“If you use a lot of commas it speeds up the pace of the writing and makes it more interesting to read.”
Can you explain these students’ thinking? What has caused their confusion?
Show the examples of Y8 students’ ideas about commas and full stops (these are real examples, from research interviews)
Ask: what do these students think commas and full stops are for? Can you explain what is causing confusion for these students?
Pairs to fours: explain your answer to the question on the slide.
Feedback: Agree guidance for what a comma does not do, using next slide to clarify that a comma is never used to mark a sentence boundary.

5. : ? ! - ; . Punctuation choices
‘Boundary punctuation’ refers to punctuation used between separate sentences. All the punctuation marks below can be used in this way. Try each one out on these sentences:
smoking can kill you it should be banned
colon :
question mark ?
exclamation mark !
dash -
semi-colon ;
full stop .
The only incorrect choice is: Smoking can kill you, it should be banned.
A comma is NEVER used to mark the boundary between separate sentences.

6. So if we don’t use commas to separate sentences, when do we use them?
You are generous, kind, thoughtful. To mark off words in a list. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. After an adverbial phrase that starts a sentence. When we are apart, I can be forever happy. To separate a subordinate clause and a main clause. Kind people, who are not like you, are all around me. Either side of a clause embedded in a sentence.
Slide is advanced by clicking.
Show each example (from the Dear John letter), then ask pairs to decide the ‘rule’ for using a comma.

7. Match the example to the rule
Commas are used to separate a subordinate clause and a main clause.
The subjects I like the best are Geography, English, Maths and Art.
After all that effort, we still didn’t know the answer.
Commas are used to mark off items in a list.
For other men, I yearn.
If you leave me, I can be forever happy.
Commas are used after an adverbial phrase that starts a sentence.
My best friend, my cousin, my neighbour and my cat all have the same name.
My brother, who is older than me, always gets his own way.
Commas are used either side of a clause embedded in a sentence.
When his sister arrived, John left.
You can play “Swat” in 2 teams - one team calls out a rule; other team calls out example or get one team member to stand by the board and ‘swat’ or ‘slap’ the right answer.
Extend by asking pairs to create more examples for each rule and challenge the other team with them.
Note that there are 2 examples of sub clause+main clause, 2 examples of commas in lists and 2 examples of adverbial phrases that start a sentence.

8. London Shard struck by lightning
The London Shard which is the tallest building in western Europe was struck by lightning yesterday.
The Shard is 310 metres high has 87 storeys 44 lifts and 11,000 glass panels. Although the lightning struck no damage was caused.
CONSOLIDATE
Ask students working in pairs to supply 5 missing commas. You can also say that the missing commas have 3 different functions. Use the next slide for feedback and to clarify what function the commas have.

9. London Shard struck by lightning
The London Shard, which is the tallest building in western Europe, was struck by lightning yesterday.
The Shard is 310 metres high, has 87 storeys, 44 lifts and 11,000 glass panels. Although the lightning struck, no damage was caused.
CONSOLIDATE
Feedback: ask students to explain correct use of commas and clarify they are needed for:
Separating embedded information (the relative clause beginning ‘which’)
Marking items in a list: 310 metres high, 87 storeys, 44 lifts
Separating subordinate clause (‘Although....’) from main clause.

10. London Shard struck by lightning
Dramatic photos show how the London Shard which is the tallest building in western Europe was struck by lightning. During a storm the 87 storey 310 metre building was hit by several bolts. Fortunately the Shard has safety features built into it meaning the electricity is diverted harmlessly to earth.
EXTEND
More difficult version of same exercise. This time there are 6 missing commas and 5 different functions. Students work in pairs to decide where they should go. Feedback on next slide.

11. London Shard Struck by Lightning
Dramatic photos show how the London Shard, which is the tallest building in western Europe, was struck by lightning. During a storm, the 87 storey, 310 metre building was hit by several bolts. Fortunately, the Shard has safety features built into it, meaning the electricity is diverted harmlessly to earth.
Ask students to explain choices and use slide to stress functions:
Separating embedded information (the relative clause beginning ‘which’)
Marking adverbial phrase used at start of sentence (‘During a storm’)
Marking items in a list: 87 storey, 310 metre
Marking important adverb used at start of sentence (‘Fortunately’)
Separating subordinate clause (‘meaning the electricity....’) from main clause.

12. Floods Hit the UK
Write a short news report to match the photograph and headline.
Your task is to use commas correctly in the following ways:
To mark off words in a list.
To separate a subordinate clause and a main clause.
Either side of a clause embedded in a sentence (e.g. a relative clause beginning with who or which).
After an adverbial word or phrase that starts a sentence.
Individuals or pairs: Write a short report, similar to one about Shard, following instructions on slide.
You can differentiate this e.g. By asking students to focus on first 2 items or all 4. If time, students can write an unpunctuated version they can give to a partner to complete.
Ask students to annotate their paragraph showing functions of the commas they have used.

13. Floods Hit the UK
Yesterday, several regions of the country were hit by severe flooding. According to the Environment Agency, a combination of heavy rains, strong winds and high tides caused flooding across the UK. On the Somerset Levels, which was one of the worst affected areas, villages were completely cut-off, while rescue attempts were hindered by lightning storms. As darkness fell, thousands of people were without electricity, especially in the south west, where power cables were brought down in gale-force winds.
You can use this slide to model the task or to frame feedback, highlighting examples of commas used:
to mark off items in a list
to separate a subordinate clause and a main clause
either side of a clause embedded in a sentence (e.g. a relative clause beginning with who or which).
after an adverbial word or phrase that starts a sentence
You can extend further by investigating the use of commas in a selection of news reports, and encouraging students to verbalise their purpose.
Where has this writer used commas?
What job do they do?