Difference between revisions of "Comma Rules"

Revision as of 01:44, 6 March 2006

The 10 (or 11) comma rules, taught by Michael Plasmeier for Honors 9th Grade level class on 3/9/2006.

Lesson Plan

Objectives

After the lesson, students will be able to:

• Correctly and successfully use commas in their everyday writing
• Correctly and successfully identify and/or insert commas into a paragraph
• Know the 10 or 11 rules for when commas are used

Matrials

• PlazWiki (this site)
• Class set of laptops
• Smart Board with PowerPoint

Instructional Strategies

• Lecture / Present comma rules on PowerPoint slide show
• ...
• Fix a paragraph on PlazWiki (solo activity) (in two shifts; what does the other shift do?)

Assessment Techniques

• Fix a paragraph exercise by self
• ...

Steps

1. Introduce 10 (or 11) comma rules in PowerPoint slide show
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. Fix a paragraph exercise
6. (other shift);...

Lecture/Presentation

The Comma Rules

Introduction

• The comma is a valuable, useful punctuation device because it separates the structural elements of sentences into manageable segments.
• "comma" comes directly from the Greek komma, which means "something cut off" or "a short clause".
• The rules provided here are those found in traditional handbooks; however, in certain rhetorical contexts and for specific purposes, these rules may be broken.

Before Coordinating Conjunctions for Compound Sentences

• Use comma before an coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
• Used to connect two independent clauses in a compound sentence
• Ex: Joe has seven chickens, but Jack has three.
• Ex: I asked you to repeat that, yet you didn’t.

Set off an Introductory Phrase or Clause

• Introductory clauses are dependent clauses that provide background information or "set the stage" for the main part of the sentence, the independent clause. For example:
• If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day. (introductory dependent clause, main clause)
• Because he kept barking insistently, we threw the ball for Smokey. (introductory dependent clause, main clause)
• Clue: Introductory clauses start with adverbs like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc.
• (We call this a complex sentence)

Important Exception

• Ex: Because she fell, she was late to class.
• Don’t put a comma when the dependent clause comes after the independent clause
• Ex: She was late for class, because she fell.
• Instead: She was late for class because she fell.

Transition/Introductory Words and Phrases

• Use a comma to set off transition words from the rest of the sentence
• Common introductory phrases that should be followed by a comma include participial and infinitive phrases, absolute phrases, nonessential appositive phrases, and long prepositional phrases (over four words).
• Ex: Unfortunately, there is no free lunch
• Ex: I don’t want to take the test, however, I need to.

Set off an Appositives and Parenthetical Phrases

• An appositive is a noun or pronoun -- often with modifiers -- set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.
• Parenthetical = (like Parentheses)
• Only put commas before and after appositives when the sentence would make still sense without the appositive (non-restrictive)
• Ex: Bill, my brother, got a job.

Don’t use a comma when...

• after a brief prepositional phrase. (Less then five words)
• after a restrictive (essential) appositive phrase.
• to separate the subject from the predicate.
• Ex: Preparing and submitting his report to the committee for evaluation and possible publication [x] was one of the most difficult tasks Bill had ever attempted.
• To start a new business without doing market research and long-term planning in advance [x] would be foolish.
• Extracting the most profit for the least expenditure on labor and materials [x] is the primary goal of a capitalist.

Separate Adjectives

• Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun
• (coordinating adjectives) describe the same noun equally (Does it make sense to put in an and?)
• Ex: I will go into the small, cramped room.
• Not: The powerful [x] summer sun beat down upon them.

Quoted Words and Dialogue

• Use a comma to set off quoted words and dialogue
• Before the quote
• Ex: I said, “go to the mall.”
• After the quote
• Ex: “Go to the mall,” I said.
• Use a comma to set off the noun you are directly talking to.
• Ex: Mom, go get me a soda.

Phrases that Express Contrast

• Use a comma to set off phrases that express contrast or a distinct pause or shift
• Ex: You need to pay attention now, not later.
• Ex: The game is today, not tomorrow.

Mild Interjections

• Use a comma to set off mild interjections!
• Ex: Oh, it will freeze.
• Ex: My gosh, that’s smart.

More Comma Abuse

• Don’t use a comma to separate a subject from the verb
• An ant, is the smallest bug.
• Don’t put a comma between 2 verbs in a compound predicate
• We put on our music, and began to study.
• Don’t put a comma between 2 nouns (or noun phrases) in a compound subject
• The music teacher, and the football coach are married

Separate Items in a Series or List

• Use commas to separate items of three or more things
• The last comma is sometimes left out (serial comma)
• Ex: Milk, bread, and cheese

Dates and Years

• Used to separating the day from the year when also writing the month.
• Ex: March 19, 2005
• Ex: June 17, 1905

Large Numbers

• Used to present large numbers in more readable forms
• Every 3 Places
• Ex: 1,500,275 = One million, five hundred thousand, two hundred seventy-five
• **Fun fact – In Europe and other countries, they use commas as decimal points and spaces for commas**

City and States

• Used to separate the city from the state
• Ex: Havertown, PA
• Ex: Orlando, Florida

Names and Titles

• Ex: Dr. Brown, PhD.
• Ex: Mrs. Smith, R.N, B.S.
• Also when using the last name first
• Ex: Bond, James
• Used often in books (and MLA)

And finally:

• You have the power to put a comma in wherever necessary to prevent confusion or misreading

Ex: To George, Harrison had been a sort of idol. (note how it still sort of fits one of our rules)

More Help

• For more help ask me or download the extra presentation from the PlazWiki at Image:OWLComma.PPT

Exercise Instructions

• Get laptops
• Connect to the internet and go to http://theplaz.com
• Hit “Log in” at the top right of the page
• Type “Comma Rules” in to the search bar and hit “Go”
• Find your number which I assigned to you and click on that
• Hit edit at the top of the page
• Edit the paragraph by inserting the commas where necessary. Fill in the total number of mistakes you found.
• Hit “Save this page” and call me over.
• The winner wins a “ThePlaz.com” T-Shirt

Sources

• My notes from 8th Grade.
• [1] (and other OWL pages)
• "Comma (punctuation)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Mar 2006, 19:32 UTC. 5 Mar 2006,

22:27 [2] (and other pages)

Fix a Paragraph Exercise

• Plaz will post a paragraph with errors on PlazWiki. Students will register and log on to edit paragraph on their own page. The first person finished from each shift wins a ThePlaz.com t-shirt (tentative)

Questions

Feel free to post your questions here. Please add --~~~~ after your comment. Thanks --Plaz 21:41, 2 March 2006 (EST)