Every time you pause while reading, you should insert a comma, right? Not necessarily. Using a comma to indicate a pause is just one of the myths addressed in a handout related to the pesky punctuation mark. After reviewing common misconceptions, the reference sheet explains how and when to use commas effectively.

Concepts

commas, commas in a series, comma splices, punctuation

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Remove all commas from a paragraph and challenge learners to put them back in
• Read a piece aloud and pause dramatically every time a comma appears to determine how well the punctuation fits in that position

Classroom Considerations

• Reinforces Common Core standards related to commas taught at the middle school level

Pros

• Provides specific examples of each strategy mentioned so writers can see the comma in use
• Features bold headers to help scholars locate a specific problem they may need to address

Cons

• Mentions a list of handy resources at the end of the handout but lacks hyperlinks or easy ways to access those materials

Common Core

L.6.2.a L.7.2.a L.8.2.a L.9-10.2.a L.11-12.2.a