Starter quiz
- What tool, which helps you read complex texts, is being described here: 'A statement about what you think will happen in the future'?
- 'Prediction' ✓
- When using quotations to support my analysis they should be ...
- detailed.
- precise. ✓
- long.
- summarised.
-
- If a sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause it is a ...
- short sentence.
- compound sentence.
- simple sentence.
- complex sentence. ✓
-
- Which of the below would a colon be useful for?
- to introduce lists ✓
- to present dialogue ✓
- to separate two independent clauses ✓
- to end a question
- to end a clause
-
- Which of the below are discourse markers that would indicate the introduction of evidence?
- firstly
- for example ✓
- such as ✓
- illustrated by ✓
- in conclusion
-
- Which of the below is the best definition of the phrase 'proofreading'?
- carefully checking for errors in a text before it is finalised ✓
- carefully checking to see if a text can be improved before it is finalised
- carefully checking if a text is long enough before it is finalised
- carefully checking if a text has grammatical errors before it is finalised ✓
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Exit quiz
- If something is clear and intelligible then it has ...
- clarity. ✓
- complexity.
- value.
- vividness.
-
- Match these punctuation types to their purpose.
- Exclamation mark⇔conveys intense emotion ✓
- Question mark⇔poses a question ✓
- Full stop⇔ends a declarative sentence ✓
- Comma⇔separates a main clause and a subordinate clause ✓
- Apostrophe⇔shows belonging ✓
- Match these types of advanced punctuation to their purpose
- Semicolon⇔separates two clauses ✓
- Colon⇔introduces a list or explanation ✓
- Ellipsis⇔represents a pause or something left unsaid ✓
- Brackets⇔includes extra information in a sentence ✓
- In a descriptive paragraph, the tense should be ...
- consistent throughout. ✓
- varied.
- a mix of past, present and future.
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- 'We were totally alone! There was no-one to save us! We must escape! Now!' What would be an appropriate improvement suggestion for this student?
- Use exclamation marks more sparingly to enhance their impact. ✓
- Swap some of your exclamation marks for commas and semicolons.
- Remove all exclamation marks and replace them with full stops.
- Do not use exclamation marks. They are not appropriate for descriptive writing.
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- 'The ancient map rumoured to reveal the location of a hidden treasure had captured the imagination of young explorer.' What does this student need to do to make this sentence make sense?
- Add brackets to introduce the parentheses about what the map reveals. ✓
- Add an exclamation to emphasise the impact of the map on the young explorer.
- Add a comma before the subordinate clause at the end.
- Insert apostrophes around the 'ancient map' as that is its name.
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Accurate basic punctuation improves clarity; more advanced punctuation can heighten the impact of word choices.
- Advanced punctuation (semi-colons, exclamation marks, ellipses) should be used sparingly for clear effect.
- Proof-reading will help to avoid SPaG errors.
Common misconception
Students should aim to include as many punctuation types as possible.
The best writing uses punctuation sparingly to enhance the overall effect of the writing.
Keywords
Ellipsis - A piece of punctuation (...) that can represent a pause or something unsaid.
Semicolon - A piece of punctuation (;) that can separate two closely related clauses.
Colon - A piece of punctuation (:) that can introduce lists or explanations and separate two related sentences.
Brackets - A piece of punctuation () that can be used to add parentheses or extra information in a sentence.
Clarity - If something has clarity it is clear and intelligible.
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