Description
The purpose of this lesson is to reinforce the importance of good grammar for students entering the 9th grade. Used early in the year, this lesson is designed to set writing standards that include the importance of proper editing. The lesson helps students differentiate between informal writing, such as e-mail language and informal note writing, and the more formal writing requirements of the English Language Arts curriculum.
The lesson includes an interactive SMART Board presentation that introduces the basic rules of punctuation and grammar. The lesson also includes standard proofreader marks and abbreviations commonly used in the editing process. These symbols and abbreviations not only help students edit their writing, but also facilitate advanced communication between the teacher and student during the writing process. Once these standards are established, students become more aware of the importance of proper grammar and punctuation during the writing process with the ultimate goal of improved communication.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
*Recognize the importance of proper grammar and punctuation
*Recognize the difference between informal and formal writing
*Understand and apply standard proofreader symbols and abbreviations to edit writing
*Produce a final writing sample free of common errors
Duration
This lesson takes approximately two 40-minute class periods. The first lesson is the introduction of punctuation and proofreader symbols. The second lesson is the introduction of common grammatical errors and proofreader abbreviations.
Resources/Materials
The following is a list of resources and materials used in this lesson. Teacher presented material is formatted for use with "SMART Board" Technology.
1) SMART Board
2) Networked computer and LCD Projector
3) Attached reference sheet titled "Proofreader Symbols and Abbreviations
4) Journal Notebooks
5) Pens or pencilsSMART Board Notebook Editor in ChiefProofreader_symbols_and_abbreviations_handout-1.do
Procedure
Before you begin, some notes about this lesson.
A.
Some slides have the shade tool applied to introduce individual concepts that need to be raised for use.
B. The proofreader marks on the interactive slides are "infinitely cloned" for continuous use throughout the slide.
1.
Slide #1 - SMART Board Notebook Introduce goals of the lesson
"Editor in Chief"2.
Slide #2 - SMART Board NotebookDescribe use of punctuation marks - period, quotation mark.
3.
Slide #3 - SMART Board NotebookDescribe use of punctuation marks - exclamation mark, comma
4.
Slide #4 - SMART Board NotebookDescribe use of punctuation marks - semi colon, colon.
5.
Slide #5 - SMART Board NotebookIntroduce the use of "Proofreader Marks" in the editing process.
6.
Slide #6 - SMART Board NotebookIntroduce Proofreader marks for the following:
insert
insert a comma
insert apostrophe
Insert quotation marks
7.
Slide #7 - SMART Board NotebookIntroduce Proofreader marks for the following:
delete
use a period here
close space
add space
transpose elements
new paragraph
no new paragraph
8.
Slide #8 - SMART Board NotebookInteractive slide: Have students come to the SMART Board to find the punctuation errors and place the correct proofreading symbol by the error. Students may interact with the SMART Board by dragging the symbols to the appropriate place.
9.
Slide #9 - SMART Board NotebookIntroduce Common Proofreading Abbreviations.
10.
Slide #10 - SMART Board NotebookProofreading abbreviations continued.
11.
Slide #11 - SMART Board NotebookDescribe how both symbols and abbreviations are used together.
12.
Slide #12 - SMART Board NotebookInteractive slide contains second sample paragraph with errors. This slide combines symbols with abbreviations. Students can find the errors and drag the appropriate symbol and/or abbreviation to the proper location.
13.
Slide #13 - SMART Board NotebookFull list of abbreviations with some additions. End of SMART Board presentation.
14. Once students have completed the above lesson, have them write a descriptive paragraph about the editing process they have learned. Have students hide specific punctuation and grammatical errors within their writing. It is suggested that the students limit their errors to 10.
15. Once the paragraphs are completed, have students exchange papers with a partner so that the partner can "edit" the paper using the symbols and abbreviations learned.
16. Finally, have students return the writing to the original authors and have students write their final drafts of the descriptive paragraph "Free of Error."
Assessment
Through the interactive use of the SMART Board, students will apply understanding of basic grammar and punctuation as described in the lesson. Writing skills will be assessed through descriptive paragraphs written at the end of the lesson. Reading skills will be assessed through the editing of partner papers which are written with intentional errors. Final assessment of writing skills will occur through a formal paragraph free of error.
SMART Board Technology
The above lesson was designed to be administered with the help of SMART Board Technology, made available to the author through the E2T2 grant in The Enlarged City School District of Middletown.
Author
Connie Duczeminski, Middletown High School
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
