Collaborative Learning: Entry Level

(9-12 Lesson)

Using Podcasts to Enhance the Understanding of Grammar Usage
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Grade Level
9-12
Classroom Configuration:
  • Whole group instruction, using a projector and / or interactive white board
Arizona State Content Standards
  • Language Arts-Writing
    • Strand 2: Writing Components
      • Concept 5: Sentence Fluency
        • PO 1: Use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex) and lengths to reinforce relationships among ideas and to enhance the flow of the writing
      • Concept 6: Conventions
        • PO 2: Uses commas correctly
Arizona Educational Technology Standards (2009)
  • Strand 1: Creativity and Innovation
    • Concept 1: Knowledge and Ideas
      • PO 1: Analyze, evaluate and synthesize information to create new ideas, processes, or products.
Objectives
  • By listening to Grammar Girl podcast on iTunes U, student grammar usage and writing with comma splice will improve.
Procedure
  1. Introduce grammar topic of "Comma Splicing" as a fairly common misuse of punctuation.
  2. Definition of Comma Splice: A comma splice occurs when the writer attempts to hook two sentences with a comma.
  3. Write sentence on board. The clouds are gathering in the north, it will rain soon.
  4. How do we know if it contains a comma splice?
  5. Ask yourself, can the groups of words on either side of the comma stand alone as a complete and sensible sentence. If the answer is yes, then it is a comma splice.
  6. Check by reading aloud the words in the sentence that precede and follow the comma. Do they make sense when read separately?
  7. How do we correct the comma splice?
    1. You can make a new sentence. The clouds are gathering in the north. It will rain soon.
    2. You can insert a conjunction after the comma, a word that will join the two sentences into a compound sentence. The clouds are gathering in the north, and it will rain soon.
    3. Or you could use a semi-colon. The clouds are gathering in the north; it will rain soon.
  8. After board examples are completed, using computer and Internet, log on to IDEAL.
  9. Navigate to iTunes U, Podcasts. Search for Grammar Girl, Quick and Dirty Tips
  10. Listen to short, engaging grammar tips podcasts
  11. Play Grammar Girl episode Comma Splice to reinforce the lesson.
  12. Follow-up with independent activity of students correcting comma splice sentences.
Materials
Assessment
  • Students will complete independent comma splice handout.
TIM - Collaborative: Entry
Northern Arizona University