Grade 08 ELA - EC: E08.D.1.2.4

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
Questions/activities that grow in complexity
Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Grade Levels

8th Grade

Course, Subject

English Language Arts

Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content

E08.D.1.2.4 E08.D.1.2.4

Use punctuation (i.e., commas, parentheses, and dashes) to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.

Activities

List examples of punctuation that can be used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
State the function of specific types of punctuation that are used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.

Identify examples of punctuation correctly used in a text to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
Identify examples of punctuation incorrectly used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.

Construct original sentences that use punctuation correctly to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
Revise sentences to incorporate or correct the use of punctuation to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.

Answer Key/Rubric

Student lists examples of punctuation that can be used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. The student correctly identifies commas, parentheses, and dashes as examples of punctuation that set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
Student states the function of specific types of punctuation that are used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. Nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements are words in a sentence that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. These elements provide additional information in a sentence. The student correctly identifies commas, parentheses, and dashes as punctuation used in a sentence to signify nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
Student identifies examples of punctuation correctly used in a text to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. For example,

My dog, a golden retriever, was adopted from an animal shelter.
My dog (a golden retriever) was adopted from an animal shelter.
My dog—a golden retriever—was adopted from an animal shelter.

Student identifies examples of punctuation incorrectly used to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. For example, the sentence, “My dog a golden retriever was adopted from an animal shelter,” includes a nonrestrictive element that is not correctly punctuated. The nonrestrictive element, “a golden retriever,” ought to be separated from the rest of the sentence by a set of commas, parentheses, or dashes.
Student constructs original sentences that use punctuation correctly to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. The sentences constructed display correct use of commas, dashes, or parentheses to separate nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
Student revises sentences to incorporate or correct the use of punctuation to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. For example, the student correctly revises sentences to accurately use commas, dashes, or parentheses to separate nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.