ACT ELA
LESSON 2:
COMPLETE & INCOMPLETE IDEAS
Identify a complete idea as a complete thought that can stand on its own as a sentence.
Identify an incomplete idea as an incomplete thought that CANNOT stand on its own as a sentence. It must be combined with another idea.
Identify when and how to combine two complete ideas using proper punctuation and conjunctions.
ACT ELA
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1 MINUTE
A complete sentence is a complete thought. It has someone (subject) doing something (verb) and it makes sense by itself.
ACT ELA
COMPLETE & INCOMPLETE
2 MINUTES
She walked to school.
An incomplete sentence is missing something and doesn't make sense on its own. The missing parts are usually the subject, the verb, or the full idea.
Because she walked to school.
A complete idea can stand on its own as a complete sentence even though it may be part of a longer sentence.
An incomplete idea CANNOT stand on its own as a complete sentence and must be appropriately linked to another idea.
ACT ELA
YOU COMPLETE ME
Manual p 19
Amy sells lemonade
To buy some food
Why does she need money
When she needs money
Billy really wants
Those cost more money than she has
ACT ELA
COMPLETE OR INCOMPLETE
THINK QUICK!
2 MINUTES
COMPLETE
INCOMPLETE
Manual p 19
What does a sentence need to be complete?
What are some ways an idea can be incomplete?
ACT ELA
YOU COMPLETE ME
A subject and verb, generally
Missing subject / verb / object / main idea, etc. Incomplete ideas are always missing something.
Manual p 19
ACT ELA
FANBOYS
1 MINUTE
B
N
O
Y
A
F
S
for
SO
and
yet
nor
or
but
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
There are seven coordinating conjunctions.
They give equal importance to the works or sentences they connect.
This is an acronym for conjunctions (connector words) that combine two COMPLETE ideas or sentences together.
Period (.)
Semicolon (;)
Comma + FANBOYS (, and)
Question Mark (?)
Exclamation Point (!)
ACT ELA
STOP
2 MINUTES
Two complete ideas are like two trucks approaching an intersection at the same time. To prevent an accident, use the right traffic signals (punctuation).
STOP punctuation can only link complete ideas.
Manual p 20
Whenever the question is testing STOP punctuation, use the Vertical Line Test.
ACT ELA
VERTICAL LINE
2 MINUTES
Manual p 20
Every practice slide follows I DO, WE DO, YOU DO: your fellow models it, then we work one together, then you try it yourself.
Watch for the TURN & TALK tag — that’s your cue to compare answers with a neighbor before we check as a class.
ACT ELA
HOW WE’LL PRACTICE
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. winter. Subject
C. winter, susceptible
D. winter; susceptible
The small family endured a grim winter. Susceptible to the vagaries of the weather and lacking many of the basics that would have made their existence less primitive.
ACT ELA
VERTICAL LINE
WE DO
2 MINUTES
C
I
New word doesn’t make 2nd half complete
TURN & TALK (30 SEC) BEFORE WE SOLVE TOGETHER
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. us; my
C. us my
D. us, therefore my
I didn’t mean to close the door behind us, my sleeve got caught on the knob.
ACT ELA
STOP, GO & YELLOW
YOU DO
3 MINUTES
C
C
STOP punctuation
TRY IT SOLO (45 SEC) → TURN & TALK TO COMPARE
When do I use a comma?
USE A COMMA WITH FANBOYS.
1 minute
USE A COMMA AS GO PUNCTUATION.
USE A COMMA IN A LIST OF THREE OR MORE.
USE A COMMA BEFORE AND AFTER UNNECESSARY INFORMATION.
ACT ELA
STOP, GO & YELLOW
1 MINUTE
A. NO CHANGE
B. assignment,
C. assignment, but
D. assignment, but,
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
I DO
2 MINUTES
STOP
STOP + FANBOYS
A. NO CHANGE
B. AEF, he,
C. AEF. He
D. AEF; he,
Pershing was chosen over several senior and better known officers to command the AEF, he had a reputation for toughness and impeccable political connections.
We all understood the assignment but we didn’t like it.
15
5
too many commas
extra comma
15.
5.
C
C
Commas
NO punctuation
ACT ELA
GO
GO PUNCTUATION
1 MINUTE
Like traffic, good English writing needs to flow without unnecessary stops or slow downs. Use traffic signals to avoid accidents. Remember that unnecessary signals cause sentences to not flow.
GO punctuation can link anything EXCEPT two complete ideas.
Manual p 22
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
F. NO CHANGE
G. points; considering
H. points. Since
J. points since
An ESL teacher should not use her students’ native languages to make her points, since her students, by definition, want to learn English, she must encourage them to use it at all times.
ACT ELA
STOP
WE DO
2 MINUTES
C
C
Has to be STOP
Manual p 21
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. languages, but,
C. languages,
D. languages, but
One might think that the sole way for an ESL teacher to overcome this communication barrier would be for her to learn her students’ native languages but most teaching experts do not endorse this idea.
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
YOU DO
3 MINUTES
C
C
Has to be STOP; eliminate A & C
Too many commas
Manual p 21
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. mother, the queen,
C. mother the queen,
D. mother the queen
Legend has it that in their fierce struggle one of the princes died, and in order to explain the situation to his mother, the queen the surviving son used a checkered colored board…
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
WE DO
2 MINUTES
Comma rule 4: “the queen” is unnecessary
BRAIN BREAK!
60 SECONDS: Stand up, stretch, and strike your best Vulcan pose!
An idea with no punctuation before the end of the sentence is like an open road with no stop signs and speed limits. A comma is more like a blinking, yellow light, telling you to slow down briefly before proceeding.
Teaching ESL is an exhausting process, requiring a great deal of imagination, enthusiasm, and energy.
A. NO CHANGE
B. process; requiring
C. process requiring,
D. process, requiring,
ACT ELA
BLINKING YELLOW
2 MINUTES
5
5.
C
Comma
Manual p 23
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
F. NO CHANGE
G. English effectively,
H. English, effectively,
J. English effectively;
In order to teach English effectively a teacher must develop innovative ways to communicate.
ACT ELA
COMMAS
WE DO
2 MINUTES
C
I
Too many commas
Manual p 23
ACT ELA
GO PUNCTUATION
I DO
2 MINUTES
A teacher who is fluent in Mandarin, could not communicate with students who speak Cantonese.
F. NO CHANGE
G. fluent in Mandarin could not communicate
H. fluent in Mandarin; could not communicate
J. fluent in Mandarin could not communicate;
4.
Manual p 22
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. their host countries, those
C. their host countries; those
D. their host, countries, those
Although some English As a Second Language (ESL) teachers work abroad and speak the language of their host countries. Those working in the United States do not necessarily share a common language with their students.
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
WE DO
2 MINUTES
I
C
Too many commas
STOP doesn’t work - eliminate A & C
In a list of three or more things, there should be commas after each item, including before the “and.” There usually isn’t a comma at the end of a list.
The teacher may use pictures mime and objects to build her students’ vocabularies.
A. NO CHANGE
B. pictures, mime, and, objects
C. pictures, mime, and objects,
D. pictures, mime, and objects
ACT ELA
THREE OR MORE
2 MINUTES
7
7.
need commas
Two commas (listening, writing, and speaking)
7
no comma after ‘and’
comma at the end of a list depends on context but is usually not necessary
Manual p 24
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
F. NO CHANGE
G. to, speak slowly and clearly, provide both written and spoken instructions,
H. to speak slowly and clearly, to provide both written and spoken instructions,
J. to speak slowly and clearly providing for both written and spoken instruction
Additionally, teachers must be sure to speak slowly and clearly to provide both written and spoken instructions, and to check frequently for comprehension.
ACT ELA
COMMAS
WE DO
2 MINUTES
Changes meaning
Manual p 24
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
F. NO CHANGE
G. checkered, colored board
H. checkered colored, board
J. checkered, colored board,
Legend has it that in their fierce struggle one of the princes died, and in order to explain the situation to his mother, the queen, the surviving son used a checkered colored board, and model figures to illustrate the political wrangling that had transpired.
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
YOU DO
2 MINUTES
Sometimes, the ACT will use a comma in place of “and” in a list of two descriptive words: “It was a dark, stormy night.”
A pair of commas-or a pair of dashes (or a pair of parentheses)-around an unnecessary idea is like a short, pleasant detour. Ask yourself, do I really need that?
An instructor can also employ context. She may for example, wave to her students as she enters the room and says, “Hello!”
A. NO CHANGE
B. may, for example
C. may for example
D. may, for example,
ACT ELA
COMMAS
BEFORE AND AFTER UNNECESSARY INFO
2 MINUTES
9
9.
A Pair of Commas (, the principal,)
A Set of Dashes (-the principal-)
A Set of Parentheses (the principal)
Manual p 25
Everyone who learns to say, “How you doin?” gets an A.
A class which lasts six weeks can help students of all ages.
However the students find English challenging.
The class that is available online lasts only five weeks.
The focus of the second class is vocabulary which many students find especially rewarding.
If the information in bold is unnecessary; add commas. Complete but boring; commas. Incomplete or new meaning; no commas.
ACT ELA
DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT?
1 MINUTE
Manual p 25
There are four reasons to use commas on the ACT.
Before FANBOYS as STOP punctuation
As GO or blinking yellow punctuation
In a list of three or more
Before and after unnecessary information
ACT ELA
COMMAS
If you can’t cite one of these reasons, don’t use a comma!
Manual p 25
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. NO CHANGE
B. carrier, Sam,
C. carrier, Sam
D. carrier Sam,
Our letter carrier Sam is always cheerful.
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
WE DO
2 MINUTES
Rule 4: sentence still makes sense if you take out “Sam”
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
F. NO CHANGE
G. thought, he
H. thought; he
J. thought he
After exhausting all the possibilities, or so he thought. He finally read the instructions and learned where he had gone wrong.
ACT ELA
STOP & FANBOYS
YOU DO
2 MINUTES
Rule 4: “or so he thought” is unnecessary.
Sometimes, but not always, a yield sign requires you to stop. Half-Stop punctuation can ONLY come after a complete idea but can be followed by either a complete idea or an incomplete idea.
ESL students find two types of English expressions particularly difficult to master; idioms and slang.
F. NO CHANGE
G. master, idioms, and slang.
H. master: idioms and slang.
J. master: idioms, and slang.
ACT ELA
COMMAS
HALF-STOP
2 MINUTES
10
10.
Colon (:)
Single Dash
Manual p 26
ACT ELA
PUNCTUATION PLACEMENT
Complete + Complete (STOP)
Complete + Complete OR Incomplete (HALF-STOP)
Incomplete + Incomplete (YELLOW/GO)
Complete with Three or More
Complete with Unnecessary Information
Ok or Not
ACT ELA
VERTICAL LINE
THINK PAIR SHARE
5 MINUTES
Although Liz loved pink; she selected the blue skirt.
Anne went shopping and bought some boots at the Riverchase Galleria.
When John wants a treat. He goes to Milo’s for a milkshake.
Bean, the neighborhood dog, stopped by for a visit.
Juice loves to swim, read books and play video games.
Use the vertical line test to help you determine correct or incorrect punctuation use.
Rate this session: 1-5
EXIT TICKET
MINI CHECK
How many did you get correct?
Did you feel confident in answering the questions?
ACT English
I WILL ACE THE ACT!