Use the comma, dash, and ellipsis to indicate pause or break; use ellipsis for omission in quotation (CCSS L.8.2.a; L.8.2.b)
Exercise Difficulty 3 ~9 min eng.g8.f.ex_43

Punctuation In Own Draft

Prompt

Audit your synthesis essay draft for pause-and-break punctuation. (1) Identify 3 places where a dash would serve better than commas (or vice versa). (2) Audit any quoted material — is ellipsis-for-omission applied where omission would improve flow? (3) Revise accordingly.

Answer criteria
type rubric
rubric
3 dash/comma decisions + ≥1 ellipsis application + revisions implemented = mastery
Hints
  1. Dashes for emphasis or interruption; commas for smaller pauses.
  2. Ellipsis-for-omission must preserve meaning.
Misconceptions to watch
  • Adds dashes for stylistic flourish without justification.
  • Applies ellipsis where omission would change meaning.