Comma Rules and Titles of Works — Proof-Reading Pass

Teacher writes 5 sentences each missing one comma. Children identify the missing comma and the rule.

• Project 5 sentences
• Affirm rule identification
• Note rule by number

Today is the PROOF-READING pass — the final mechanical check before peer-edit. Five comma rules (MG-17). RULE 1: comma after INTRODUCTORY ELEMENT — 'After the rain stopped, we went outside.' Even short intros need the comma: 'After lunch, we left.' RULE 2: comma with YES/NO — 'Yes, I would like to come.' 'No, that is not correct.' RULE 3: comma setting off TAG QUESTION — 'You're coming, aren't you?' 'It's a great essay, isn't it?' RULE 4: comma setting off DIRECT ADDRESS — 'Maya, please open the window.' 'Please open the window, Maya.' If the address is mid-sentence, comma on BOTH sides: 'Please, Maya, open the window.' RULE 5: comma separating items in a series — 'I need pencils, paper, and a notebook.' (Oxford comma optional but recommended for clarity.) Watch teacher audit a sample paragraph for all 5 rules. Now TITLES OF WORKS (MG-18). Two conventions: ITALICIZE (typed work) or UNDERLINE (handwritten) for BOOKS, MOVIES, PLAYS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, ALBUMS, FULL-LENGTH WORKS. 'I read Brown Girl Dreaming over the summer.' (italics). QUOTATION MARKS for ARTICLES, POEMS, SONGS, SHORT STORIES, CHAPTER TITLES, SHORT WORKS. 'My favorite poem is "Stevie and Me".' Be consistent within a document.

• Notice: rule 4 (direct address) needs commas on BOTH sides if the address is mid-sentence. Rule 1 (introductory) is the most-forgotten — even SHORT introductory phrases need a comma.

  model Mock paragraph with 5 missing commas and 2 incorrectly-formatted titles. Teacher fixes all 7. Children watch.

  prompt Teacher audits sample paragraph for 5 comma rules and 2 title conventions.

• Name 3 of the 5 comma rules.
• When do you use italics vs. quotation marks for titles?

M-5-F-GR-18-A Chart

Reproduction of MG-17 at 11x17: 5 numbered rules with worked example for each. Print-ready, dyslexic-friendly font.

MG-17 Chart

Comma rules anchor (L.5.2.a-c): five rules with examples. RULE 1: COMMA AFTER INTRODUCTORY ELEMENT — 'After the rain stopped, we went outside.' RULE 2: COMMA WITH YES/NO — 'Yes, I would like to come.' / 'No, that is not what I meant.' RULE 3: COMMA SETTING OFF TAG QUESTION — 'You're coming to the party, aren't you?' RULE 4: COMMA SETTING OFF DIRECT ADDRESS — 'Maya, please open the window.' / 'Please open the window, Maya.' RULE 5: COMMA SEPARATING ITEMS IN A SERIES — 'I need pencils, paper, and a notebook.' Print-ready 11x17.

• Audit your full draft for the 5 comma rules. Use 5 sticker colors (one per rule). Fix every missing comma.

  scaffold MG-17 anchor at desk; comma sticker dots; comma-rule audit sheet
• Audit your draft for title conventions. Italicize book titles (or underline). Quotation marks for short works.

  scaffold MG-18 anchor; title-format card deck

M-5-F-GR-18-B Chart

Reproduction of MG-18 at 11x17: two columns ITALICIZE/UNDERLINE (left) vs. QUOTATION MARKS (right) with worked examples of each kind of work. Print-ready, dyslexic-friendly font.

MG-18 Chart

Titles-of-works anchor (L.5.2.d): TWO conventions side-by-side. ITALICIZE / UNDERLINE (book, movie, play, magazine, newspaper, album, full-length work) — 'I read Brown Girl Dreaming over the summer.' QUOTATION MARKS (article, poem, song, short story, chapter title, short work) — 'My favorite poem in the book is "Stevie and Me."' Bottom rule: 'In typed work use ITALICS. In handwritten work UNDERLINE. Short works ALWAYS use quotation marks.' Print-ready 11x17.

• Show your draft post-proof-read with comma-stickers and title-formatting visible.
• Partner counts: how many of the 5 comma rules appear in your draft?

• Star a beautifully-placed comma.
• Predict: tomorrow we begin peer-edit with the 10-criterion rubric.

• At home tonight, read your fully proof-read draft once. It is ready for peer-edit tomorrow.