CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2
The Standard
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to edit their own writing for grade 3 conventions. They should use capital letters in titles, commas in addresses, quotation marks in dialogue, and apostrophes in possessive nouns. They also need to spell common word patterns correctly and use a dictionary or word list when unsure.
Mastery looks like a student rereading a draft and fixing these features without heavy prompting. Students often forget commas inside addresses, put quotation marks in the wrong place, or mix up plurals and possessives. Dialogue punctuation is usually the hardest part because several marks work together.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs sentence strips with errors in titles, addresses, dialogue, and possessives, then have them mark fixes with colored pencils.
- Ask students to write two lines of dialogue between characters, then explain where each punctuation mark belongs.
- Use a five-sentence exit ticket with one error per sentence and ask students to rewrite each sentence correctly.
- Bring in a postcard, book title page, and short comic strip, then have students find capitalization, commas, and quotation marks.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.