Virginia SOL 5.LU.2.A
The Standard
Use commas correctly in compound sentences.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Mechanics
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students join two complete thoughts using a comma and a coordinating conjunction. They check that each side could stand alone as a sentence.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can find the complete thought on each side of the conjunction. They place the comma before and, but, or, so, yet, for, or nor when joining those thoughts.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may create a comma splice by joining complete thoughts with only a comma. Others omit the comma before the conjunction or add commas whenever they see and or but.
How to Assess It
- Use this exit ticket: “Maya packed her lunch but she forgot her water bottle.” Ask students to add needed punctuation and explain why.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence strips with complete thoughts, commas, and conjunctions, then have them build and read correct sentences aloud.
Ask students to write two complete thoughts about recess, join them, and explain where the comma belongs.
Play Conjunction Match by having teams pair sentence halves, choose a conjunction card, and place the comma correctly.
Give students a short school announcement with missing commas, then have them edit it for publication.
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Printable 5.LU.2.A Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 3.LU.2.A
Use commas in series, dates, addresses, and in greetings and closings of letters.
- 11.LU.2.A
Use commas, semi-colons, and colons correctly in complex sentences in writing.
- 4.LU.2.A
Use commas in series, dates, addresses, and letters in writing.
- 6.LU.2.A
Construct complete sentences with appropriate punctuation, avoiding comma splices and run-ons in writing.
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