Understanding Transitional Sentences

Lesson Duration: 60 Minutes

Curriculum Area: English Language Arts, Grade 9

Standards Addressed:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

---

Objectives

• Students will understand the use of adverbial transitions.
• Students will learn to correctly use semi-colons in complex sentences.
• Students will identify and correct errors in sentences related to "Of Mice and Men."

---

Materials Needed

• "Of Mice and Men" text (Chapter 1)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed worksheets with incorrect sentences
• Pencils and erasers

---

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Hook: Begin with a brief reading of a passage from Chapter 1 of "Of Mice and Men". Ask students, "Why do we use transitions and punctuation in writing?"

2. Discussion: Explain the importance of adverbial transitions and semi-colons:

   • Adverbial Transitions: Used to show relationships between ideas (e.g., however, therefore, furthermore).
   • Semi-colons: Used to link related independent clauses.

Guided Practice (15 minutes)

1. Modeling:

   • Write a sample sentence from "Of Mice and Men" on the board.
   • Demonstrate how to add an adverbial transition and a semi-colon to connect ideas.

2. Example:

   • Original: "Lennie loves petting soft things he often gets in trouble because of it."
   • Corrected: "Lennie loves petting soft things; however, he often gets in trouble because of it."

3. Discussion: Highlight the change and ask students why it improves the sentence.

Worksheet Activity (20 minutes)

1. Distribute Worksheets:

   • Hand out worksheets containing sentences related to "Of Mice and Men" with intentional errors.

2. Instructions:

   • Explain that each sentence has errors with transitions or semi-colons.
   • Students must correct the sentences and improve clarity.

3. Worksheet Example Sentences:

   1. "George is protective of Lennie they have been friends for a long time."
   2. "Lennie does not know his own strength he accidentally kills small animals."
   3. "They dream of owning a piece of land however their plans often go awry."

4. Task:

   • Work in pairs to correct the sentences using adverbial transitions and semi-colons.

Review and Reflect (10 minutes)

1. Class Review:

   • Go over corrections as a class.
   • Invite student pairs to share their corrected sentences.

2. Reflection:

   • Ask students to reflect on why it's important to use semi-colons and transitions correctly.
   • Discuss how this helps clarify relationships between ideas.

Closing (5 minutes)

• Exit Ticket:

  • Ask each student to write one corrected sentence on a strip of paper using an adverbial transition and a semi-colon relevant to the themes of "Of Mice and Men."

• Wrap-Up:

  • Collect exit tickets, and provide quick feedback for any remaining questions.

---

Assessment

• Assessment will be based on worksheet completion and accuracy in sentence correction.
• Participation in class review and submission of the exit ticket.

---

This lesson plan engages students with literature while enhancing their writing skills, blending "Of Mice and Men" with essential English grammar components. This helps students critically engage with the text and master the mechanics of robust sentence writing.