The Full Stop and The Comma – JSS 2 English Lesson

Grammar: Punctuation Marks – The Full Stop and The Comma

Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 8
Age: 11 – 13 years
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

Define punctuation marks.
Identify and explain the uses of the full stop and the comma.
Use the full stop and the comma correctly in sentences.
Recognize the differences between the full stop and the comma.

Keywords

Punctuation
Full stop
Comma
Sentence
Pause

Set Induction

The teacher writes two sentences on the board:

My name is Tolu I am a student
My name is Tolu. I am a student.

The teacher asks students to compare both sentences and explain why the second one is clearer.

Entry Behavior

Students have previously learned about sentence structures and basic punctuation marks.

Learning Resources and Materials

Flashcards with punctuation marks
Chart displaying the uses of full stops and commas
Whiteboard and marker

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds students that punctuation marks help in organizing sentences and making them meaningful.

Embedded Core Skills

Grammar and sentence construction
Communication skills
Writing skills

Learning Materials

Lagos State Scheme of Work
English Language textbook
Examples of sentences with punctuation marks

Reference Books

Lagos State Scheme of Work
New Oxford English for JSS 2
Effective English for JSS 2

Lesson Content

Definition of Punctuation Marks

Punctuation marks are symbols used in writing to help structure sentences and make their meanings clear.

In this lesson, we will focus on the full stop (.) and the comma (,).

The Full Stop (.)

The full stop, also called a period, is used to indicate the end of a statement or sentence.

Uses of the Full Stop

To End a Declarative Sentence
- A declarative sentence makes a statement.
- Example:
  - I love reading books.
  - The sun rises in the east.
To Indicate Abbreviations
- A full stop is used in some abbreviations.
- Example:
  - Dr. (Doctor)
  - Mr. (Mister)
  - St. (Street)
To End Indirect Speech
- Indirect speech does not use quotation marks but still ends with a full stop.
- Example:
  - She said that she was coming.
  - The teacher told us that the test would be next week.

The Comma (,)

The comma is used to indicate a short pause in a sentence and to separate items in a list.

Uses of the Comma

To Separate Items in a List
- Example:
  - I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.
  - She loves reading, writing, and drawing.
To Separate Independent Clauses in a Compound Sentence
- When two independent clauses are joined by conjunctions like and, but, or, nor, so, use a comma before the conjunction.
- Example:
  - I was tired, but I finished my homework.
  - She wanted to go out, yet it was raining.
To Separate Introductory Words or Phrases
- Example:
  - After school, I went to the market.
  - However, I was too late for the bus.
To Set Off Names in Direct Address
- Example:
  - Tolu, can you help me?
  - Yes, sir, I understand.
To Separate a Quotation from the Rest of the Sentence
- Example:
  - He said, “I will be there soon.”
  - She asked, “Where are you going?”
To Indicate Additional Information in a Sentence
- Example:
  - My teacher, who is very kind, gave us extra time.
  - Lagos, the biggest city in Nigeria, is very busy.

Differences Between the Full Stop and the Comma

Feature	Full Stop (.)	Comma (,)
Function	Ends a sentence	Adds a pause within a sentence
Use in Lists	Not used	Separates items in a list
Use in Compound Sentences	Not used	Separates independent clauses with a conjunction
Use in Direct Speech	Ends the sentence	Separates quotation from the rest of the sentence

Examples of Sentences with Full Stops and Commas

I woke up early. I went to school. (Full Stop)
She is kind, but she can be strict. (Comma)
We visited Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. (Comma)
My best friend, Aisha, loves reading. (Comma)
The meeting starts at 10 a.m. (Full Stop)

Evaluation (Choose the Correct Punctuation Mark for Each Sentence)

My mother is a doctor___ she works in a hospital. ( . , ?)
I love apples___ oranges, bananas, and grapes. ( . , !)
Tolu said___ “I will be home soon.” ( . , “)
The sun sets in the west___ ( . , !)
After the party___ we went home. ( . , “)

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs and Answers)

What is a full stop?
A punctuation mark (.) used to end a sentence.
What is a comma?
A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a pause in a sentence.
Can a sentence have both a full stop and a comma?
Yes, e.g., After school, I went home.
When do we use a comma before ‘and’?
In a list, e.g., I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
Is a full stop used in abbreviations?
Yes, e.g., Mr., Dr., etc.
Can a comma replace a full stop?
No, they serve different functions.
What happens if we don’t use punctuation?
Sentences become unclear and confusing.
Where do we place commas in a direct address?
Before and after the name, e.g., Tolu, can you help me?
Why do we use a comma in compound sentences?
To separate independent clauses joined by conjunctions.
Give an example of a sentence with both a full stop and a comma.
- I woke up early. However, I was still late for school.

Assessment (Evaluation Questions)

Write five sentences using full stops correctly.
Write three sentences using commas to separate items in a list.
Write two sentences using commas in direct speech.
Rewrite this sentence with proper punctuation:
- i went to the market i bought bread milk and eggs
Identify the punctuation marks in this sentence:
- She said, “I love learning English.”

Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ work, provides corrections, and assigns homework on writing ten sentences using full stops and commas correctly.