The Question Mark, The Colon, and The Semi-colon English Grammar JSS 2

Grammar: Punctuation Marks Continued – The Question Mark, The Colon, and The Semi-Colon

Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 9
Age: 11 – 13 years
Duration: 40 minutes

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Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Define punctuation marks and explain their importance.
2. Identify and explain the uses of the question mark, the colon, and the semi-colon.
3. Use these punctuation marks correctly in sentences.
4. Differentiate between the colon and the semi-colon.

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Keywords

• Punctuation
• Question mark
• Colon
• Semi-colon
• Pause
• Clause

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Set Induction

The teacher writes the following sentences on the board:

1. Where is my book
2. I have three favorite subjects English Mathematics and Science
3. I love reading however I also enjoy sports

The teacher asks students what is missing in each sentence and guides them to see the importance of punctuation.

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Entry Behavior

Students have learned about the full stop and the comma in the previous lesson.

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Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards with punctuation marks
• Sentence strips with missing punctuation
• Whiteboard and marker

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Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds students that punctuation marks help to organize sentences, indicate pauses, and improve clarity.

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Embedded Core Skills

• Grammar and sentence construction
• Communication skills
• Writing skills

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Learning Materials

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

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Reference Books

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

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Lesson Content

Definition of Punctuation Marks

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

In this lesson, we will focus on the question mark (?), the colon (:), and the semi-colon (;).

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The Question Mark (?)

The question mark is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question.

Uses of the Question Mark

1. To End a Direct Question

   • Examples:
     • Where are you going?
     • What is your name?

2. In Rhetorical Questions (Questions that do not require an answer)

   • Examples:
     • Who would want to fail an exam?
     • Do you think money grows on trees?

3. In Interrogative Sentences

   • Examples:
     • Have you seen my pen?
     • Can I join the football team?

Note: Do not use a question mark in an indirect question.

• Incorrect: He asked me where I was going?
• Correct: He asked me where I was going.

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The Colon (:)

The colon is used to introduce information, explanations, or lists.

Uses of the Colon

1. To Introduce a List

   • Examples:
     • I bought three items: apples, oranges, and bananas.
     • There are four seasons: summer, winter, spring, and autumn.

2. To Introduce an Explanation

   • Examples:
     • She was very happy: she had won the competition.
     • He was late: his bus broke down.

3. To Introduce a Quotation

   • Examples:
     • The teacher said: “Hard work leads to success.”
     • My father always says: “Honesty is the best policy.”

4. To Separate Hours and Minutes in Time

   • Examples:
     • The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
     • We have a class at 2:15 p.m.

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The Semi-Colon (;)

The semi-colon is used to separate closely related independent clauses and long lists.

Uses of the Semi-Colon

1. To Separate Independent Clauses Without a Conjunction

   • Examples:
     • I wanted to go outside; it was raining heavily.
     • She studied hard; she passed the exam.

2. To Separate Items in a List When the Items Contain Commas

   • Examples:
     • We traveled to Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Nairobi, Kenya.
     • The guests included Mr. Ade, a lawyer; Mrs. Okon, a doctor; and Mr. Bello, a teacher.

3. To Link Two Related Sentences

   • Examples:
     • She loves reading novels; however, she dislikes writing essays.
     • He wanted to buy a new car; unfortunately, he didn’t have enough money.

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Differences Between the Colon and the Semi-Colon

Feature	Colon (:)	Semi-Colon (;)
Function	Introduces lists, explanations, or quotations	Connects independent clauses without conjunctions
Use in Lists	Used before a list	Used to separate long list items
Use in Compound Sentences	Not used	Links two related independent clauses
Use in Time	Used to separate hours and minutes (e.g., 10:30)	Not used

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Examples of Sentences with the Question Mark, Colon, and Semi-Colon

1. Where did you keep my notebook? (Question Mark)
2. I have three best friends: Ada, Tolu, and James. (Colon)
3. We visited Abuja, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Nairobi, Kenya. (Semi-Colon)
4. He wanted to sleep early; however, he had too much work to do. (Semi-Colon)
5. My mother said: “Hard work brings success.” (Colon)

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Evaluation (Choose the Correct Punctuation Mark for Each Sentence)

1. What is your favorite subject___ ( . ? ,)
2. I need the following items___ rice, beans, and oil. ( ; ? 🙂
3. We traveled to Lagos___ Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Nairobi, Kenya. ( : , 😉
4. She studied very hard___ she passed the exam. ( ? ; 🙂
5. My father said___ “Honesty is the best policy.” ( ; ? 🙂

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Class Activity Discussion (FAQs and Answers)

1. What is a question mark used for?
   A punctuation mark (?) used to indicate a question.

2. What is a colon used for?
   A punctuation mark (:) used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation.

3. What is a semi-colon used for?
   A punctuation mark (;) used to join two independent clauses or separate long list items.

4. Can a colon be used at the end of a sentence?
   No, a colon must introduce something.

5. Why is a semi-colon different from a colon?
   A semi-colon joins related clauses, while a colon introduces information.

6. Can a question mark and a full stop be used together?
   No, only one punctuation mark should be used at the end of a sentence.

7. When do we use a semi-colon in lists?
   When the list items contain commas.

8. Can a colon be used after “such as”?
   No, “such as” already introduces a list.

9. Is a semi-colon stronger than a comma?
   Yes, it creates a stronger pause than a comma.

10. Can a question mark be used in indirect questions?
    No, indirect questions end with a full stop.

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Assessment (Evaluation Questions)

1. Write five sentences using the question mark correctly.
2. Write three sentences using the colon correctly.
3. Write two sentences using the semi-colon correctly.
4. Correct this sentence:
   • i like three sports football basketball and volleyball

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Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ work, provides corrections, and assigns homework on writing ten sentences using the question mark, colon, and semi-colon correctly.