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6th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 8 of 12

Punctuation Power

Colons, scripts and transitions

What your child practices

Using a colon in a formal greeting or after a speaker's name in a script, and putting a comma after words like However and phrases like For example.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 6.16 · colons, scripts and transitions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Put a comma after transition words and phrases: However, For example, As a result.
  2. In a script, put a colon after the speaker’s name: LEO: I think we are lost.
  3. Use a colon after a formal greeting and in memo headings: From: Mr. Okafor.

Example: Which transition word shows a contrast: However, Also or Next? A contrast shows a difference or change. “However” tells the reader things are about to turn. Answer: However

Punctuation Power in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 8 of 12 in 6th grade English Language Arts, after Roots & Analogies and before Text Forms & Features.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Next add, two cups of flour.
    • Next; add two cups of flour.
    • Next, add two cups of flour.

  2. Question 2

    Which greeting is correct in a formal letter?

    • Dear Principal Brown.
    • Dear Principal Brown;
    • Dear Principal Brown:

  3. Question 3

    Which script line shows the speaker correctly?

    • LEO; I think we are lost.
    • LEO: I think we are lost.
    • LEO. I think we are lost.

  4. Question 4

    Which transitional phrase shows an example?

    • For instance
    • On the other hand
    • In conclusion

  5. Question 5

    Which greeting is correct in a formal letter?

    • Dear Ms. Patel,
    • Dear Ms. Patel;
    • Dear Ms. Patel:

  6. Question 6

    Which formal letter closing is correct?

    • Sincerely,
    • Sincerely:
    • Sincerely;

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