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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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 6.2.1.1 · dashes, hyphens, ellipses and other punctuation

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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 line of a script is punctuated correctly to show a new speaker?

    • MAYA; Where did you put my hat?
    • MAYA: Where did you put my hat?
    • MAYA, Where did you put my hat?

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • As, a result the road was closed.
    • As a result, the road was closed.
    • As a result the road, was closed.

  3. Question 3

    Which transitional word shows a result?

    • However
    • Therefore
    • Meanwhile

  4. Question 4

    Which greeting is correct in a business letter?

    • To Whom It May Concern;
    • To Whom It May Concern,
    • To Whom It May Concern:

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • On the other hand, walking is free.
    • On the other, hand walking is free.
    • On the other hand walking is free.

  6. Question 6

    Which script line shows the speaker correctly?

    • NARRATOR: The sun rose slowly.
    • NARRATOR, The sun rose slowly.
    • NARRATOR; The sun rose slowly.

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