Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on National Punctuation Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
National Punctuation Day is a very important holiday for teachers and students of English. In fact, anyone who writes in English should celebrate this day. Few of us feel we are experts at the small marks that make up the English punctuation system. The day was founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted to draw attention to the importance of proper punctuation and to promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people have good communication skills, and that includes knowing how to write properly.” He added: “I’m stunned at how many executives and CEOs send me articles and correspondence that are poorly written and punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation errors.”
Punctuation is everything in a written language except the actual letters or numbers. Punctuation marks and other things like spaces and indents help the reader understand the structure and organization of writing. Punctuation rules are different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation dates back to the 9th century BC. English punctuation developed when large numbers of Bibles were produced. A standardized punctuation system emerged after the invention of the printing press. Many purists believe punctuation is under threat today. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off commas, colons and apostrophes. People are in too much of a hurry to bother with correct punctuation.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
a very important holiday for
a.
are experts
2
Few of us feel we
b.
of proper punctuation
3.
draw attention to the importance
c.
to write properly
4.
Successful people have good
d.
teachers and students
5.
knowing how
e.
punctuation errors
6.
newspapers routinely make
f.
communication skills
Paragraph 2
1.
Punctuation marks and other
a.
the structure
2
help the reader understand
b.
back to the 9th century BC
3.
Punctuation rules are different
c.
much of a hurry
4.
punctuation dates
d.
things like spaces
5.
A standardized punctuation
e.
in every language
6.
People are in too
f.
system emerge
LISTENING GAP FILL
National Punctuation Day is a very important holiday for teachers and students of English. In fact, ______________________ English should celebrate this day. Few of us feel we are experts at the small ______________________ the English punctuation system. The day was founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted ______________________ the importance of proper punctuation and to promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people have good communication skills, ______________________ knowing how to write properly.” He added: “I’m ______________________ executives and CEOs send me articles and correspondence that ______________________ punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation errors.”
Punctuation is everything in a written language ______________________ letters or numbers. Punctuation marks and other things like ______________________ help the reader understand the structure and organization of writing. Punctuation rules are different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation ______________________ 9th century BC. English punctuation developed when large numbers of Bibles were produced. A standardized punctuation ______________________ the invention of the printing press. Many purists believe punctuation ______________________. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off commas, colons and apostrophes. People are ______________________ to bother with correct punctuation.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
National Punctuation Day is a very important holiday for teachers and students of English. In ____________, anyone who writes in English should celebrate this day. Few of us feel we are ____________at the small marks that make up the English punctuation system. The day was ____________in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted to draw attention to the importance of ____________punctuation and to promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people have good communication skills, and that includes knowing how to write ____________.” He added: “I’m ____________at how many executives and CEOs send me articles and correspondence that are ____________written and punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation ____________.”
experts poorly fact properly errors founded stunned proper
Punctuation is everything in a written language ____________the actual letters or numbers. Punctuation ____________and other things like spaces and indents help the reader understand the structure and organization of writing. Punctuation ____________are different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation ____________back to the 9th century BC. English punctuation developed when large ____________of Bibles were produced. A standardized punctuation system emerged after the ____________of the printing press. Many purists believe punctuation is under ____________today. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off commas, colons and apostrophes. People are in too much of a hurry to ____________with correct punctuation.
dates invention bother marks except rules threat numbers
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
National Punctuation Day is a very / too important holiday for teachers and students of English. In fact / fiction, anyone who writes in English should celebrate this day. Few / Little of us feel we are experts at the small marks that make up the English punctuation system. The date / day was founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted to draw / write attention to the importance of properly / proper punctuation and to promotion / promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people have good communication skills, and that includes knowing how to write properly.” He added: “I’m stunned as / at how many executives and CEOs send me article / articles and correspondence that are poorly written / writing and punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation errors.”
Punctuation is everything on / in a written language except the actual letters or numbers. Punctuation marks and other things like spaces and indents / dents help the reader understand the structure and organization / organize of writing. Punctuation rules are different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation years / dates back to the 9th century BC / CB. English punctuation developed when large numerals / numbers of Bibles were produced. A standardized punctuation system emerged after the invention of the printed / printing press. Many purists believe punctuation is over / under threat today. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off / on commas, colons and apostrophes. People are in too much of a hurry to bother for / with correct punctuation.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
National Punctuation Day is a very (1) ____ holiday for teachers and students of English. In fact, anyone who writes in English should celebrate this day. (2) ____ of us feel we are experts at the small marks that make up the English punctuation system. The day was founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted to (3) ____ attention to the importance of proper punctuation and to promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people have good communication (4) ____, and that includes knowing how to write properly.” He added: “I’m (5) ____ at how many executives and CEOs send me articles and correspondence that are (6) ____ written and punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation errors.”
Punctuation is everything in a written language (7) ____ the actual letters or numbers. Punctuation marks and other things like spaces and indents help the reader understand the (8) ____ and organization of writing. Punctuation rules are different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation dates (9) ____ to the 9th century BC. English punctuation developed when large (10) ____ of Bibles were produced. A standardized punctuation system emerged after the invention of the printing press. Many purists believe punctuation is (11) ____ threat today. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off commas, colons and apostrophes. People are in too (12) ____ of a hurry to bother with correct punctuation.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
importance
(b)
importantly
(c)
imports
(d)
important
2.
(a)
Few
(b)
Two
(c)
Several
(d)
Various
3.
(a)
paint
(b)
draw
(c)
sketch
(d)
doodle
4.
(a)
skill
(b)
skillful
(c)
skills
(d)
skillfully
5.
(a)
stunning
(b)
stunner
(c)
stunned
(d)
stun
6.
(a)
poverty
(b)
poor
(c)
poorness
(d)
poorly
7.
(a)
expect
(b)
except
(c)
aspect
(d)
accept
8.
(a)
structure
(b)
structured
(c)
structural
(d)
structuring
9.
(a)
front
(b)
side
(c)
top
(d)
back
10.
(a)
numerals
(b)
numbers
(c)
figures
(d)
characters
11.
(a)
over
(b)
on
(c)
under
(d)
in
12.
(a)
much
(b)
many
(c)
most
(d)
more
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a very iarnpttmo holiday
2.
Few of us feel we are eesrtpx
3.
a rormef journalist
4.
opmroet good writing skills
5.
orypol written
6.
make punctuation sreror
Paragraph 2
7.
the ataulc letters or numbers
8.
the rcttsurue and organization of writing
9.
dates back to the 9th nuryetc BC
10.
large nmbesur of Bibles were produced
11.
the invention of the tgprniin press
12.
in too much of a rhury
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Punctuation is everything in a written language except the actual letters or numbers. Punctuation marks and other
( )
have good communication skills, and that includes knowing how to write properly.” He added: “I’m stunned
( )
punctuation system emerged after the invention of the printing press. Many purists believe punctuation is under
( )
in English should celebrate this day. Few of us feel we are experts at the small marks that make up the English punctuation
( )
colons and apostrophes. People are in too much of a hurry to bother with correct punctuation.
( )
things like spaces and indents help the reader understand the structure and organization of writing. Punctuation rules are
( )
different in every language. The oldest document containing punctuation dates back to the 9th
( )
written and punctuated…Magazines and newspapers routinely make punctuation errors.”
( 1 )
National Punctuation Day is a very important holiday for teachers and students of English. In fact, anyone who writes
( )
attention to the importance of proper punctuation and to promote good writing skills. He said: “Successful people
( )
threat today. They say that the emergence of text messaging is killing off commas,
( )
century BC. English punctuation developed when large numbers of Bibles were produced. A standardized
( )
system. The day was founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, a former journalist. He wanted to draw
( )
at how many executives and CEOs send me articles and correspondence that are poorly
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
who Anyone celebrate should English in writes.
2.
we feel us of Few experts are.
3.
attention proper to punctuation the importance Draw of.
4.
people good skills Successful have communication.
5.
make routinely Newspapers errors punctuation.
6.
other and marks Punctuation spaces like things.
7.
understand structure Help reader the the.
8.
language every in different are rules Punctuation.
9.
A emerged system punctuation standardized.
10.
of a hurry to bother People are in too much.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about National Punctuation Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about National Punctuation Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about National Punctuation Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about National Punctuation Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about National Punctuation Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
